LV WR John Brown - 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside

Is it too easy to just slot in John Brown for all of Nelson Agholor’s production last season? Agholor put up 48 receptions for 896 yards and an impressive eight touchdowns last year and is now in New England. Brown seems like the most likely option for that spot in the lineup, after coming over from the Bills. Prior to an injury-riddled 2020 season, Brown put up 1,060 yards and six touchdowns for Buffalo in 2019. There’s no reason to think the Raiders will regress offensively, so the opportunity is there for Brown to put up solid WR2 numbers some weeks.

Fantasy Downside

Brown has missed games every season of his career and is now starting a relationship with a new quarterback, in a new city, at age 31. He played in just nine games last year and it’s unclear how much speed he’s lost as he’s gotten older and racked up injuries. Additionally, while Agholor’s numbers were solid at times in this role, they were wildly inconsistent. Brown may be a better best ball target than redraft, allowing owners to avoid picking which weeks to start him.

2021 Bottom Line

Brown is a low-cost option for fantasy owners looking at wide receiver depth on their rosters. He’s available in the late-15th round, about the time drafters are looking for their WR5 or WR6, and he’s a nice addition at that cost. Brown fits best on a roster with some uncertainty at the WR2 and WR3 spots, as a last-ditch effort to fill in production.

Sunday, July 25, 2021 - 5:48pm
BUF WR John Brown - Week 10 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 10 at Arizona
John Brown had his first double-digit target game since Week 1 and had season-highs in receptions (8) and receiving yardage (99). He has struggled since the first couple weeks of the season, with injuries and lack of involvement in the offense. But with the offensive explosion by Buffalo's passing game, Brown looked like he did in 2019.

The Cardinals are up next and are ranked 13th in aFPA to wide receivers. Look for another shootout between two of the better young quarterbacks in the NFL.

Brown rates a WR3 or flex for Week 10. Owners are hoping he is back to form, but it might have been just a one-game breakout for the veteran receiver. Let's see if he can be effective two weeks in-a-row before we move him up the fantasy wide receiver rankings.

Friday, November 13, 2020 - 1:25pm
BUF WR John Brown - Week 9 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 9 vs. Seattle
John Brown returned to the lineup but it wasn't a very good start as he had only one catch. That is an anomaly as Brown is definitely a favorite target of QB Josh Allen and we will consider him working his way back at less than 100%.

Brown should have a breakout game on Sunday against Seattle who is ranked 32nd in aFPA to wide receivers. Buffalo's passing game has struggled in recent weeks but this should be an opportunity to put up some numbers. Start him in all leagues and formats as a low-end WR2 as this should be a high-scoring shootout in Buffalo.

Friday, November 6, 2020 - 12:26pm
BUF WR John Brown - Week 7 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 7 at New York Jets
John Brown has struggled with injuries but he might finally be back to 100% again. He played in 96% of the snaps and although he had zero receptions, the Buffalo offense struggled as a whole. He should return to form this week against a bad Jets defense that is ranked 20th in aFPA to wide receivers. In the first meeting this season, Brown had six receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown and was targetted a season-high 10 times.

Brown could help you this week as a low-end WR3 or flex. We will call him a sneaky start because after producing nothing the past two weeks, he should resume his role in the Bills offense and Buffalo will have a big day offensively.

Friday, October 23, 2020 - 12:55pm
BUF WR John Brown - Week 6 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 6 vs. Kansas City
John Brown has been banged up and didn't play Tuesday night. However, he should be back Monday and resume his role as the No. 2 wide receiver. Brown has posted decent numbers with the exception of one game against the Rams. And with the way the Bills passing game as be playing, he has the potential to put up big numbers on any given day.

Although the matchup doesn't look good on paper as the Chiefs are ranked eighth in aFPA to wide receivers, we expect a shootout with plenty of offense from both teams.

With that said, we recommend you sit Brown for Week 6. Even though he is going to play, he might not be 100% quite yet and QB Josh Allen has looked to Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis the last couple weeks.

Friday, October 16, 2020 - 11:16am
BUF WR John Brown - Week 3 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Rams
John Brown had another solid game as the Bills No. 2 receiver. He reached the end zone for the second straight game and ended up with 82 receiving yards. Although he isn't getting the targets he got last season, he is still a valuable member of the Buffalo passing game which has vastly improved in 2020.

Brown will face the Rams who are ranked eighth in aFPA to wide receivers. The good news is star cornerback Jalen Ramsey will probably be paying more attention to Stefon Diggs which means more one-on-one coverage for Brown.

Although Brown has been very effective for two games, the matchup is tougher this week. He still has fantasy value but only as a WR3 or Flex for Week 3.

Friday, September 25, 2020 - 11:58am
BUF WR John Brown - Week 2 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 2 vs Miami
Even though the Bills went out and got Stefon Diggs, John Brown was still the most targeted receiver in the first game. Probably some familiarity with QB Josh Allen has something to do with it. Brown ended up with 6 receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. The Buffalo passing game should be much better this season which will benefit Brown.

Miami is the next opponent for Buffalo and the Dolphins are 30th in aFPA to wide receivers. With the matchups and the targets, Brown is valuable for Week 2. Start him as a solid WR3 or flex against the Fins as Allen should throw for 300 yards again this week.

Friday, September 18, 2020 - 12:49pm
BUF WR John Brown - Week 1 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 1 vs. New York Jets
John Brown was the leading receiver for Buffalo in 2019. His role will change with the acquisition of Stefon Diggs, but expect him to still receiver targets with lots of crossing and underneath routes.

It's a good matchup for Buffalo as the Jets were 28th in aFPA to wide receivers last season. This bodes will for all the Bills skill players.

The biggest issue for the Brown and the Bills wide receivers is how much will Josh Allen be allowed to grow in the passing game. That question pushes Brown to the bench for Week 1 although he is a borderline WR3 in PPR leagues.

Friday, September 11, 2020 - 1:24pm
BUF WR John Brown - 2020 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside
John Brown proved he is still a legit NFL veteran receiver last season at age 29 with career highs in catches and receiving yardage. It was his best season since 2015 and he showed he can be a fantasy factor as well. Brown will still be a main target for an improving quarterback in Josh Allen.

Fantasy Downside
The Bills brought over Stefan Diggs from Minnesota to be the No. 1 receiver. Brown will lose some targets and catches so this will be a blow to his fantasy value. He is still a capable receiver but Allen has many more options in 2020.

2020 Botto Line
Allen was quoted that he thinks Brown will have similar numbers this season because Diggs will draw more coverage on the other side. We aren't quite buying that. Brown is a borderline WR3 heading into the season and his ADP is 147 and WR43. We think he has more value than that and can be drafted higher. It will be especially a good move if he is the fourth receiver drafted for your team.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 - 9:43am
BUF WR John Brown - Week 17 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 17 vs New York Jets
John Brown only had one reception last week but it went for 53 yards and a touchdown. He has 72 receptions for 1,060 yards which would have surprised most at the beginning of the season.

The Jets are up next and it is a great matchup for Brown as New York is ranked 28th in aFPA to wide receivers. However, we don't expect a full workload for him as Buffalo is locked in the No. 5 seed and will have a playoff game Week 8. Keep Brown on the bench for Week 17.

Friday, December 27, 2019 - 5:41pm

Pages