For as impressive as LeSean McCoy and the Buffalo Bills running game have been this season, you could make the case that wide receiver Sammy Watkins is the team’s best playmaker; it’s high time for the team to finally use him like the elite player he is.
In the offseason, Watkins made waves as the Bills best player in training camp, which is unsurprising given how good he looked in his first offseason as a rookie. Watkins had some ups-and-downs in his first year, but, for the most part, he looked like a “hit” and immediately established himself as a game-breaking playmaker.
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Despite the fact that he has just 34 receptions through nine games here in 2015, Watkins has taken even more steps forward. The problem is that the Bills simply don’t feed him enough on offense, and it’s disappointing to see how much this team seemingly underrates him. While it’s fair to point out that Watkins is often dealing with nagging injuries, the fact that he received just four targets in last week’s win over the Houston Texans seems pretty inexcusable.
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Here’s why. On those four targets, Watkins put up three catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, moving his yards per reception average to 18.7 on the season. Only Karlos Williams has more touchdowns from scrimmage than Watkins’s six, and Williams has the benefit of getting touchdown opportunities as both a pass-catcher and ball-carrier.
With 18.7 yards per reception, 70.3 yards per game, and an outstanding 11.98 yards per target (all obviously team-highs), Watkins is clearly Tyrod Taylor‘s best weapon in the passing game. Given that Watkins owns back-to-back 100-yard games, Taylor is starting to value his No. 1 receiver’s elite playmaking skills more.
Earlier this season, Watkins made a bit of a stink when he said that the Bills need to get him the ball more often, and many people were critical of his seemingly selfish statement. But the thing is, it’s not selfish if a star player wants to have a chance to elevate his team into the playoffs. Based on the fact that he’s had back-to-back 100-yard games and averages nearly 12 yards whenever he’s thrown at, Watkins is indeed the type of player who can turn the 6-6 Bills into something more.
I mean, why wouldn’t you want to feed a guy with his ball skills, quickness, acceleration, and production? Watkins is just second on the team in receptions per game (behind chain-moving tight end Charles Clay), and yet he averages 27.3 receiving yards per game more than the Bills pass-catcher with the second-highest yards per game mark.
This week, the Bills will take on Byron Maxwell and the Philadelphia Eagles, and Watkins has a prime chance to break things open with his explosiveness. The Eagles pass defense is actually solid, largely thanks to an elite front seven, but I don’t see a single player in the Eagles secondary who is capable of stopping Watkins from generating a big play or two. He’s on fire right now when it comes to making game-changing catches, and it’s time for the Bills to ride that wave for more than just, say, four targets in a game.
Sep 20, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
With three touchdowns in his last two games, Watkins is a good bet to find the end zone for a third straight week, but the Bills need to be more serious about featuring him.
We’ve seen what second-year stars like Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, and Allen Robinson are capable of when fed a steady diet of targets, and, well, Watkins was selected above all of those guys in the 2014 draft.
It’s not like he’s failed to meet expectations either (again, just look at his yards per target average), but the Bills have, in a sense, failed him by throwing it to him just 5.9 times per game.
The Bills traded up for him for a reason, and most draftniks had him as the No. 1 WR in that class above other clear future stars for an equally good reason. Watkins is a special talent in every sense, and Taylor and the Bills need to trust him to make those big plays.
He’s burned some of the best corners in the league this season, and he’s shown that he can go up and make plays in tight coverage (just as Kansas City Chiefs No. 1 corner Sean Smith).
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Every game is a must-win affair for Rex Ryan’s Bills, and if this team wants to sneak into the playoffs, it’s time for them to ride their best players. McCoy is undoubtedly one of them, but it’s Watkins who brings the most big-play ability to the table, especially in conjunction with Taylor’s threatening deep ball ability.