Denver Broncos Fantasy Football: Demaryius Thomas or Dez Bryant?

Sep 29, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) runs after a reception during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Making the case for Demaryius Thomas

When quarterback Peyton Manning came to Denver in 2012, Demaryius Thomas’ career finally took off. He certainly hasn’t looked back on his early days as a pro, either.

This past season, he tore the League apart and put ear-to-ear smiles on the faces of many a fantasy owner. His 111 receptions and 1,619 receiving yards were good for second best in the NFL, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Antonio Brown. Adding 11 touchdown catches was also a nice touch.

On a weekly basis Thomas could be consistently relied upon as a WR1 in all fantasy lineups. Despite the presence of Emmanuel Sanders and former Broncos’ tight end Julius Thomas, “DT’” was never better.

He’s got a brand new contract, but his on-the-field performance won’t change one bit.

From Week Four on, Thomas was absolute money. His only misstep of the season came against a stingy Buffalo Bills’ defense, when he recorded just five yards on two receptions.

Regardless, Thomas led all receivers in targets (184) and red zone targets (39). With Peyton Manning back at quarterback, those gaudy statistics should somewhat continue into this coming season, especially with Julius Thomas and his nine red zone scores now gone.

Manning’s health and the offense’s shift into a more “balanced approach” are admittedly worrisome. It still shouldn’t be enough to sway owners from selecting the sixth-year wideout, even if the likelihood of him reaching his 2014 numbers is low.

Thomas remains a solid mid to late first-round pick candidate. He’s got a brand new contract, but his on-the-field performance won’t change one bit.

Next: Making the case for Dez Bryant