When you draft your fantasy football teams this season, if you are fortunate enough to land Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver, Dez Bryant or Atlanta Falcons’ wide receiver, Julio Jones, you really could not go wrong with either one of these guys from a fantasy standpoint. Both sport similar physical features as Bryant stands 6’2” and weighs 220 lbs. and Jones is 6’3” and also 220 lbs. These two young, robust receivers both play for pass-heavy teams, as well, so you know they will be the recipients of many targets each game.
In upcoming fantasy drafts, look for Bryant to be drafted late round one in larger leagues or early round two in smaller ones. Jones should follow suit and will be chosen just a couple picks after Bryant. The detailed statistics below for each of them will show you why either one will be one of the most vital components of your fantasy team.
Dez Bryant - Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Going into the 2013 season, Bryant, who has been with the Cowboys since joining the NFL in 2010, currently ranks among the top three for wide receivers. This is due to his breakout in the latter part of the season last year where he finished third for wide receivers scoring 207.70 fantasy points, catching for 1,382 receiving yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.
As one of the favorite targets to Quarterback, Tony Romo, expect Bryant’s receptions this year to continue in high volume, likely surpassing the 92 he made last year. Bryant suffered a finger injury last year that now should be fully healed, so just imagine his potential this year as he attacks the Cowboys’ receiving field.
The only other prime threat to eat into some of Bryant’s targets is the Cowboys’ tight end, Jason Witten, but with how much Romo throws the ball, Bryant still should see more than his fair share of passes. If Bryant remains healthy, there should be no reason he will not give you amazing, WR1 fantasy points every week.
2013 Projected Statistics: 1,638 Receiving Yards, 120 Receptions, 13 Touchdowns
Julio Jones - Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
For those of you who draft Julio Jones for your 2013 fantasy team, you should be excited knowing you own a prime-quality wide receiver, capable of giving you plenty of fantasy points this season. Jones started his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2011. He had an impressive second year in 2012 with 1,198 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He even edged out fellow Wide Receiver, Roddy White scoring 182.20 fantasy points to White’s 177.10. Another remarkable thing to note about Jones, is that in just his second year in the NFL, he was invited to participate in the 2013 Pro Bowl which took place this past January.
Jones’ performance with the Falcons last year should be indicative as to what he is capable of for fantasy owners in 2013. Current wide receiver rankings have Jones ranked in the top five. Atlanta’s Quarterback, Matt Ryan, throws the ball many times per game, so even though there is White, and tight end Tony Gonzalez. sharing the receptions; Jones will always play a crucial role in the receiving corps as defenses often focus on stopping White and Gonzalez. Worth noting, this is the first time since 1998 the Falcons had tandem wide receivers who both broke the 1,000 yard receiving mark.
2013 Projected Statistics: 1,211 Receiving Yards, 90 Receptions, 12 Touchdowns
Comparison
As previously stated, either Bryant or Jones would be a precious commodity to have on your fantasy team. If you have the chance to draft either, I would jump at it, giving perhaps a slighter edge to Bryant strictly from the point that he will not have to share the targets as much as Jones does with his fellow players.
I would even recommend if you are in a smaller fantasy league or a league which utilizes more receiving positions than running back positions, to draft them both if you are the last or second to last draft position where you pick two players in a row. One of them could be used for trade bait, or it certainly wouldn’t hurt your team to keep that awesome pair of wide receivers all for yourself.