The Buffalo Bills have spent the first part of the season trying to find the version of their offense that looked sharp through the opening three weeks, then slipped last week. Whether that dip was just a one-game blip or the result of injuries to key players, the Bills need answers fast with the Los Angeles Rams waiting on Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium.
One place Buffalo may need to lean harder is on Khalil Shakir, a receiver who keeps producing even if he rarely gets the attention. With the Bills on a Week 7 bye, the offense has time to sort out how to get one of its most dependable weapons more involved and give the unit a needed jolt.
Shakir has quietly become one of Josh Allen’s most trusted targets in his fifth season with the Bills. The 2022 fifth-round pick has gotten better every year, and Allen knows exactly what he’s getting from him when the game tightens up. In the last two seasons, Shakir has led the team in receptions and receiving yardage, yet he still gets overlooked nationally.
His production has been steady. In 2024, he caught 76 passes for 821 yards.
In 2025, he followed that with 72 catches for 719 yards. Even with D.J.
Moore and third-year wideout Keon Coleman drawing more attention, Shakir keeps doing his part without any fuss.
The most striking part of his season so far may be what he’s doing before the ball even arrives. Through four games, Shakir leads the league in yards of separation.
According to Gridiron Stats and Info, he is averaging about 4.5 yards of separation per route. Jaylen Waddle of the Denver Broncos and Kalif Raymond of the Chicago Bears are tied for second at 4.2.
That kind of space should translate into even more opportunities. Shakir already leads the Bills with 23 targets, though Moore missing two games with a shoulder injury has helped push that number up, and Coleman has typically filled the third-wideout role.
Still, Shakir is averaging 11.7 yards per reception, and the Bills generally haven’t made him a major red-zone piece. There’s a case for changing that if they want a different look and a better spark.
Buffalo’s passing game has also shifted with more 12-to-13 personnel, and Dalton Kincaid now leads all NFL tight ends with 270 receiving yards. That has brought him more national attention, while Shakir has stayed in the background despite continuing to do the dirty work.
Moore’s shoulder remains a question, and the Bills may decide the safer move is to sit him against the Rams and let him recover. He has been dealing with the injury with Buffalo and has 12 catches for 178 yards and one touchdown. If he doesn’t play Monday, it could open the door for Shakir to step back into a bigger role as Allen’s most reliable option.
In Other News...
James Cook Could Be Central To Buffalos Bounce-Back Against The Rams
After a frustrating loss to New England, the Bills turn their attention to a Week 5 matchup with the Rams looking for a steadier offensive rhythm, and James Cook figures to remain right in the middle of it. He has been one of Buffalos most reliable pieces through the first month, piling up 421 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries while helping keep the offense from leaning too heavily in one direction.
Cooks recent stretch has only reinforced his value, with a score on the ground in each of the past three games. ESPN Fantasy sees him continuing in a featured role against Los Angeles, projecting a workload heavy enough to shape Buffalos approach if the Bills can get back on track and establish the run early. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Passing Game Suddenly Rests On Keon Coleman In Week 5
The Bills passing game has been forced to adjust for a couple of weeks now, and the next test could lean even more heavily on Keon Coleman. With the offense already navigating a receiver room that has had to reshuffle since early in the season, Coleman has been the one stepping into a larger role and producing enough in Weeks 2 and 4 to keep Buffalo moving through the air. Against the Rams, that growth matters even more because the Bills need someone besides their usual perimeter threats to create separation and keep the passing game balanced.
Colemans challenge is a familiar one for young receivers: keep building trust while drawing top defensive attention. The Rams have the kind of corner play that can make every target feel crowded, and Buffalos staff has reason to believe Coleman is ready for the assignment based on how he has handled his expanded opportunities so far. If the receiver situation breaks the wrong way, though, the Bills may have to ask even more of him than they planned when the week began. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Brady Has Bills Fans Hopeful And Uneasy For One Reason
Joe Bradys first month as the Bills head coach has offered enough to fuel optimism, and just enough uneven play to keep Buffalo fans a little on edge. After the team moved on from Sean McDermott and elevated Brady for the 2026 season, the early return has been a 3-1 start through four games, a sign that the transition has gone better than many around the league might have expected. Brady has also continued working closely with Josh Allen, with an emphasis on cutting down turnovers and smoothing out the offenses rougher stretches.
But the reason this feels unfinished is the same reason it feels promising: the Bills havent yet looked fully settled under their new leader, and the recent inconsistency has left room for questions about how sustainable this start really is. Allen remains the center of everything Buffalo wants to do, and Bradys ability to clean up the mistakes without stifling the quarterbacks aggressiveness will go a long way toward determining whether this early surge turns into something sturdier over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]