Pro Football Focus recently revealed the most underrated player on each NFL roster, and fans of the Buffalo Bills will likely see their selection as no surprise.
PFF picked out wide receiver Khalil Shakir as the most underrated Bill. The former Boise State Bronco was selected by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and has quickly made himself a recognizable name.
Shakir appeared in 15 games for the Bills this season, making nine starts. He hauled in 76 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns, serving as the Bills' leading receiver by nearly 300 yards.
"Shakir has been a stable contributor for the Bills’ receiving corps over the past two seasons, and he stepped up significantly in 2024 in Stefon Diggs‘ absence, leading the team in targets (115), receiving yards (995), PFF receiving grade (80.1) and yards per route run (2.20). Shakir placed in the top 25 for the position in all of those categories.
He has also been one of the most effective receivers with the ball in his hands, averaging 7.7 yards after the catch per reception since 2023, which is tied for the sixth-best mark among wide receivers." Wrote PFF's Jonathon Macri.
The Bills clearly share Macri's assessment and believe he's got even more room to grow, as the team did not target a true No. 1 receiver in free agency, the draft or via trade. The biggest named wide receiver addition was Joshua Palmer, who will likely be second fiddle to Shakir this season.
It wasn't just in 2024 where Shakir was a PFF darling. In 2023, he posted an overall offense grade of 76.7, a receiving grade of 76.9, and a career-high pass block grade of 69.9.
In 2024, Shakir posted offense grades of 70.0 or higher in 10 different games, including the playoffs. Some of his best performances came in prime-time, with his highest mark being an 81.1 against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11, followed by a 79.9 mark against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. His 76.8 mark against the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round was his fifth best mark of the season as well.