Player rankings in the fantasy updates below generated by "The Machine" are listed next to each player.
Quarterbacks
With the retirement of last years’ starting quarterback Kyle Orton, the Buffalo Bills may have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. Whether the Bills start Matt Cassel (168) or EJ Manuel, neither is a desirable fantasy quarterback. Cassel, while being the more experienced of the two, is coming off a season where he played in just three games for the Minnesota Vikings. Manuel was benched in 2014 after a 2-2 start. He’ll look to regain his starting job in training camp.
Running Backs
In 2014, the Bills ranked 20th in rushing attempts with 402 while Rex Ryan’s New York Jets ranked fourth with 507. Add LeSean McCoy (23) and Fred Jackson (147) to Rex’s run-first approach and the Bills have a scary rushing attack. If McCoy is healthy throughout the season, expect him to see upwards of 300 carries as he averaged 313 the last two season. McCoy is almost a lock to rush for 1,000 yards. There’s no reason to doubt Shady this upcoming season and it would be a surprise to no one if he led the league in rushing once again.
While Fred Jackson’s value has decreased, I wouldn’t say he’s useless. Jackson carried the ball 141 times last season in 14 games. If he’s able to stay healthy throughout the season, he could see a similar amount of carries making him a potential bye week No. 2 RB in a deeper league.
Wide Receivers
Sammy Watkins (38) and Percy Harvin (132) headline the young Bills receiving corps. Watkins is coming off a solid rookie season where he caught 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns. Even with the questionable quarterback situation, it’s hard to see Watkins regressing in his career. With a year under his belt, Watkins now knows what it takes to succeed in the NFL and should eclipse 1,000 yards in 2015.
Percy Harvin is an interesting fantasy receiver. He’s a dynamic player who is able to make plays with the ball but has never had a season with over 1,000 yards receiving. With the quarterback situation up in the air, I personally would stray away from Harvin. He hasn’t been consistent enough to make decent No. 2 WR, nor does he have the track record of success. To me, he seems like a poor man’s Cordarrelle Patterson.
Tight End
The Bills upgraded their tight end position this offseason with the signing of Charles Clay (181). While Clay had a disappointing year in 2014, he was still able to haul in 84 passes for 605 yards and score three touchdowns. His six-foot-three-inch frame makes him a big red zone target and one that could help the Bills this coming season. Look for Clay in the 16th round as he could be a nice late round tight end.
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