Week 8 Fantasy Football Sleeper: RB Bryce Brown

By Adam McGill @adammcgill83twitter.com on October 24, 2014

It isn’t too often that a team loses two running backs in the same week. Unfortunately, that was the case this past week with the Buffalo Bills, as they lost both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller to serious injuries in the same game.

Jackson was carted off the field during the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings with a groin injury, while Spiller left the game after breaking his collarbone. Needless to say, the injuries left the fantasy football world reeling.

As a result, many owners rushed to pick up Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown off the waiver wire this week. Neither back will likely put up All-Pro numbers this weekend, but Brown could end up being sneaky play in deeper fantasy formats.

Brown showed some serious potential at the end of last season. He ripped off 115 yards in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears and scored a touchdown in the final two games of the 2013 season. It wasn’t much of a window, but he at least proved that he is capable of handling a full workload out of the backfield.

Now, Dixon is clearly more of a goal-line option and will probably score a touchdown if Buffalo gets inside the five-yard line, but Brown will likely have more all-purpose yards at the end of the game. Buffalo plays the tough defensive front of the New York Jets in Week 8 and they could very well incorporate a handful of screen passes for Brown in the game plan. He is a stronger receiving back and is honestly better at creating yards after the play breaks down, which could be important this weekend behind the team’s struggling o-line.

Brown will be a decent flex option to gamble on this week in leagues with over 10-plus owners. Buffalo will likely give him 15-plus touches this week and I fully expect him to make the most of them.

Week 8 Prediction: 16 carries, 75 yards, 2 catches, 20 yards, 0 TDs

 

Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.