Andrew Weber USA TODAY Sports
This year has not been a good year for the health of the Indianapolis Colts‘ running back corps. Vick Ballard blew out his ACL in an aggressive practice session, prompting the Colts to pursue Trent Richardson at the price of a 2014 first round pick. This created an instant frustration for Ahmad Bradshaw owners, who drafted the New York Giants‘ former all pro in hopes that he could steal the job once he came back from his foot injury.
Unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten again. Current reports out of Indy are saying that, what looked like a minor neck injury for Bradshaw, has turned into a major pain. The neck problem is looking more and more like it will require season ending surgery.
This is the time of year when the free agent pool in most fantasy leagues is starting to get picked clean. So, we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a peek into the Colts’ backfield to talk a little bit more about the next man up, Donald Brown.
Since being drafted by the Colts with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Brown’s stock has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster. Last year, a lot of fantasy footballers were pointing out Brown as one of the biggest sleepers. His performances at the end of the 2011 season helped a lot of people make a deep run in their fantasy playoffs.
Unfortunately, in 2012, he was dinged up a little bit early while struggling in pass protection, and handed the job off to Ballard. Coming into the 2013 season, he has been living on the roster bubble since the first day of camp. Through injury and opportunity he has now found his way to sitting solely behind Richardson.
Brown is essentially the only back left on the roster who really knows the playbook. He also has the ability to fill in, should Richardson get dinged up again.
I’m not saying that Brown is going to save your season if you grab him off the waiver wire. He lingers somewhere in the gray area between being Richardson’s handcuff or just a dark horse stash player.
If you own Richardson and you’ve got an open spot on your roster, I think you should grab Brown and stash him, should darker days come.
Eric Beuning is a Fantasy Football writer for www.RantSports.com.
Follow him on Twitter @ericbeuning or add him to your network on Google
