Buffalo’s preseason finale against Tampa Bay doubles as a roster audition. Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, and Keon Coleman headline the wideout depth chart, with Elijah Moore and Tyrell Shavers also in the mix for extra snaps. Mitch Trubisky remains in the No. 2 QB conversation behind Josh Allen, while Mike White and Shane Buechele push for reps. After a 38-0 drubbing, the Bills’ defense must tighten the secondary and improve tackling to stabilize depth and guide cuts.

Expect a data-driven closer look at targets, route shares, and situational snaps that could tilt Week 1 upside. The result will influence who sticks on the 53 and who becomes a sneaky fantasy dart in deeper leagues, based on performance in this final tune-up.

The Buffalo Bills are choosing health over heat in the final preseason test, keeping Josh Allen on the bench for the Tampa Bay showdown. That decision isn’t a retreat from victory, it’s a plan to maximize the regular season’s impact, especially given Allen’s MVP-winning 2023 form. Buffalo will still roll out starters in other spots, testing depth at safety and wide receiver as it finalizes the Week 1 roster. Cole Bishop will be tested as the likely starter opposite Taylor Rapp, with the safety room competing to lock down continuity for Buffalo’s back end.

The receiver picture remains unsettled behind the top trio of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer, with Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Laviska Shenault, and others vying for the remaining two to three roles. Samuel’s footing has been inconsistent due to injuries, while Shakir’s durability and Palmer’s veteran savvy push the competition toward a two- or three-way rotation. Allen, meanwhile, has already built starter-time chemistry in joint practices with Chicago, reducing preseason reps but preserving the connection expected to drive the offense once the season begins.

Injuries have clouded the position battles, and Buffalo is navigating cutdowns with an eye toward Week 1. Gabe Davis, a former Bills receiver, showed up for a visit as he seeks a new fit, and Tre’Davious White’s practice absence adds another layer of pivots to the defensive unit. The Bills’ approach balances protecting Allen with testing the rest of the unit, aiming to preserve the core while maximizing upside in the regular season. Fantasy managers should watch how the WR depth chart stabilizes and how the safety rotation shapes target distribution and game plans in September.

Eight league-winners for 2025 fantasy football blend early-round value with mid-round breakout upside: Justin Fields, Drake Maye, Saquon Barkley, Keaton Mitchell, Calvin Ridley, George Pickens, Joshua Palmer, and Jake Ferguson. They offer a mix of pillar-floor certainty and high-ceiling upside that can tilt drafts toward championship potential by pairing a foundational piece with breakout bets.

Fields leverages an elite rushing floor in a Jets setup that’s improving up front and around him; Maye benefits from Patriots coaching and a sturdier line; Barkley anchors a run-first Eagles attack; Mitchell adds dynamic contingency value in Baltimore; Ridley returns to 1,000+ yard range with air yards to spare; Pickens could surge in a pass-happy Cowboys role; Palmer finds target volume in Buffalo’s offense; Ferguson thrives in Dallas’ tight-end-centric offense. This eight-man blend aims to balance risk with upside across QB, RB, WR, and TE.

The piece emphasizes a drafting approach that overweight stars while loading with mid-round breakouts—an approach that can yield a championship foundation even when seasonal volatility hits. Rankings, schedules, and matchup dynamics aren’t ignored, but the core idea is clear: maximize upside in 2025 by combining rock-solid pillars with calculated, high-reward bets.

Buffalo’s 38-0 preseason loss to Chicago exposed a night of rough execution and unsettled depth for the Bills. They couldn’t win the line of scrimmage, drew penalties, and failed to compete against Chicago’s starters and reserves. Sean McDermott stressed fundamentals and the need to evaluate the roster, particularly the young players getting extended looks as starters rested.

Cole Bishop worked on a rep-count while Joshua Palmer returned to build endurance, but the offense still looked out of sync. Jordan Hancock left with a shoulder issue as Buffalo rolled through its depth, with Deone Walker, Landon Jackson, and TJ Sanders logging meaningful snaps. Chicago capitalized on the moment, underscoring that preseason threads often reveal where teams must improve most before Week 1.

Moving forward, the Bills must translate joint-practice momentum into cleaner execution, less penalties, and sharper trenches. Depth evaluation becomes real when starters sit, and Buffalo will use practice reps this week to sharpen the run game, pass protection, and overall tackling while monitoring injuries and the growth of its youth core.