Chase Brown

Chase Brown 2023 Fantasy Football Rookie Profile

Overview

Chase Brown is a fifth-year junior running back prospect from the University of Illinois. Brown began his collegiate journey at Western Michigan University. Used sparingly (6.3 plays per game), Brown still averaged five Yards Per Carry (YPC) on his 71 totes.

2019 was a red-shirt season for the Canadian-born back. He started six of eight games during the COVID-19-shortened season, finding pay dirt three times. Brown found his stride in 2021 – his third season in Champaign, Ill. – finishing seventh in the Big Ten with 1,005 rushing yards. He carried the load for the Fighting Illini, leading them from a 1-4 start to a 5-7 record, including a rainy upset over a highly-ranked Penn State University team at Beaver Stadium.

No. 2 came to play in 2022, amassing an incredible 328 carries (first in the Big Ten) for 1,643 rushing yards (second in the Big Ten). Maybe even more impressive, Brown carried Illinois to their first winning season since 2011. Playing on the road against one of the toughest defenses in College Football – the University of Michigan – Brown balled out, taking 29 carries for 140 yards and two TDs. The Wolverines narrowly escaped the Fighting Illini 19-17, but Brown cemented his legacy at Illinois.

Pros

• Extremely shifty
• Above-average pass-catcher
• Strong vision
• Proven durability in a bell-cow role
• Thick frame and good build
• Quick foot-work with good burst

Cons

• Sometimes too patient looking for holes
• Not overly powerful in short-yardage situations
• Older than some other prospects in this class
• Ball-security concerns

Chase Brown Player Comparison

A Mix Between Christian McCaffrey (RB, San Francisco 49ers) & Raheem Mostert (RB, Miami Dolphins)

He is not as talented, but there are a lot of comparisons between Brown and Christian McCaffrey. Similar in size and build, McCaffrey entered the NFL at 5 foot-11 inches and 202 pounds. In his final two seasons at Stanford University, McCaffrey averaged 295 carries for 1,811 yards, similar to Brown’s 328 carries for 1,643 yards in 2022. The two also share similar shiftiness, shedding off defenders after first contact.

Where Brown differs from McCaffrey is he doesn’t have quite the pass-catching ability or the prowess in short-yardage situations. In those areas, his skillset is more reminiscent of Raheem Mostert – serviceable but not game-changing. Like the former 49ers RB, Brown finds holes with patient running and continues to gain positive yards, occasionally hitting a home run. 

Chase Brown Fantasy Football Projection

The NFL Combine will likely be the determining factor as to whether Brown will be drafted on day two or three of the NFL Draft. Either way, he likely finds himself in a committee. He might be much of a fantasy factor early in his rookie year. However, I believe he’ll work himself into a change-of-pace role by at least mid-season and be a contributor to fantasy football rosters down the stretch.

While it may take a year or two, Brown has mid-tier Points Per Reception (PPR) RB2 upside if he ever becomes a featured back. He showed that he can handle a workhorse workload and help an offense move efficiently.

He likely won’t cost more than a double-digit round pick in redrafts, a price I’m willing to pay, depending on the landing spot. In rookie drafts for 1QB dynasty leagues, Brown will likely be available in the mid-late second round. If my roster needs RB help, I’ll subsequently jump on him at that cost.

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