Bills Receiver Narrative Still Being Pushed
Bills Receiver Narrative Still Being Pushed originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Last season proved that Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen doesn't need a No. 1 receiver to be successful and lead his team to a deep playoff run.
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Allen won MVP and led an offense that averaged 30.9 points per game, with a 13-3 record (sat out Week 18). This body of work suggests that the receiver room is set.
But with Mack Hollins and Amari Cooper leaving, and Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore and Laviska Shenault Jr. coming in, the Bills' weapons appear to be at least as good on paper as last season.
Yet, the narrative that Allen needs more help continues to be pushed, and Bleacher Report is the latest publication to run with it, only to contradict itself.
Bleacher Report lists receiver as Buffalo's biggest need, but then proceeds to say:
"Josh Allen has proved he doesn't need an elite supporting cast to create an elite offense. The Bills were second in EPA per play despite Khalil Shakir leading all receivers with 821 yards. The Bills' group of playmakers was not elite, but it did work well together.
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"Dalton Kincaid, Shakir and Keon Coleman are all still early in their NFL careers. If each of them takes the next step and becomes an even more reliable target for Allen, then the team should be able to make a run at being the top offense in the league in every category."
Bills quarterback Josh Allen congratulates receiver Khalil Shakir on his touchdown catch.Jamie Germano / USA TODAY NETWORK
So color us confused.
The Bills "need" a receiver, but if everyone improves, that could be a top unit?
With Coleman entering Year 2 and Kincaid not dealing with a knee injury that had plagued him, both should see improvements in 2025. Additionally, Palmer can be seen as an upgrade over Cooper, at the very least, and possibly Hollins.
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Then we have Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir, who round out the offense.
If all take even a slight step forward, as Bleacher Report suggests, the unit could be one of the best in the league.
And that's without another receiver being signed.
Related: Is A Gabe Davis Bills Reunion Worth A Bills Look?
Related: Bills Offense Ranked Best in League Despite One Glaring Flaw
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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