Fantasy football owners who invested a juicy first-round pick into Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown have to be nervous right about now. Normally one of the best receivers in the league, Brown has lit it up with a healthy Ben Reothlisberger throwing him the ball yet has been much quieter when the QB has missed time due to injury.
In the four games Roethlisberger has missed this year, Brown averaged 7.75 targets for 4.25 receptions and 58.75 yards per game. He did not score a touchdown while Roethlisberger was out.
In the five games Brown has played with Big Ben this year, he is averaging 13.8 targets for 10.4 receptions, 153.4 yards and .6 TDs per game. Now that Roethlisberger is set to miss some additional time with a mid-foot sprain, can Brown remain fantasy relevant?
"Brown wasn't exactly a fantasy monster when Roethlisberger missed October with a knee injury, but on Sunday Brown accounted for 17 receptions and a ridiculous 284 yards on a record 23 targets, including the NFL-high (for a WR) 114 yards after the catch," ESPN Fantasy Football Insider Eric Karabell wrote. "The first time Roethlisberger was badly hurt I kept recommending Brown, assuming talent would overcome all, but it did not. Brown should be among my top-five receivers for Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns and then it's a bye week. Don't overthink this; Brown is great. Roethlisberger shouldn't be out for long, with the by approaching. It'll be fine."
Overall, Brown ranks second in the NFL in receptions (69) and receiving yards (1,002) and has scored three times so far this year. Assuming Landry Jones gets the start over Michael Vick, it's possible that Brown can continue to contribute. Cleveland ranks 18th in receiving yards allowed per game (264.3), 30th in receiving touchdowns (18) and average yard per catch (13.0) and 16th in receptions (183).
Joe Haden is no easy matchup for any WR, but the Steelers will move Brown around the formation to put him in situations to make plays. That bodes well for fantasy owners.
