Bryce Brown Isn't Worth Fantasy Flier Until After Bills' Week 9 Bye

The Buffalo Bills backfield has experienced a shakeup due to injuries to their usual, formidable tandem in Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.

That will thrust talented ball-carrier Bryce Brown into position to get a significant amount of touches, but with so many variables to be determined, it's not worth taking a fantasy flier on him just yet.

Following a Week 8, AFC East clash with the New York Jets, Buffalo has a bye. With Anthony Dixon listed ahead of Brown on the depth chart, there is no guarantee Brown will be featured more despite his edge in natural talent.

Spiller mentioned Dixon first in his endorsement of those taking over the Bills rushing attack:

On the other hand, Jackson seems to believe Brown is the one who will pick up the slack, per the team's official Twitter account:

Without the roles clearly defined between Dixon and Brown, fantasy owners shouldn't jump on the chance to add Brown if he's floating around on waivers.

That isn't to say Brown can't emerge as the top option, because Spiller is out for the year with a broken collarbone. Jackson, at 33 years of age, should be eased back into the lineup if either Dixon or Brown emerges and produces well.

One knock on Brown and why some are down on his stock is ball-security issues. When he shined with the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie 2012, Brown had 564 yards and four touchdowns on 115 carries but also fumbled the ball four times.

Rotoworld's Nick Mensio points out how the perception may not be the reality with regard to Brown's tendency to put the ball on the turf:

With a career 3.4 yards per carry, Dixon doesn't have too strong of a case to make for additional touches if Brown begins to get into a rhythm.

Dixon is also a bit heavier, though, so he will garner primary consideration—at least for Week 8—in goal-line situations. Even if Brown rips off several big runs, it is likely Dixon will be the one to take touches in the scoring area.

Unless fantasy owners are truly desperate at running back, investing in Brown right now is just not a wise move. The Jets have the eighth-best rush defense in the NFL, and the Bills have plenty of weapons in the passing game to exploit a thin New York secondary.

Following the bye, Buffalo faces Kansas City's 18th-ranked rush defense, which is where Brown would likely do more damage.

It would also afford Brown practice time to run with the Bills' first-team offense, get a feel for the offensive line and have at least some game experience after having not played at all in 2014 before Week 8.