Week 2 vs. Cincinnati
In three games against Cincinnati last season, Brown had 20 receptions for 253 yards and a touchdown. For most receivers, that's outstanding output. For Brown, that's somewhat sub-par. But he had a line of 8-126-2 last week at Washington and will be plenty pumped up for this one since Cincinnati ended his season last year on Vontaze Burfict's headhunting shot. Markus Wheaton will be back this week to take up some of the slack. Brown is always a must-start.
Week 1 at Washington
Brown vs. Josh Norman could be one of the premiere matchups of opening weekend. Brown has pretty much had his way with just about everyone that has tried to match him one-on-one and many teams that have attempted to double him. There's not a lot to say here. He's obviously a No. 1 WR option in all formats every week.
2016 Fantasy Outlook
136 catches. 1,834 yards. 10 touchdowns. Those were Brown's numbers one season after everyone thought he had peaked in 2014 with a line of 129-1,698-13. His two-year reception total of 265 is the most in NFL history. His 3,532 yards in the past two years are the second-most in a similar span in league history. At 28, you'd expect Brown to slow down, but he played four full games and parts of two others without Ben Roethlisberger last season. Had he played a full season with Roethlisberger, several of the league's single-season receiving records would have fallen. Brown is productive and durable - when he's not being hit in the head by Vontaze Burfict. He's the top wide receiver in all formats and the top player in many drafts.
Week 19 at Denver
Brown has been declared out this week, so make sure you get him out of your lineups. Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton will be the biggest beneficiaries of Brown's absence.
Week 18 at Cincinnati
In two games against the Bengals, Brown had 13 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown. Those sound like good numbers for most players. It's a tough matchup for Brown, but the Steelers will find creative ways to get the ball in his hands this week, especially with DeAngelo Williams likely out. Brown's one of the top playmakers in the game. He's going to get his.
Week 17 at Cleveland
Brown couldn't get loose much last week and had seven catches for 61 yards, rather pedestrian numbers for a receiver of his skillset. He had 10 catches for 139 yards and two scores earlier this season against the Browns, one of four games in which he's had double digits in catches. There's no reason to think the Browns will come anywhere close to shutting him down.
Week 16 at Baltimore
Brown had 16 catches for 189 yards and two scores last week, becoming the first player in league history to have a pair of 15-plus-catch games in the same season. With the exception of a bad game at Seattle, he's money in the bank when Roethlisberger plays. Roethlisberger is playing this week and Baltimore's pass defense is nothing special. Brown is on a mission right now, and that mission is to destroy opposing DBs. He's a must-play.
Week 15 vs. Denver
Brown had a quiet day - for him anyway - last week catching seven passes for 87 yards at Cincinnati. That's a solid day for anyone else, but he's raised the bar to that level. Now he gets Denver's top-rated defense and reportedly will have Chris Harris following him around. Harris hasn't allowed a TD catch since 2013 and Brown is out to end that streak. You've come too far with Brown to bench him now, despite the matchup. He'll find a way to get his points.
Week 14 at Cincinnati
Brown became just the seventh player since 1970 to score two receiving touchdowns and score on a punt return in the same game. He added eight receptions for 118 yards. Cincinnati took away the deep ball in their first meeting this season and limited Brown to 6 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. But he's on a tear this season and there's no way you sit Brown.
Week 13 vs. Indianapolis
Brown managed six catches for 51 yards in his one-on-one matchup against Richard Sherman last week but still has 33 catches for 474 yards and three TDs in his past three games. Brown had 10 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns in a meeting with the Colts last season after Vontae Davis left early with an injury. He should be primed for another big game this week.
