Only Chicago Bears wideout Brandon Marshall separated receivers Calvin Johnson and Dez Bryant from finishing as the first and second ranked fantasy pass-catchers last season. With the 2013 season just a few months away both Johnson and Bryant are gearing up for a big year. Will Johnson be able to remain the top fantasy receiver, or will Bryant be able to surpass him?
Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions:
In my mind, Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL, hands down. He has it all: size, speed, athleticism, etc. “Madden Curse” be damned, Megatron reeled in 122 receptions last season, and broke the previous single-season receiving yards record by over 100 yards! The only flaw in his game last year was a lack in touchdown receptions. If Johnson can find a way to turn more of those grabs into scores, he should once again be the top fantasy wide receiver in the league. The addition of Reggie Bush in the backfield, should also provide Johnson with a little more relief, as Bush should bring a new facet to the Lions offense. Even if it is only a little bit of pressure being taken off of Johnson, that could still mean even better fantasy numbers for him in 2013.
2013 Stat Projection: 115 receptions, 1,700 yards receiving, 9 receiving touchdowns
Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys:
Bryant really established himself as one of the premier receivers in the game last season. Despite playing through injuries, he was able to post some terrific numbers late in the season. If you are asking me if he is currently in the same class as Johnson, then my answer in definitely no, but coming into his fourth season, he has shown improvement every single year, and I do not think this year will be any different. Bryant is a true playmaker for Dallas, and if the Cowboys can put together a more complete offense, I see no reason why Bryant would be unable to be a top-five fantasy receiver again this season. I believe this will be the year Bryant finally catches 100-plus passes, and if he does, do not be surprised to see him trail only Johnson in fantasy points.
2013 Stat Projection: 100 receptions, 1,450 yards receiving, 13 receiving touchdowns
In Comparison:
Both Johnson and Bryant are fantasy stars. Coming off fantastic 2012 seasons, both will push to prove themselves as the top receiver in the NFL. If you have the luxury of picking either player in your fantasy drafts consider yourself lucky. I believe the clear choice between the two is Johnson; however, the gap between them could be even smaller this season.