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          Buffalo Bills 2019 NFL season preview: Josh Allen's next step

          • ESPN.com
          Sep 3, 2019, 12:30 AM

          The Buffalo Bills are ranked No. 26 in ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. Here's everything you need to know about the Bills heading into the 2019 NFL season:

          The big question: Can Josh Allen put 'hero ball' days behind him?

          The Bills want their young quarterback to opt for his check-downs and intermediate options over pushing the ball downfield this season. His ability to do so and take care of the ball is paramount to offensive success in 2019. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

          Offseason in a nutshell

          A rebuilt offensive line (Mitch Morse, Quinton Spain, Ty Nsekhe, Cody Ford), a rebuilt receiver room (John Brown, Cole Beasley) and bolstered backfield (Frank Gore, Devin Singletary) give the Bills a new look in 2019. If Allen can take care of the ball and make smart decisions, this unit should be markedly improved from 2018. -- Louis-Jacques

          Inside the Bills' schedule

          Most important game: Week 17 against the New York Jets. These teams should fight for second place in the AFC East, and the season finale finishes what could be a season-defining stretch for Buffalo. Depending on the AFC wild-card situation, this could be a must-win for both teams.

          Toughest stretch: Weeks 13-16. The first half of the Bills' schedule includes two games against teams who made the playoffs in 2018. But a stretch that starts with a trip to Dallas in Week 13, followed by games at home against Baltimore, at Pittsburgh and at New England could make or break Buffalo's season.

          Over or under 7.2 wins? Over. Buffalo realistically could win six of its first eight. Factor in games against the Dolphins, Broncos and Jets in the second half of the season, and a nine-win season is more conceivable than a seven-win season. -- Louis-Jacques

          Schedule ranking: No. 29

          Buffalo has the easiest schedule in the league for the first two months, then a tougher-than-average schedule in the second half of the season. Five of the Bills' final eight games are on the road, including that difficult December stretch. But they also have a stretch of five home games out of six between Week 3 and Week 9. Like Miami, the Bills play the Jets and Giants at MetLife Stadium in consecutive weeks, but they do it to start the season, and their commute is close enough they don't have to stick around New Jersey for a week. -- Football Outsiders | See the full 1-32 ranking

          Breakout fantasy star: RB Devin Singletary

          The Buffalo backfield might be crowded, but with LeSean McCoy being cut and Gore likely in his final season, there's no doubt Singletary is the future. The third-round rookie is on the small side, but he's extremely elusive, ranking among the top backs in this year's class in broken tackle and evaded tackle rates in 2018. Singletary's career might start slow, but it's possible he'll be Buffalo's lead back at some point during the 2019 season. -- Mike Clay | More fantasy coverage

          The view from Vegas

          Super Bowl odds: 80-1 (opened 100-1)
          Over/under: 7 (O -140/U +120)
          Playoff odds: Yes +350, No -440

          Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of Sept. 2.

          Most interesting player prop

          Over or under 3.5 sacks for rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver:

          • Louis-Jacques: Over. He's not likely to break Keith Millard's record of 11 sacks for a rookie defensive tackle, but Oliver flirted with this prop bet total in the preseason. He should be able to use his quickness and strength to top it during the regular season.

          Bold prediction: Beasley finishes with a 100-catch season

          The former Dallas Cowboy has averaged 3.1 receptions per game in his career after playing in a run-heavy offense with elite receiving options around him. But he'll be one of, if not the focal point of Buffalo's passing attack in 2019. He might not lead the league in receiving yards, but he can average the 6.3 receptions per game he needs to reach the 100-catch mark. -- Louis-Jacques

          Where the Bills landed in NFLRank

          Speed reads before the opener