Cole Beasley

Beasley had a career year at age 31 last season — with 107 targets, 82 catches and 9.0 YPT in 15 games while running most of his routes from the slot. At 5-8, 174, Beasley is small, though athletic, reasonably fast — 4.49 40 — and very quick. He has steady hands, runs good routes and despite his small frame is willing to take a hit. This year, he’ll reprise his role in the slot, while Stefon Diggs lines up everywhere and sees the bigger target share. Other than Emmanuel Sanders replacing John Brown, not much has changed for Beasley, who is a trusted part of Josh Allen’s receiving corps.

Beasley quietly put up a solid season last year with 67 catches and six touchdowns on 106 targets while operating out of the slot. His per-play averages were nothing special, but chain-movers like Beasley rarely run downfield routes. At 5-8, 174, Beasley is small, and he's quick in and out of his breaks, with enough speed - 4.49 40 at the 2012 combine - to gain yards after the catch if he makes someone miss, though he doesn't break many tackles. The biggest issue for Beasley this year is the arrival of Stefon Diggs, a bigger, faster, quicker receiver who can also line up in the slot on occasion. It's likely deep threat John Brown, Diggs and Beasley will often be on the field together, but Beasley is the least talented of the three and probably will reprise a smaller version of last year's role.

Beasley agreed to terms with the Bills this offseason on a four-year pact worth $29 million. The 30-year-old is coming off of a 2018 season in which he caught 65 passes for 672 yards and three scores in 16 games for the Cowboys. In addition to signing Beasley, John Brown was added to Buffalo pass-catching group that previously had minimal depth behind Zay Jones and Robert Foster. The team now has four wide receivers who can make a legitimate case for regular snaps, though it's safe to assume Beasley was signed with a consistent slot role in mind. Dividing playing time outside between Brown, Jones and Foster figures to be the greater challenge, and there won't be a ton of catches to go around unless Josh Allen improves his accuracy.

Beasley took a major step backwards after his breakout 2016, posting a career-low 5.0 YPT and catching his fewest passes since his 10-game rookie campaign in 2012. The diminutive slot receiver is elusive enough to create separation, but the chemistry he showed with Dak Prescott the season before was largely absent. With Jason Witten now retired, however, Beasley could adopt the role of Prescott's primary security blanket and chain-moving target, giving him some PPR potential despite his disappointing 2017 numbers.

Overshadowed by Dez Bryant, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, Beasley quietly had an excellent year -- 8.5 YPT, 75 catches and five TDs on only 98 looks. Beasley's not going to break off many big plays -- only two 40-yard catches in his entire career -- and he's too small (5-8, 180) to be a red-zone threat. However, with 4.49 40 speed, excellent quickness, strong routes and good hands, he's become a reliable possession receiver, and more importantly, one who has a rapport with Prescott. While Beasley had only one game (Week 1) with double-digit targets, he also never had fewer than four targets in any game, and he had at least four catches in all but three games -- in PPR formats, Beasley has a nice floor. The Cowboys didn't add any skill players of note to their offense this offseason, so Beasley should reprise last year's slot receiver role.

The diminutive slot receiver is coming off his best season in the NFL, including an impressive 112-yard, two-TD performance in Week 9 against the Eagles, but much of his production last year came when Dez Bryant and Tony Romo were sidelined and the Cowboys were scrambling to patch together a passing attack. Beasley's elusiveness can make him dangerous, but when everyone is healthy there won't be enough targets available for him to be an asset in many fantasy formats.

It's hard to envision a lot of upside for the 5-8, 180-pound slot man, but he has a few things going for him this year. First, he signed a four-year, $13.6 million deal, meaning the Cowboys are at least moderately committed to making sure he's involved. Second, his primary competition for throws in the short areas of the field, Jason Witten, is now 33 and has seen a drastic reduction in his volume the last two years. Third, Beasley has passable speed (4.49 40), excellent quickness and plus athleticism. Fourth, the departure of DeMarco Murray and his 392 carries could alter the run-pass split for the Cowboys slightly. But that's about the extent of it. Beasley won't be a factor in the red zone, and will be no better than the team's distant third passing-game option behind star Dez Bryant and Witten (and could be the fourth option depending on how often the team targets deep threat Terrance Williams).

As a poor man's Wes Welker, Beasley was occasionally effective out of the slot in 2013, but the drafting of Devin Street was a clear sign that the Cowboys expect more production from the no. 3 spot on their depth chart. Unless he winds up in New England someday, Beasley's ceiling is very limited.

The Cowboys selection of Terrance Williams with the 74th overal pick in the 2013 NFL Draft spells bad news for Beasley's chances of winning the No. 3 WR spot, as he was already expected to battle Dwayne Harris for the job.

Prototypical small, quick slot receiver will compete for the Cowboys' third WR spot.