Bryce Brown: Eagles Backup RB Is Fantasy Fool's Gold

I’ve had the displeasure of watching Bryce Brown when he was a heralded star recruit at Tennessee. I watched him struggle as a Volunteer and then later as a Kansas State Wildcat.

Nothing has changed as a Philadelphia Eagle. Different uniform, same story.

Despite Brown’s inability to break tackles, despite his lack of explosiveness hitting the running lane, Andy Reid still insisted on giving him significant touches to spell LeSean McCoy.

Count Brown's hefty playing time as one of Reid's many coaching mistakes this season. The Eagles’ coach is likely on his way out, and the former 5-star recruit hasn’t done much to help.

Now that he’ll likely have the starting role in Philadelphia next week after McCoy suffered a concussion against the Redskins, Brown will be mentioned as a potential fantasy pickup.

If you’re in need of a quick “plug and play” for Week 12 and Brown is the only starter available, a pickup is warranted. But for those who will consider Brown for a roster spot over viable candidates, don’t bother wasting your time. He’ll never have the upside to warrant a fantasy start in 2012.

The rookie back has carried the ball 27 times for a mere 106 yards. Talk about underwhelming.

McCoy has made an awful Eagles offensive line look adequate, thanks to a myriad of YACs and reversing the field for positive gains. Brown won’t have that same luxury because he doesn’t have that ability.

Plus, Reid never showed demonstrative faith in the running game when McCoy started in 2012. The Eagles star has only carried the ball 20 times in three games this season, despite averaging 4.4 YPC.

Now with Brown taking over for the injured star, anybody think Reid will run him 20 times or more?

To make matters worse, the Redskins game revealed that Philadelphia’s offense will take a step back without Michael Vick.

Nick Foles does not have the quarterback chops to keep this team in games without serious help, while the defense hasn’t been giving the offense any favors since Juan Castillo left.

Speculating that McCoy will be off the field for a couple weeks minimum, Brown will be the starter in games against the Panthers and Cowboys. Those teams rank 20th and 13th in run defense, respectively, but boast offenses that could blow the Eagles defense out of the water.

All in all, there are too many red flags to suggest Brown will have a strong fantasy impact. He’s a severe talent downgrade from LeSean McCoy, and it’ll show behind a struggling offense.

Bryce Brown isn’t saving the Eagles now. He won’t save your fantasy team either.

Mike Shiekman is a Breaking News Writer for Bleacher Report. He loves to give fantasy advice, so follow him on Twitter and ask questions @TheRealShiek