Gibbs ranks A.J. Brown 13th overall; elite per-route efficiency with Drake May and no target competition.

Jacob Gibbs ranks A.J. Brown 13th overall, ahead of Justin Jefferson, Drake London, and Nico Collins, and considers him worthy of selection over elite running backs like Ashton Jeanty, Jamarion Hampton, and Jonathan Taylor. Brown's ADP has surged significantly: locked in the top 18 overall in FFPC, went 8th overall in a recent NFFC $350 contest, and is steaming up in the middle of the second round on Underdog. Gibbs emphasizes that if Brown is close to his pre-injury form, the pairing with Drake May could produce one of the top-scoring players at any position. Brown ranks third all-time in yards per route run (behind only Puka Nacua and Tyreek Hill) and first among wide receivers in yards per route run from under center (4.4 YPRR). He posted a single-season yards per route run rate above 3.0 with the Eagles just one year ago, placing him among only nine wide receivers ever to achieve that mark. Gibbs projects Brown will benefit significantly from the Patriots' under-center and play-action heavy scheme under Josh McDaniels, which historically boosts efficiency for elite playmakers. Brown's transition to New England pairs elite per-route efficiency with a full-time role (versus Stefon Diggs' 68% route rate), positioning him for top-10 fantasy points per route run production plus red-zone upside (career 34% end-zone target share versus Diggs' 8% last year). Moving to the Patriots with no meaningful target competition (Romeo Doubs is the only other option with a well-defined, limited role), Brown maintains alpha wide receiver one status despite having played alongside DeVonta Smith (arguably the best WR2 in the NFL) and Dallas Goedert (elite pass-catching tight end) in Philadelphia. Gibbs emphasizes that Brown's role versatility—he can win all over the field, not just in the slot like Diggs—means he will consolidate multiple role-player looks into one player, maximizing target volume and red-zone opportunity concentration. Gibbs rejects the narrative that Brown's 2024 season represented a meaningful decline; while Brown didn't look quite like himself on film, he still averaged over 2 yards per route run (elite efficiency), created significant yards after contact, and maintained massive first-down per route run rates and first-read target rates. In context, the entire Eagles offense fell off (DeVonta Smith also had a down year), yet Brown remained more efficient than Smith while playing through injury. Gibbs characterizes Brown as a clear-cut alpha WR1 entering 2025, not a declining asset, and projects he could lead the receiver position in scoring.