I hate to say it, but the Buffalo Bills seem to be the masters of the NFL. Not only did they create the greatest running back in NFL history in Jim Brown, but they also have three-time Super Bowl champ Dick “Night Train” Lane and record-breaker Andre Reed on their roster, not to mention that they’re located in one of the coolest cities in the world.
This year, the Bills made a big splash in making sure their fans are as happy as possible. One of the ways they did this was by acquiring a new weapon. Fans who have followed the team for years know that wide receivers are a priority for the franchise, and they signed two of the best in the business.
The first was Brandon Marshall, who they acquired from the New York Jets. Many thought that Jets head coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t let Marshall go, but the coach and the team had to eat their words. The team gave up four draft picks, including their first-round pick in 2018, to get the talented wide receiver. Marshall gives Buffalo another dimension to their vertical attack, allowing quarterback Tyrod Taylor to spread the ball around to multiple receivers. Marshall also brings with him the best fantasy football owner possible: Jay Gruden, the former head coach of the Washington Redskins and current offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He may have been the best wide receiver in the NFL from 2015-17, so it’ll be interesting to see how he performs in his first season with Buffalo. If you’re looking for a wide receiver to own in 2018, you could do a lot worse than Brandon Marshall. He’ll most likely produce positive results for your team’s fantasy football season.
Then, they made a similar move by trading for Antonio Brown, who was eventually traded to the Oakland Raiders. However, this was a much more difficult trade to negotiate given that Brown has a no-trade clause in his contract. Still, the Bills managed to work out a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers and acquired the three-time Pro Bowler for a fifth-round pick. In addition to providing another dangerous receiver for the vertical pass game, Brown also brings a level of excitement that the Bills haven’t had since the days of Jim Kelly.
This was actually more than enough to make a statement to the rest of the league. After all, what’s more intimidating than trading for the best receiver in the NFL? As if that weren’t enough, the Bills also signed Alshon Jeffery, who saw his role gradually decrease in 2017 as he was paired with Brandon Marshall. Jeffery was also part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “DNP-RX Problem,” which meant he didn’t dress for the team’s games in the regular season. This came after a DUI arrest in 2016, and it was a black mark against him. However, he cleaned up his act and was effective when given a chance in the preseason. The team must have seen something they liked in the veteran wide receiver because they signed him to a one-year deal. With Josh Allen at the helm, the QB room is not lacking in speed, and Jeffery will provide another quick pass catcher for him to throw to. If you’re looking for a wide receiver to own in 2018, there aren’t many better options than Alshon Jeffery. As stated by Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints, “He’s one of the best in the NFL. Hands down. Without a doubt.”
What’s Next?
The Bills made some very shrewd moves this off-season. Acquiring those two big-name receivers puts them in a good position to make a playoff run in 2018. Not only that, but they also added some interesting pieces to the puzzle. For instance, they drafted Shelby Harris in the first round (18th overall) and traded up in the second round to grab Cordrea Ladder (31st overall).
Who are these players? Well, Harris will battle it out with Robin Weigert and Jordan Matthews for the right to be the teams’ starting cornerback. Meanwhile, Ladder is a former Texas A&M star who was plagued by injuries in college. It’s not often that you see such a talented player get passed over in the draft because of injury concerns. Still, the Bills know what they’re doing, and they’ll give him a chance to shine. If you’re looking for a wide receiver, don’t hesitate to reach for one of these two talented rookies.
Even though Jackson has a lot of talent, he had a lot of trouble transitioning from the college to the pros. He started slow before eventually finding his groove and starting to excel in 2018. Jackson has blazing speed and is able to beat press coverage thanks to his special moves. However, he can also be very erratic, and it’s difficult to know when he’s going to have a good game or a bad one. Despite all this, the Bills are clearly confident that he’ll be an effective addition to their offense because they drafted him in the first round. If you’re looking for a wide receiver, you could do a lot worse than Travis Jackson. He may not have the most developed skills, but he’s incredibly fast and has good hands. If you’re fortunate enough to get him on your team’s roster, he’ll give you some pretty special plays.
Final Takeaway
The Bills finished the regular season with the best record in the NFL, earning them the top seed in the AFC. Despite their success, the team isn’t resting on their laurels. They continue to be active in the off-season, making moves that will give them an advantage during the upcoming season. While they may not always be profitable, fans and fantasy football owners of the Buffalo Bills can feel pretty good about the future of their roster. If you’re looking for a team that consistently gives great performances and makes clever moves to improve the squad, look no further than the Bills.