Fantasy Upside
Martavis Bryant has looked beastly in the offseason after being suspended for all of 2016 for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. He spent his year away from the game working out and bulking up to around 225 pounds from his listed weight of 211. He's scored 15 touchdowns in 21 career regular season games.
Fantasy Downside
Bryant has already been suspended twice by the league for substance abuse. Another failed drug test and he could be finished in the NFL.
2017 Bottom Line
Bryant is doing and saying the right things. He looks great thus far and plays in an offense where opponents have to decide whether to double-team him or Antonio Brown. If he can stay on the field for 16 games and match his career numbers, he would post a season of 64 catches for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns. That's clearly No. 2 fantasy receiver stuff with some upside thanks in part to the scores. Considering his current ADP puts him in the seventh or eighth round, he's a bit undervalued.
Week 19 at Denver
Bryant had just five catches for 29 yards on five targets last week, but did have a juggling 10-yard touchdown reception. He also had a 44-yard end around in the game, making it a solid effort overall. Last month against the Broncos, he had 10 catches for 89 yards working primarily against Aqib Talib. With Ben Roethlisberger possibly limited with his deep passing, Bryant's value could be somewhat more limited. But Bryant should be good enough to use as a No. 3 receiver, or even a No. 2 with Antonio Brown out.
Week 18 at Cincinnati
Bryant finished the season with a whimper, catching two passes for six yards in the final two games. In two games against Cincinnati, however, he had 11 receptions for 98 yards. Those aren't his typical numbers, but the Bengals do a great job of taking away the deep ball. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown both challenged Bryant to step up this week. Look for a solid game.
Week 17 at Cleveland
It might be time to send out an APB on Bryant. He hasn't caught a TD pass in three games, which constitutes a major drought for him. He also has just one catch of 20 or more yards in the past month. But he had a 6-178-1 line the last time the Steelers faced the Browns. He might not reach those numbers, but the Steelers will attack downfield with him. He's a solid No. 3 option with upside this week.
Week 16 at Baltimore
The big plays have been lacking in recent weeks but Bryant showed he can still be a factor without scoring or catching 50-plus-yard bombs last week by hauling in 10 passes for 87 yards. He hasn't scored in two weeks, but Baltimore has given up 25 touchdown passes to opposing receivers, the most in the NFL. There's a good chance that Bryant, who has been a TD machine, breaks out of his two-game scoreless "slump" this week.
Week 15 vs. Denver
With Cincinnati intent on not allowing the deep ball, Bryant caught seven passes for 47 yards and failed to score for just the second game this season in which he's played. Both have come against the Bengals. Denver will reportedly match Aqib Talib on Bryant in an attempt to keep him under wraps. But his ability to score makes him too good to put on the bench. He should score enough to be at least a No. 3 fantasy receiver.
Week 14 at Cincinnati
Bryant has scored seven touchdowns in seven games this season including one last week when he had four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Bryant was limited to four catches for 49 yards last month by the Bengals, but Ben Roethlisberger is on a roll right now. Bryant should be a solid No. 2 receiver with plenty of upside this week even with a tough matchup.
Week 13 vs. Indianapolis
Bryant had five catches for 69 yards at Seattle but did so on 13 targets. He's dealing with a hip injury, but should be able to play Sunday. Bryant has 14 touchdown catches - and 15 overall after scoring on an 11-yard end around last week - in 16 career games. He's a TD machine. Ben Roethlisberger should play this week, which helps as well. He should be a strong play again this week.
Week 12 at Seattle
When Arizona tried to match Patrick Peterson up on Antonio Brown all over the field earlier this season, Bryant torched them for a line of 6-178-2. That should keep the Seahawks from taking a similar approach with Richard Sherman on Brown. The Steelers are going to take their shots, despite Seattle's tough overall passing defense, and Bryant is perhaps the best deep threat in football right now. He has five TDs in five games this season despite Ben Roethlisberger playing in just two of those games.
Week 10 vs. Cleveland
Bryant dropped a couple of passes against Oakland, but he could have had a huge day otherwise. As it was, his 3-31-1 line looks like an average day for him. Bryant continues to be a TD magnet and as long as he keeps that up, he's a must-play as a No. 2 receiver. He and Landry Jones have worked well together in the past, and Jones will get the start this week against Cleveland. I still think there are better days ahead for Bryant, though the knee injury he had upon his return from suspension does appear to be bothering him a bit.
