Byrd signed with the Panthers on Friday.
The 30-year-old wideout started at least three games each of the past four seasons, playing for a different team every year and maxing out at 604 yards for the Patriots in 2020. Byrd now returns to Carolina, where he made 17 appearances (three starts) from 2016 to 2018 and caught only 12 passes for 129 yards and two TDs. He's one of the smaller receivers in the league -- listed at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds -- and figures to start off no higher than third or fourth on Carolina's depth chart, behind Adam Thielen and DJ Chark (ankle) at the very least.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Scores two touchdowns in 2022
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Byrd caught 13 of 23 targets for 268 yards and two touchdowns across 14 appearances during the 2022 campaign.
From Weeks 7 through 11, Byrd caught nine of 14 targets for 229 yards and two touchdowns, displaying major big-play ability. However, he saw two or fewer targets in his other nine appearances and was held without a catch in five of those games. The veteran wideout has played for five different teams in as many campaigns and will be a free agent again this offseason.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Catches one of two targets
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Byrd caught one of two targets for 12 yards during Sunday's 20-19 victory over the Cardinals.
Byrd played the third-most snaps among Atlanta's wideouts, but he didn't garner his first target until the second half, when he recorded a 12-yard reception on a second-down play in the third quarter. With Desmond Ridder at the helm, Byrd has caught just two of five targets for 27 yards. The veteran wideout secured nine of 14 targets for 229 yards and two touchdown from Week 7 through Week 11, but aside from that five-game stretch, Byrd has been irrelevant in most fantasy leagues.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: One catch in loss
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Byrd caught his only target for 12 yards during Sunday's 19-16 loss against Pittsburgh.
Byrd's lone catch went for 12 yards on third down in the first quarter. From Week 7 to 11, the wideout caught nine passes for 229 yards and two scores, but in his other five appearances this season, he's secured just one of three targets for 12 yards. Byrd's firmly entrenched behind Drake London and Olamide Zaccheaus on the depth chart and should remain on waivers in standard fantasy leagues.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Two catches in win
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Byrd gathered in both of his two targets for 29 yards during Sunday's 27-24 win versus Chicago.
Byrd finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Kyle Pitts and has totaled nine receptions on 14 targets for 229 yards and two scores over his last five games. The veteran wideout has emerged as a quality option for Marcus Mariota during the middle of the season, but his inconsistent production makes him a risky fantasy play moving forward.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Leads Atlanta in receiving
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Byrd secured three of four targets for 58 yards in Thursday's 25-15 loss to the Panthers.
Byrd's modest production Thursday was a bounce-back performance after going catchless in Week 9. With that said, the veteran wideout has totaled just seven grabs for 200 yards and two touchdowns through seven games played. As the Falcons' No. 3 wideout in a struggling passing attack, Byrd is difficult to trust for fantasy purposes. The 29-year-old will look to take a step forward when the Falcons host the Bears in Week 11.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Fails to secure only target
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Byrd failed to haul in his only target during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Chargers.
Byrd played 29 offensive snaps, which was third most among Atlanta's wideouts behind Drake London (46) and Olamide Zaccheaus (43). However, Byrd, who'd caught four of seven passes for 142 yards and two scores over his past two appearances, was held in check against the Chargers. The veteran has emerged as a big-play wideout for Marcus Mariota recently, but Byrd's production will likely be sporadic moving forward.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Back-to-back games with TD
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Byrd caught three of six targets for 67 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 37-34 overtime win versus the Panthers.
Byrd finished second on the team in targets behind Kyle Pitts, but the former's go-ahead 47-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter accounted for the majority of his production. It was the second straight game that Byrd used his speed to create a big-play score. He has now totaled 142 yards and two scores across Atlanta's past two games after failing to catch either of his targets over his three previous appearances. Byrd's current pace is likely unsustainable, but he figures to continue garnering looks as long as he's able to make big plays after the catch.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Catches first pass of season
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Byrd caught his only target for 75 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 35-17 loss to the Bengals.
After being a healthy inactive for the first three games of the season, Byrd has appeared in four straight contests and garnered just one target in three of those appearances. However, he made the most of his only target against Cincinnati by burning the Bengals secondary for a 75-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter, marking his first reception and touchdown of the 2022 campaign.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Healthy scratch again
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Byrd (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Seahawks, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Byrd has been a healthy scratch each of the first three weeks of the season. The veteran receiver may need an injury to open up the chance of him playing in Week 4 against the Browns.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Healthy inactive for Week 1
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Byrd (coach's decision) is a healthy inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
With No. 1 wideout Drake London (knee) gaining clearance to make his NFL debut after being listed as questionable heading into the weekend, Byrd will be the odd man out of Atlanta's receiving corps for Week 1. Byrd, who signed a one-year, $1.19 million contract with Atlanta this offseason, suited up in all 17 games for the Bears a season ago and finished with a 26-329-1 receiving line on 38 targets. He looks as though he'll be ticketed for a smaller role with Atlanta in 2022.
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Falcons' Damiere Byrd: Moving to Atlanta
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The Falcons and Byrd agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Atlanta has lost Calvin Ridley to a season-long suspension and Russell Gage to the Buccaneers in free agency, leaving the team short of capable bodies at wide receiver. Olamide Zaccheaus is the most notable holdover, but he has just 54 catches and 90 targets in 38 games on his career ledger. Meanwhile, Byrd has averaged 12.3 YPC and 8.0 YPT on his 161 targets over the past three seasons. As the WR group stands at the moment, Byrd and Zaccheaus serve as the top two players at the position for new starting quarterback Marcus Mariota.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Six targets in finale
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Byrd caught five passes for 47 yards in the Bears' 31-17 Week 18 loss to the Vikings, and he ended the season with 26 receptions for 329 yards and a touchdown.
Once he saw increased usage starting in Week 12, Byrd showed that he can post modest production when given the opportunity. However, going into his age-29 season, it seems likely that he'll continue to serve as a rotational player, and he'll be a depth option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Targeted twice in win
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Byrd caught a 23-yard pass in the Bears' 29-3 win over the Giants on Sunday.
Byrd has caught a single pass in each of the last two games, which coincided with the return of Allen Robinson in Week 16. Although Byrd had four solid weeks of production while Robinson was out, Byrd's role is likely set to remain minor in Week 18 against the Vikings.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Scores two-point conversion
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Byrd caught one pass for 11 yards in the Bears' 25-24 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.
Byrd actually won the game for the Bears by catching a two-point conversion in heavy traffic with less than a minute remaining in the contest. Otherwise, he was fourth on the team with three targets, and with Marquise Goodwin (foot) having returned to the lineup, Byrd broke a trend that saw him average five targets over the last four weeks. It's likely his role in the offense remains minor in Week 17 against the Giants.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Another solid performance
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Byrd caught five passes for 62 yards in the Bears' 17-9 loss to the Vikings on Monday.
Byrd did the bulk of his damage on the Bears' first fourth-quarter drive when he caught three passes, and he finished third on the team with six targets. Despite posting at least 36 yards in each of his last four games, he'll likely need Allen Robinson (COVID-19) and Marquise Goodwin (foot) to continue missing time in order to be a factor for the duration of the fantasy playoffs.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Breaks off long TD on SNF
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Byrd caught both of his targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 45-30 loss to Green Bay.
Allen Robinson (hamstring) returned to the lineup Sunday, but he wasn't a major factor in the passing game (two receptions for 14 yards). Byrd still experienced a steep drop-off from the 6.0 targets he averaged over the last two games he filled in for the injured A-Rob, but he was able to mask the low usage with a big 58-yard catch and run for a touchdown. With Robinson back, Marquise Goodwin (foot) potentially returning soon and Jakeem Grant playing so well, it wouldn't be surprising to see Byrd slowly phased out of the gameplan even after posting this strong fantasy line. If Goodwin can't return in Week 15, then Byrd may carry some deep-league/DFS value against a weak Vikings defense next Monday.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Season-high seven targets
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Byrd caught three passes for 36 yards in the Bears' 33-22 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
With the Bears missing Allen Robinson (hamstring) and Marquise Goodwin (foot), Byrd had his second game in a row with at least 36 yards. Despite his increased recent production, he'll remain a low-upside fantasy option, and his role will shrink further as the injured receivers return to action.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Enhanced role awaits
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Byrd is expected to fill a starting role at receiver alongside Darnell Mooney with Allen Robinson (hamstring) listed as doubtful and Marquise Goodwin (foot/ribs) listed as out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The No. 4 receiver on the depth chart for most of the season, Byrd already saw an elevated opportunity in the Bears' Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions while Robinson was sidelined for a second straight game and after Goodwin exited early in the contest. Though Mooney (5-123-0 receiving line on eight targets) was the clear No. 1 wideout for Chicago, Byrd turned in a modest line of four catches for 42 yards on five targets while serving as a secondary pass catcher. The expected absences of both Robinson and Goodwin for a full game could lead to a slight volume bump for Byrd, but he would probably benefit more from the Bears falling behind early in the home game and being forced into a pass-heavy game script.
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Bears' Damiere Byrd: Season-high five targets
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Byrd caught four passes for 42 yards in the Bears' 16-14 win over the Lions on Thursday.
With Marquise Goodwin leaving the game early with a foot injury, Byrd served as the second receiver behind Darnell Mooney. Aside from Byrd's solid numbers, he was open for a likely touchdown in the first half, but Andy Dalton didn't put enough air under the pass, resulting in an interception. Should Allen Robinson (hamstring) and/or Goodwin be forced to miss additional time, Byrd could see significant playing time, which could lead to modest fantasy production.
