Who is Donteea Dye?

Jaron Foster

dye
It is rare when a wide receiver emerges as an NFL starter in week eight when the majority of the dynasty community has never even heard of him. As a result of injuries to Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy and apparently a ridiculously shallow depth chart, undrafted rookie Donteea Dye has become the de facto WR2 in Tampa Bay. While the most significant result of this news is likely to be Mike Evans increase of targets into DeAndre Hopkins territory, Jameis Winston is going to need to look for other targets downfield. Dye, at least in the short term, is going to be worthy of consideration in fantasy leagues. Does this include dynasty leagues, though?

Contributing to Dye’s relative obscurity is the fact he attended Heidelberg College (HC), a Division III school. Although his sights were set on Division I programs, a dislocated knee and tears to his ACL, MCL and meniscus in high school derailed those plans and his path led to HC (which he chose over Marietta College, another DIII school). He played sparingly as a freshman, exclusively on special teams, but emerged as a sophomore as he caught 31 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns, leading his team to the playoffs for the first time in over two decades.

He was limited to nine games his junior season, in which he caught 28 passes for 701 yards (for an impressive 25.0 yards-per-catch average) and eight touchdowns. He saved his best for last, hauling in 57 passes for 1,022 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior while playing a key role on special teams, and ultimately was awarded top wide receiver in the conference. He finished his collegiate career second in school history in single-season touchdown receptions (14) and total touchdown receptions (26).

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Although Dye was on the radar for NFL teams, it was not to the extent where he received an invitation to the 2015 NFL Combine. However, he did attend the NFL Regional and Super Regional Combines. At his Pro Day (he participated in Bowling Green’s), the 6’0”, 185-pound Dye posted a 4.45 40-yard dash, which would have been a top-20 finish at the combine, but is far from elite speed for a wide receiver. He also posted what would have been a top-15 vertical jump (36’5”), top-nine broad jump (10’3”) and top-five bench rep performance (17).

Although Dye did not get selected, he was signed by the Buccaneers as a free agent following a tryout at the team’s rookie minicamp. Tampa Bay coaches saw Dye’s strengths in getting open on routes in the middle of the field, quickness in changing direction and the speed and elusiveness he brings as a kick returner. He also has a reputation as a hardworking teammate with a high motor, with rave reviews from Lovie Smith, Jackson and offensive coorupon his callup.

Dye’s lack of experience against top competition is a concern for his value though. He is a strong route-runner, and working on improving that area of his game, but may not have the size/speed combination to be a consistent threat on the outside. He says he models his game after Chad Johnson and TY Hilton, though Hilton has more speed.

In training camp, Dye found himself in a good situation given the relative lack of competition and that his quarterback was just entering the league as well. He did stick with the team until final roster cuts to 53 players prior to the start of the season, at which point he joined the practice squad.

Four weeks later he was signed and promoted to the active roster to play primarily on special teams, which he did until the injuries to Jackson and Murphy put him on the field for significant snaps in week seven. Although he was only targeted once, he caught that pass and turned it into a seven-yard touchdown.

In the short term, Tampa Bay is alarmingly thin on receiving options. Evans, Dye and the recently-promoted Adam Humphries are the only healthy wide receivers on the team. Russell Shepard was inactive in week seven, and though he may be available week eight he would be limited. The Buccaneers will target running backs Doug Martin, Charles Sims and Austin Seferian-Jenkins as well, but someone needs to start opposite Evans. It should be Dye by default until Jackson returns, depending upon Shepard’s recovery from a hamstring injury.

The questions about this group extend beyond 2015. Tampa Bay will undoubtedly target the position via the draft and free agency, but Dye is only one of five wide receivers signed beyond this year (Shepard and Humphries will be free agents). With Jackson looking every day of his 32 years and both Murphy and Kenny Bell coming off season-ending injuries, Dye will be one of the few healthy incumbents. Familiarity with a quarterback and system should not be underrated (see: Allen Hurns).

Dye currently has an opportunity few players on the waiver wire have. He has the right approach to the game, some talent (particularly in his route-running) and showed production in college, albeit in a Division III program. Dye is aware of his uphill battle and cites Pierre Garcon and Cecil Shorts (and to a lesser extent) former teammate Michael Preston as fellow Division III wide receivers with success in the NFL.

The investment is clearly minimal if he is still on your waiver wire, and I would take a flier on him over common end-of-the-bench options with lower ceilings including Lance Moore, Seth Roberts and Keith Mumphery. Though he is likely to be the fourth or fifth receiving option, injuries and ineffectiveness have been known to plague the Buccaneers. He is too risky to start, but worthy of a stash.

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jaron foster
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