Avoid Drafting FA WR Dez Bryant in 2018

Dez Bryant has been viewed in years past as an “elite” fantasy wide receiver, but his three straight seasons of 1,200+ receiving yards and 12+ touchdowns from 2012-2014 seem like a distant memory. The Dez who was once viewed as elite is now, at best, a complementary piece in an offense. According to PFF, Bryant’s 9 drops in 2017 ranked second most in the NFL among receivers with at least 40 targets, which comes as no surprise to any of Bryant’s fantasy owners. Additionally, Bryant hasn’t topped 100 yards in a regular season game since 11/13/2016, a span which has spanned 23 regular season games and counting.

Bryant maintained some fantasy relevance in recent seasons solely due to the quantity of targets, especially in the red zone, that came his way as the top WR option in Dallas. The lack of interest among NFL teams this free agency likely indicates that GM’s do not view Bryant as a true WR1. Because of this, it’ll be difficult for Bryant to be fantasy-relevant in 2018, no matter where he lands. He hasn’t finished as a top 20 WR since 2014, and the expected decrease in targets this year paired with a brutal case of the butterfingers indicate that his fantasy value will be very low in 2018.

At best, Bryant could be used as a TD-dependent, high risk bye week fill-in, so don’t be that one guy who drafts him in the 5th round based on a few solid seasons a half-decade ago.