Each Wednesday during the NFL season I’m compiling power rankings of the best Buffalo Bills players for 2017. The rankings are cumulative and not based solely off their last game.
Here’s my rankings after Week four, a 23-17 victory in Atlanta (last week’s rankings in parenthesis):
1. Tyrod Taylor: If you don’t like the way Taylor’s played over the first month you’re simply looking to hate him. He went 12-of-20 for 182 yards and a touchdown as the Bills stunned Atlanta. He’s thrown one interception in four games. He’s making better decisions in the pocket and not always looking to take off running. He’s been a leader and the team responds to him. It may pain Nathan Peterman enthusiasts to admit it but bottom line is Taylor’s playing well enough for the Bills to maintain their early winning ways. He’s never going to be a world-beater but he’s done a very good job at the quarter-mark of 2017. (5)
2. Tre’Davious White: What more can you say about this kid? The Bills traded down from the 10th pick last April and ended up grabbing White at pick No. 27. He’s played like Buffalo would’ve had a steal if they took him 10th and maybe even better. With the exception of one half against Denver White’s been mostly sensational and his talents were on display in Atlanta again, including being alert enough to pick up a loose fumble and return it 52 yards for his first touchdown. White has looked nearly as good through his first four games as Stephon Gilmore did any point of his Bills career, and it’s not costing Buffalo $65 million either. He’s been the definition of a draft steal thus far. (6)
3. Ramon Humber: He hasn’t been spectacular by any means but the kid is always in position to make plays, and make plays he does. He leads the team with 35 tackles but unfortunately will miss time after injuring his hand in Atlanta; an injury that’s required surgery. Hopefully he’s back sooner than later, because I’m very concerned about this defense with Matt Milano in his place. (2)
4. Charles Clay: It’s refreshing to see Clay performing like the stud tight end Buffalo coveted when signing him to a ridiculous $35 million/seven-year contract a few years ago. Clay’s been the Bills biggest offensive weapon this year—catching five passes for a Buffalo career-high 112 yards in Atlanta. Clay has a team-best 227 receiving yards this year and 10 of his 18 receptions have went for a first down—showing he’s becoming more than just a Tyrod check down option. (9)
5. Micah Hyde: He’s been effective but relatively quiet through Buffalo’s first three games. The tranquil 2017 changed dramatically in Atlanta as Hyde made a pair of acrobatic interceptions off Matt Ryan, returning one for 35 yards to set up a crucial field goal. If there was any question that Hyde made be “overpaid” after Buffalo signed him to a five-year, $32.5 million deal with $14 million guaranteed, Hyde hasn’t emphatically answered. He’s the real deal and the glue to a revamped secondary that’s been world’s apart better than the past few years. (Not Ranked)
6. Lesean McCoy: McCoy ran for 76 yards on 20 carries in Atlanta. The output was far better than his previous two weeks, but the holes still aren’t there in the running game. He’s helped make up for it in the air (21 receptions for 163 yards) but has yet to find the end zone in 2017. At some point and very likely soon, the Bills need to find a way to run the football effectively. While the chief burden falls on the offensive line to create lane, Shady’s going to have to take things upon himself to make more big plays, even if he has to literally do it on his own That’s what the league’s great running backs do—something McCoy’s done plenty of times in his career. (4)
7. Stephen Haushcka: He just became the first Buffalo Bills player to win AFC Player of the Week (Special Teams) for a second consecutive week—joining Bruce Smith and Cornelius as the only players in franchise history to pull that off. Through this never-ending Bills playoff drought a special teamer appearing on a list like this was more an indictment of the team sucking (Brian Moorman, anyone?), but Hauschka has been absolutely vital to the Bills early success. He booted 55 and 56 yard field goals in the fourth quarter last Sunday. (10)
“I’ve gotten to a point where I feel more confident in a Hauschka 50-yarder than I did a Dan Carpenter extra point last year. I’m not joking.”
8. Jordan Poyer: He’s been quiet the past two weeks, but this is a cumulative power rankings so he still deserves to be on this list. He’s third on the team with 25 tackles and has five passes defended. (1)
9. Jerry Hughes: He’s the one who got to Matt Ryan to force the fumble White would return for a touchdown. Hughes leads the team with three sacks and has been playing with the speed and tenacity we haven’t seen from him since Jim Schwartz was his defensive coordinator. It couldn’t be more obvious Hughes is thriving playing for Sean McDermott in schemes that fit him far better than the Rex Ryan days. (Not Ranked)
10. Kyle Williams: There’s guys you just drop statistics on to state your case and be done with it. Kyle Williams is not one of those guys. Williams has but 13 tackles and one sack through four games. Who gives a shit. He’s been a rock in the middle of the defensive line, needed as much as ever with Marcell Dareus physically and/or mentally checked on and only young depth Cedric Thornton and Jerel Worthy behind them. Williams is a leader, a rock and a future Wall of Famer. (3)
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Off The Rankings: Lorenzo Alexander (seventh last week), Richie Incognito (eighth)
