The fantasy football season is heading into Week 2 on Thursday and after the Denver Broncos demolished the Baltimore Ravens, the Super Bowl champions are hurting, as Jacoby Jones has a knee injury that will keep him out a month, making Marlon Brown one of the top fantasy pickups and sleepers for Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns.
Brown was solid in the first game against the Broncos, making four catches on six targets for 65 yards and one touchdown and during the game he averaged over 16 yards per catch. The team has Torrey Smith on one side and with Jones now out for a while with an MCL strain, Brown will step up as the number two receiver. Jones had three catches for 24 yards in the game before leaving with an injury and now ESPN.com is reporting that he could be out for up to six weeks with the strain.
Jones' injury is in his right knee and it is a big blow to the Ravens, who gave up Anquan Boldin to the 49ers for just a draft pick. Boldin may have the last laugh now after the injuries and the fact that he had 13 catches for over 200 yards in the Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers and the Ravens may also try to add someone like Brandon Lloyd and they have already brought back Tandon Doss after releasing him.
Brown now is the top fantasy pickup option for this week along with Julian Edelman, who should get plenty of looks from Tom Brady with Danny Amendola out with a groin injury. The team will be looking to Brown plenty if Smith is doubled like he was for most of the game against the Broncos and with the tight ends not doing much either, he will be a prime option in PPR leagues as well.
Brown is coming out of Georgia and he has the look of a solid receiver in the league and if he can play well this week against the Browns, he should be considered a starter each week until Jones returns or the Ravens sign someone else. Brown has very good size and with Ed Dixon not getting it done, Joe Flacco will look to him more and while Ray Rice will get going, the team needs players to step up on offense and now Brown is the next one up for Jones.
