Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
I was having a debate with my good friend and fellow EDraft writer Matt Rittle about exploring the possibility that Bryant is all talent and no substance. The former first-round pick from Oklahoma State has recorded just one 100-yard receiving game in his three-year NFL career. That statistics isn’t indicative of someone you should be relying on to be a WR1 option. Mr. Rittle pretty much mirrored that sentiment in the debate.
That being said, you have to look at mismatches and who Dallas is going up against this weekend. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers yielded over 500 passing yards to the New York Giants last week. Neither Eric Wright or Aqib Talib appear ready to go up against elite passing offenses and stop them. It just isn’t going to happen at this point. One of the primary reasons for that is the Bucs inability to put pressure on the quarterback on a consistent basis.
If this trend continues on Sunday, Tony Romo will literally pick apart Tampa Bay’s secondary. There really isn’t any doubt in my mind. Look for both Bryant and Miles Austin to put up triple-digit yards, which would be the second time in the formers’ career that he has passed that barrier.
Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills
By now it is common knowledge that top Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden has been suspended for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy. This leave Cleveland in an unenviable position of having to go to task without their best defensive player. It also creates a ton of mismatches on the outside.
It remains to be seen if Sheldon Brown or Dimitri Patterson will be covering Johnson, but it really doesn’t make much of a difference at this point. Johnson will put up his yards and score a touchdown. Take that to the bank.
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
Calling on any New Orleans Saints defender to step up. Anyone? I guess when you take the added incentive that Bounty Gate brought with it, the passion just isn’t there to actually stop opposing offenses. It has gotten pretty damn bad over the course of the first two weeks. In total, New Orleans has given up 45 first downs and over 900 yards this season. Yeah, Arena Football League numbers right there.
Enter into the equation, Bowe, who is coming off a stellar performance against the Buffalo Bills last week. The talented veteran tallied eight receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Does anyone here honestly think that Jabari Greer or Patrick Robinson have any chance of holding this massive receiver in check? I didn’t think so!
Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Recent history tells us a story that Davis is going to exploit an undermanned and equally pedestrian Minnesota Vikings defense on Sunday. Alex Smith’s favorite target has put up some crazy numbers in his last fives games... 26 receptions for 525 yards and seven touchdowns. Rob Gronkowski, don’t look now, but you have some company.
I just cannot envision a scenario where a combination of Josh Robinson, Jasper Brinkley and Harrison Smith are going to stop Davis. Minnesota won’t be able to double Davis either considering the way Smith is playing at quarterback and how Michael Crabtree has performed on the outside.