Emmanuel Sanders signs with Bills: ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the Buffalo Bills have signed WR Emmanuel Sanders to a one-year deal worth $6 million. The new deal includes an additional $500k in incentives.
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Comp update: Bills and WR Emmanuel Sanders reached agreement on a one-year, $6 million deal that includes another $500K in incentives, per source. https://t.co/Oy7TGg3Ex3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2021
Emmanuel Sanders Signs with Bills
The Bills have been relatively quiet in free agency. Their biggest signing was the re-signing of linebacker Matt Milano, one of the cornerstones of their defense. Buffalo also moved on from receiver John Brown, who signed with the Raiders following his release from the team.
While the Bills employ Stefon Diggs, who led the NFL in most statistical categories, chain-moving slot specialist Cole Beasley and impending second-year stud and fantasy football sleeper daring Gabriel Davis, the Bills aren’t leaving QB Josh Allen one weapon short. In fact, they inked a wideout similar to Brown, with Super Bowl experience, at a value, in Emmanuel Sanders.
Sanders, 34, has been around for a long time. 11 NFL seasons to be exact. And while he isn’t the same player from his days with Peyton Manning in Denver, he is still a quality deep threat on the perimeter. He is also a terrific mentor for a young receiver room.
Expect Sanders to be a starter in four-wide sets while splitting snaps with Davis in three-wide sets.
Last season with the Saints, Sanders hauled in 61-of-82 targets for 726 yards and five touchdowns. Although it wasn’t one of his most efficient seasons as a pro — Sanders was the 66th best wideout in yards per reception (11.9) — he was 15th in yards per route run (2.23).
I mentioned Sanders’s locker room experience above. He has appeared in three Super Bowls, winning one in 2015 with Manning’s Broncos.
Bills 2021 NFL Betting Outlook
Super Bowl 56 (NFL Champion) Winner
(Odds courtesy of PointsBet)
Bills (+1000)
As we stand, the Bills are slated with the third-best odds to win Super Bowl 56. Only the Chiefs and Buccaneers have better odds. While it remains early in the offseason, the Bills are expected to add a tight end who possesses a greater threat as a receiver than Dawson Knox. Still, the Bills, with a healthy Josh Allen at quarterback, presents one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL despite the fact that they couldn’t run the football if their life depended on it. If I was the Bills, I’d target a reliable back over another tight end.
At times last season, Buffalo’s defense did not look too good. Those were predominantly outings without Matt Milano, who the Bills retained. In 12 games with Milano, the Bills yielded 18.6 PPG and were a perfect 12-0. In six games without their stud linebacker, the Bills surrendered 29.38 PPG and were 3-3. Milano is their difference-maker on defense.
#Bills defense with and without Matt Milano (including playoffs)
With (12 games) - 18.6 PPG allowed
12-0
Without (6 games) - 29.8 PPG allowed
3-3
Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs gets all the accolades, but Milano is Buffalo’s unsung hero
— Anthony Cervino (@therealNFLguru) January 17, 2021
As we stand, the Bills are garnering (+1000) odds to win the Super Bowl If Allen remains healthy and Buffalo’s defense plays closer to the 18.6 PPG club, this is a fine wager to make.
Bills AFC East Winner (+450)
(Odds courtesy of PointsBet)
- Bills (-170)
- Patriots (+350)
- Patriots (+375)
- Jets (+1600)
It appears like the Bills are a lock to win the AFC East. However, although I wouldn’t mind placing a wager on them to win the Super Bowl, they don’t need to win the East to get there. With the Patriots expecting to be a much-improved club in 2021, they could give the Bills a run for their money. And let’s not forget the Dolphins, especially if they can figure out their quarterback position.
Still, the Bills are your best bet to win the East, which is where your wager should go if you are looking for the best odds over a sleeper.
