Bills training camp battle fantasy football managers must have their eye on

Buffalo’s offense already has its top two wide receiver spots locked down, with D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir entrenched as the clear top options. But the real intrigue for fantasy managers this summer lies behind them, where Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, and rookie Skyler Bell are set for a genuine training camp battle over the WR3 role. Whoever wins that job could carve out real weekly value in an offense quarterbacked by Josh Allen, making this one of the most fantasy-relevant position battles in the league this preseason.

Palmer Enters as the Presumptive Favorite, But Nothing’s Settled

Joshua Palmer arrives with the most experience of the trio, and some analysts view him as the early favorite to claim the boundary WR2 role opposite Shakir and Moore, at least on paper entering camp. But Palmer’s Bills tenure has been defined by inconsistency and injury, and he hasn’t caught a touchdown since November 2024, a red flag fantasy managers can’t ignore.

Coleman Faces a Make-or-Break Year Opposite an Intriguing Rookie

Keon Coleman enters his third season under real pressure, with his development becoming something of a running joke among Bills beat writers who’ve heard the “he’s put in the work” narrative every offseason without much on-field payoff to show for it. Still, Coleman actually won the fan confidence poll with 46% of the vote, suggesting there’s genuine belief he could finally break out now that the target competition has crystallized. Some analysts remain skeptical, projecting him firmly in the WR4/WR5 range for fantasy purposes unless he shows real improvement in target earning and consistency.

Skyler Bell, meanwhile, has quickly become the name generating buzz. The fourth-round rookie out of UConn posted a monster final college season with 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he led all wide receiver prospects in this draft class in receptions per game. After a rocky rookie minicamp that included multiple drops, Bell flipped the script during OTAs, hauling in catches from Josh Allen and even scoring a touchdown during 11-on-11 work, all while Coleman was absent from that particular practice. His combination of 4.4 speed and strong contested-catch ability at the college level gives him real upside as a dark horse in this race.

#Bills Rookie WR Skyler Bell is silky smooth

Reps of Bell working with Josh Allen following practice #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/peKR0l0CY6

— Bills Outlet (@billsoutlet_) July 29, 2026

What Fantasy Managers Should Watch For

For fantasy purposes, this battle matters because whoever wins the WR3 role steps into a favorable target share behind Allen in an offense that consistently produces fantasy value. Palmer offers the safest floor if he stays healthy and locks down the boundary role, but his lack of touchdown production is a real concern.

Coleman carries the most name recognition and draft pedigree, but he’s shown little so far to justify real fantasy investment, and this may genuinely be his last chance to prove himself in Buffalo. Bell, despite being a rookie, might offer the highest ceiling given his college production and increasingly impressive practice reps.

Fantasy managers drafting late or targeting sleeper value should monitor camp reports closely over the next few weeks, since preseason snap counts and target distribution will likely reveal Buffalo’s pecking order before Week 1 arrives. This is exactly the type of situation where waiting on a late-round flier can pay off if the right name emerges from the pack.

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