Dallas Cowboys 2018 Offensive Outlook and Draft Prospects without Dez Bryant!

Dez Bryant will have options in free agency. Dallas deciding to release him in early April is not surprising. It reduced the number of teams for Bryant to sign with though. Dez might have wound up in Chicago Bearsif a free agent in March! So where will Dez land? I like him to sign with the Green Bay Packers. Catching back shoulder throws from Aaron Rodgers all day. Green Bay will need to do some salary cap adjustments to make a move for Bryant. It makes sense with Randall Cobb in the slot and Davante Adams operating as the #2 wide receiver. With Adams concussion history it wou be wise for the Packers to pursue a true #1 wr in Dez Bryant.

Terrance Williams is entering his sixth NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys. As of now, its looking like Williams is the Cowboys #1 wide receiver. He has had a relatively healthy career thus far without being asked to do much in his career. Dez Bryant and Jason Witten are the targets Tony Romo found most often. In Dak Prescott’s two years as the starter. Ezekiel Elliot has been the focul point of the offense. While Dak fail to get his playmaker Bryant the ball on a consistent basis. Hence Bryant’s downfall as a viable #1 Fantasy Football wide receiver.

The Packer’s have Geronimo Allison and Trevor Davis as their current #3 and #4 wide outs. Free Agent Jimmy Graham was a much needed signing and is in for 100+ targets in 2018 with the current state of the Pack’s wr core. Ty Montgomery’s versatility is great if he can stay on the field. Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams made strides in their rookies season. An effective Running back by committee in Green Bay will benefit this unit as a whole. Give Aaron Rodgers another weapon in Dez who will win one on ones, frustrate defensive coordinators, block well and be another red zone.

A few other teams I like for Dez Bryant are the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and the New England Patriots.

Now that I’ve gotten the Dez possibilities out of the way. Lets check out Terrance Williams career statistics.

2013 (Games Played 16, 74 targets).

44 receptions, 736 yards, 5 touchdowns.

2014 (16 GP, 66 targets).

37 rec., 621 yards, 8 tds.

2015 (16 GP – 93 targets).

52 rec., 840 yards, 3 tds.

2016 (16 GP – 61 targets).

44 rec., 594 yards, 4 tds.

2017 (16 GP – 78 targets).

53 rec., 568 yards, 0 tds.

As for free agent acquisitions Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson. Depending on the Dallas Cowboys draft selections next Thursday. It is looking like Hurns will lineup as the #2 wide receiver. Thompson will be the #3 wide receiver with Cole Beasley manning the slot.

Brice Butler was let go and signed by the Arizona Cardinals. Dez Bryantwas let go last week. Ryan Switzer should compete for some burn. If we are looking at the Cowboys 1st round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. They pick 19th and Alabama’s Calvin Ridley should be gone by then. The kid is an immediate starter in the NFL. The Cowboys can either trade up or hope Ridley drops. Their best bet is to draft Maryland’s wide receiverD.J. Moore at #19 or potentially land wide out James Washington, Michael Gallup or Cortland Sutton with pick #50 in round 2.

D.J. Moore would have of an immediate impact stretching the field in the Cowboys run first scheme. Not a legit #1 wr out the gate like Ridley but a darn good player who will have a long career. Ridley is NFL ready and my #1 ranked receiving prospect. Sutton is 6’4 and has mutant like potential. Tough to defend a wr of his size/speed combination. He needs to improve his route running but I’m infatuated with receiving mutants. They become double digit touchdowns heroes in if utilized well. The Cowboys need a red zone target too.

Cowboys Offensive Fantasy Football Outlook:

–D.J. Moore likely the choice at pick #19. Considering the Cowboys have no true #1 wide receiver. Williams, Hurns, Moore and Thompson are a good wr core. As a group, they deliver route running, deep threats and good hands. Cole Beasley mixing in the slot. The Boys are looking nice. Jason Witten is still in town to deliver blocking and short route efficiency. Ezekiel Elliot will garner 400+ touches and be the focul point of the Cowboys offense. As many will be off zeke do to his 2017 season. I’ll be scooping him up. The kid will have fresh legs in year 3 and could see more opportunities in the receiving game (an underrated aspect of his game).

Fantasy Friends witnessed Dak Prescott fail miserably as an elite quarterback last season. When left tackle Tyron Smith went down with an injury last season and Ezekiel Elliott finally served his suspension. Dak was a bum who couldn’t make those split second decisions. To be fair, he did improve when the coaches altered the offense to fit his skillset. Still, Dak was not special once the offense changed slightly. My gripe with Dak was his inability to get his receivers the ball. People will critique Dez Bryant’s inability to gain separation from the defensive backs but Dak still failed getting him the ball. Not throwing him open and not throwing it up so Dez could use his size/athleticism to beat the defensive backs.

One thing is for sure. Dak Prescott needs time to throw the ball, Ezekiel Elliott must touch the ball 20+ times per game and the Cowboys need to spruce up their playcalling in 2018. Otherwise itll be a long season in Dallas. Adding D.J. Moore makes the wr core a Fantasy Footballheadache with targets rotating weekly. Without D.J. Moore, targets will still rotate and Prescott’s fantasy value is not there in leagues. I’m not a believer in Thompson and if he is their best vertical threat.

Dak is your middle of the pack Fantasy Football Quarterback in 2018. He certainly won’t finish #8 like his rookie season. For Daily Fantasy Sports, he will be intriguing if his cost is low enough. Probably sneaking in a couple 3+ touchdown games while the majority of his games produce 2 or less total touchdowns. Zeke’s stock is rising!

Dak is an above average game manager and the Cowboys must give Zeke the ball. Common sense if ya ask me. The current receiving core is good enough for the style of offense, have playmaking abilities and must make the most of their opportunities. There is not much room for error with this offense as it stands and an 8-8 season is imminent. The Cowboys are not a team that will overcome early two score deficits. The Philadelphia Eagles are still the class of the NFC East. The New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins in that order for the time being.

As Always,

(Teams Going Off + Thoughts Flexed In) = Combination Lineups

May the Fantasy Force Be With You.

Follow Moon Man on Twitter @FFPmoonman