KhalilShakir

Oct 13

Buffalo started the season with Moore at one outside receiver spot, Keon Coleman and Palmer rotating at the other, and Khalil Shakir

playing in the slot in 11 personnel. Shakir has also rotated into 12 personnel, playing roughly one-third of those snaps. All four receivers have played in 13 personnel, and Buffalo's frequent use of that grouping means no receiver typically plays more than 70% of the offensive snaps. Moore has missed significant time in two of the first four games, with Coleman and Palmer simply taking on larger roles in those contests. The only other receiver to play an offensive snap this season has been returner Greg Dortch, who has logged 11 snaps. Fourth-round rookie Skyler Bell was a healthy inactive for each of the first four weeks. With Moore and Palmer sidelined, Bell was active for the first time, while Trent Sherfield was elevated from the practice squad. Shakir's role remained completely unchanged in this game. He played every snap in 11 personnel but only a fraction of the snaps in other personnel groupings. Coleman took over Moore's role, lining up at X more frequently than usual and rarely leaving the field in 11 or 12 personnel. Bell led a rotation with Sherfield at the other outside receiver spot. Despite the injuries at wide receiver, Buffalo didn't increase its use of multiple-tight end sets compared to previous weeks, even with all four tight ends healthy. Buffalo lost the time-of-possession battle and spent much of the game running the ball. When the Bills did pass, dump-offs to third-down running back Ty Johnson proved effective. Coleman scored a touchdown late in the third quarter, and Shakir had a 57-yard reception in overtime, but the receivers combined for just two other catches. This was a tough matchup for Buffalo's receivers, and the remaining schedule offers little relief. Moore remains the only Bills wide receiver worth considering.

Randy Gurzi·Oct 9

Despite being overshadowed, Shakir enters Week 5 tied for the team lead with 15 catches . He hasn’t made the flashy plays, which is why he’s fourth in yardage, behind Kincaid, Coleman, and Moore, but Shakir is still serving as one of Josh Allen’s most trusted targets....through four games, Shakir surprisingly leads the NFL in yards of separation. According to Gridiron Stats and Info , Shakir is getting roughly 4.5 yards of separation per route....At this point, the only question is why Shakir isn’t seeing more targets. He does lead the team with 23 targets, but that comes with a caveat. Moore has missed portions of two of their games with a shoulder injury and Coleman is often the WR3, except for when Moore is out. Shakir hasn’t typically been a red zone weapon and he doesn’t stretch the field, but he’s averaging 11.6 yards per reception. There’s nothing at all wrong with that average, and with him creating plenty of space, it seems he should be featured more often than he has been.