KhalilShakir

News: 2 days agoShakir has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.

Spin: Shakir left the field during Friday's practice after having his right ankle examined by trainers. Subsequent evaluation has indicated that the fourth-year wideout is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. That almost certainly means he won't be available for Buffalo's first preseason game Saturday, Aug. 9 and also suggests he could be held out of exhibition contests entirely. It remains to be seen if Shakir will be ready to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season. Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer figure to lead Buffalo's wideout corps for however long Shakir is out.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: After two years in a situational role, Shakir emerged as Josh Allen's top target in 2024. The results were good in reality -- he caught 77% of his targets and was elite with the ball in his hands (7.9 RAC), both of which ranked fourth among WRs -- but not as much in fantasy. Shakir finished 35th in fantasy PPG and had little upside (his best weekly finish was 10th). He handled a 23% target share (an appealing number in a great offense), but most of it is in the short area (29% of his targets were screens) and he simply doesn't get much run near the goal line (seven career TDs and five career end zone targets). The 25-year-old's role drastically limits his ceiling and, especially with Keon Coleman and perhaps Dalton Kincaid ticketed for a leap forward, Shakir is best valued as a flex.