Who has been the best Bills player not named Josh Allen?

[HappyDays]

We're halfway through the season. Coming into the season, a big talking point was that the Bills had no real stars on the team other than Allen. In the past the possible answers to this question would have been easy - Tre White or Stefon Diggs. Now it's a bit less clear.

 

I included all of the names I thought would be the most common selections, but feel free to comment if you genuinely think a different player has earned this distinction.

 

I seriously thought about Christian Benford, but ultimately I'm going with James Cook. Might be recency bias but he's the one player on the team that consistently gets more than what's available. Shakir is a very close 2nd in that regard, I just think Cook gives you more consistent down to down production and Shakir's injury hurts him in my analysis.

 

My top 5:

1) James Cook

2) Christian Benford

3) Spencer Brown

4) Khalil Shakir

5) Dion Dawkins

[FireChans]

Cook. Consistently above average performance. Arguably our greatest weapon on offense. Pops on screen every week. Averaging an impressive (for running backs) 10.4 YPC.

 

Benford has also been excellent, but zone corners don’t get as much shine even when they are excellent
 

Bernard has made his impact known when healthy but has really struggled to stay on the field this season. His nose for the football is legitimately amazing, just always around turnovers and fumbles. Da’Norris Searcy on steroids.
 

IMO, our 3 stars not named Josh have been those 3. Brown, Dawkins, Taron, Shakir are all nice players but I don’t think they are stars.
 

I will say Shakir’s wiggle is elite. Brady gushing over him made sense, he has that knack to catch a 2 yard pass and somehow get 8. I can only imagine Seahawk fans yesterday were screaming “just tackle him!” like we used to do for Edelman every year. 

[Kirby Jackson]

Great topic @HappyDays and good list. There are options. Benford has been elite. Cook looks like a star. Shakir looks like Beasley that can run after the catch. The OTs are awesome. Bernard has been hurt but also looks like a star. Rousseau has been quite good (although I don’t know if he will ever be elite). Taron was hurt but is an all-pro. I think Taron Johnson is the next best player on the Bills. I would say that Cook is having the best season. You could make a case for any of the nominated players.

 

Shoutout to Keon Coleman for coming on as well. If he continues on this trajectory he could become a 1,000 yard guy with a bunch of TDs by next season. He looks like a player!

[Coach Tuesday]

I voted Benford.  He is basically just locking down his side on every play and seems to rarely even get tested anymore.

[Bruffalo]

23 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

We're halfway through the season. Coming into the season, a big talking point was that the Bills had no real stars on the team other than Allen. In the past the possible answers to this question would have been easy - Tre White or Stefon Diggs. Now it's a bit less clear.

 

I included all of the names I thought would be the most common selections, but feel free to comment if you genuinely think a different player has earned this distinction.

 

I seriously thought about Christian Benford, but ultimately I'm going with James Cook. Might be recency bias but he's the one player on the team that consistently gets more than what's available. Shakir is a very close 2nd in that regard, I just think Cook gives you more consistent down to down production and Shakir's injury hurts him in my analysis.

 

My top 5:

1) James Cook

2) Christian Benford

3) Spencer Brown

4) Khalil Shakir

5) Dion Dawkins

I like your list but Bernard is in my top 5. He's a huge difference maker who has gotten unlucky with injuries. 

[agilen]

Do you mean “over the whole 8 games”, or “right now”? It’s Keon Coleman right now.

[DC Greg]

1 minute ago, Bruffalo said:

I like your list but Bernard is in my top 5. He's a huge difference maker who has gotten unlucky with injuries. 

 Good call. I voted Benford but it is absolutely TB when he is on the field.

[HappyDays]

4 minutes ago, agilen said:

Do you mean “over the whole 8 games”, or “right now”? It’s Keon Coleman right now.

 

I meant over the course of the season so far. If it was right now it might be Amari Cooper even though he didn't do much yesterday.

[SectionC3]

Great topic!  

 

I’ll go Benford.  But there are a lot of worthy candidates on that list.

 

 I was just thinking this morning that we reloaded pretty quickly - Shakir is a stud, Kincaid is a stud, the OL is solid and settled, Cooper adds a new dimension to the offense, and, while I’m skeptical he’s a future #1, Coleman has been excellent.  And, on the other side, Rousseau looks (a little) like a Bosa, TB is phenomenal, Epenesa has been really good.  Cook is probably a one-contract player here because Davis looks like the real deal.  We are set up really, really well not only for this year but for the future. 

[BADOLBILZ]

3 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I voted Benford.  He is basically just locking down his side on every play and seems to rarely even get tested anymore.

 

 

Yeah I will go with Benford this season.   I can't really go with a RB, they have 3 of them who all make big plays.   And an off-ball LB wouldn't be my inclination either but when healthy Bernard is their best player on D.   His nose for the ball is epic and those plays change games.  He is the anti-Edmunds in almost every way both good and bad(durability).   He's even their best pass rusher.

 

 

[Magox]

15 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I voted Benford.  He is basically just locking down his side on every play and seems to rarely even get tested anymore.

 

Benford has been downright dominant.   As dominant as any CB in the league this year.

[dave mcbride]

I went with Rousseau, who has had three game wrecker games so far. Tough choice! 

 

I know he has only 3.5 sacks, but his 8 TFLs and 14 QB hits are twice as many as anyone else on the defense. Plus he has a couple of passes defensed.

Edited October 28 by dave mcbride

[Orlando Buffalo]

Benford and Rousseau have both been game changers. One will likely be leaving at end of contract, I don't know how we choose.

[T.E.]

18 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I voted Benford.  He is basically just locking down his side on every play and seems to rarely even get tested anymore.

You don't even hear his name on broadcasts anymore, which is great news for CBs.

[HappyDays]

3 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

I can't really go with a RB, they have 3 of them who all make big plays.

 

If I was taking positional value into account I definitely would have picked Benford.

 

I think Cook has pretty clearly separated himself from Davis/Johnson. RBs are inherently going to be somewhat limited by the run blocking so it can be hard to see that difference on tape. One example from yesterday - Davis had a run in the middle of the 4th quarter. Game was already over so it didn't really matter but he had one guy to beat and nothing but open space beyond him. Instead he got brought down for like a 4 yard gain. Cook gets a 50 yard TD on that play. That's where his skill set makes a legit difference to the team.

[Maynard]

Overall, I think it’s Benford. 

[Magox]

12 minutes ago, Orlando Buffalo said:

Benford and Rousseau have both been game changers. One will likely be leaving at end of contract, I don't know how we choose.

 

We choose both and FO can make it work.

[Sweats]

I voted Cook, but no one can deny that Coleman has been keeping drives alive by some of his outstanding play.

[Ray Stonada]

The cool thing is that so many guys are just playing solid, hungry, great football. 

 

This is an awesome team.

 

It's so great especially with the bad/weird vibes that lasted arguably from Thanksgiving 2022 (Von's knee) to Hamlin's collapse all the way through last year. 

[Coach Tuesday]

1 hour ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Yeah I will go with Benford this season.   I can't really go with a RB, they have 3 of them who all make big plays.   And an off-ball LB wouldn't be my inclination either but when healthy Bernard is their best player on D.   His nose for the ball is epic and those plays change games.  He is the anti-Edmunds in almost every way both good and bad(durability).   He's even their best pass rusher.

 

 

Wait are you going Benford or Bernard?  I went CB the CB not TB the LB but could make the case for either of them.