Bills fan favorite beats out star RBs on ultimate Buffalo roster from past 20 years
· Yahoo Sports
Josh Allen was the easy choice.
The Buffalo Bills' starting running back was a different story.
Visit mwafrika.life for more information.
Pro Football Focus built the ultimate Buffalo Bills starting lineup of the last 20 years using its player grades.
PFF selected Fred Jackson as the best Bills running back of the last two decades, putting the fan favorite ahead of a crowded group that included LeSean McCoy, Marshawn Lynch and James Cook.
“Running back was one of the most competitive positions on the roster,” PFF said. “Jackson played more than 1,000 additional snaps compared to any other Bills running back, which played a major role in his selection. Cook and several others would have a strong case if rushing production were the only consideration, but Jackson finished with nearly twice as many receiving yards in Buffalo as any other Bills running back.”
Jackson played eight seasons in Buffalo, rushing for 5,646 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 322 catches for 2,640 yards and seven more scores. He ranks third in franchise history in rushing yards behind Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson.
PFF’s rankings were based on grades from the 2006 through 2025 seasons. The site evaluated each player’s five best seasons with the franchise while factoring in performance and longevity.
Josh Allen gets help from Bills stars from different eras
Allen has spent most of his career making the most of the weapons around him. He gets to borrow a few from the past in his dream PFF offense.
PFF paired Allen with wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Lee Evans and Steve Johnson.
“Typically, when a quarterback is as dominant as Allen, he is surrounded by current and former teammates on an All-PFF roster,” PFF wrote. “That isn't the case here.”
Diggs is the only receiver on the list who played with Allen, making four straight Pro Bowls with the BIlls from 2020-2023. Evans had two 1,000-yard seasons in Buffalo and Johnson became the first Bills receiver with three straight 1,000-yard seasons.
The offense includes current tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox and tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown but the interior offenisve line is overhauled with C Eric Wood, LG Richie Incognito and RG Kraig Urbik.
Which Bills defenders made PFF’s all-time team?
The Bills’ recent run of success was well represented on defense, but two of the highest-rated players came from the playoff drought era.
Kyle Williams and Jairus Byrd were selected after earning some of the best marks in PFF’s system.
Williams spent 13 seasons with Buffalo, earning six Pro Bowl selections while becoming one of the faces of the franchise during the playoff drought.
The safety position created another difficult decision. Buffalo had one of the NFL’s best safety duos with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer during the Sean McDermott era, but PFF picked Hyde and Byrd as its two starters.
“Most franchises would be fortunate to find two standout safeties over a 20-year span, but Buffalo managed to find three,” PFF said.
Poyer played the most snaps of the three, but Byrd and Hyde earned higher overall grades.
Edge rusher Greg Rousseau and cornerback Christian Benford were the only two current Bills players selected on defense.
Buffalo Bills All-PFF team of past 20 years
Offense
QB: Josh AllenRB: Fred JacksonWR: Stefon DiggsWR: Lee EvansSlot WR: Steve JohnsonTE: Dalton KincaidTE: Dawson KnoxLT: Dion DawkinsLG: Richie IncognitoC: Eric WoodRG: Kraig UrbikRT: Spencer Brown
Defense
DT: Kyle WilliamsDT: Marcell DareusEDGE: Greg RousseauEDGE: Jerry HughesLB: Matt MilanoLB: Paul PoslusznyLB: Lorenzo AlexanderCB: Tre’Davious WhiteCB: Christian BenfordSlot CB: Taron JohnsonS: Jairus ByrdS: Micah Hyde
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills ultimate roster of past 20 years includes surprises