The handcuff: A.J. Brown
If you’re going to invest in Brown this season, it’s going to start off as a stash and/or handcuff situation. That’s because we really don’t know much about Brown’s NFL prospects at this point in his rookie season.
Yes, he has No.1 receiver potential down the road, but as we all know, rookie wideouts in fantasy are a risky bet, and there’s no guarantee Brown makes it out of camp as the Titans’ No. 3 receiver. At this point, he’s safest as a handcuff and/or stash, especially in dynasty leagues.
He already suffered a minor injury at camp (he’s day-to-day) and that could hurt his chances of being a day one starter if it lingers. On the bright side, Brown has been seen working after practice the past two days, so it doesn’t seem like his injury is anything to be concerned about.
When looking for a handcuff at any position, you want to make sure that player will actually be the go-to fill-in for the guy at the top of the depth chart.
If you do invest in Brown, his versatility is a huge plus. Brown is projected to play this season on the outside with Humphries in the slot, but he can also fill-in for Humphries should the veteran receiver miss time.
While with Ole Miss, Brown played in the slot and on the outside, thus he’ll likely be the No. 1 option for the Titans if either Humphries or Davis get injured. Talk about being able to hedge your bet with Brown as a handcuff at the receiver position.
Brown is also a great fit for the Titans’ offense. He’s a strong, physical receiver with good hands who can turn short catches into big gains. We’d expect him to thrive on slant routes much more than being a deep-ball threat.
The 22-year-old could eventually have standalone value, even as early as this season; however that’s a tough sell considering the competition for targets around him and his likely place in the pecking order. For now, we’re taking the cautious route with his projected totals.
If you draft Brown, be patient and realistic about what his role will be. Inserting him into your starting lineup right away could be a mistake and it’s best to wait it out with Brown until he shows you he has standalone value in 2019.
A.J. Brown projected stats: 55 catches, 535 yards, three touchdowns