Alright, so I’ve been wrestling with this one for my main league draft, and man, it’s a tough call: A.J. Brown or Garrett Wilson? Both guys are studs, no doubt about it, but you gotta pick one, right?
So, I started my process like I always do. First, I just let my gut react. My initial thought? A.J. Brown. He’s on a high-powered offense, got that connection with Hurts, and he’s just a beast after the catch. You’ve seen the highlights. He’s proven it year after year, pretty much.
But then, Garrett Wilson. The talent is just screaming at you. He put up numbers with some, let’s be honest, pretty rough quarterback play last year. Now, he’s supposed to have Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. That’s a massive upgrade. The potential ceiling there? Through the roof.
My Deep Dive Process
So, I dug in a bit deeper. Here’s what I was mulling over in my head, trying to figure this thing out:
- Quarterback Situation: This is the big one for Wilson. If Rodgers is actually Rodgers, Wilson could be a top-5 guy, easy. For Brown, Hurts is a great fantasy QB, runs a bit, which sometimes limits pure passing volume, but he still feeds Brown. Fewer question marks with Brown’s QB, I think, but maybe more pure upside with Wilson’s if it all clicks.
- Target Competition: Brown has DeVonta Smith, who is no slouch, and Dallas Goedert. Solid players. They all get theirs. Wilson, well, the Jets brought in some guys like Lazard, Cobb, but Wilson is the clear alpha dog there. He should just soak up targets, you’d imagine.
- Offensive Philosophy: The Eagles love to run, especially near the goal line with Hurts. That can cap Brown’s touchdown upside sometimes, though he still gets his share. The Jets, with Rodgers? You figure they’re gonna want to air it out a bit more, especially if they’re trying to make a statement.
- Floor vs. Ceiling: This is where it gets really tricky for me. I feel like Brown has an incredibly safe floor. You pretty much know you’re getting solid WR1 numbers, week in and week out. Wilson’s floor is a bit murkier if Rodgers isn’t 100% or the Jets offense takes time to really get going. But his ceiling, like I said, is sky-high. Potentially massive.
Making the Call (or at least trying to)
I actually sat down and just stared at my draft board for a good ten minutes on this one, just going back and forth. I thought about what happened last year. Brown was super consistent, a rock. Wilson had weeks where he disappeared a bit with those QBs, then other weeks where he looked like the best receiver in the whole league.
I tried to think about my team build too. If I go Brown, I’m getting a very reliable, steady piece. If I go Wilson, I’m swinging for the fences a bit more. Which do I need more based on my earlier picks, or what kind of team am I trying to build?
It reminds me of a time a few seasons back, I had a similar choice between a proven vet on a good offense and a high-upside younger guy with a new, exciting situation. I went with the vet, and it was fine, solid. But the younger guy blew up and won some people their leagues. You always remember those “what if” moments, don’t you?
So, what did I finally land on? Or where am I leaning heavily? I’m not gonna lie, it’s been back and forth more times than I can count. Woke up thinking Brown, went to bed thinking Wilson. It’s been that kind of decision.
But here’s the thing that started to tip it for me. I started thinking about the “what if” factor, especially for Wilson. What if Rodgers is vintage Rodgers? Wilson could genuinely be THE WR1 overall. That’s a league-winning type of pick if it hits. Brown will be great, very likely a top-5 to top-8 guy, for sure. But does he have that tippy-top overall WR1 ceiling in the same way Wilson could this year? I’m not so sure.
My process involved just kind of playing out the seasons in my head for both guys. If Brown has a “good” season, he’s probably around, say, 1300-1400 yards and 8-10 TDs. Solid, fantastic. If Wilson has a “good” season with Rodgers throwing him the rock, what does that look like? It could be 1500-1600 yards and 12+ TDs. The potential just feels a smidge higher, even if the risk is also a smidge higher.
So, after all that hemming and hawing, all the internal debate, checking my notes, just thinking it through and going with my gut… I’m leaning towards swinging for the fences. It’s early in the draft when these guys are going, and sometimes you gotta take that shot at league-winning upside.
It’s one of those decisions where you can’t really be “wrong” because both are awesome players. But for my build this year, and for the sheer excitement factor of what could be, I’m finding myself clicking Wilson’s name more often in my mock drafts. It’s a gut feeling backed by a lot of overthinking, if that makes any sense at all. We’ll see how it plays out, but that’s where my head’s at after going through the wringer on this one. Hopefully, it pays off!
