Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills, Round 2, Pick 33
Keon Coleman was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the first pick of Round 2, 33rd overall, according to Adam Schefter.
Fantasy Football Impact for Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
When it comes to landing spots for receivers in the 2024 draft, none was more coveted than the Buffalo Bills. With over 250 vacated targets and Josh Allen at quarterback, there is a recipe for immediate fantasy success. While many expected the Bills to trade up, they instead traded back multiple times and ended up with Keon Coleman in the second round.
Coleman is a tall receiver at 6-foot-4 and should not be expected to step in where Stefon Diggs left off. His skill set aligns more with Gabe Davis' as an outside receiver. The most common knock on Coleman is that he is a project who will need to develop to succeed as an NFL receiver, namely his separation ability. However, you can't teach size, and Coleman uses his build well in jump ball and red zone situations.
No receiver currently on Buffalo's roster is anything like Coleman. He should start right away, and the 87 targets that Davis averaged over the last two years should immediately find their way to Coleman. If he becomes a touchdown threat, he could push toward the Top 30 in fantasy in his rookie season.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
The Bills desperately needed a wide receiver, and Coleman possesses a very different skill set from Curtis Samuel or Khalil Shakir. This move immediately helps Josh Allen, who is one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy but was sorely lacking weapons after the trade of Stefon Diggs and the loss of Gabe Davis in free agency. Coleman won't fill Diggs' role, nor does he have his skill set, but he can play a similar role to Davis and will still help Allen.
The addition of Coleman will cut into the speculated targets for Samuel and Shakir. In reality, their roles will remain unchanged. Because Coleman is more like Gabe Davis, one of those two will have the opportunity to secure the more target-heavy role vacated by Diggs. I think Shakir will get the first crack, having been with the team longer, but Samuel is a seasoned veteran and could win the role sooner or later. They are both late-round picks that could pay dividends if one of them secures Diggs' old spot.
Last year's rookie tight end, Dalton Kincaid, was already in for a more significant role. Adding an outside receiver should help open things up for him in the middle of the field. Coming off a rookie season where he finished as the 11th-best tight end in fantasy with 91 targets, a more prominent role should see Kincaid easily in the Top 10, and he could push for a top-5 season.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
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Overview
The Bills drafted Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall pick of the draft. He fills a need on the team with one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He'll need some development, but he could immediately make a fantasy impact and has a high ceiling in one of the best offenses for fantasy receivers.
For more information on the 2024 NFL Draft, check out the Footballguys Rookie Draft Guide, where you can read about Buffalo's Keon Coleman and other rookie team fits.
