The Buffalo Bills’ special teams units were steady but unspectacular in 2025, with the unit ranking 15th in DVOA and allowing the 10th-fewest return yards. A look at advanced metrics reinforces conversations in support of Buffalo’s overall success on special teams last season.

As the fifth and final in a series evaluating the Bills’ roster for a potential 2026 Super Bowl run, after evaluating separately the front-seven, the defensive backfield, the running backs and offensive line, and the quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers, I’ll apply what I’ve termed the “Lofton Exercise” to categorize the special teams’ players as “game-winners” (elite talents who can single-handedly win multiple games), “win-with players” (reliable contributors who perform well but aren’t consistent difference-makers), or “needs improvement” (inconsistent or underdeveloped).

Advertisement

Below, I’ll incorporate 2025 stats, postseason performances, and advanced metrics like PFF grades, expected points added (EPA), success rates, and others to build my case. The group raised questions about depth and special teams reliability heading into the offseason.

Game-Winners

These players stood out as elite talents capable of dominating matchups and carrying the unit in critical moments. Their performances were crucial for the Bills’ success.

KR Ray Davis

Ray Davis performed exceptionally as a kick returner for the Bills last season, emerging as one of the league’s top return specialists. He finished the 2025 season as the NFL’s leading kick returner by average (30.4 yards per return), amassing a total of 943 yards on 31 kick returns, with the longest return going for a 97-yard touchdown. Davis also recorded six returns of over 40-plus yards and 27 returns of 20-plus yards, earning First-Team All-Pro honors as a kick returner.

Advertisement

Davis transformed into a “special teams star” after having never done return work in college and having only limited attempts as a rookie in 2024. His performance set a new Bills single-season record for kick return average. He was a sure-fire game-winner on special teams.

Win-With Players

This group provided reliable, complementary production without consistent domination. They’re players whose stats and metrics show solid contributions that help the team win, but they don’t carry teams alone.

K Matt Prater (UFA)

Matt Prater, signed midseason after Tyler Bass’ injury, converted 18-of-20 field goals (90.0%, tied-14th in NFL) with a long of 52 yards, and 46-of-49 extra points (93.9%, 31st). His Pro Football Focus (PFF) kicking grade was around 78.4, with strong touchback rates on kickoffs. According to FanSided, Prater ranked 14th in the NFL with a 3.7485 KVA, measuring his value added relative to league expectations based on distance.

Advertisement

In the playoffs, Prater was perfect on field goals and extra points. Prater showed a reliability (90% FG rate) that makes him a win-with specialist, especially so as seen in clutch situations like a 43-yard make vs. the Carolina Panthers. His age and health could be a concern, though.

P Mitch Wishnowsky

Wishnowsky played well as a stabilizer for the Buffalo Bills, signing as a midseason replacement and performing admirably with a 41.9 net punting average (15th/32 Punters). He averaged 46.7 yards per punt (15th), hitting 25 inside-20 (45.5%), and earning a PFF punting grade of 71.2 (16th/32 Punters), with a 58.2% hang time success rate. His hang-time average was 4.44 seconds, with a return percentage of 28.9%. His 69 total yards returned were the fewest allowed among qualifying punters.

Advertisement

Wishnowsky is a win-with veteran — he’s someone who can reliably control field position. His play last season no doubt help Wishnowsky earn his new deal with Buffalo for 2026.

LS Reid Ferguson

As the team’s longest-tenured player, Reid Ferguson remained a consistent presence on the field, participating in every game. He provided reliable snapping all season long, with no major mishandles noted. His niche role limits stats, but consistency makes him a win-with long snapper.

S/Specialist Sam Franklin Jr.

Sam Franklin Jr. served as a key special teams asset for Buffalo, playing in all 17 games. He primarily played on special teams, logging 329 special teams snaps (roughly 75% of the team total). Franklin recorded 13 total tackles (10 solo), anchoring the Bills’ special teams coverage unit. He signed a three-year extension this offseason, which show how much One Bills Drive values his production.

Needs Improvement

These players lacked consistency, often due to limited snaps, inexperience, or simply not being talented enough, even if some of them showed potential at some point. At this point in time, each of them requires more development for possible bigger roles.

Advertisement

PR Khalil Shakir

Shakir was a consistent punt returner for the Bills in 2025, avoiding fumbles or muffed punts on his 16 returns, but he failed to generate any big plays, with no touchdowns scored and nine fair catches. His return average of 7.8 placed him in the middle of the pack among qualifying returners.

With Shakir’s important role on offense, and the lack of impact on special teams, he should be considered only as a backup option when reliability is needed. Ideally, the Bills find a true specialist for this role in 2026.

Other Players in this tier:Final Assessment

The core special teams players were rock solid last season and would be welcomed back, in my opinion. It’s to be seen if Tyler Bass will take back the kicker spot after spending all of 2025 on Injured Reserve, or if a competition is brewing. I loved what Prater brought to the table and would love to have him back in 2026, but for now he remains unsigned as a free agent. Wishnowsky, Franklin, and Ferguson will be back, and that’s good news.

Advertisement

Davis will continue to lead the kick-return unit, but the Bills must find a better option to return punts so they can protect Shakir and give a boost to the role in general. Mecole Hardman Jr. should compete there, but more guys are likely to be brought in this offseason.

Overall, the Bills’ roster in 2025 had a group of five true Game-Winners (Allen, Cook, Brown, Benford, and Bishop), with two more (Rousseau and Kincaid) questionably making it. With 20 Win-With players (13 on offense, and seven on defense), we can start to see why the offense — which also had the biggest catalyst on the team in Josh Allen — had fewer issues than the defense.

Some of those players have now left the team, but the additions look very promising. I expect to have more players among the Game-Winners and Win-With groups when doing this exercise again, next year.

Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of Leading the Charge!