Jason Wood's Thoughts

Antonio Bryant and Terry Glenn enter this season on different footing than last season. In Bill Parcells 1st year, Glenn, Bryant and Joey Galloway were equal in terms of the pecking order; there was no true number one. But this year, thanks to a trade for Keyshawn Johnson, Glenn and Bryant are now WR2 and WR2a; does this make a difference from a fantasy perspective?

Recall that in 2003, the Cowboys were 4th in rushing attempts and 20th in passing attempts. How, if at all, will that change this year? On one hand, Parcells bolstered the QB corps with the additions of veteran Vinny Testaverde and prospect Drew Henson; who will combine to replace Quincy Carter. Combine that with the addition of Keyshawn, and one could reasonably assume the team will look to pass more in 2004. But on the other hand, the team signed Eddie George and drafted Julius Jones to improve the ground game. How the mix changes is anyone's guess, but certainly the QB tandem of Testaverde/Henson doesn't beg for 550-600 passing attempts.

For the sake of this analysis I'm going to assume the team has roughly the same amount of passing yardage this year (3,400 yards) and has to divvy that up between Keyshawn, Bryant, Glenn, the running backs (remember Richie Anderson caught a ton of passes last season) and TE Jason Witten.

Glenn, like Johnson, is one of Parcells "guys" and should start opposite Keyshawn. Glenn has durability issues but was healthy last year and had a modestly successful season, leading the team in receptions (52), yards (754) and touchdown receptions (5). He's a disciplined route runner, and has been a productive red zone target throughout his career.

Bryant is a naturally gifted athlete (he was the Pitt phenom before Larry Fitzgerald) that many thought was primed to emerge as the Cowboys' true number one last year. Yet, he only caught 39 passes and had trouble cracking the starting lineup over Galloway and Glenn. This season, Bryant is further behind the 8-ball thanks to the acquisition of Keyshawn and more directly, an emotional encounter with Coach Parcells during mini camp. Bryant was dismissed from the team after throwing a towel at Parcells, and just recently patched things up with the coach in time to start training camp.

Positives for Glenn

• Disciplined route runner and proven red zone threat
• Most productive Cowboys receiver last year, will enter this season as the starter opposite Keyshawn
• Has enjoyed two healthy seasons in a row

Negatives for Glenn

• Relegated to WR2 this season after being the 'Boys top receiver last year
• Prone to emotional breakdowns and nagging injuries in the past
• May see lessened red zone opportunities with Keyshawn and TE Witten getting more involved in the offense

Positives for Bryant

• Most physically gifted (size/speed) receiver on the roster
• His age makes further improvement a likelihood
• Proved his mettle by playing the same week of exploratory surgery last year

Negatives for Bryant

• 3rd fiddle in a 2 man race, the Cowboys probably won't use 3-WR sets a great deal this year
• Needs to improve his consistency catching the ball; must use his hands and not his body
• Will his recent brouhaha with Parcells impact his opportunity with the team?

Final Thoughts

Net-net, if one assumes the passing yardage remains the same but Keyshawn comes on board, I see Bryant being more at risk of losing touches. The Cowboys aren't going to use too many 3 and 4-WR sets, which means Bryant needs to crack the top 2 to expect a repeat of last year at the least. Can that happen? Yes, but he'll need to be VERY impressive in training camp. I don't see either as a viable top 40 fantasy receiver this season, and would only recommend rostering either player as a late round pick for depth. Should one suffer an injury this preseason, I would bump the other up to fringe WR3 consideration, but nothing more. Draft accordingly.

Maurile Tremblay's Thoughts

Terry Glenn and Antonio Bryant will be complimentary receivers to Keyshawn Johnson. Glenn is a deep threat, and works well out of the slot in three-WR formations. Bryant had a good rookie year, but struggled last season. He is a good athlete but has inconsistent concentration and doesn't always run good routes.

Glenn, a former number one draft pick by the Patriots, is an exceptional athlete with outstanding quickness and speed, but he has been inconsistent throughout his career. Last year he got off to a fast start, but then faded down the stretch. Glenn still ended up leading the Cowboys in receiving, and finished the season as the league's 27th best fantasy WR. He is at his best on sideline patterns and deep routes; he accelerates out of his cuts and gets separation down the field. Glenn, however, does not have great physical strength, and has been injury-prone in the past.

Bryant is more quick than fast, but he does seem to play faster than his stopwatch speed. For a young receiver, he does a good job defeating the jam at the line of scrimmage, and adjusting to the ball in the air. He has been inconsistent, however, and may not have the attitude to get along on a Bill Parcells-coached team.

Positives for Glenn

• Excellent quickness, speed, and hands
• Has big-play potential and two 1,100+ yard seasons to his credit
• Was a model citizen last year for the Cowboys

Negatives for Glenn

• Lacks size and durability
• Keyshawn Johnson is expected to step in as the Cowboys' top pass-catcher
• QB play has been erratic in Dallas, and may not improve

Positives for Bryant

• Very good overall athletic ability; can make the spectacular catch
• Has the size and strength to be a factor in the red zone
• Is in his third year and has the talent to break out

Negatives for Bryant

• Will probably be the third WR behind Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn
• Attitude problems may keep him in Bill Parcells's doghouse
• Does not have the speed to be a true deep threat

Final Thoughts

I like Terry Glenn a lot better than Antonio Bryant. Glenn has the speed and talent to be a consistent big-play threat, and seems to have matured to the point where his attitude is no longer an issue. (It only took him seven years, but he appears to be seven years ahead of Bryant in that regard.) Glenn will also be in his second year in the Cowboys' system, so he could improve on last year's numbers as he becomes more comfortable in the offense. Bryant, meanwhile, I would not consider drafting. He will be the third WR in an offense that has no chance of producing three fantasy-worthy WRs.

Quotations from the Message Board Thread

To view the entire Player Spotlight thread (there's a ton of fantastic commentary in there), click here.

KKrew:
"I see two of the three Dallas receivers cracking the Top 36 this season. Which two? With the uncertainty surrounding Bryant I guess Glenn & Keyshawn makes sense. However, could Tuna be trying to motivate Bryant? I'm hoping so."

Iwannabeacowboybaby!:
"In his 3rd year, Bryant could use this as a motivation tool or he could just be really immature and use it as an excuse. The young guy has talent so right now I'm going to project his numbers moderately."

Winning IS Everything:
"Glenn: Smallish guy with speed to burn and decent hands. Has shown lapses in concentration, but Parcells seems to bring out the best in him, and I see another year of good production, given Bryant's problems.

Bryant: I was expecting good things this year until Keyshawn arrived and the camp blowup. Bryant is big with great hands but has average speed. Does not concentrate enough, or seem to have the desire needed to excel. If he stays in Dallas it will be a long year for Bryant."

Antonio Bryant Projections

Terry Glenn Projections