Bills WRs Fantasy Outlook: Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer

The Buffalo Bills’ receiving corps enters 2025 as one of the NFL’s most intriguing question marks, with no clear alpha receiver emerging after Stefon Diggs’ departure. While Josh Allen remains an elite quarterback, the fantasy outlook for his pass-catchers tells a story of opportunity mixed with uncertainty.

Khalil Shakir Fantasy Outlook

I’m afraid the Khalil Shakir hype train has moved on. Still only 25 and entering his fourth season, plenty are still holding out hope for a post-hype breakout, but I’m personally not betting on it. While everyone would want QB Josh Allen’s top target, the Bills have an offense where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

Shakir had a solid 2024 following the departure of WR Stefon Diggs, earning 100 targets for 76 receptions, 821 yards, and four touchdowns. That’s reasonable production and a solid step up from 2023, but it’s not enough to move the fantasy needle.

He’d need a similar production bump for a true breakout, but he’s been nursing a high-ankle sprain in camp, and is competing in a deep receiver room with Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, and Curtis Samuel. 

I just don’t believe the touchdown production will be there. The red zone is where Josh Allen lives, and when he’s not, it’s James Cook. Shakir fills a nice role in this offense as a chain-mover and YAC guy, but I don’t think his profile offers enough floor or ceiling at his current ADP. 

– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst

Keon Coleman Fantasy Outlook

The Buffalo Bills have been desperate to find a new go-to target for QB Josh Allen ever since they parted with WR Stefon Diggs. They’ve been more than fine without that alpha, but high draft capital spent on Coleman and TE Dalton Kincaid shows that this front office is prioritizing weaponry. The problem is, those guys haven’t been paying off. 

Keon Coleman

Passed the Year 1 Eye Test.

Games in Full Time Role Last Year
– Week 7: 14.5 Fantasy Points, WR13
– Week 8: 15.5 FPts, WR13
– Week 9: Wrist Injury

Just Starting to Produce…

Then OUT 4 Weeks.

Looking Ahead to 2025…

pic.twitter.com/Bn49UQzuHN

— Joe Orrico (@JoeOrricoFF) August 22, 2025

It’s only been one season, but so far, it looks like they may regret going with Coleman over Ladd McConkey or allowing the Chiefs to get ahead for Xavier Worthy. There’s plenty of time for Coleman to hit his stride, but 29 receptions, 556 yards, and four touchdowns are a far cry from what the Bills were hoping for from him. Adding Joshua Palmer only muddies the waters for all of the receiving weapons. 

There’s so little hype around Coleman that he’s going as WR50 deep into drafts. The fear isn’t so much that he’ll wash out entirely, but rather that even if he improves, he’ll be pigeon-holed into a role that isn’t conducive to fantasy relevance. A downfield, possession receiver who’ll have to fight for touchdowns with a rushing QB and good run game. 

Coleman may be worth the shot in deeper leagues or if you ended up with Josh Allen, but the ball may spread out too much to get even semi-reliable production from the young receiver. 

– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst

Joshua Palmer Fantasy Outlook

It feels like, for a couple of years now, we’ve been too far on one side or the other with Josh Palmer. Of course, no one has gone out of their way to crown him the next big thing, but he has been a popular sleeper with hopes of becoming a mainstay. However, I think that outcome is pretty unlikely. 

What you can get from Palmer is a rock-solid piece of a great offense. QB Josh Allen needs to throw it somewhere, and between WR Keon Coleman, TE Dalton Kincaid, and WR Khalil Shakir, there isn’t a standout option. That’s a blessing and a curse for Palmer, because the ball will be spread out unless he can stand out. I wouldn’t bet on that, but he can be a reasonable fill-in. 

But, there is a smidge of upside here. Before OC Greg Roman came in, Palmer managed 769 yards on 72 receptions back in 2022 for the Chargers. If he can put it all together and top those numbers, he’ll be very fantasy relevant. The problem is, I can’t imagine he’ll suddenly become a red-zone target. His previous career high of four scores won’t do, and this Bills offense won’t need him in the red zone. 

Palmer is more likely to be a waiver target early unless you’re in a deep league. For those leagues, he can be a very serviceable flex option. For your standard redraft leagues, look elsewhere for upside. 

– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst