Fantasy Football: Dez Bryant and Kenny Britt not worth the risk

Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:01am
By Keith Hernandez

Some rather dreadful news on a couple of high-end fantasy football wide receivers this week will surely change the WR landscape and draft placement of both Dez Bryant and Kenny Britt.

Bryant, among a bevy of other NFL troublemakers this offseason, was arrested for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in which he pulled his mother's hair and slapped her across the face during an argument. It's not the first time Bryant has been involved in off-field trouble, and he'll almost certainly find himself being punished by commissioner Roger Goodell and the league, regardless of the outcome of the charges.

This is disappointing for such a gifted player as Bryant. In his second season last year, he hauled in 63 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys. Before this incident, it was a near lock that he'd surpass 1,000 yards receiving this year in Dallas' potent offense with Tony Romo at the helm. Bryant made big strides last year and gained the confidence of Romo, so much so that the inconsistent and injury-prone Miles Austin was becoming somewhat of an afterthought.

Now, with a likely three-game suspension or somewhere thereabouts, Bryant is a wideout that it'll become increasingly tough to take a chance on. At this point, his talent isn't worth the headache he'll cause on your roster. Austin just jumped back ahead of him in my rankings, and Bryant will be a WR3 in my book.

Britt is the definition of a high risk, high reward fantasy pass catcher. He put up only 17 catches for 289 yards and three TDs last year after he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 3. It was revealed yesterday that Britt underwent another knee surgery - on his left knee - in late June due to swelling. He had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee back in May and was still recovering during the team's offseason training activities.

The Tennessee Titans wideout has had three knee surgeries in a short time, and he also had three run-ins with the law during the lockout last offseason. If it seems as though he's spent more time in handcuffs and in the training room than on the field, it's because he has.

He's an extremely talented deep threat for the Titans, and if Jake Locker comes out on top of the team's QB competition this fall, the club's passing game could be a big threat. Chris Johnson will keep defenses honest, too, but it appears as though they're headed for a more high-flying passing attack than in recent memory.

However, the knee injuries for Britt are a major concern, even though he should be ready to go in Week 1. Nate Washington and rookie Kendall Wright could factor in much more if Britt isn't up to full speed at all this season, which wouldn't be a major surprise. If I can, I'm avoiding Britt and Bryant, and I wouldn't be very comfortable with them as anything more than WR3s.

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