The perceived Dynasty Value of two young potential Beast wideouts - Michael Crabtree and Dez Bryant - is very close.  While they are both extremely talented players on high powered offenses, they are very different fantasy prospects.  Crabtree is already a valuable Dynasty commodity on the verge of a breakout.  Dez is firmly situated as a Top-5 Dynasty Rookie Draft pick and is said to have as high an upside as any WR in the league.  2009's must have rookie WR goes head to head versus this year's...who is the better Dynasty prospect?

Michael Crabtree



What is just as important as physical intangibles when it comes to measuring future fantasy performance?  Desire and Consistency.  Michael Crabtree has each of these traits leaving him poised for Top-7 Dynasty Wide Receiver production over the next decade.  He is a complete package player, that, while not the biggest, strongest or fastest player at his position, he is going to offer you high production with the added bonus of perennial stability.  As a solid WR1 option, he may have a few huge seasons, but for the most part will likely never post ridiculously gaudy numbers required to be among the fantasy elite, however he is a highly valuable Dynasty commodity on the cusp of very big things.  When making a Dynasty player comparison, we like to think of him as a combination of Torry Holt (consistency/stability) and Anquan Boldin (playmaking ability). 

A look at his immense success at the high school and collegiate levels indicate he will transition smoothly and find a high level of immediate success in the Sunday league.  As a high school QB, Crabtree made the transition to WR in his freshman season at Texas Tech.  A smart move at the time considering he was under strong pressure to transition into a defensive player.  He was quoted as saying "I just want to score Touchdowns."  Fantasy owners are salivating.  He entered his Freshman season for the first time as a starting WR and managed to earn Biletnikoff Award honors as the nations most productive Wide Receiver in each of his two seasons while at Tech.

The Raiders foolishly passed on Crabtree opting to select Darrius Heyward-Bey instead in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Crabs to slid to the SF 49ers at the #10 overall selection and the rest looks to be history.  Crabs kicked off his NFL career with the longest Rookie holdout in 49ers franchise history.  During this time he missed all offseason activities, training camp and 6 weeks (5 games) - earning the nickname Cash-tree.  Despite the missed time, Crabtree immediately stepped into the #1 WR spot and averaged over 4 receptions over the final 11 games, scoring twice.  Very impressive!  A smooth transition to say the least.

Dynasty owners have a good deal to be excited about in this talented prospect entering his first full NFL Season.  He is the undoubted #1 WR on a 49ers roster stacked with solid offensive talent.  He is also a full year removed from his foot injury that caused him to miss all pre-draft workouts in 2009.  The likes of TE Vernon Davis, RB Frank Gore, and WR Josh Morgan will all help keep single coverage on this exciting playmaker.  The primary argument against the immediate value for Crabs is the presence of an unstable QB situation with Alex Smith at the helm.  Despite the presence of Smith, Crabs was on pace for a rookie year - 70 catch season - with no preseason training.

Plain and simple, Crabs is by far the superior Dynasty prospect between he and Dez Bryant.  He absolutely loves the game of football and has the character traits you are looking for in a player that will rack up perennial 90 reception seasons and double digit TD's. Avoiding Bryant's potential to be a headache for Dynasty owners in favor of Crabtree will pay off, despite the intermittent monster seasons Dez will likely post over what could be a career that flames out prematurely. 


Dez Bryant

Dez Bryant enters the NFL with the big time upside that Dynasty league owners have been waiting on since way before he declared for the Draft last winter. In Rookie Drafts, owners should not get past the 3rd overall pick or he becomes a steal. In start-up Dynasty Drafts, he is already going in close proximity to or in front of Michael Crabtree without even putting on a uniform yet. He has that kind of potential, potential well worth the high price he is sure to command in your Dynasty league. 

Character and commitment concerns dropped Bryant all the way to 27th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, right into the lap of Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. Bryant’s well documented career at Oklahoma State started with a solid freshman effort of 43 catches for 622 yards and 6 TD's. He followed that up by putting his name on the national map with an 87 catch, 1,480 yard, 19 TD sophomore performance. Anticipation was high for his junior campaign, but that ended early due to an NCAA suspension. He only played three games in 2009, but registered 17 catches, 4 TD's and 323 yards.

Perhaps more impressive than his college resume though, is his physical ability. Bryant's ceiling as a player is in the Top 5 amongst NFL receivers making him a top Dynasty commodity despite the fact he is only a rookie in 2010. He has an ideal frame and build at 6'2" and 215 lbs. with playmking ability after the catch. He is tough to tackle in the open field and is ferocious in jump ball situations. He plays faster than he looks in shorts.

Bryant steps into an established elite offensive unit, but eventually his star could outshine them all. Playing alongside Tony Romo, Miles Austin and Jason Witten will help ease the transition for Bryant, who will not be the focus of NFL defenses in his rookie season. With all of that talent around him in the passing game and a strong running game, it should give Bryant ample time to get comfortable in the Cowboys offense. When he does, though, he should be ready to explode. Miles Austin was very good last year and as long as he continues to play at a high level, he and Dez could be one of the top receiving duos in the NFL in just a few seasons. Look for a fully matured Bryant to post Top 5 WR numbers with the potential to lead the league in yardage and TD's.

Dez Bryant is all projection right now because he has not even played a down in the NFL. That makes him a high risk prospect, but the potential rewards make him well worth it - well worth the early 1st Round selection in this years Rookie Drafts. Michael Crabtree could develop into a player that helps you win a championship with his above average possession receiver skillset and consistency, but Bryant is a player you build Dynasties around with elite production year in and year out. Crabtree cannot match his physical gifts and ultimately will not be able to match his production, making Bryant perhaps the most coveted young receiver in Dynasty leagues.