Why Dez Bryant?
That has been the question I have had for a few years not when it comes to drafting Dez in fantasy football. Should he really be considered as a player who can be an elite fantasy wide receiver? Why do people think he is an elite receiver outside of fantasy football? Well, that second question is easy. Because he can make catches like this.
Best catch of @dallascowboys training camp. @DezBryant sick one-handed TD grab in 11-on-11. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/hdt13kyT6d
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) August 10, 2017
No one can question the physical abilities of Dez Bryant. He is a freakish athlete. Maybe his character and behavior have come into question in the past, but that’s not what this article is about. This article is about Dez Bryant as an elite fantasy football receiver. Is he? According to his draft position year after year people seem to think so. Since 2013, he has never been drafted worse than the 6th receiver off the board. Assuming this year stays constant he is going as the number 9 wide receiver off the board. Is he really worth that?
A Total Dezappointment
Here are facts to support Dez Bryant may not be worthy of his fantasy elite reputation.
7 – Number of seasons he has played in the NFL
3 – Number of seasons he played all 16 games
3 – Number of seasons Dez caught for over 1000+ yards (2012-2014)
0 – Number of season Dez has had 95 or more catches
57.2% – Career catch percentage
97 – Total games played in the NFL
18 – Total number of games in his career he had 100+ receiving yards
11 – Total number of games in his career with 100+ yards and a TD
These are just some of the surprising numbers that make me very skeptic on making Dez Bryant my 2nd round pick in 2017. Just to put that last fact in perspective. Jordy Nelson had 5 games and TY Hilton had 4 games, last season alone, with 100+ yards and a TD. Dez has only done that a total of 11 times in his career.
Currently Dez is being drafted as the 9th wide receiver off the board with an ADP of 2.07 in PPR. In comparison, Demaryius Thomas is being drafted as the 15th wide receiver off the board with an ADP of 3.06 in PPR. You make the determination on fantasy value.
Career Fantasy Wide Receiver Finishes: Dez Bryant vs. Demaryius Thomas
| Dez: | Demaryius: | |
| 2010 – 47th WR | 2010 – 96th WR | |
| 2011 – 19th WR | 2011 – 57th WR | |
| 2012 – 3rd WR | 2012 – 5th WR | |
| 2013 – 6th WR | 2013 – 2nd WR | |
| 2014 – 3rd WR | 2014 – 4th WR | |
| 2015 – 78th WR | 2015 – 13th WR | |
| 2016 – 24th WR | 2016 – 18th WR |
Final Thought
WRs with more seasons of 1,000 yards and 90 recs than Demaryius Thomas (5): Rice, B Marshall, Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison, Larry Fitzgerald.
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 4, 2017
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