Dezmon

Briscoe

He has flashed his talent in the past and the Bucs made a concerted effort to get him going in the screen game today, but Benn has yet to produce anything but mediocre numbers this year. His rotation partner, Dezmon Briscoe, had two catches for 18 yards. Neither are fantasy options.

We don’t understand the details because we don’t watch “Basketball Wives,” but there is a story on the internet about Briscoe that can be easily accessed via a Google search. It appears he’s having personal problems. Regardless, the absence and unnecessary notoriety is unlikely to go over well with the Buccaneers’ new coaching staff. Briscoe is not a lock to make the Bucs’ roster.

Benn was not cleared to practice on Thursday. The Bucs will take another look at him before Saturday night’s game, but they won’t rush him. Dezmon Briscoe would start opposite Mike Williams if Benn can’t go.

Briscoe drew the start with Arrelious Benn sidelined. Although the majority of his stats came in garbage time, he continues to produce at a higher rate than Benn when given the opportunity. Briscoe’s second season ends with 35 catches for 387 yards and six touchdowns. He’ll head into the offseason penciled in as the primary backup to both Mike Williams and Benn.

Briscoe made his first career start while filling in for the injured Arrelious Benn (concussion) and managed to score against Sean Lee in man coverage in the latter half of the third quarter. He was shown wide-open downfield on a play in the fourth quarter that was called back on a false start by Donald Penn, but was otherwise unproductive. Continue to leave him on the waiver wire for now.

Morris called Benn the Bucs’ best big-play receiver. The offense has been severely lacking in big plays, so it makes sense to draw up more plays for Benn. If he can keep Dezmon Briscoe on the sidelines in comeback mode, he’ll have a better chance of flirting with WR3 value.

Dezmon Briscoe could be a sneaky fantasy play for desperate or deep league owners on Saturday night. Preston Parker also may see a few more targets.

Mike Williams is the split end and Preston Parker is the slot receiver. Rotating with Benn all year at flanker, Briscoe has caught 23 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Briscoe has good size (6'2/210) for the red zone and will be an every-down player in a favorable matchup, but Tampa Bay’s passing game as a whole has struggled mightily of late. He’d be a low-end WR3.

Benn also had a 12-yard loss on a reverse, however, which will cost the very few fantasy owners that started him just over one fantasy point. He was targeted four times, continuing to share time with Dezmon Briscoe (1-23-1). Benn’s 38-yard reception came on a badly blown coverage by Carolina’s defense. Benn and Briscoe have produced enough, combined, that they could be a WR3 option if they were one person. As is, they are not fantasy options.

Benn is essentially sharing time and targets with Preston Parker (3-35) and Dezmon Briscoe (3-20). It’s an obvious fantasy situation to avoid.