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Last week, I wrote a column on if you should start or sit Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in fantasy football due to his pending matchup with shutdown corner Joe Haden. You can read it right here. Haden had held several of the top receivers in the league in check this season and many fake football prognosticators were expecting a poor statistical outing from Brown.
So how did Brown do? He caught six passes resulting in 92 yards, including a 41 yard touchdown reception. On the season Brown now has 80 receptions, 1,044 yards and six touchdowns. His 80 receptions lead the league. His 1,044 receiving yards rank second only to Calvin Johnson. In standard leagues, he ranks second in wide receiver scoring and points per game average on the season. So is Brown now worthy of being considered matchup proof?
I think so.
He has played at a high level all season, only scoring less than 10 fantasy points in PPR twice this season, while scoring over 15 fantasy points six times, including three games over 20 points (posting scores of 40.1, 35.4 and 20.4). He has matched up and with several of the top defensive backs in football like Haden, Aqib Talib and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman as well as Lardarius Webb and produced consistently. These are the same defensive backs that have held allegedly “bigger named players” like A.J. Green, Jordy Nelson and Jimmy Graham in check. He has been more reliable than Wes Welker, Dez Bryant or Vincent Jackson, and I would start Brown ahead of everyone but Johnson at this point.
If you have Brown on your roster this season, you are likely in a good spot in your league. If you get any trade offers for him, make sure you realize you have a player who has played his way into a matchup proof, every week starter with game breaking potential, and don’t give him up unless you get a massive haul in return. Otherwise, keep him in your starting lineup and continue to reap the rewards.
As always, I welcome your comments. If you think I’m wrong, I’m willing to listen. Just back it up with some facts and solid evidence. Thanks for reading and good luck this season.
Dustin Manko is an author at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustinManko, ”Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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