Tyrell Shavers' one-handed TD catch and preseason breakout put him squarely in Buffalo’s 53-man roster conversation, even as the Bills weigh a crowded WR group. He led the preseason in receiving yards (123) and a 58-yard grab, plus kickoff coverage snaps that could swing a final cut. Buffalo is expected to keep five or six receivers, with Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer likely locks, leaving 2–3 spots contested with Samuel, Moore and Shenault.

Shavers’ Week 17 TD on a Mitchell Trubisky screen showed big-play upside, while his special-teams impact signals versatility for a depth role. If he makes the roster, his production hinges on injuries to others and how Buffalo deploys a reserve corps around Shakir, Shenault and Palmer. Fantasy managers should watch the WR battle closely into the final cuts.

Bottom line: Shavers has the athleticism and NFL track record to flash as a sleeper, but the odds tilt with the other vets and Palmer’s presence. His upside is real if he lands in a flexible role, but Buffalo could still favour veterans and established targets in a tight cut process.

Khalil Shakir earns No. 8 on Bills 2025’s top-30 countdown after a breakthrough 2024 season that saw him post career highs in targets (100), receptions (76) and receiving yards (821) while Josh Allen leaned on him as Buffalo’s primary outside weapon. He locked in a four-year, $53 million extension, underscoring the team’s plans to lean on him again in 2025. With Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore adding, Shakir’s role remains pivotal though a persistent ankle sprain could delay Week 1 usage. The Bills’ offense should continue to funnel targets his way, especially if he maintains Week 1 readiness.

Buffalo’s 2025 outlook centers on Shakir as the WR1-ish talent in a revamped group that also includes Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, plus a backfield led by James Cook. Shakir’s route-running elusiveness and catch-after-the-catch ability remain his calling cards, even as external additions pressure the defense to respect more options. The health question—an ankle sprain in August—remains the wild card that could shape his early-season workload and fantasy value.

Beyond Shakir, the countdown highlights Bills core contributors who shape fantasy upside: James Cook at running back, Connor McGovern at center, Tyler Bass as a reliable kicker, and a defensive line anchored by Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa and DaQuan Jones, plus Tre’Davious White in the secondary. Together they form a high-upside, offense-driven core with room to grow as Buffalo chases a Lombardi.

Buffalo’s preseason opener highlighted a dramatic backup-QB stare-down between Mitch Trubisky and Mike White, each leading crisp first- and third-quarter drives and helping the Bills test depth behind Josh Allen. Trubisky flashed efficiency, connecting with Dawson Knox for an 11-yard TD and threading a late-second-quarter 58-yard strike to Tyrell Shavers to set up a field goal. White answered with two TD drives, including a 39-yard connection to KJ Hamler and a late-fourth TD to Darrynton Evans, plus a two-point conversion. James Cook’s absence and the looming 53-man cuts sharpen the back-end questions, while Shenault’s versatility and Shavers’ emergence give Buffalo intriguing six- and potentially kickoff-return options. Ed Oliver, Matt Milano, and Tre’Davious White supplied sturdy defense in limited reps, underscoring how close the competition is and what talent sticks for Week 1. The Giants’ late sequence exposed some Bills’ slip-ups, but the overall takeaway is clear: Buffalo’s backfield, WRs, and special-teams depth will drive fall-cut decisions in a season where every spot matters.