Although we cannot pinpoint it exactly, there is a high probability that the first fantasy football article written with projections of this season came very shortly after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s Super Bowl. It’s a mathematical certainty.
That’s an obvious probable assessment – boring. What isn’t boring is how the opinions of fantasy football writers have changed from that day until now. And we’re all guilty: anyone that says they aren’t either didn’t put together extremely early projections, or they are full of proverbial cow dung.
I’m not going to lie to you, folks. I am guilty: I wrote an article about Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant earlier this summer in which I said he would be a value pick in the late second or early third round of your draft. Now I am about to tell you that he is a value pick wherever you can grab him in the second round and a justified pick in the first round.
Bryant will outscore Calvin Johnson this fantasy football season. There, I said it. I’ve been thinking it for a long time but didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to put it to print, now I am.
How can I be so optimistic, you might ask? Simple – the data backs my prognostication. Let me explain. Dez finished the 2012 season with 46 receptions for just under 900 yards and 11 touchdowns in only seven games. Chew on that stat line for a minute, digest it and think about it. Now, for grins, let’s spread Bryant’s stats from the last seven games of 2012 over an entire season and you get 100 receptions, 2,000 yards and 20 scores.
Not only are those monster fantasy stats – they are unprecedented fantasy stats.
Do I believe these will be Dez’s stats in 2013? In a word – no. Do I believe he will be a fantasy football stud? Um, yes I do.
Here’s the bottom line, if you are picking in the second round and Dez is available, grab him. I don’t care if it’s standard, PPR or Dynasty – Dez is your guy. Go get him, fellow fantasy football gurus, you can thank me later.
Related:
2013 Fantasy Football Profile: Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
Fantasy Football 2013: Dez Bryant Won’t be a Top 5 WR
Love or Hate WR Dez Bryant, He is Worth a Top Fantasy Pick
Jim Heath is a Fantasy Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_heath, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google