Before we turn our attention to free agency and the NFL Draft, PFF looked back on the season with their PFF Top 101 list. The group is a shoutout to the best players from 2021, regardless of their position.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, safety Micah Hyde and left tackle Dion Dawkins all made the list.
Allen's 42 total touchdowns and 4,407 passing yards this past season got him into the top 15.
14. QB JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS
2021 Snaps: 1,219 | 2021 PFF Grade: 91.7
If Allen regressed in 2021, it was very small, as the Bills quarterback was still a phenomenal quarterback. Allen was at his best in the postseason, and his rushing ability sets him apart from other passers. Allen led the league in yards per attempt (6.3) — 3.4 of which came after contact. No quarterback in the league has the full breadth of Allen's skill set, and he has now played to the level of those tools in two consecutive seasons.
PFF 101 Rank, 2020: 13
Hyde makes the list because he tied a career-high five interceptions in 2021 and was a cornerstone of Buffalo's No. 1 pass defense.
58. S MICAH HYDE, BUFFALO BILLS
2021 Snaps: 1,146 | 2021 PFF Grade: 83.8
Buffalo fielded arguably the league's best defense this season but overachieved relative to the sum of individual performances of the players. One of the members of the unit who did play up to that No. 1 ranking was safety Micah Hyde, who continued his impressive run of play. Hyde recorded six picks and three pass breakups — including the playoffs — as well as 19 defensive stops and even nine total pressures on the blitz.
PFF 101 Rank, 2020: unranked
While Diggs didn't have the same production as his first season with the Bills, PFF looks at him as at top 101 player because of his skillset that's tough to match at wide receiver.
68. WR STEFON DIGGS, BUFFALO BILLS
2021 Snaps: 1,016 | 2021 PFF Grade: 82.3
Diggs' production declined in his second season in Buffalo, as he averaged 1.9 yards per route run compared to 2.5 the season before. He saw four fewer targets over the regular season but had 24 fewer catches and was significantly down on yards. He did score two more touchdowns and remains an all-around excellent receiver. Diggs can win in a variety of ways and is a vital part of the Bills' offense.
PFF 101 Rank, 2020: 16
Buffalo's offensive line didn't have much consistency during the season due to injuries and Covid-19. But someone who was consistently performing at a high level was left tackle Dion Dawkins.
74. T DION DAWKINS, BUFFALO BILLS
2021 Snaps: 1,156 | 2021 PFF Grade: 83.5
There were a couple of ugly games in his season, but Dawkins had an excellent year overall for the Bills, playing more than 1,000 snaps in the regular season for the fourth straight year. He allowed 28 pressures from almost 800 pass-blocking snaps when including the playoffs and posted the best pass-blocking grade (82.8) of his career.
PFF 101 Rank, 2020: 83
