The Cowboys traded Tuesday for Raiders wide receiver Brice Butler to help fill in for injured Dez Bryant. Here is a look at Butler:
MORE: 5 reasons why the Cowboys will survive without Dez Bryant | Fantasy impact of Bryant's injury
Name: Brice Butler
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
College: San Diego State (after graduating from Southern Cal in 2011)
High school: Norcross (Ga.)
Drafted: 207th overall by Oakland, 2013
Career totals (two seasons): 30 receptions, 383 yards, 12.8 ypc (long: 55 yards), 2 touchdowns.
Scouting report (via dallascowboys.com): "Brice Butler has all the measureables that scouts look for in a receiver. He’s listed with 4.39 speed coming out of college, but when you watch him play, it takes him a few strides before he is hitting top gear. … He's got some versatility the Cowboys' coaches will value, as the tape shows him having experience to both line up at the 'X' — Dez Bryant's primary position — as well as in the slot. For a tall guy, he’s got a knack for making tacklers miss in space. He has talent to be more than just a flash player, but I would like to see him be more consistent with the opportunities that he gets."
The knocks: "Brice Butler jumps off the tape," Browns coach Mike Pettine said (via ESPN.com) before an October matchup last season. "I know he doesn't get a ton of touches, but when he does, he's a major threat." For all that promise, why was he buried by two different Raiders coaching staffs in Oakland? The Bay Area News Group suggested during the offseason that he simply makes too many mental errors.
Fantasy take: Butler can't be counted on to make an immediate impact in the passing game. He will fight Cole Beasley and Devin Street for playing time at the second wide receiver spot. To compensate for Bryant's absence, the Cowboys instead are expected to use a larger array of 12 personnel packages — featuring a second tight end, Gavin Escobar or James Hanna, in addition to Jason Witten.
