Antonio Brown released, signs with Patriots: Fantasy context
By Raju Byfield
Fantasy Football Winners and Losers of Antonio Brown to Patriots
Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown had a roller coaster 24 hours but came out the process on a better team with a better quarterback and a better coach. Brown was set to lead the Raiders in targets, receptions and receiving yards and may very well get the same opportunity in New England. He is the most prolific of the Patriots receivers and could command over 10 targets per game in the post-Rob Gronkowski era.
He was projected as a WR1 on the Raiders due to his guaranteed weekly volume but is now more of an elite WR2 with WR1 upside. He now possesses a lower weekly floor as he will be sharing targets with Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon and other Patriots receivers like Demaryius Thomas, Jakobi Meyers and Phillip Dorsett.
Antonio Brown will in all likelihood post a 100 reception, 1,300-yard season, but his floor is an 80 reception, 1,000-yard campaign. The number of trips he makes to the end zone could make a large difference in his fantasy finish. He should see at least 25 percent of the team’s targets but should be in store for a lower volume than he may have received in Oakland. However, it is likely that once he is acclimated to the Patriots system and verbiage that he becomes the weekly target and receptions leader. He is a route running technician that can get open at will who as a result will immediately endear himself to both Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.