Buffalo Bills: PFF ranks Josh Allen as a tier-7A fantasy quarterback

Pro Football Focus ranks Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen as a tier-7A quarterback in their fantasy football QB tier list for 2019.

Pro Football Focus took a gander at the NFL’s offering for fantasy football quarterbacks and grouped them into tiers for 2019. The top-two tiers consist of Patrick Mahomes by himself in one and Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson sharing another. To find the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, you’d have to skip over a few to tier-7A.

Allen found himself alongside Lamar Jackson, Mitchell Trubisky, and Jimmy Garoppolo in tier-7A — otherwise known as “late-round high ceilings.” All four, including Allen, are limited in their success as fantasy options but have the upside to be No. 1 quarterbacks, or subsequently, fantasy MVP’s in the span of a season.

PFF’s Jeff Radcliffe didn’t break down Allen as a prospect, other than a mention of his ability as a runner. However, his legs are well worth a *shout out. Though Allen played 12 games as a rookie (11 starts), he led the Bills in rushing in 2018 with 631 yards and eight touchdowns. In the wake of his success, he set multiple records, including:

• Most rushing yards by a Bills quarterback in a single game (135).
• Most rushing yards by a Bills rookie quarterback in a season (631).
• First quarterback to lead the Bills in both rushing and passing.
• Most rushing yards by an NFL quarterback in a span of three games (335).
• First NFL quarterback to rush for 95+ in three straight games (weeks 12-14).

Allen’s outstanding rookie season as a rusher was unprecedented. For a 6-foot-5, 237-pound signal-caller with his best trait being a strong arm, almost nobody estimated for him to set NFL records on the ground so early. But it wasn’t a fluke. Though he often had to run to avoid sacks, Allen’s a talented, aggressive runner with jittery feet and a vertical that can get him to the moon.

However, Allen took a hit in fantasy quarterback analyzation due to his inefficiency as a passer in 2018. His accuracy is a long-standing concern, and it showed, as he finished the year with a 52.8% rate, 2,074 yards, and a 10-12 TD-INT ratio. But you’d be hard-pressed to find someone that claims his stock isn’t rising.

Many thought Allen should’ve waited a season to play, but unforeseen circumstances — not really, Nathan Peterman was throwing his usual interceptions — he had to hop into the fire.

The offense around Allen in 2018 wasn’t built to support a rookie quarterback; from skill-position players to offensive linemen, he needed help. Unless they are Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin, or Lamar Jackson, rookie quarterbacks shouldn’t lead their team in rushing (none did). Luckily, he got a massively upgraded offensive roster via a fruitful Bills off-season.

Now entering 2019, Allen has a supporting cast that can help offset some of the kinks of being an inexperienced NFL quarterback. He showed a marked development throughout his rookie season; the hope is that a revamped offense will continue that process.

Allen’s a gunslinger by nature, so he’ll make bad plays from time-to-time. But if he can cut down on that, and improve his accuracy, Allen may be going places — and not just in your fantasy draft.

*Not just because he looks good in shorts.