I'm going on a similar theme to Indigo's Technically speaking. My question for this post is, who's higher on your list for fantasy, Miles Austin or Dez Bryant, and why?
I'm going with Dez Bryant. It's funny that people are saying Bryant is in danger of being a bust. Mickey Spangola of dallascowboys.com has an exception article on Dez Bryant here that I'll hit the highlights of to support why I'm picking Dez (it's a very interested read if you have time). He came into the league after serving nearly a year suspension in college (and only played two full college seasons). He didn't have much of an offseason his rookie year and was injured most of training camp. He still put up very respectable numbers for a 21 year-old rookie. Last year, he had no offseason and still improved his rookie numbers.
Most receivers "break out" in their third year. I expect Bryant to turn into the monster his skills say he's capable of being. According to every report I've heard or read, he is a star in camp this year. He's running better routes and is in the best shape of his young career. During an interview on NFL Total Access, first round pick Morris Claiborne was asked about the leaders on the team: he listed Dez Bryant as being one of the leaders.
Now, as far as fantasy goes, I like Austin a lot too. Everyone seems to be talking about the numbers Laurent Robinson put up as a number three WR; however, he was the number two in most games as it seemed when Austin was in Bryant was out and visa versa. The offseason with new Strength and Conditioning coach Mike Woicik (six super bowl rings while serving Dallas and New England in this capacity) should help these guys fend off the injury bug. I think both Autin and Bryant will be fantasy starters and put up great numbers. The only difference between the two is that I expect Bryant to be more consistent and be the bigger red zone threat.
I'll be hitting other combos on various teams in the future. Let's hear who you pick out of these two.
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For me, it is very close between the two. So, when in doubt, I usually go with youth/upside.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, I go with Bryant.
I must confess, however, that I had Bryant on my fantasy team last year & he was really frustrating. He would show SO MUCH potential at times...potential to light it up. Then, he could completely disappear. I guess it's all about being young.
He had so many games when he would get off to a really good start...then just fall off the map. Game 1 vs. the Jets was typical...a great start that looked like he might get 200 yards after the first drive. Then, he did nothing for almost 3 quarters. (Of course, I cut him slack for that one because the Jets switched Revis on him...but he had other games like that).
I remember losing a HUGE game in fantasy late in the year to the team that won the league (and I finished 2nd.) All Bryant had to do was get me around 6 or 7 points (60-70 yards...or just even a TD somewhere). He ended up with about 50 something yards & I lost by less than a point. Ugh...
I'll be looking for Bryant to be more consistent WITHIN games. He needs to work harder to get open for SIXTY minutes. He has all the physical tools. I do not think he will be a bust...but he's got to be more committed EACH & EVERY play for him to realize his potential. I hope he can.
Long story short...I like Dez's upside over Austin.
I think it was conditioning over anything else that stopped Bryant in the 4th quarter last year. There were other factors though. I remember Patrick Peterson stating he (Bryant) only had three routes. Once teams figure things like that out, they can take you out later in the game. If he's working as hard as is being reported, neither of those will be a factor, which is why I think he'll be more consistent every week.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff Jets.
Well...if he has worked hard this off-season to improve his conditioning & route-running, then he could really explode into the Top 5 or 10 WRs in the game...and in fantasy football.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely has the physical tools & skills. If he can put it all together, look out. Dez looks like around a 4th/5th round pick in a lot of the mocks I've seen...which could be a steal ultimately.
Gotsta be Dez,
ReplyDeleteHe could actually be a similar reciever to Michael Irvin in a few years.
I don't really see Miles being anything more than a very good deep option.