Dez Bryant Fantasy News

Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 10:12am

Cowboys beat writer Calvin Watkins: "Dez Bryant saw some double-coverage. But the issue we have with Bryant not getting the ball on a consistent basis is the Cowboys' inability to put him in motion more often. Make defenses try to defend Bryant one-on-one by putting him on the move. The Cowboys say Bryant knows the offense and if that's the case give him more opportunities to get free. He finished with one catch for 50-yards, the touchdown, but that was off a broken play. You can't rely on Bryant to keep making plays off busted coverages and with Tony Romo rolling in the pocket when under duress. Bryant needs to make plays within the structure of the offense so the Cowboys can utilize his talents more often."

Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 10:58am

Jerry Jones acknowledged that the Cowboys have a need for depth at wide receiver with a hamstring strain probably sidelining Miles Austin until after Thanksgiving.

But Jones ruled out signing a veteran wide receiver to fill the void.

“We’ve got [Dwayne] Harris on the practice squad,” Jones said on KRLD-FM, referring to the sixth-round pick who was demoted from the active roster a couple of weeks ago. “That’ll be where we limit it to. It won’t be away from the roster.”

Harris only played one offensive snap during his five games on the active roster. His primary role was as a punt returner, which could also be a need if the coaches opt not to risk Dez Bryant in that role with Austin out.

While Harris isn’t ready to be a major contributor on offense, the Cowboys apparently don’t believe there is an available veteran who could help immediately. It’s almost as if they didn’t see Terrell Owens’ scouts-free, nationally televised workout.

Monday, November 7, 2011, 11:20am

With the injury to Miles Austin (hamstring), Laurent Robinson is turning into a player on whom the Cowboys can depend on a regular basis. When defenses take Dez Bryant and Austin out of the game with double coverage, it allows Robinson to see more single coverage, and he's taking advantage of his opportunities.

He finished Sunday's game with a game-high five catches for just 32 yards, but his touchdown reception came when he moved toward the back of the end zone to get free for the score.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 12:46pm

In part, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to save his young wideout from himself. Jones indicated Tuesday that Dez Bryant's days returning punts could be short-lived. "We've got to get others ready to return those kicks," the Cowboys boss told Dallas's KRLD-FM on Tuesday. Bryant suffered a thigh injury while returning a punt in the season opener. Jones noted that Bryant's aggressive style of play makes him susceptible to injury. "I'm not going to say he's injury prone, but I will say he's more subject to getting hit and hurt with the way he stands up and fights (for yardage)."

Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 9:14am

Fully healthy, Dez Bryant will be the Cowboys’ punt returner.

Bryant suffered a quadriceps injury in the season opener at the New York Jets on a punt return but with the decision to release wide receiver Dwayne Harris last week, Bryant got the nod vs. St. Louis. Bryant, Kevin Ogletree and Terence Newman worked at punt returners during last week’s practice.

Friday, October 21, 2011, 1:44pm

According to Tony Romo, the Cowboys are seeing a lot of Cover 4 defenses in the red zone. That essentially means double-coverage for Dez Bryant, who has a cornerback on his outside and a safety on the inside. That’s why Romo threw a checkdown to Tashard Choice instead of a fade to Bryant on second-and-goal in the fourth quarter against the Patriots.

“It would have been a force for sure,” Romo said. “Theoretically, yeah, you could throw it, but there’s a very high percentage that it’s not going to turn out very well if you throw it. If they keep a safety over there, they get to play two-on-one.”

Thursday, October 6, 2011, 10:44am

"I'll be 100 percent next week," Dez Bryant said after the team's light practice.

Bryant, who said he is around 85 percent healthy at the moment, is still recovering from the deep thigh bruise he suffered in the season opener against the New York Jets. This weekend, he will have a chance to rest because the Cowboys don't play a game until Oct. 16, when they travel to Foxboro, Mass., to face the Patriots.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 10:19am

The thigh bruise that has lingered since the season opener has taken a lot of air out of Cowboys WR Dez Bryant.

Especially in the second half of games.

Bryant could barely run during the second half of the season opener because of the thigh bruise. After sitting out Week 2, he’s been able to play the last two games, but conditioning is a concern, especially late in games.

“It is, because he hasn’t been able to practice and he really hasn’t been able to run,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Our training staff has done a great job trying to get as much work with him as possible without taking any backward steps on the thigh bruise, but that’s definitely a factor.

“Receivers need to be able to run throughout the ballgame, and when you don’t practice and you don’t run throughout the week, it’s hard for you to maintain the pace that you need to maintain throughout a 60-minute game.”

Sunday, October 2, 2011, 10:27am

The Cowboys got Felix Jones untracked on Monday night so look for head coach Jason Garrett to stick with the running game in order to protect Romo, who could be minus WR Dez Bryant, a game-time decision. If Bryant doesn’t play, look for Dallas to use TE Martellus Bennett in more formations with Jason Witten, who leads NFL tight ends with 19 catches.

Saturday, October 1, 2011, 9:00pm

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant participated in Saturday's walk-through practice and remains a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions with a bruised thigh.

If Bryant is unable to play, Kevin Ogletree and Jesse Holley become the primary receivers. Laurent Robinson and rookie Dwayne Harris are the other receivers. Harris has not caught a pass in an NFL game.