Donald Brown is a....? (1 Viewer)

[chiefs2929]

I realize there are doubters. However he had a 66 yard td on a nice run after the catch last week. Then he went 5/30/1 against Pittsburgh with one for 9 receiving. Andrew Luck is obviously going to improve this offense. Brown is the lead back and I am Very happy to have him on my team. Makes no sense to me why he is not a surefire 4th/5th round pick.

 

[zamboni]

There's been a few threads on Brown.

The needle is certainly heading in the right direction, but wouldn't rely too much on him. Still only has a half season's worth of production, and while he may be the busiest RB on the team, may very well share a good amount of carries.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

he's a RB 3. Probably lose goalline looks to Ballard

 

[Shutout]

Would say about a high 3, low 2. Would be ideal to have him as a flex/emergency/bye guy but wouldn't want him as an every week starter. Gotta figure the Colts to be trailing some games and looking to throw down the field some. The passing game could be part of it but overall Luck doesn't look like a captain checkdown type to me.

 

[eaglezzz]

If you can get Brown as a RB3/FLex guy you may have hit gold. Don't overspend on him but if the price is right he is well worth a shot.

 

[Zeff]

...decent gamble with an outside chance to finish with RB1 numbers, for whom you don't have to pay anywhere near RB1 price.

 

[Warhogs]

I drafted him Sunday as a RB2 option between him Ridley/Vereen/Mendenhall. I actually have a hunch I'll be playing Brown quite a bit in that RB2 option.

 

[chiefs2929]

Just a side note I drafted him as a rb4. I have Mcfadden, Richardson, Martin ahead of him on the depth chart. But also have Ryan Williams and David Wilson Behind him. I will likely be flexing him week 1 depending on Richardsons Health

 

[Shutout]

...decent gamble with an outside chance to finish with RB1 numbers, for whom you don't have to pay anywhere near RB1 price.

I think that might be a stretch bt agree you probably get value with the pick.

 

[Zeff]

...decent gamble with an outside chance to finish with RB1 numbers, for whom you don't have to pay anywhere near RB1 price.

I think that might be a stretch bt agree you probably get value with the pick.

I don't.I mean, I'm already discounting it as an outside chance. But how many 3 down backs are there out there these days? How many of them look to be a good bet to be really productive in the passing as well as the running games? Each year, how many of the Top X among them get injured, or tweaked, or succumb to suckitude for unexpected reasons? Sure, that could be Brown this year. But it could easily be three or four of the guys ahead of him in the fantasy pecking order, too. Happens every year.

IMO, any RB who looks like a safe bet to lead his team comfortably in touches, and looks like a critical cog of the dumpoff passing game, is a VERY good bet to finish top 15. And it takes very little to tip that balance to top 12.

Matt Forte light, IMO.

 

[Warrior]

Just a side note I drafted him as a rb4. I have Mcfadden, Richardson, Martin ahead of him on the depth chart. But also have Ryan Williams and David Wilson Behind him. I will likely be flexing him week 1 depending on Richardsons Health

Thanks for the update on your team. I was having trouble sleeping at night.

 

[griff321]

...decent gamble with an outside chance to finish with RB1 numbers, for whom you don't have to pay anywhere near RB1 price.

I think that might be a stretch bt agree you probably get value with the pick.

I don't.I mean, I'm already discounting it as an outside chance. But how many 3 down backs are there out there these days? How many of them look to be a good bet to be really productive in the passing as well as the running games? Each year, how many of the Top X among them get injured, or tweaked, or succumb to suckitude for unexpected reasons? Sure, that could be Brown this year. But it could easily be three or four of the guys ahead of him in the fantasy pecking order, too. Happens every year.

IMO, any RB who looks like a safe bet to lead his team comfortably in touches, and looks like a critical cog of the dumpoff passing game, is a VERY good bet to finish top 15. And it takes very little to tip that balance to top 12.

Matt Forte light, IMO.

This. I wouldn't be as high on him in standard leagues, but in PPR I have a gut feeling he's going to catch enough balls to make himself a good RB2 with RB1 upside.

 

[zamboni]

Would say about a high 3, low 2. Would be ideal to have him as a flex/emergency/bye guy but wouldn't want him as an every week starter. Gotta figure the Colts to be trailing some games and looking to throw down the field some. The passing game could be part of it but overall Luck doesn't look like a captain checkdown type to me.

I don't think we've seen enough of Luck to know whether he'll check down a lot or not. In any case, Brown will likely be a big part of the passing game, so the team being down a lot (which may or not be the case) could be in his favor.

 

[jurb26]

Donald Brown is a steal.

Plan and simple.

I just drafted this guy in the 8th round and he has an ADP of round 5. His ADP has risen 2 full rounds in a matter of weeks, I'm guessing because of confidence in Luck. He's a featured RB, albeit on a poor team, but the shear opportunity alone should place him in RB2 territory. Yet he is able to be had at a RB3 price, if not RB4.

Everyone on this board should be putting this guy on their target list because not many others are.

 

[Sweet Love]

I look at the RB position much different than any other position in FF. To be elite, it requires great skill and many oppotunities. To be decent, it requires either great skill and smaller opportunities OR decent skill and many opportunities. Brown falls into the latter. He has some skills, but really, he is going to be fed the ball. We have seen countless times (even on the Colts), where guys like Addai, Rhodes, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Ward, Grant, Blount, etc., have been fed the ball and put up RB2 numbers. It happens at other positions (Mike Furrey and Amendola at WR and Keller at TE), but rarely do you see a situation where a healthy Charles and a Brown can put up equal numbers, just because the less talented guy got 70+ more touches. This is what I see with brown this year. Although Luck is a rookie, you just know the defense has to respect him, and if I were a coordinator, I would dare brown to beat me, versus facing a guy like Luck who throws an awful INT in one series and comes right back and hits Wayne for 50. let Donald get his 4.0 per carry in that case...and let me own him and reap the workmanship benefits.

 

[Da Man]

Just a side note I drafted him as a rb4. I have Mcfadden, Richardson, Martin ahead of him on the depth chart. But also have Ryan Williams and David Wilson Behind him. I will likely be flexing him week 1 depending on Richardsons Health

Thanks for the update on your team. I was having trouble sleeping at night.

I would alo like to know the rest of your team..th suspense is just killing me...........

 

[MAC_32]

I'm not a fan and think there's a good chance Ballard eats more and more into his role as the season goes on, but at his current price he is absolutely a worthwhile gamble. I've been going Williams and Leshoure instead as my #3 and #4 but if I missed on them I'd throw a dart at Donald. I just don't trust him to keep the job because I don't think he is that good, the thing is his competition isn't either.

 

[TheFootballJesus]

I view Brown as a high end RB3, low end RB 2 this year and while I think he was a good value a few weeks ago, the word is out on him. Fantasy football calculator has him being drafted as the 25th RB off the board between Hillis and Shonn Greene. That seems just about right to me. If you got him as an RB3 or flex play, congrats. If you're relying on him as your RB2 good luck....there's just too many concerns for me to be 100% confident in him. Vick Ballard has looked pretty good this preseason and there's a chance delone carter could steal goalline looks from him.

 

[GeauxTigers]

Any change Ballard ends up taking the starting spot?

 

[rascal]

From rotoworld:

Brown sits atop Indianapolis' depth chart and that may not change, but the Colts are headed for RBBC. Rookie Vick Ballard and third-down specialist Mewelde Moore have been heavily involved with the first-team offense, while Delone Carter has gotten goal-line looks. Brown does not possess the talent to live up to his sixth-round Average Draft Position. He's an RB3. You’re in trouble if you get stuck with him as a starter.

 

[zamboni]

From rotoworld:Brown sits atop Indianapolis' depth chart and that may not change, but the Colts are headed for RBBC. Rookie Vick Ballard and third-down specialist Mewelde Moore have been heavily involved with the first-team offense, while Delone Carter has gotten goal-line looks. Brown does not possess the talent to live up to his sixth-round Average Draft Position. He's an RB3. You’re in trouble if you get stuck with him as a starter.

While that may be all true, I wouldn't trust rotoworld as the authority by any stretch. I think it's going to take a few games to sort out how much of an RBBC it is.

 

[Shutout]

Would say about a high 3, low 2. Would be ideal to have him as a flex/emergency/bye guy but wouldn't want him as an every week starter. Gotta figure the Colts to be trailing some games and looking to throw down the field some. The passing game could be part of it but overall Luck doesn't look like a captain checkdown type to me.

I don't think we've seen enough of Luck to know whether he'll check down a lot or not. In any case, Brown will likely be a big part of the passing game, so the team being down a lot (which may or not be the case) could be in his favor.

On technicality, I agree with you but sometimes you just see a guy make throws and you know its not in his DNA to be popping off 6 and 7 yards throws.

 

[jurb26]

From rotoworld:Brown sits atop Indianapolis' depth chart and that may not change, but the Colts are headed for RBBC. Rookie Vick Ballard and third-down specialist Mewelde Moore have been heavily involved with the first-team offense, while Delone Carter has gotten goal-line looks. Brown does not possess the talent to live up to his sixth-round Average Draft Position. He's an RB3. You’re in trouble if you get stuck with him as a starter.

While that may be all true, I wouldn't trust rotoworld as the authority by any stretch. I think it's going to take a few games to sort out how much of an RBBC it is.

Rotoworld is a source I have listed to ignore.

 

[BallparkFrank]

I'm trying to figure out which goal line sniper I need to add as a handcuff if that gives you any indication. He's broken my heart before!

 

[Shutout]

...decent gamble with an outside chance to finish with RB1 numbers, for whom you don't have to pay anywhere near RB1 price.

I think that might be a stretch bt agree you probably get value with the pick.

I don't.I mean, I'm already discounting it as an outside chance. But how many 3 down backs are there out there these days? How many of them look to be a good bet to be really productive in the passing as well as the running games? Each year, how many of the Top X among them get injured, or tweaked, or succumb to suckitude for unexpected reasons? Sure, that could be Brown this year. But it could easily be three or four of the guys ahead of him in the fantasy pecking order, too. Happens every year.

IMO, any RB who looks like a safe bet to lead his team comfortably in touches, and looks like a critical cog of the dumpoff passing game, is a VERY good bet to finish top 15. And it takes very little to tip that balance to top 12.

Matt Forte light, IMO.

I see your point. I'm just not sure when all is said and done that he is truly a 3-down back. I think they intend to use ballard quite a bit more than people seem to be saying. I'm also counting no less than 5 legit receiving threats and when I see Luck, I see a guy that will be throwing it a lot very soon.He's simply too promising and talented. If Luck is anything close to what he has been forecast to be, then he is going to be a top 10 QB in this league really soon. Look at all the top 10 QBs. How many of those guys feed their RBs the way its being suggested?

Brees

Rodgers

Brady

Newton (and he has two excellent RBs)

Stafford

Eli

Matt Ryan

Romo

Just not many QBs who are that talented are leaning on a run game that produces RB1 numbers. Its part of WHY they are the elite QBS...because they throw so much.