Though there are more than a few reasons for Buffalo Bills fans to be concerned about going into 2026, the team has plenty of things that make it a contender. One of the areas that has garnered a ton of attention has been the receiver room.
The AFC East, as a whole, has seen a major shift in terms of the No. 1 receiver for each team. The Bills have serious offensive talent in the lineup, but how does their No. 1 receiver stack up against the rest of the division?
Ranking each AFC East team's WR1 heading into 2026
4.) Jalen Tolbert/Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins
We had to include both guys because it really isn’t all that clear who the No. 1 receiver is now that Jalen Waddle has been traded to the Denver Broncos. The Dolphins are undergoing a complete teardown and there just isn’t much talent to talk about.
At times, Tolbert looked like he could break out with the Dallas Cowboys but ultimately saw himself as a fringe option. Washington had 46 catches for 317 yards a season ago, but that doesn’t really give us much about how he will perform in an increased role. Things are not great in Miami, and the receiver position is a great indicator of that.
3.) D.J. Moore, Buffalo Bills
Moore comes to the Bills in an effort to provide quarterback Josh Allen with his first No. 1 receiver since Stefon Diggs left town. The 29-year-old receiver had his worst seasons with the Chicago Bears, though his underlying numbers rebounded in 2025.
It is worth noting two things. First, he had the best seasons of his career in Carolina under his new head coach Joe Brady. Second, Moore has never had a quarterback like Allen throwing him the ball before. He has the potential to bounce back and become the 1,100-yard receiver he was early in his career.
2.) Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Wilson was emerging as a legitimate star at the position after three seasons with the Jets in which he caught at least 83 passes and had a minimum of 1,042 yards for a bad team. The 2025 season was a mess for him, plagued by injuries. Despite playing in just seven games before being shut down for the season, he led the Jets in receiving with 395 yards.
When he’s healthy, Wilson is as legitimate as they come. He has elite tools, he just needs a quarterback to get him the ball. Geno Smith will be the best quarterback since he entered the league, so he should rebound and produce around 90 catches and 1,100 yards, if not more.
1.) A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
All we have heard in recent years is how much drama has surrounded Brown during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been moved, traded to the Patriots during the offseason. And he now gets to play with one of the most dynamic young quarterbacks in the league in Drake Maye.
Brown, at his peak, produced more than 1,400 yards and a minimum of seven touchdowns. Motivated by the trade and paired with Maye, there is no reason to expect him to do any less than the 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns he had last season.
A division banking on potential
This is the division of potential. Wilson, Brown, and Moore have all had red flags in their past, but all have the pedigree and potential to rebound. Moore and Brown are playing with two of the elite quarterbacks in the league.
For Moore and Brown, they have the potential to produce huge numbers and become integral pieces in their respective offenses. Only the lowly Dolphins look like they are going to get mediocre production out of their top receiver.
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