With training camp in full swing and the preseason just two weeks away, the 2017 NFL season is finally upon us. Along with the roster cuts and conclusion of position battles that usually greets us at the end of August comes Madden, as well, a video game franchise that has become so permanently ingrained in football culture that it’s impossible to imagine the sport without it. For many Buffalo Bills fans that have endured a long playoff drought, it can serve as useful escapism.

While Madden 18 launches on August 25th, rosters have already found their way online. Madden-school.com has released player ratings for all teams, and, as is tradition, it’s time to analyze them.

Offense

Offensively, the Bills are led by stud running back LeSean McCoy. After an excellent season in 2016, McCoy was given a 92 overall rating, good for third among all running backs (behind only LeVeon Bell and David Johnson). McCoy’s high juke, spin, and agility stats make him an absolute nightmare to defend against. Behind him, however, there’s not much to work with; Jonathan Williams has been given just a 64 overall while journeyman Joe Banyard has a 69 overall. Keeping McCoy fresh will be key for anyone playing as Buffalo.

Tyrod Taylor is still one of the better quarterbacks to use in Madden. At 82 overall, his speed and agility are dangerous, and while he doesn’t have the strongest arm (91), he makes up for it in accuracy (83). Mobile quarterbacks have been dangerous in video games since the days of Randall Cunningham in Tecmo Bowl, and Taylor is no different.

Taylor’s weapons are more of a mixed bag. Sammy Watkins and Charles Clay (both 86 overall) are his best pass-catchers, while McCoy has a pretty high catch rating out of the backfield as well. The wide receiver position behind Watkins is also a bit of a question mark; Philly Brown (77 overall), Andre Holmes (76 overall), and Zay Jones (74 overall) are your choices to complement the undisputed WR1. Looking at the individual ratings, however, Jones appears to be the best option. While he isn’t as fast as Brown, he has the highest catch rating out of any wideout on the team (88), meaning that he’ll be a reliable player to lean on.

On the offensive line, Richie Incognito (88 overall) and Cordy Glenn (84 overall) are the only above average options. Eric Wood continues to be severely underrated by Madden at a 73 overall with abysmal individual skills, while the right side of the line is manned by John Miller (76 overall) and rookie Dion Dawkins (76 overall).

Defense

The Bills are led on the other side of the ball by veteran defensive tackles Kyle Williams (87 overall) and Marcel Dareus (85 overall). As has been the case for many years now, the interior of Buffalo’s defensive line is rock solid.

Jerry Hughes (81 overall) has a high finesse moves rating of 88, making him a dangerous pass rusher. The only weakness on the defensive line is Shaq Lawson (76 overall), whose poor individual skills will likely result in him being a non-factor in competitive play.

At linebacker, Lorenzo Alexander (84 overall) is the lone playmaker. After a renaissance year in 2016, he was rewarded with a power moves rating of 87, which will make him a terror on blitzes. Oddly enough, the second-best LB is Gerald Hodges (79 overall), a player who will have to compete for a role on defense in real life, while Preston Brown (74 overall) and Reggie Ragland (73 overall) are the middle linebackers.

The Bills secondary has seen a ton of turnover in the offseason, and the area has the potential to be a serious liability in Madden. Ronald Darby (79 overall) and Tre’Davious White (78 overall) lead the group, but White is the real star of the bunch. Despite being a late-first round draft pick, White has higher ratings in both man and zone coverage than Darby and is the highest-rated rookie corner in the game despite being the fifth one drafted. He’s a stud and the pride of the secondary. The versatile Micah Hyde (76 overall) is the team’s strong safety, and could likely see a rating jump into his pay grade if he excels in the role. Jordan Poyer (70 overall), the free safety, is a backup caliber player that opposing teams in Madden will likely attack.