Through the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has made headlines for all the wrong reasons, at least when it comes to production.
Coming off a strong 2024 season with 67 receptions, 1,079 yards, and second-team All-Pro honors, Brown’s output this season has raised eyebrows. So far, he has recorded only six catches for 35 total yards, an unexpected development for one of the league’s most explosive playmakers.
In Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, Brown managed five catches but just 27 yards. Things got even quieter in Week 2 versus the Kansas City Chiefs, where he had only a single reception for eight yards.
Even more alarming? He was targeted just once the entire game by quarterback Jalen Hurts. Despite that, the Eagles managed to start 2-0 for the third time in four years, which may have masked Brown’s struggles to the casual observer.
Brown has remained publicly optimistic, telling reporters, “We’re working hard trying to get this thing rolling,” and stressing the importance of timing and communication between him and Hurts. But while his mindset is positive, the stats tell a different story, one that hasn’t been seen in nearly three decades.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Brown is the first healthy NFL wide receiver since 1998 to follow a 1,000-yard season with fewer than 40 receiving yards through two games.
The last to do so was former Minnesota Vikings receiver Jake Reed, who posted just 16 receiving yards in the first two games of 1998 after a 1,138-yard season the year before. Reed’s production never returned to form, as he finished that season with only 474 yards and never topped 650 yards again.
What should fantasy managers do?
Fantasy football players who drafted A.J. Brown early have every right to feel uneasy. Given his five 1,000-yard seasons in six years and status as Jalen Hurts’ top target, expectations were sky-high. While his 2024 campaign was shorter due to injury, he still scored seven touchdowns and produced at a high level when on the field.
Still, this slow start doesn’t necessarily spell doom. Brown has pointed to syncing up better with Hurts as the key to turning things around. If that timing improves, his volume and production should rebound.
Looking ahead, his Week 3 matchup against the Rams could be the bounce-back opportunity fantasy owners need. Given his past success against similar coverage and the Eagles’ desire to reassert their passing attack, he’s still a worthwhile start.
While fantasy players shouldn’t give up A.J. Brown yet, they should keep a close eye on his usage and target share going forward.
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