Jonathon Brooks Fantasy Week 1 Start or Sit: No Need to Roll the Dice
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Brooks finally has a real chance to matter, and he lands 31st among running backs in PFN’s Week 1 rankings with Chuba Hubbard playing through a hamstring issue above him. The matchup is right: the Bears ranked 27th in defensive success rate against the rush last season. Still, with few roster restrictions this early, there’s no need to roll the dice in Week 1.
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Should You Start or Sit Jonathon Brooks in Week 1?
Brooks entering this season with a real chance to matter is one small step for Texas and one large step for modern medicine.
The former second-round pick has been unable to get his professional career on track because of not one, but two right ACL tears. Knock on wood, but all seems to be in order right now, and that has managers wondering about just how bullish they can be on him.
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We have 12 career touches to go off of and that obviously makes things tough. His 6.2 yards per carry with the Longhorns is encouraging, though it should be noted that only one was in a featured role.
The matchup is right. The Bears ranked 27th in defensive success rate against the rush last season and the Panthers profile as the type of squad that will try to play defense with their offense (10th in rush rate last season, fifth when the game was within a single score). Hubbard is expected to play through the hamstring injury that cost him time this summer and he technically sits atop this depth chart.
That could change quickly.
My issue with being early to the Brooks gravy train is that I’m not sure he gets a real look at 15 or more touches until he proves that he can withstand a smaller role first.
For me, this is simple: you give Brooks time. You showed your interest in him by drafting him and that was wise. In doing so, you were committing to the long game. My hope is that he can flash the upside we saw from him in college and work his way into a JK Dobbins-like role where we simply plug him in as long as he’s on the active roster.
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We aren’t there yet. He has a real chance to take over this backfield, but with very few roster restrictions in terms of injuries, byes, and roles, there’s no need to roll the dice in Week 1.
Where Does Jonathon Brooks Rank Amongst Other RBs in Week 1?
- 26) Rhamondre Stevenson
- 27) TreVeyon Henderson
- 28) Chuba Hubbard
- 29) Tony Pollard
- 30) Kenny Gainwell
- 31) Jonathon Brooks
- 32) Jacory Croskey-Merritt
- 33) MarShawn Lloyd
- 34) Rico Dowdle
- 35) Blake Corum
- 36) Jordan Mason
Want the whole board? PFN’s Week 1 Fantasy Rankings cover every position.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.