The Buffalo Bills transitioned very quickly and easily in life after Stefon Diggs. Josh Allen won the MVP and Khalil Shakir became his new No. 1 target, catching 76 passes and earning a four-year extension in the process. However, in the latest rankings from PFF, the Bills’ duo was ranked at No. 18 in the NFL.
“The Bills’ passing offense is more by committee, but Shakir seems to lead the group with the highest threat rate (target rate on routes run) and most targets in 2024,” Trevor Sikkema writes. “Though their average target depth as a duo is on the lower side, at 6.1 yards over the past two seasons, Allen and Shakir have ideal efficiency scores with the highest completion rate (83.6%) on this list and no turnover-worthy plays. They have good numbers for what is asked of Shakir, but he only ever really plays in 11 personnel, so it’s hard to say they’re a top duo since their connection is more situational and scheme-dependent.”
Meanwhile, Michael Penix and Drake London were ranked above Allen and Shakir, despite playing just three games together.
“This is the big bet of these rankings,” Sikkema writes. “In Weeks 16, 17 and 18 of last season, Penix recorded an 89.5 PFF passing grade when targeting London, with four big-time throws, 15 first downs and 352 yards in just those games. If they pick up where they left off, this duo could easily rank in the top 10 in production and efficiency in 2025 and beyond.”
Putting a duo featuring the MVP and a high-quality receiver under a quarterback with less than five starts is certainly banking on Penix and London to be the second coming of Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. Regardless, the Bills’ tandem is far too low.
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