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Stock up, stock down after the Bills' 31-7 preseason win over Browns
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- Stock up, stock down after the Bills' 31-7 preseason win over Browns
The Buffalo Bills (2-0) began this preseason with an impressive win over the Carolina Panthers as some of the starters showed what they're capable of before the regular season comes around. Buffalo had another interesting matchup on the road at the Cleveland Browns (0-2) and the Bills looked like they're going to be a major problem again this upcoming season.
None of Buffalo's projected starters saw the field on Saturday, but the Bills still beat the Brown 31-7 thanks to how well both sides of the ball performed. With quarterback Josh Allen being among the starters that did not play, Kyle Allen drew the start and had an encouraging performance as he competes with Shane Buechele for the backup quarterback job while Ja'Mori Maclin stood out among the receiving corps.
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On the other side for Cleveland, quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson tried to put their best foot forward, but it seems like the Bills weren't intent on letting them carve up the field. With that being said, Buffalo took care of business against a Cleveland team with a strong defense, here is the stock report for the Bills following Saturday's win over the Browns:
Stock Up: QB Kyle Allen
Allen is currently competing with Shane Buechele for the backup quarterback spot behind Josh Allen and how he performed on Saturday could give him the inside track for the job. Allen finished the contest completing 10 of his 12 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown while slightly edging out Buechele when it comes to passer rating.
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Stock Down: TE Jackson Hawes
Jul 29, 2026; Rochester, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Jackson Hawes (85) catches a pass during training camp at St. John Fisher University. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Part of what makes the preseason interesting is that plenty of players are competing for something, whether it's playing time or seeing the field at all. Hawes is one of those players that is competing just to see the field at the tight end spot with players like Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid firmly ahead of him in the pecking order and his one-catch-for-two-yard effort is not going to cut it.
Stock Up: S Damar Hamlin
Aug 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) returns an interception as Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Austin Barber (58) tries to make the tackle during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Hamlin is in an interesting spot during this preseason as he has seen playing time at the safety position for the Bills in recent years, but it seems that the defensive backfield is always looking for more playmakers. Hamlin not only got involved with his tackling (five total, two solo), but he also brought down an interception to show his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
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Stock Down: LB Dorian Williams
Williams spent time last season filling in at linebacker when players like Terrel Bernard were out due to injury and he performed well for the most part at the Bills were trying to get to the Super Bowl. Coming into the preseason, Williams is listed as a starter alongside Bernard, but if Williams is going to finish with just one tackle, the coaching staff is understandably going to want to see more from him before the regular season comes around.
Stock Up: WR Ja'Mori Maclin
Maclin came into the league this season as an undrafted rookie, meaning that he is up against the odds of making the roster with most of the team already being settled in some fashion. However, Maclin took the field against the Browns and made two huge plays, including a 71-yarder that went for a touchdown to showcase his game-changing speed.
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Stock Up: RB Ian Wheeler
Aug 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Tre Avery (11) tackles Buffalo Bills running back Ian Wheeler (27) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Buffalo's running back rotation is pretty much set with players like James Cook and Ray Davis as the main contributors, but guys like Wheeler can impress the Bills, or another team, by making plays out of the backfield. Wheeler not only gained 56 yards on 14 carries, but he also both of his targets for 21 yards, displaying his ability to be an effective receiver as well.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Stock up, stock down after the Bills' 31-7 preseason win over Browns
