Sunday Debate: Jordan Reed Will Be Biggest Fantasy Bust

It’s time for another weekly addition of our Sunday Debate. This week, Mark Morales-Smith and Brendan Pignataro focus on Fantasy Football. They debate who the biggest bust will be in 2016: Jordan Reed or Dez Bryant?

Here we go again. It’s time for me to put my undefeated record on the line once again in this week’s Sunday Debate. This week we’ll be debating who the biggest disappointment in Fantasy Football will be in 2016. Brendan believes Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is in for another let down this season, while I’m more concerned with Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed.

I’m not sure what Brendan’s argument is. I assume it’s that Bryant has a bum foot and a 36-year-old quarterback with a bad back and collarbones made of glass, which are valid points. However, Reed is more injury prone than Bryant and Tony Romo combined.

When healthy both Reed and Bryant are unbelievable talents, nevertheless, it’s tougher to rely on Reed, especially at his current price. According to his current ADP, Reed is the second TE coming off the board and you’ll have to spend a third-round pick on him if you want him on your team. There is no way you can make that kind of investment on a guy that can’t stay on the field. Especially after just one good season.

We’ve seen other TEs like Greg Olsen be consistently great. How can you draft Reed ahead of him? He hasn’t failed to catch at least five touchdowns in a season since his rookie year of 2007. He’s coming of back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and four straight 800-plus yard seasons. There are better options with equal upside than Reed.

When Reed’s on the field he’s tremendous. In 2015, he led the team in catches (87), receiving yards (952) and scoring receptions (11). However, health is a major concern. In Reed’s case, it’s not even a matter of he may miss some time with a bad hammy or sprained ankle, it’s a matter of he may never play another snap of football give one more blow to his head.

To go along with frequent soft tissue and other various injuries, he has five documented concussions that have cost him games since 2011. His concussion in 2013 was so severe he was put on season-ending injured reserve and missed the final seven games of the season. There was fear the concussion he suffered last season, which cost him two games, could have been a season or even a career-ending shot.

He is yet to play more than 14 games in a season and through three NFL seasons he’s missed 14 contests. Reed is being drafted way too high to even pickup. Compounding this issue is that you also have to draft another serviceable option in case of injury.

Aside from his injury woes, I also have concerns with his quarterback Kirk Cousins which I’ve gone in depth about in the past (Check out the must read link below for more on that). His struggles on the road and against good teams is very concerning. Plus, there are a lot of mouths to feed in Washington. He’ll be competing for targets with DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder, Chris Thompson and 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson.

must read: The 10 Worst Quarterbacks in the NFL

There are just too many red flags surrounding Reed to draft him in the third round as the No. 2 TE. I’d trade Reed straight up for Bryant right now in any league. I’m pretty sure every other good Fantasy player would too. He’s a way safer option with more upside.

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