A.J. Brown injury update: Out for Week 8 with ankle, knee issues
Patriots rule out A.J. Brown for Sunday's game in Miami due to ankle and knee injuries.
The Patriots ruled out wide receiver A.J. Brown for Sunday’s game at the Miami Dolphins because of ankle and knee injuries, according to Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk.
Brown missed the final two Patriots practices of the week. He had been limited in Wednesday’s practice session but did not practice Thursday or Friday. The Patriots added the knee to the injury report this week. Brown has dealt with knee issues in the past and it is believed to be the bigger problem on the injury front at present.
Context
Brown missed four games with the ankle injury before returning for the last two contests. In Week 7, he had 7.8 PPR points, 6 targets, 3 receptions, and 48 receiving yards. In Week 6, he had 5.7 PPR points, 10 targets, 3 receptions, and 27 receiving yards. Overall for the season, Brown has 19.1 PPR points, 20 targets, 9 receptions, and 101 receiving yards in 3 games. His Sleeper projection for Week 8 was 13.1 PPR points.
Timeline
On October 17, Fantasy Football Desk reported the Patriots would likely activate A.J. Brown off Injured Reserve to play against the New York Jets on October 18. Brown had been on injured reserve since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1. The Patriots opened Brown’s 21-day practice window, and he returned to practice that week. Head coach Mike Vrabel said he didn’t know if Brown would be ready for that Sunday’s game.
On October 29, Patriots coaches said they were not sounding the alarm over Brown. Wide receivers coach Todd Downing said, “It’s been a small sample size for A.J., I think there’s been a lot made about a couple of weeks. My hope, and his hope, and everybody’s hope is that he gets a little bit of traction. I’m not worried about where A.J. is at at all.” Brown did not practice that day.
Depth chart
The Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart lists DeMario Douglas next. He has 64.6 PPR points, 34 targets, 23 receptions, 256 receiving yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns this season. Kyle Williams has 26.7 PPR points, 12 targets, 6 receptions, 147 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown. Efton Chism III has 28.2 PPR points, 15 targets, 10 receptions, 114 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown.
What’s next
The Patriots play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, November 1.
🏈 Fantasy impact
A.J. Brown will not play in Week 8, so fantasy managers need a replacement. Brown has only 19.1 PPR points this season and has not produced when active, with 7.8 and 5.7 PPR points in his last two games. With Brown out, DeMario Douglas is the most productive Patriots wide receiver available. Douglas has 64.6 PPR points, 23 receptions, and 3 touchdowns this season, and he is worth starting as a flex in deeper leagues. Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III are dart throws but have been less consistent — Williams has 26.7 PPR points and Chism has 28.2. If you own Brown, drop him for Douglas if he is available, or pick up Douglas as a streamer. Start Douglas in Week 8.
Quick answers
Will A.J. Brown play in Week 8?
No, the Patriots ruled Brown out for Sunday's game versus the Dolphins due to ankle and knee injuries.
What is A.J. Brown's injury?
Brown is dealing with ankle and knee issues. The knee was added to the injury report this week and is believed to be the bigger problem.
Who replaces A.J. Brown for the Patriots?
DeMario Douglas is the next receiver on the depth chart. He has 64.6 PPR points, 23 receptions, and 3 touchdowns this season.