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

[Alphadawg7]

3 hours 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 top 5...however, I would put Shakir as number 2, he simply has delivered every opportunity he gets and is among the best in the NFL in a number of receiving categories right now.  

 

I would also bump one of Brown or Dawkins (they have had a pretty equal season IMO, but probably bump Brown just because Dawkins plays the more important side) and replace them with Rasul Douglas who has been excellent this season again.  

 

Honorable mention is Bernard, but he can't make the top 5 when he can't stay on the field.  

 

So my list would be:

1. Cook
2. Shakir
3. Benford
4. Dawkins
5. Douglas

 

[billsbackto81]

I have to go by how the squad performs like when said player is playing or not playing. 

 

To me Bernard and Taron Johnson are two players that are not easily replaced  when they're not on the field. The overall play takes a noticeable step back.

 

Benford has been nails all season. 

 

To me it's:

Bernard, Johnson and Benford in that order.

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

Taron needs to be in the conversation as well.  He's basically a CB/linebacker hybrid and probably the best tackler on the team.  He is playing at a really high level despite the drop-off in help behind him.

 

I think Taron IS the second best player on the team but in terms of just this year he has only played half the games and he played like 2 series in the first of them so that keeps him out of the conversation for now for me. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

3 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

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.

Yea I think people scoff at the sack total but it’s really cuz the guy hasn’t had much help.  I feel like the dline is gonna go off when von comes back even if von continues just his pretty good play like at the beginning of the season without any major improvements. 
 

smoot has filled in ok, AJE will randomly make a huge play but is mostly eh.  Even a pretty good von is a pretty big upgrade 
 

 

[VW82]

When he’s been on the field, Kincaid has easily been one of our best players. I’m surprised he was left off the voting list.

 

Rousseau got my vote. Next would be Kincaid, Benford, Cook in some order. Taron would’ve made that list if he hadn’t missed so much time. 

Edited October 28 by VW82

[Alphadawg7]

40 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think Taron IS the second best player on the team but in terms of just this year he has only played half the games and he played like 2 series in the first of them so that keeps him out of the conversation for now for me. 

 

Agreed, and just furthering Taron's value, I am not sure I can recall another NCB that impacted his defense individually as much as Taron does here.  Im sure there has been one or some, but honestly can't think of one that was as important and impactful as Taron is in this system for this defense.

 

 

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Agreed, and just furthering Taron's value, I am not sure I can recall another NCB that impacted his defense individually as much as Taron does here.  Im sure there has been one or some, but honestly can't think of one that was as important and impactful as Taron is in this system for this defense.

 

 

Chris Harris at his peak in Denver. I know he played outside a bit too but he was mainly a nickel and a game changing one. He is the only one I'd put in that category off the top of my head.

 

[Alphadawg7]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Chris Harris at his peak in Denver. I know he played outside a bit too but he was mainly a nickel and a game changing one. He is the only one I'd put in that category off the top of my head.

 

 

Ah yes, that is a good pull, although like you said he didn't play exclusively NCB like Taron does, but a nice pull none the less.

[billsbackto81]

35 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Agreed, and just furthering Taron's value, I am not sure I can recall another NCB that impacted his defense individually as much as Taron does here.  Im sure there has been one or some, but honestly can't think of one that was as important and impactful as Taron is in this system for this defense.

 

 

Honey Badger was pretty impactful in KC when healthy. 

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said:

Honey Badger was pretty impactful in KC when healthy. 

 

He played almost exclusively safety in KC though. He did some nickel in Arizona but at Kansas City he was a safety. 

[Alphadawg7]

7 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said:

Honey Badger was pretty impactful in KC when healthy. 

 

Yeah but he was a safety, not a NCB in KC.

[davefan66]

Shakir.

[BADOLBILZ]

4 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

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.

 

Chritian Benford.   He's been consistently excellent and has stayed on the field.

[NewEra]

1-Benford

2-Douglas

 

They aren't 1 and 2, but their impact has been equal to them being 1 and 2.  I feel like the only success opposing offenses have throwing the ball is over the middle (at cam, the S and LBs) or to their RBs, Our corners have been stellar on the outside and vs the run. Taron has been great as well, but time missed excludes him from the list.  Our CBs are our best unit other than QB.  Enjoy them this season

 

3- Cook-  His explosion through the hole and decisiveness has me hard.  He looks like a back worthy of getting paid.  Just not by us.  Ray has been great in his own right, but cooks explosion through the hole just looks so special to me this season
 

4-  Shakir-  He’s one of the top slot WRs in the league.  The reporter that compared him to a Beasley with great YAC hit the nail on the head imo.  That’s what he reminds me of.  My 2nd favorite play of the game (Keons TD being my favorite) yesterday was his catch and run where he setup Witherspoon and took him to the woodshed.   He’s so nasty in the open field and I’m so confident he’s going to beat the first tackler on almost every tough.  

 

T5-  Greg Rousseau-  I don’t get enamored by sack stats like some.  He’s a top 5 player on the teams 

 

T5-  Offensive line run blocking-  I took the easy way out but they’ve been great and deserve a mention. Dawkins has been our best OL, but our run blocking across the board has been great minus a game or 2. The OL is one of the biggest reasons Cook is towards the top of the list.  

Edited October 28 by NewEra

[Process]

Take your pick. A lot of studs on this team.

 

I hope Shakir, Bernard and Benford are all here for a very long time. 

 

Bills have a lot of money they need to hand out in the next couple years. 

[BillsFan130]

Voted Benford myself- 
 

He is not flashy, but the dude just does not give up yards and is a great run filler.

 

He is having an elite season IMO

[ghostwriter]

I voted Cook but I thought hard about Benford because he’s an elite player at a premium position.

[LabattBlue]

On a related note, how much is Shakir going to cost(2nd contract)?  I believe he has one more year under rookie deal. 

[Chaos]

I am going to say Keon.  He is doing things no one else on the team can do. 

 

[Coach Tuesday]

1 hour ago, LabattBlue said:

On a related note, how much is Shakir going to cost(2nd contract)?  I believe he has one more year under rookie deal. 

He will want Amon-Ra numbers (thanks, Lions!) but I think he’s a tick below that level of talent.  But if he keeps producing like this, he will get it somewhere.