Week 8 at Atlanta
Jaron Brown is getting about two or three receptions per week. He did have 60 receiving yards last week, but he is not getting enough targets or catches to be considered for your lineup in Week 8 despite a good matchup against a bad Atlanta pass defense. Keep Brown on the bench.
Week 7 vs Baltimore
Veteran receiver Jaron Brown is getting playing time and is catching a couple passes a game, but not enough to be considered for a fantasy roster at this time. Keep him on the waiver wire.
Week 1 vs Cincinnati
Jaron Brown could be a factor down the road if rookie DK Metcalf isn't effective early in the season. For now, Brown will be the third receiver for QB Russell Wilson. He has never put up big numbers in Arizona or Seattle so his track record doesn't say much, but he could have more of an opportunity this season.
For now, keep Brown on the waiver wire but watch how the Seahawks targets go the first couple weeks and see where Brown falls in the mix.
Fantasy Upside
Jaron Brown came over from Arizona last season and played in every game for the Seahawks. He should compete with David Moore for the third receiver role and has proven to be a big-play receiver during his career. Don’t be surprised if he is more involved in the ‘Hawks passing game with Doug Baldwin gone.
Fantasy Downside
Brown was only targeted 19 times which produced 14 receptions. He just never got involved in the offense. He is stuck in the back of the depth chart again which will hinder him from raising his targets.
2019 Bottom Line
With Baldwin gone, Brown should get some of those targets, even if he should still be the fourth receiver. We expect him to put up equal numbers that he did in his last season in Arizona. Don’t call him a sleeper but he probably will end up with more receptions than the team’s current No. 3 David Moore.
Fantasy Upside
Jaron Brown started eight games for Arizona last season and should be in the hunt for playing time as the third receiver for the Seahawks. He had career-highs in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns in 2017.
Fantasy Downside
Even though he set career-highs last year, Brown's numbers weren't very fantasy friendly. And he has competition for playing time and snaps.
2018 Bottom Line
Brown isn't really an option during drafts—he's more likely a waiver wire add once we see his role and he produces in that role.
Week 6 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jaron Brown has been impressive in limited looks this year, but with a healthy group of WRs now in Arizona, he only caught 3 passes for 39 yards last week. Brown will continue to be hindered by the presence of John Brown and J.J. Nelson, and he should probably stay on waivers or on the bench in most fantasy leagues, despite a good matchup.
Week 5 at Philadelphia Eagles
Jaron Brown led the team with 105 yards last week against the 49ers. He caught 8 of the 12 passes thrown his way and now has 29 targets over his past three games. While this is encouraging, it’s hard to trust he’ll continue to get that many targets in a crowded WR corps. Even in a good matchup against the Eagles, it’s hard to trust any of the Arizona WRs, other than Larry Fitzgerald. He’s worth adding in large leagues, but belongs on the bench.
Fantasy Upside
According to the team's official web site, Jaron Brown—and his ability to return from the left ACL tear suffered in October last season—is one of the more intriguing players on the roster. He has developed into a reliable receiver and a very good player on special teams. But at a currently crowded position, he needs to make sure his ACL issues are behind him.
Fantasy Downside
He’s still on a pitch count of sorts. The Cardinals use a metric system that measures players’ practice workload, and once Brown hits his 300 “load” (a measurement that varies from player to player) he is shut down. Brown will eventually have his workload increased, according to head coach Bruce Arians.
2017 Bottom Line
The good news is he's already lost the knee brace he was wearing to protect the surgically-repaired knee, and with John Brown slowed by injury and J.J. Nelson coming up small in camp, Jaron Brown is gaining some momentum in the battle for a role behind Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown. That won't make him draft worthy, but he could emerge as a possible waiver-wire candidate if the momentum carries over into September.
Fantasy Upside
As ArizonaSports.com noted, every year about this time you can see Jaron Brown on the University of Phoenix Stadium field making big catches for the offense, and generally what follows is a story about how the former undrafted rookie free agent out of Clemson is poised for big things. And he may well be. At some point. Indeed, his 44 catches for 513 yards and four touchdowns spread over three years are indicative of his spot in the Cardinals' pecking order at wideout.
Fantasy Downside
Despite his athleticism, dependability and versatility to play any and all of the team’s wide receiver positions, Brown has virtually been stuck as the Cardinals’ fifth or sixth receiver and a special-teams ace.
2016 Bottom Line
Unless circumstance or injury lead to a move up the depth chart and Brown moves at least into the top four, he's not going to be a viable fantasy football option. Set expectations accordingly.
Wildcard Weekend – Jaron Brown vs. Carolina
Jaron Brown didn’t catch a pass last week, but he’s had the occasional nice game this season out of nowhere. It’s hard to bank on that though as a fantasy owner, especially considering the fact that he’s at least fourth on the receiving depth chart with a third string quarterback going up against a surging defense that finished 11th in the league this year against the pass. Leave him be.
