NFL Draft 32 for 32 - Buffalo Bills Outlook

April 4, 2019

Brandon Murchison's 2019 NFL Draft team previews moves on to the Buffalo Bills. Will this team made another step forward as second-year QB Josh Allen progresses? What impact will the rookies drafted have on the fantasy values of this team?

Although the way the season unraveled for the Buffalo Bills, the argument can be made that this a team headed in the right direction. They have likely found their quarterback of the future in Josh Allen, while also sporting a young and improving defense. Just two years removed from a playoff appearance, with just a tweak here and there on the personnel side, this Bills team could be on the verge yet again.

Adding John Brown and Cole Beasley to this receiver core gives Allen pieces that can be utilized to match his skill set. Hit quick and timely passes to the underneath guys like Beasley and Zay Jones, only to take the top off the defense with deep threats John Brown and Robert Foster. Couple that with the rushing ability that was on display late in the 2018 season and you have a QB that some are hoping that Lamar Jackson can become. Can Allen become this year's Patrick Mahomes? A QB drafted late that returns his value ten-fold. I can see Allen pushing the envelope as a low-end QB1, but he is destined to finish the season somewhere between QB13-15.

Heading into the draft, the smart money would be on the Bills adding to the depth on the defensive side of the ball. But with a somewhat deep RB class this year, I expect to see the team find a replacement for the league's oldest RB duo in LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory.

Top Three Projected Selections

First Round- Ed Oliver, DT Houston (9th overall)
Second Round- Irv Smith, TE Alabama (40th)
Third Round- Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma (74th)

Remaining Picks
Fourth Round- 112th, 131st
Fifth Round- 147th, 158th
Sixth Round- 181st
Seventh Round- 225th, 228th

With a need to fill the hole in the inside of the defensive line, the Bills add Ed Oliver with their first pick of the draft. Somewhat undersized for the position, what he lacks in that area, he more than makes up for in the athletic ability department. He can add bulk and mass once he begins training at the pro level, but it's hard to teach his instincts. His explosiveness will disrupt an offensive interior as his quick first step allows him entry into the backfield. Oliver's addition can help to improve the value of the Bills defense in fantasy terms, making them a fringe team to draft as a starting unit.

In the second round, the team looks to fill the shoes left empty by the departure of Charles Clay. Consider them filled with the selection of TE Irv Smith. He is still early in his development at the position, but the skillset can be seen quickly once he's on the field. He has a great combination of skills as both a blocker and as a pass catcher. Excellent footwork allows him to find open space, where his above-average hands can haul in even the toughest catches. He could grow a rapport with Josh Allen early on in the 2019 season, leading to production similar to that of O.J. Howard during his rookie campaign. Smith will have value as a streaming option late in the year for seasonal players in fantasy, but as far as dynasty is concerned, he will be either the second or third TE off the board.

Rodney Anderson could be a steal for the Bills if he makes it to the team's selection in the third round. He is still in recovery mode from a torn ACL early in the 2018 season at Oklahoma. If not for the injury, Anderson would be a bonafide first rounder in this year's draft. He will be afforded the time to get back to full health playing behind McCoy and Ivory, but once the training wheels are off, look out. He is a volume runner that could see the majority of the workload in his second season.

Anderson may also not be a burner in the speed department, but can get to the second level easily, force missed tackles, and gain chunks of yardage. He also has a knack as a pass catcher out of the backfield, adding some PPR format appeal. He will be worth a look as a flier late in seasonal drafts this season, but his dynasty stock is where it's at. I have him currently as a fringe first-round pick in rookie drafts, a value that he could easily return early in his career in Buffalo.

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