New York Giants running back Andre Brown was one of the hottest waiver-wire pickups a few weeks ago after he busted out a 100-plus-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers.

Since that time, though, Ahmad Bradshaw regained his health and came through with a couple of monster performances the past two games, while Brown failed to touch the ball a single time.

He also suffered a concussion in the team's Week 5 contest against the Cleveland Browns—an injury that kept him out of Week 6. 

Now, Brown has been cleared to play, and according to the New York Daily News, he's been practicing with the first team while Bradshaw has been sitting out of practice with his chronic foot problem. Head coach Tom Coughlin called his injury "the same type (of) thing” that Bradshaw dealt with last season.

So, now that you have him sitting on your bench, what should you do?

To answer that question, let's take a look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for Brown.

 

Best Case

It's never cool to hope a player to struggle with injuries, but from what we've seen of Bradshaw, there's at least a slight chance he's going to be in and out of the lineup this season. 

If Bradshaw continues to struggle with his sore foot, Brown will at the least become more involved in the game plan to keep Bradshaw fresh. That isn't necessarily a great investment for your fantasy team, though. 

If Bradshaw has to miss a game here and there, though, Brown will be a worthy keeper on your fantasy roster. 

We all saw how effective Brown was in Weeks 2 and 3, when he rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. He's an explosive runner with good vision, and if he's given a chance to perform on a regular basis, he's going to be a solid starter for your fantasy team. 

 

Worst Case

From a fantasy standpoint, the worst-case scenario for Brown owners would be that Bradshaw fully recovers from his foot injury and that David Wilson somehow earns his way out of Coughlin's doghouse. 

Wilson has proven to be a game-breaking player with the ball in his hands returning kickoffs, and if Coughlin believes that his rookie is ready to start getting some touches within the framework of the offense, Brown's fantasy value will drop like a rock. 

 

Conclusion

If you are in a deep league and are happy with your current situation at running back, keep Brown on your bench. He could come in really handy for your playoff push, as Bradshaw's long-term health is surely up in the air. 

If you are counting on Brown to provide you with fantasy points every week, you need to strongly consider picking up another player. Brown simply isn't a reliable, every-week scoring option. 

 

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