The Buffalo Bills are an established powerhouse in the NFL, having a star quarterback in Josh Allen and a phenomenal rushing attack that is led by James Cook. While the offense has delivered, it's been the defense that has been the main problem. With Jim Leonhard now calling the defense, that should very well change this coming season.
However, that doesn't mean that the offense is perfect either. For the past two seasons, the Bills haven't had a true No. 1 receiver which has hurt them many times. For as great as Allen is, he needs help on the outside.
The acquisition of DJ Moore this offseason certainly helps, as Moore gets a new start after a down year in Chicago. He gives Allen the No. 1 presence that has been missing since the departure of Stefon Diggs. At the same time, we can't ignore one specific playmaker who has taken on the role as the No. 1, without being a true No. 1 receiver.
Khalil Shakir is still overlooked as true contributor heading into 2026 season
Kristopher Knox from Bleacher Report ranked some of the most underrated receivers going into this season, and Shakir was listed at No. 4 out of 7 receivers.
"The 26-year-old has caught more than 75 percent of his targets and provided a passer rating above 100.0 in each of the past three seasons. Moore may be stepping in as the new No. 1, but Shakir should be one of the league's better second options." said Knox.
When it comes to Shakir, he may not be super well-known across the league, but he is absolutely beloved by Bills Mafia. He is reliable, shifty, and he has taken on the unofficially role as Josh Allen’s No. 1 target the last two seasons.
He catches over 75% of his targets and he’s had 195 targets the last two seasons. He is no longer in that “underrated” tier, but instead he should be considered as a great contributor.
Now that Moore is coming into the picture, maybe there is a world where Shakir won't have the same impact that he has had the last two seasons. On the other hand, teams won't have the ability to focus in on Shakir all the time because of Moore's presence. Not to mention, Dalton Kincaid is also very valuable for this offense.
While Shakir is well-respected and is beloved by Bills fans, it seems like he is still this "underrated" type of player even though he's been the best receiver the Bills have had the last two seasons.
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