Another day, another significant change in the NFL career of wide receiver Antonio Brown. Yet again, fantasy football managers are scrambling to try to figure everything out.
On Friday, the New England Patriots released Brown after he played in one game for the Super Bowl champions. Unlike when the Oakland Raiders cut Brown, it does not feel like another team will be swooping in right away, but one never knows with this roller coaster.
This move has repercussions in the fantasy football world for other Patriots in Week 3 and beyond, so let us get right to them.
Tom Brady moves down a notch: Brady moved up a considerable number of spots in our rankings upon Brown's signing just two weeks ago, and one might think he leaves our QB1 rankings right away. That is not exactly the case, though he is a less attractive fantasy option now for sure. The Patriots play the New York Jets this weekend, and Brady should thrive against a struggling secondary.
For the rest of the season, Brady remains in QB1 discussion, though at the back end. I think Brady can play better than he did last season, but certainly some of the allure in recommending him was when one of the top wide receivers in the sport joined his team. That has now ended.
Patriots RBs are unaffected: The running back situation does not alter, just as it did not a few weeks ago. Sony Michel is better in non-PPR formats because he is not adept at catching passes -- he boasts nary a target, and had 11 all last season -- but he remains a borderline RB2 for PPR. I consistently rank James White ahead of Michel in PPR because value dictates it.
White remains a key cog in this offense for his pass-catching ability, and those in PPR formats love him. He was a top-10 PPR RB a season ago. Rex Burkhead awaits more chances, too. Nothing changed from prior to Week 1 to today at running back.
More targets now for Julian Edelman: Brown's signing did not impact Edelman statistically as much as many believed. They were going to play vastly different roles. Brown saw heavy targets at the goal line in his lone performance, which is not Edelman's role anyway.
Still, there are more targets to go around with Brown gone, and Edelman deserves more. I continued to rank Edelman as a WR2, and now I have moved him up a few spots closer to WR1 status.
A bump up for Josh Gordon: In relation to Edelman, one should look at Gordon as the receiver gaining more value. Gordon figured to see a sharp decrease in targets, as time went on, with the talented Brown in the offense. Now, Gordon, who has looked sharp so far but remains far from reliable, figures to add targets and, perhaps more importantly, returns to being a red zone threat.
Gordon was quiet in a Week 2 blowout of the feeble Miami Dolphins, catching 19 yards worth of passes. In Week 1, Gordon achieved 73 receiving yards and a touchdown. His value returns to at least flex-worthy, and he can be considered a WR2 in better matchups.
A chance for Phillip Dorsett: Opportunity could knock again for Dorsett. He should see the field on many more three-receiver sets. Dorsett is available in nearly 95% of ESPN standard leagues. There are no guarantees of more performances like Week 1, when he caught four passes for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but it seems far more possible with Brown jettisoned. Gordon is not likely to assume a high variance of targets.
Dorsett is not a must-add in ESPN standard formats, but when looking at some of the wide receivers high up on ESPN's most added list who remain available in at least half of leagues -- Nelson Agholor, Randall Cobb, Mecole Hardman -- I would say Dorsett belongs in that group, thanks to this offense's upside.
You do not need to get him, but try it and see what happens, and if you really have room, rookie Jakobi Meyers, who was inactive in Week 2, figures to dress and perhaps he assumes a greater role than Dorsett in time.
Tight ends a nonfactor: With Rob Gronkowski still unemployed (for now), there remains no viable fantasy option for this week or next, with Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo having caught two passes each, but veteran Ben Watson had a decent year in 2015 with Drew Brees and could matter for the Patriots in Week 5, when his suspension is over. Anyway, something to think about for future weeks if you are not pleased with your tight end production.
What to do with Brown's roster spot? For now, I would stop short of releasing Brown from your fantasy team. Hear me out. Yes, the Patriots moved on and it seems unlikely another NFL team will act quickly to scoop him up, but a few weeks ago, there was also much uncertainty. Then we soon found out Brown and his management orchestrated the Raiders release. This does not feel the same, but try to keep Brown rostered another week, just in case.
There remain few notable wide receiver injuries to affect Week 3 rankings, and the bye weeks start in Week 4 with two teams (Jets and 49ers), so you should have options for this weekend.
If rumors fail to have Brown finding a new home in a week, for those in redraft formats, then sure, move on. For those in dynasty formats, keep him around. You never know.