The idea of Khalil Shakir, a primary target in a Josh Allen-led offense nearing his physical prime, has been stronger than the production that fantasy football managers have gotten.
He has finished each of the past two seasons ranked outside of the top 30 but inside of the top 40 performers (PPR PPG) at the position, and while the week-to-week floor has a place in our game, does he have the potential to improve upon what we have seen to date?
Should You Draft Khalil Shakir in Fantasy Football?
I fear that the Shakir ship has sailed.
The Bills were the fourth-ranked scoring offense in 2025, and Josh Allen posted a career-high completion percentage on passes thrown less than 10 yards downfield (78.6%). In theory, that is the exact setup a Shakir truther would ask for, but the slot machine gave us just three top-24 finishes for the season, due in large part to scoring once from Halloween to the end of the season.
He is valuable to this team, as evidenced by his 19 catches on 21 targets during the two playoff games, and that should continue to be the case. However, with DJ Moore added to this wide receiver room, the floor lowers for a receiver who needs an elevated floor to maintain fantasy value, especially given his sub-4-yard average depth of target (aDOT) in 2025.
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If you want to sell yourself on one more season of Shakir hope, a buying window may present itself within your league as his ADP falls. He did see his red-zone target rate spike last season to 25.5%, up from 14.8% in 2024. In order for him to be a viable depth piece, he would need to catch five or more touchdown passes for the first time in his career to help offset the projected dip in volume.
Entering 2026, Shakir ranks comfortably outside of my top 100 overall players, slotting in behind receivers like Matthew Golden and Josh Downs, players with limited proof of concept who are poised for a greater role this season. Drafting Shakir as a cheap way to get exposure to an Allen-led offense makes sense in the right roster construction, but this is more a receiver you fall on than one you target.
Preseason Fantasy WR Rankings
- Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
- Puka Nacua | LAR
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
- Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
- Drake London | ATL
- Justin Jefferson | MIN
- CeeDee Lamb | DAL
- Nico Collins | HOU
- A.J. Brown | NE
- Malik Nabers | NYG
- George Pickens | DAL
- Chris Olave | NO
- Rashee Rice | KC
- Zay Flowers | BAL
- Jaylen Waddle | DEN
- Tee Higgins | CIN
- DeVonta Smith | PHI
- Ladd McConkey | LAC
- Terry McLaurin | WAS
- Emeka Egbuka | TB
- Tetairoa McMillan | CAR
- Garrett Wilson | NYJ
- Jameson Williams | DET
- Christian Watson | GB
- Luther Burden III | CHI
- Rome Odunze | CHI
- Parker Washington | JAX
- Carnell Tate | TEN
- DJ Moore | BUF
- Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI
- Davante Adams | LAR
- Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX
- Quentin Johnston | LAC
- Mike Evans | SF
- Stefon Diggs | WAS
- Michael Wilson | ARI
- DK Metcalf | PIT
- Jakobi Meyers | JAX
- Josh Downs | IND
- Michael Pittman Jr. | PIT
- Jayden Reed | GB
- Courtland Sutton | DEN
- Wan’Dale Robinson | TEN
- Chris Godwin Jr. | TB
- Alec Pierce | IND
- Makai Lemon | PHI
- Jordan Addison | MIN
- De’Zhaun Stribling | SF
- Khalil Shakir | BUF
- Romeo Doubs | NE
