Tony Romo will have his arsenal of weapons to work with from the wide receiver position in 2015. So, which ones should you target for your fantasy team?
In DeMarco Murray’s absence, we could see a slight increase in the team’s passing percentage – which will improve the fantasy stock of all of the Cowboys’ pass catchers.
Ultimately, there is a lot of moving parts to dissect in the Cowboys passing game.
Dez Bryant is clearly the one name that every fantasy player will have on their radar, and I expect to see Bryant drafted late in the first round of most leagues.
The stat you love to see from Bryant in 2014 was his red zone target percentage, which was a team leading 25 percent. Make no mistake that Romo will look to Dez in any red zone situation this season.
Bryant also possesses the ability to turn any short catch into a long score, which gives him value that few fantasy WRs have.
He had four multi-touchdown games last season, most notably snagging three scores in Philadelphia in week 15.
Across from Bryant will be the third-year receiver, Terrance Williams. Williams could be on track for a breakout year, and has the top-end speed to produce big fantasy numbers.
He is coming off of a season in which he amassed 621 yards and 8 TDs.
Williams’ big play making ability was showcased in the Cowboys Wild Card playoff win over the Lions, when he turned a short catch into a 76 yard TD to put the Cowboys on the board in the second quarter.
He later caught the game-winning touchdown in the back of the end zone to send the Cowboys to the divisional round!
According to NFL.com scoring, Williams totaled 110.10 points last season. I expect those numbers to increase this season, with Bryant being every secondary’s main focus.
If Williams can capitalize on his opportunity, look for him to be a viable starting WR in all fantasy leagues.
Last but not least is utility man Cole Beasley, who will see the majority of his snaps in the slot. While Beasley has major value for the Cowboys, being a reliable third down target, his fantasy value is low.
Tight ends Jason Witten and Gavin Escobar will likely see more red zone targets than Beasley. Meanwhile, Bryant and Williams will dominate from a fantasy point perspective.
Still, if Beasley remains on the board late, he may be worth drafting to keep him off the same roster as Dez and Terrance.
If you are lucky enough to land Bryant in an upcoming draft, be ready to throw up the X on your opponents numerous times! If not, look to steal Terrance Williams between rounds 3-4.
Either way, the Cowboys WR group should produce big time fantasy numbers this season.
Worth noting: Devin Street, George Farmer, and AJ Jenkins will all fight for a roster spot during training camp. The winner may become a waiver wire pick up late in the season.
Fantasy questions? Ask below or shoot me a tweet @ShoreSportsNJ!
