Fantasy Football: 8 Players With Tough Early-Season Schedules
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
| Week | Opponent | Projected Defensive Pass NEP Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | 5 |
| 2 | Broncos | 1 |
| 3 | Cardinals | 8 |
| 4 | Rams | 19 |
I'm already on record stating that Dez Bryant can return to form in 2017. With more time to develop chemistry with Dak Prescott and a surgery-free offseason, a healthy Dez is a force to be reckoned with.
But make no mistake about it. Bryant's early-season schedule is rough. Things get even uglier when you consider the specific individual matchups he'll face in the first four weeks of the season.
According to Pro Football Focus' Scott Barrett, Bryant has been the most cornerback-sensitive wide receiver in the league since 2014. His insane 3.36 PPR fantasy points per target when lined up against bottom-25 cornerbacks nearly triples the 1.21 PPR fantasy points per target he accumulates against top-25 cornerbacks.
His first four matchups figure to place him against solid-to-spectacular cornerbacks such as Janoris Jenkins, Aqib Talib, Patrick Peterson, and Trumaine Johnson. That's not exactly a recipe for a fast start.
Bryant's difficult matchups don't end in Week 4, either, with two matchups against Josh Norman among a host of other solid cornerbacks left on his slate. So the Dallas Cowboys are going to have to get creative in lining him up in different spots on the formation to exploit softer matchups.
Until the team figures out how to do so, it may be best to let your league mates draft him with a late-second round pick and buy low on Dez at a later point in the season.
