Fantasy football breakdown of Bills roster following free agency

NFL free agency started on March 18th, but technically does not end until the end of the season. However, after a firehose of news the first week, and another run the second week, things quiet down to a trickle. There are still big names out there, but it’s going to take some time to get them signed, sealed and delivered.

With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at where teams stand after the early rush of free agency and what it means for fantasy football. We’re going to take a look at the skill positions, breaking down what the starting lineup and reserves will look like to assess fantasy value heading into August drafts.

Today, we’re taking a look at the Buffalo Bills. The Bills gave the Minnesota Vikings four picks — including a 2020 first-round pick — in exchange for Stefon Diggs to enhance their receiving corps. Most of Buffalo’s core group is sticking together for the 2020 season, but cornerback Josh Norman has been added to the secondary. Let’s take a look at the potential fantasy impact of the players on Buffalo’s roster.

Quarterback

Starter: Josh Allen
Backups: Matt Barkley, Davis Webb

Allen took a huge step forward in year two after finishing as a QB21 in standard leagues as a rookie. He scored the sixth most fantasy points in in 2019, and ranked 10th on DraftKings.

Allen is still growing as a passer and threw for 3,089 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. But he also led all quarterbacks with nine rushing touchdowns. He only trailed Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray in total rushing yards among quarterbacks. Adding Diggs should only raise Allen’s ceiling as a passer, so expect him to be a top 10 fantasy signal-caller for a second straight year.

Running Back

Starter: Devin Singletary
Backups: T.J. Yeldon, Taiwan Jones, Christian Wade

Singletary ranked 31st at his position in standard leagues as a rookie and led Buffalo in rushing yards (755) while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Frank Gore had 15 more carries than Singletary in 2019, but is now a free agent. That means a healthy Singletary should be able to become a true feature back from Week 1 in 2020. He can contribute as a runner and has serviceable hands as well. This could help him climb into the top 20 in year two.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, John Brown
Backups: Duke Williams, Isaiah McKenzie, Andre Roberts

Considering what the Bills gave up for Diggs, it appears they think of the wideout as a top option. But Diggs wasn’t a top 20 receiver in Minnesota while Adam Thielen missed six games. Allen isn’t the most accurate and already has chemistry with Brown and Beasley. I’d say this receiving corps can be a productive group, but expect them to sit between the top 20 and 30 in most leagues. None of them will have elite numbers.

Tight End

Starter: Dawson Knox
Backups: Tyler Kroft, Lee Smith, Jason Croom

Knox ranked 29th among tight ends in standard leagues last year and 32nd on DraftKings. Diggs and the emergence of Singletary will likely make it harder for him to put up even average numbers after he posted 28 receptions for 388 yards and two scores in 2019. Don’t expect him to see too much movement in 2020.