The wait is finally over. Whether you drafted and stashed him away eight weeks ago or you just spent the rest of your free-agent budget to acquire him this past week, Antonio Brown makes his return to the gridiron this weekend. Sunday night in prime-time to be specific.
But based on some of the chatter within the fantasy football industry, many are wondering whether or not it makes sense to start the much-maligned wideout when his Buccaneers face the Saints.
All that time waiting? All that energy spent wondering if you were making the right choice? You bet you’re starting him this week. A move this bold was not for the faint of heart, but you stood tall and made the decision. To chicken out now would betray that boldness and admit defeat.
If you don’t start him now against a Saints defense that has been carved up by Allen Robinson, D.J. Moore and Mike Williams in recent weeks, what are you waiting for?
Forget about anything Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians says. Forget about snap counts or discussions that have taken place among the coaching staff. This is Tom Brady’s team, and what Tom wants, Tom gets.
He didn’t want Ronald Jones leading the backfield. The Bucs got him Leonard Fournette. He didn’t want to throw to O.J. Howard or Cameron Brate. The Bucs got him Rob Gronkowski. And say what you want about Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, but if Brady really wanted to throw to them, why was Scotty Miller a thing and why is Brown living in Brady’s house? Because what Tom wants, Tom gets.
Now, obviously, if you start just two wide receivers and you own DeAndre Hopkins and DK Metcalf, you’re not starting Brown. But if you have a third receiver spot or a flex spot, and your choices range in the Marvin Jones Jr., Justin Jefferson or Antonio Gibson realm, you had better have Brown in your starting lineup.
This is a defining moment in your fantasy season. Don’t second-guess your way out of being bold. Make the move you know you want to make.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at Fantasy-Alarm.com Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.
