The wide receiver position for the Buffalo Bills has gone from a massive offseason question to a position of need. Khalil Shakir is dynamic and electric, especially after the catch, Keon Coleman was emerging as a big play option before suffering a wrist injury, and Amari Cooper gives them a proven veteran capable of winning in his route and at the catch point.
What hadn't been seen through the first half of the season was hardly any involvement from free agent signing Curtis Samuel. Over the last two weeks, that has changed dramatically.
Expectations were high for Samuel when he was signed in free agency. His experience with offensive coordinator Joe Brady as a do-everything weapon with the Carolina Panthers was supposed to make him a chess piece in this offense.
Through Week 9, Samuel had a total of 12 receptions on 19 targets for 92 yards. Over the last two games, Samuel has a combined 9 receptions on 14 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. Samuel has arrived.
After weeks of hearing the coaching staff asked about Samuel and his involvement, and hearing them say "yeah we really need to get Samuel going," it's finally happening. Samuel has kept a great mentality through it all.
"I know Curtis [Samuel] hasn't had the amount of success that he's wanted in this offense so far, but he's been as consistent as possible. He works his tail off. I trust him implicitly," Josh Allen said after the game. "You know, I threw the ball and I got flipped upside down, and as I was getting up, I put my hands up because I knew he was going to score. Sometimes, it's your day, and we're going to have to utilize him going forward, because when he has the ball in his hands, he's a very, very dangerous playmaker."
Allen loves what he's seen from Samuel, who offers another speedy YAC option in this offense. How Brady deploys Samuel along with Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Amari Cooper after the bye week will be a fascinating plot to watch unfold.
