If You’re Out of Fantasy Football Playoff Contention…

Last week’s column was directed at teams that have basically locked up a fantasy football playoff spot. This week’s column is focused on teams who are out of playoff contention. I see fantasy owners make embarrassing mistakes each year when their season has tanked. After reading this, hopefully you won’t be THAT owner this season.

1. Do NOT start a firesale.

If you’re out of playoff contention, don’t trade or release your stud players for nothing. Not only does it make you look childish and immature, but you will also cause problems for the rest of the league by creating an imbalance of talent on some rosters.

2. Do NOT whine or complain.

Nobody in your league really cares that your 2-7 team is the third highest scoring team in the league. That may be bad luck, but it happens. Like NFL teams, your fantasy football team is only as good as your record. Complaining or whining about your bad luck is petulant.

 
3. Continue to field the best team you can for the rest of the season.

When things get bad, this can be tough to do. It is, however, imperative that you do so. Not doing so is reflective of your character in a very negative way. Basically, it shows that you’re a quitter when the chips are down. Does anyone really want that kind of reputation?

4. Playing the role of a spoiler is fun.

I know this sounds like a consolation prize, but the opportunity to be a spoiler for another team’s season can be deviously gratifying. This is even more so if you have the opportunity to beat a division rival in the final weeks of the season to cost that owner a playoff spot. They may have the better record, but they’ll be watching the league playoffs just like you. There’s satisfaction and pride to be taken in that…

5. Don’t question or criticize league rules once you’re out of contention.

The time to question, criticize, or debate league rules is at your draft/auction or before Week 1. Disparaging league rules when your team is 1-8 looks like you’re making excuses to the rest of the league. That may not be the case, but it will be the perception. For most people, perception is reality.

If you’re out of contention in your fantasy football league, these are just a few things you can do to make sure you’re respected by your league competitors and invited back to the league the next season. 

Matt’s Mailbag
Hi Matt ,

I’d like to preface this with: I work nights and weekends, so any of the Live Q&A sessions I tend to miss. So if this email comes off as inappropriate or another one of the mass emails you probably receive crying “what do I do with my team,” I apologize.

I enjoyed your fantasy playoffs preparation article immensely. Been a constant follower of Bruno Boys for a while now, always quality.

I’m an avid preparer, and really I feel I can hold my own in fantasy football circles, as I consistently field good teams in high money high competition leagues with coworkers and friends. I really just need outside perspective on my situation from someone who is both well informed, and not competing against me.

I’m currently facing a dilemma in my main money league. It’s a 12 person league, PPR, standard ESPN scoring otherwise.  I’ve managed to rack myself up into a comfortable spot in second place at 7-2. I’m trying to baby-step my team to be more secure but I’ve hit a wall.

Starting positions are: QB, RB, RB/WR, WR, WR, TE, K, Team DEF. 6 Bench Slots + 1 IR Slot.

Roster is:

QB: Ryan/Hasselbeck

RB : MJD/Ray Rice/Jonathan Stewart/Reggie Bush

WR: R. White /Calvin Johnson/Mike Sims-Walker/Dwayne Bowe

TE: Rotating on a weekly basis based off of matchup. Zach Miller this week. I drafted Z. Miller, but he busted most of the season thanks to JaMarcus Russell so I’ve been rotating out.

K: Lawrence Tynes (Robbie Gould filling in for the bye week)

DEF: Rotating on a weekly basis based off of matchup. Titans this week. 

Overall it’s a pretty stout lineup, but I feel my weaknesses are glaring. My QBs are both shaky plays, with Hasselbeck having good matchups upcoming, but nothing solid. My TE situation is atrocious but due to a lack of player movement in my league I’ve had a hard time snagging a decent starter.

I think there is a very real chance I can package Matt Ryan /Ray Rice together and come down with Tom Brady /Larry Fitzgerald . Should this be a trade I should push for? Larry Fitz and Tom both have extremely good week 14-16 matchups, as you pointed out. I technically have a first round BYE, but I have no illusions about holding onto it.

Ray Rice’s schedule for the same weeks is good but not stellar. Would this kind of shake up trade be something worth doing? Should I not shop Rice / MJD around? 

Also, I have a chance of packaging Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush for Kellen Winslow /Percy Harvin . Any thoughts on this as well?

I’ve had to pull teeth to figure out any trades that are good trades in general. My bench makes it difficult because they’re seem to be good/upside to trade away for cheap (Johnson/Bowe/Stewart) but not good enough to trade for solid players. It doesn’t help the waiver wires have been picked clean. I need to grab Willis McGahee off the waivers but I don’t know who is worth ditching to grab him. 

I’m sorry for the long email, thanks for any advice you give. Feel free to respond at your leisure (or hell, not at all if you’re busy), I’m not the easily offended type.

Sincerely,

Justin in Hartford

Hi Justin ,

Thanks for the excellent write up and question. This is a perfect example of what I’m looking for in mailbag submissions.

First of all, let me just say that I like the way you’re thinking about things. It’s obvious you took a lot from last week’s column and this sort of high level thinking wins a ton of fantasy football leagues each year.

From a pure matchup standpoint, trading Matt Ryan /Ray Rice for Tom Brady /Larry Fitzgerald seems to be a great move. In your particular case, given your league scoring system, this would be a great deal for you. You only have to start one RB, which means either Maurice Jones-Drew or Jonathan Stewart after you deal Rice.

Now, if you were required to start two RBs, I would actually advise you against this deal because of the imbalance it would create on your team. You would have a plethora of talent at WR (three top five guys), but you would be fairly weak at RB if you had to start two every week. Being able to upgrade at QB with Brady and add another elite WR you can start with two other studs is a situation you can’t pass up.

I would recommend against trading Calvin Johnson /Reggie Bush for Kellen Winslow /Percy Harvin .

If you can make the deal for Brady and Fitzgerald, do it. It’s the kind of make or break move that turns a fantasy football team from mere contender to champion.

Thanks again for the excellent question, Justin.

Bruno Boys Matt

Well, that’s it for this week. Since everyone always asks, I’ll just tell you that my team is now 8-0-1 in the Bruno Boys Staff League . Huge matchup this week against Bruno Boys Cavigs who seems hell-bent on putting a one in my loss column. If you have any questions or want to make a mailbag submission, feel free to email me at mkamke@brunoboys.net . Best of luck this week.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Nine Start Ems

With four of the five worst rush defenses on a bye this week, RBs could struggle in week Nine. Fortunately for Bruno Boys Nation , the Bruno Boys have your back, providing you as always with our Fantasy Football Week Nine Start Ems , helping to ensure you don’t leave that big game on your bench.

QUARTERBACKS – START ‘EM

Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Detroit

Any QB playing against the Detroit Lions defense is most likely a good option. The Lions have allowed almost 30 points a game and 18 TDs through the air in seven games. Hasselbeck has just been average for most of the season, but coming off a tidy 250 yard and two TD performance against the Cowboys, it seems that he could be back on track. With the absence of any real running game for the Seahawks, the team will be relying on the passing game. The Hasselbeck-led Seahawks should win this contest, and the QB himself should post good numbers for fantasy purposes.

David Garrard (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Kansas City

It seems like every time people assume Garrard will do well, he fails miserably and vice-versa. The Titans team he faced in week eight is not the same team that was allowing six TDs to the Patriots a few weeks prior. Garrard is in no way a #1 QB this weekend, for the mere fact that most of the stud QBs have good match-ups, but with a plethora of bye week QBs out, you could find 200 yards and two TDs sitting there with Garrard. After not throwing a TD the previous three weeks, we understand if you are hesitant to start him…but it is the Chiefs. 10 pass plays of 40+ yards, over 250 yards passing, and 13 TDs through 7 games could be the remedy for the big QB in week nine.

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) @ Cincinnati

Flacco’s previous game against the Bengals was his worst fantasy output in ‘09 (186 passing yards, one TD, two INT for just seven fantasy points), but Flacco has been too good to let the Bengals get in his head. He’s been everything the Ravens have asked for in his sophomore season, and he has emerging stud RB Ray Rice as a great check-down option for him in the passing attack. The Bengals are 30th in the league allowing over 250 yards per game through the air, but they are only allowing about 1.5 TDs per game. Still, we like Flacco as a Start ‘Em in week 9.

RUNNING BACKS – START ‘EM

Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) @ Cincinnati

Ray Rice has emerged as perhaps one of the few must-start RBs in fantasy football . The biggest reason? Simple, even against a good run defense, he is nearly as dangerous as a receiver. In Rice’s worst game of 2009, he posted 82 total yards. In other words, other than Adrian Peterson , Cedric Benson , and perhaps Michael Turner , Rice has been the most solid RB in fantasy football in 2009. We aren’t assuming you were thinking about benching him, but we believe he is bound for a good game. Against Cincy in week five, Rice had 143 total yards and a TD, and while to predict 20 points is slightly high, it wouldn’t surprise us if he gets to that total this weekend.

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) @ Tampa Bay

Grant has really only had one bad game in 2009, which happened to come last week against the stout Vikings defensive front. But, for some reason, it seems that people are expecting more out of him. After his big game against the Browns, in which he posted 148 rushing yards and a TD, we think he may be able to see the same number of touches (and in turn get the same fantasy points), as he did in week seven. Tampa Bay has given up 162 rushing yards and a rushing TD per game in 2009, and while Grant may not see all the carries (if they get out to an early lead), he could still be in for a nice fantasy output.

Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) vs. San Diego

So far we are one for one on the Ahmad Bradshaw Start ‘Em this season, so we’re going for a perfect two for two (yes, we are proud of that accomplishment). Bradshaw has breakout candidate written all over him in week nine against a surprisingly bad Chargers defense that is 27th in the NFL allowing over 130 rushing yards per contest and a rushing TD per game. Bradshaw could be explosive as San Diego is coming cross country for a game where the Giants need to prove they are better than they played in week eight against Philly.

WIDE RECEIVERS – START ‘EM

Mike Sims-Walker (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Kansas City

What a disappointment MSW was in week eight against the Titans. But, did people really believe the longest tenured coach in the NFL (Jeff Fisher ) wouldn’t come out of the bye week with a fired up Titans squad? Well, MSW should come back strong in week nine versus the Kansas City Chiefs . It is understandable if fantasy owners are weary that he may have been just a flash in the pan, but the fact is, he is the Jags most targeted (45 targets through seven weeks) and talented receiver, so he should come out strong with at least 50 yards and a score.

Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Tennessee

We were nervous about posting Crabtree as a Start ‘Em this week, but he has done nothing to disprove his talent in the NFL. He was 10th in the NFL in targets in week eight with nine, and it seems like QB Alex Smith is only looking in two directions this season (Crabtree’s and Vernon Davis’ ). However, while Smith’s Madden vision may not bode well for the 49ers chances, it could mean that Crabtree scores his first NFL touchdown against the Titans defense. Don’t believe the numbers, the Titans are not the worst pass defense in the NFL, but we still believe Crabtree has earned his way into fantasy lineups everywhere against them.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Detroit

Housh has been one of the bigger fantasy disappointments in 2009 as most people thought he’d come in and take over as Hasselbeck’s #1 option. WR Nate Burleson has taken control of that by putting up over 100 yards and a TD more times than Housh. But, while Houshmandzadeh has been mediocre at best, he gets the good fortune of facing the Lions defense that allows 30 points a game. While he’s only had two games with over six points, we think that 8-10 points should be easily reachable with the potential for much more in week nine.

TIGHT ENDS – START ‘EM

Fred Davis (Washington Redskins) @ Atlanta

Before TE Chris Cooley got hurt he was averaging nearly seven fantasy points per week, which is among the top 10 in fantasy tight ends. Once he got hurt, TE Fred Davis didn’t miss a beat in week seven, logging 78 yards and a TD. With a week of practice with the first team under Davis’ belt, we think he could be a nice sleeper for those with bye week issues or looking for a potential 6-8 points from the TE position. QB Jason Campbell obviously trusts him (as seen in week seven), so let’s assume that he is involved in the offense against a Falcons defense that allowed just Jeremy Shockey seven fantasy points on MNF in week eight.

KICKERS – START ‘EM

Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) @ Tampa Bay

The Buccaneers give up the third most points in the NFL at 29 ppg clip. Crosby has the leg to do some damage, and the Packers should be able to score at will. 9-11 points should be a standard week for Crosby in week nine.

Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Detroit

Detroit allows the 2nd-most points in the NFL, and the Seahawks are coming in with a good, but not great offense. While we think Hasselbeck and Co. should put up solid fantasy numbers, Mare could be a big beneficiary to those who are scanning the waiver wire because of bye week kickers.

DEFENSES – START ‘EM

Atlanta Falcons D/ST vs. Washington

The Falcons didn’t exactly have the best game on MNF, but they did for fantasy purposes. Any time that a fantasy D/ST can put up a TD, you’re looking at least a few points for your fantasy team. Well, the Falcons go up against a Redskins team that is having all sorts of trouble (starting with their head coach, moving to their QB controversy), and they are coming off a bad loss to a division rival. Atlanta should get pressure on the QB and not allow too many points from the Redskins, so it should be no less than a 10 point fantasy week for the Dirty Birds.

FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW…

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY JACOB LERMAN .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Nine Rankings: Kickers

Kickers may not be sexy, but as a fantasy owner, you want to maximize your fantasy points each and every week, which means you got to show kickers some love, too.

1. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) @ Tampa Bay

The Green Bay Packers are averaging 26.7 points per game this season, sixth best in the NFL. Meanwhile, their Week Nine opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , are allowing 29 points per contest, third worst in the NFL. That means the Packers should be able to light up the scoreboard in this one. And, when a team puts up points, that’s good news for their kickers’ fantasy value.
Point Projection: 12 points

2. Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants) vs. San Diego

The San Diego Chargers have only limited an opposing kicker to less than seven fantasy points once this season, which is music to Tynes’ owners’ ears; as the kicker has tallied just five fantasy points in each of the last two weeks, a disappointment following his four double-digit outings in the team’s six games. Tynes gets back on track and reaches double digits here in Week Nine.
Point Projection: 12 points

3. Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Detroit

An average kicker, Mare has had a couple of strong fantasy performances on the year with 13 points in Week Three against the Bears and 12 points in Week Five against the Jaguars. Week Nine should bring the Seahawks’ kicker his third solid game of 2009 as he gets set to face the Detroit Lions . The Lions have allowed opposing kickers the most fantasy points of any team in the league, giving up a healthy average of 9.1 points per contest.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Dallas

A member of Bruno Boys Nation asked during one of this week’s Live Q & A sessions whether Akers was a legit fantasy option going forward. Seeing as the Eagles’ kicker has not tallied less than eight fantasy points in any contest this season and the Eagles offense is clicking at the moment, we’d say he is. Akers continues his double-digit streak in Week Nine against the Cowboys, making it four straight games in which he’ll have 10-plus points.
Point Projection: 11 points

5. Matt Stover (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Houston

Adam Vinatieri’s injury has allowed for the return of Matt Stover to fantasy relevance. The Colts’ new kicker totaled 13 fantasy points in the team’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week; however, it’s hard to believe he’ll have as many field goal opportunities in this one, as the Colts won’t stall on as many drives against the Houston Texans . Still, this one should be a shootout, which is excellent news for the kickers involved. Stover is a top-five option for Week Nine.
Point Projection: 11 points

6. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) vs. Miami

The Miami Dolphins have allowed 25.3 points per game this season, the seventh most on the year, and with the New England Patriots coming off a bye, you know they’re ready to expose the Dolphins’ weak defensive unit. Points galore for the Patriots will translate into a solid fantasy outing for Gostkowski.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) @ San Francisco

Over his last three outings, Bironas has had a 12-point outing and a 14-point effort. Sadly, he has a big goose egg sandwiched in between, making him a bit difficult to project. However, if we owned him, we’d use him against the 49ers. The Titans showed some life with Vince Young under center in Week Eight and the Niners have given up the fifth most fantasy points to kickers in 2009; both items make us confident Bironas posts strong numbers in this one.
Point Projection: Nine points

8. Jason Elam (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Washington

Elam missed two field goals in the Falcons’ Week Eight Monday night loss to the New Orleans Saints , misses that proved costly in the course of the game. However, he still had a nice showing for his fantasy owners, as he was able to rack up eight fantasy points despite the misses. Look for Elam to be around that total again this week, as the Falcons will go against a Redskins team that’s allowing opposing kickers 7.9 points per game.
Point Projection: Eight points

9. Kris Brown (Houston Texans) @ Indianapolis

As mentioned above in Matt Stover’s write-up, this matchup between the Texans and Colts should be a high-scoring affair, making the kickers strong fantasy plays. Brown has a combined 20 fantasy points over his last two games and could see an increase in value thanks to Owen Daniels’ injury, which could result in a few more stalled drives for the Texans than normal. All of these factors combine to make Brown a top-10 option for Week Nine.
Point Projection: Eight points

10. Nick Folk (Dallas Cowboys) @ Philadelphia

Due to the emergence of Miles Austin as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, the Cowboys have found their stride of late, going for 26, 37, and 38 points over their last three contests. Those high scores have led to a good amount of points for Folk, who tallied seven, 14, and eight fantasy points in those contests, respectively. The Eagles are a tough opponent, but with the way the Cowboys offense is motoring, it’s not advisable to sit Folk.
Point Projection: Eight points

11. John Carney (New Orleans Saints) vs. Carolina

It’s now been firmly established that Carney is the Saints’ kicker, which means you can deploy him on an every week basis. The Saints are posting an absurd 39 points per contest this season, and it’s highly unlikely their high-flying offense is slowed by the Carolina Panthers .  Per usual, Carney is a nice fantasy play.
Point Projection: Eight points

12. Joe Nedney (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Tennessee

Nedney hasn’t reached the double-digit plateau since Week Two of the season, but it doesn’t mean the 49ers’ kicker isn’t without fantasy value, especially in this week’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans . The Titans are allowing the most points per game in all of the NFL at a clip of 30.1, so the Niners should score on Sunday. Nedney gets his first field goal in three games, leading to a solid seven-point day.
Point Projection: Seven points

13. Josh Scobee (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Kansas City

Since a 14-point effort in Week Four, Scobee has totaled just five fantasy points in three games. So, why does he appear in the top half of our Week Nine kicker rankings? Simple, the matchup he has against the Chiefs is just too good to pass up. The Chiefs have been many kickers’ “get well” opponents, as they’re allowing 9.0 points per contest to fantasy kickers, and they should do the same for Scobee this week.
Point Projection: Seven points

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK NINE KICKER RANKINGS, CLICK HERE !

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Tight Ends

Week 8 dealt a devastating blow to the fantasy football world at the tight end position as we lost Owen Daniels of the Houston Texans for the season.

It isn’t that he is not irreplaceable, but at this point of the season where many trade deadlines have either come or gone or the waiver wire has been picked clean, Daniels’ replacement most likely will come in the form of someone that will never match anything near his production.

That is part of the fantasy football process though and something that multiple teams in every league usually have to deal with every season. If you prepared your team correctly though the loss of Daniels won’t be nearly as significant as for some.

Being that you are on the Bruno Boys site, odds are if you follow closely, you were well prepared. So good job. And while we are talking about being prepared, let’s jump into the b>Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 9 Tight End Rankings.

1. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) at Philadelphia

Leading the Bruno Boys tight ends this week is none other than Jason Witten who has struggled for his standards with having just 348 yards over seven games, ranking 11th in the NFL in that stat while grabbing only one touchdown.

Good news is on the horizon though as he faces his division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles , who are the worst in the league against the tight end allowing 11.1 fantasy football points per contest.

Boding well for Witten as well is the fact that the Eagles have allowed five touchdowns to the tight end position in 2009. This should be his best week to date this season.
Point Projection: 13 points

2. Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Tennessee

Vernon Davis has been on fire during the past month accumulating most of his stats over four games; and to be honest we believe what we have seen recently is something that we will see for the most part the remainder of the season, despite the San Francisco 49ers offensive line being banged up.

Davis is averaging 53.6 yards per game and has seven touchdowns on the season. This week he faces the Tennessee Titans who have allowed 7.6 fantasy points per contest to the position and have allowed 19 passing. Even during an off-week, Davis would remain a solid play.
Point Projection: 12 points

3. John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Detroit

Even with a banged up Seattle Seahawks offensive line and some recent struggles from John Carlson , the second year tight end has just too good of a matchup against the lowly Detroit Lions who have surrendered 10.4 fantasy football points per contest to the position as well as seven total touchdowns.

Even if Carlson needs to stay back and protect the quarterback most of the game, we are talking about 40 yards and a touchdown to reach that 10.4. That is very doable and something to expect in Week 9.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) at New York Giants

The San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is second in the league with 523 receiving yards, good for 74.7 per game. While his touchdowns are down from his career norm as he has only went for two, he faces a New York Giants defense that has allowed five to tight ends. Don’t be scared off by the Giants name, Gates will have a very nice week.
Point Projection: 11 points

5. Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Houston

Always having been one of the better tight ends in the game, Dallas Clark has jumped another level this season pumping in 83.4 yards per game while grabbing three touchdowns. This week he faces the Houston Texans who are pretty solid against the position, allowing just 5.4 fantasy points per contest. Expect Clark to get the better part of this duel.
Point Projection: 11 points

6. Brent Celek (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Dallas

This is a very big game for both teams which usually results in a higher-scoring affair. That will benefit Brent Celek this week as he should obtain, if not exceed, his season average of 63.9 yards per week.

While the Dallas Cowboys are stingy against the position statistically, they truly have only faced one top tight end which was Tony Gonzalez in Week 7. We like Celek’s chances here.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Washington

During last week’s contest against the New Orleans Saints , Matt Ryan started focusing hard on Tony Gonzalez as a main target. That is good news for one of the better tight ends in NFL history.

While Gonzalez will have his work cut out for him, as the Washington Redskins have allowed only one tight end touchdown all year and give up a minimal 3.7 fantasy points per contest to the position, he should see enough targets to be a solid play. Play him as a mid-tier TE1 in deeper leagues.
Point Projection: 8 points

8. Greg Olsen (Chicago Bears) vs. Arizona

Starting with Greg Olsen , the tight ends start to see a bit of a drop off in what is expected out of them in Week 9. Olsen has averaged just over 30 yards per contest which is fairly unimpressive, but he does have three touchdowns.

This week he faces the Arizona Cardinals who give up an average of 6.6 fantasy points per contest to opposing teams tight ends. Don’t expect numbers that will jump out at you, but solid production is expected none-the-less and the fact that he is a red zone threat makes him a worthy TE1 play.
Point Projection: 8 points

9. Jermichael Finley (Green Bay Packers) at Tampa Bay     **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

While Jermichael Finley is suffering through a knee injury, if he suits up he will produce enough to be a solid TE1 in deeper leagues.

Finely has averaged over 43 yards per week, which is not impressive, but considering that he faces a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that allows 7.3 fantasy points per week, it’s reasonable enough to believe that solid yardage and maybe even a touchdown is possible.
Point Projection: 7 points

10. Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans) vs. Carolina

The Carolina Panthers present an obstacle for the New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey as they have been great against the pass for receivers, and nearly equally as good against tight ends as they have allowed only 5.7 fantasy points per week.

Given the fact that the Saints have so many options and a tough matchup, Shockey, who has averaged a respectable 53.7 yards per game, will most likely as a secondary target to quarterback Drew Brees . None-the-less, if you don’t have one of the above TE1’s on your roster available to you, Shockey is a nice complimentary play.
Point Projection: 6 points

11. Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Denver

After a slow start to the season, Heath Miller has been very solid as of late. In fact he has played himself into a definite TE1 as he has averaged just over 50 yards per game and has gone for four touchdowns.

Things will be a bit tough for Miller this week though as he faces a Denver Broncos defense that has held opposing tight ends to a total of 3.1 fantasy points per contest.

Considering that they have allowed only one touchdown to the position as well, Denver has a solid shot at getting the best of this matchup. Due to his ability to get open in the end zone, Miller is a low-end TE1 in deeper leagues.
Point Projection: 6 points

12. Fred Davis (Washington Redskins) at Atlanta

Chris Cooley is a great tight end; Fred Davis has not played enough to be considered one. But Davis is facing an Atlanta Falcons defense that has surrendered 8.6 fantasy points per week while allowing three touchdowns.

That doesn’t mean that Davis is a shoe-in for a nice week, but given the Washington Redskins circumstances, the tight end is a position of great responsibility. Davis should perform at a level high enough to be considered on the cusp of a TE1 in deeper leagues.
Point Projection: 6 points

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK 9 TIGHT END RANKINGS, CLICK HERE !

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CHRIS ZIZA .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Nine Rankings: Running Backs

Dating back to the early days of fantasy football , running backs have always been considered the most important position. Sure, there are always fantasy owners who like to think outside the box and will give more value to either the quarterback or wide receiver positions, but for the most part fantasy football revolves around the running backs, and with some of the performances that we saw from the running backs in Week Eight, it’s hard to argue their value. You had Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson going head-to-head and both backs posted monster games. Between them, they totaled 405 rushing yards with four touchdowns of 50-yards or longer. Not to be outdone San Francisco’s Frank Gore also had a touchdown run of more than 60 yards.

With big performances coming from the running back position each week, it’s extremely important to find the right running backs to input into your starting line-up. So, as you search for the right combination to bring you to a big victory this week, please enjoy the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week Nine Running Back Rankings .

1. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Kansas City

On just eight carries, Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 177 rushing yards in Week Eight against the Tennessee Titans for an amazing 22.1 yards per carry. With touchdown runs of 80 and 79-yards respectively, he was the lone bright spot for a Jacksonville team that gave the Titans their first win of the season. It was the third time this season that he scored more than 30 fantasy points in a game, and he has 10 rushing touchdowns in seven games. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry this season and is a must start option this week against a Kansas City team that is ranked No. 26 against the run this year. In two career games against the Chiefs, MJD is averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Point Projection: 22 points

2. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Washington

Michael Turner has scored a touchdown in six straight games, and he topped 100 yards rushing for the second time this season last week as he had 20 carries for 150 yards with one touchdown in a NFC South division battle against the New Orleans Saints . With eight TDs over his last six games, Turner has once again emerged as a touchdown machine again this season. He has a good match-up this week against a Redskins’ team that is ranked No. 22 against the run this season, and he should be used as a starting fantasy running back in all formats.
Point Projection: 20 points

3. Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Baltimore

Heading into the Bengals’ bye week, Cedric Benson was leading the NFL with 720 rushing yards in seven games and had added five touchdowns to his yardage. He has found new life in Cincinnati this season after being released by the Chicago Bears , who considered him a bust after taking him as their No. 1 pick in 2005. In Week Seven, Benson was able to exact some revenge against the Bears when he carried the ball 37 times for 189 yards with one touchdown. He had 120 yards rushing with one touchdown in Week 5 during his first meeting with Baltimore, which means he should be used as a must-start RB1 in this one.
Point Projection: 19 points

4. Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) @ Tampa Bay

In the Packers’ big game last week against Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings , Ryan Grant had just 10 carries for 30 yards. He also added three receptions for 21 yards, but he did not find the end zone. Grant, though, has scored double digit fantasy points in every game this season but two. He should be used as a RB1 this week against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that is giving up over 162 rushing yards per game and has allowed seven rushing touchdowns in seven games.
Point Projection: 19 points

5. Frank Gore (San Francisco) vs. Tennessee

Frank Gore had a good game against the Indianapolis Colts last week when he rushed for 91 yards on 13 carries, which included a 64-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It is puzzling to fantasy owners that the 49ers only handed him the ball 13 times in a game that he was running the ball so well, although he did add five receptions for 43 yards. Gore has three touchdowns this season of 60-yards or more, and this week he gets to face a Titans defense that allowed Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew to run for touchdowns of 79 and 80-yards last week. Gore should be used as a No. 1 fantasy running back this week in this favorable match-up.
Point Projection: 18 points

6. Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) @ Cincinnati

Through seven games this season, second-year man Ray Rice has emerged into No. 1 fantasy running back. He rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown in Week Eight against the Denver Broncos , who were ranked third against the rush heading into the game. He has 874 total yards with five touchdowns this season. In week 5 against the same Bengals’ defense he’ll face in week nine, he had 143 total yards with a touchdown. Look for a similar point total from Rice this week, as he has become a weekly must-start fantasy running back.
Point Projection: 18 points

7. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) @ San Francisco

Chris Johnson set a Tennessee franchise record by rushing for 228 yards on 24 carries last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars . He averaged 9.5 yards per carry in the game and accumulated most of his yardage on touchdown runs of 52 and 89-yards in the second half. In his second season, he has become one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry this year. He has totaled 365 rushing yards over his last two games, and he is leading the NFL in rushing with 824 yards. Johnson has emerged into a must-start fantasy running back on a weekly basis, including this week against a 49ers defense that is ranked No. 2 against the run.
Point Projection: 16 points

8. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) @ New York Giants

After not scoring a touchdown since Week One, LaDainian Tomlinson found the end zone twice during the Chargers Week Eight game against the Oakland Raiders . He once again didn’t gain a lot of yardage as he had 18 carries for just 56 yards, and he has yet to top 71 rushing yards in a game this season. Still, he has had 18 or more carries in each of the last three games and has resumed his role as the clear cut No. 1 running back role in San Diego. Tomlinson should be used as a RB1 this week against a New York team that has given up 12 rushing touchdowns this season. In one previous meeting with the Giants, Tomlinson had 21 carries for 192 yards with three touchdowns. Don’t expect him to duplicate those numbers, but a solid outing should be in order.
Point Projection: 16 points

9. Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) vs. San Diego

Brandon Jacobs had 20 carries for 86 yards in a Week Eight loss to the Philadelphia Eagles . He once again led the team in carries, but fantasy owners are a little concerned with the fact that when the Giants got down to the goal line they gave the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw rather then Jacobs for the touchdown. New York continues to use both Jacobs and Bradshaw for a change of pace in the running game, with Jacobs getting a bulk of the carries. Use Jacobs as a low-end RB1 this week against a Chargers defense that is giving up over 130 rushing yards per game and has allowed seven rushing touchdowns on the season.
Point Projection: 15 points

10. DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) @ New Orleans

DeAngelo Williams topped 150 rushing yards for the second time in three weeks when he had 23 carries for 158 yards last week against the Arizona Cardinals , but he did not score a touchdown, as two of them went to Jonathan Stewart . It was just the second time this season that Williams topped 100 yards rushing, but it is also just the second time he has topped 20 carries in a game since the Panthers have played from behind more often than not this season. He has rushed for 399 yards with three touchdowns over the past three weeks, and he should be used as a low-end RB1 this week against a Saints team that has been good against the run this season, but gave up 150 yards and a touchdown to Atlanta’s Michael Turner in Week Eight.
Point Projection: 15 points

11. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) vs. Arizona

With 24 fantasy points last week against the Cleveland Browns , Matt Forte had his most productive game of the season from a fantasy standpoint. He had 26 carries for 90 yards with two touchdowns, while adding two catches for 31 yards. It was only the third time this season that he has had double digit fantasy points. He has 118 carries for 408 yards with three touchdowns this season, and he has added 24 catches for 185 yards. Forte should be used as a RB1 this week against a Cardinals team that is ranked No. 9 against the run this season, but did allow the Carolina Panthers to rush for 270 yards and two touchdowns in Week Eight.
Point Projection: 15 points

12. Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins) @ Atlanta

In seven games this season, Clinton Portis has rushed 120 times for 490 yards, but has only managed two total touchdowns. After a Week Eight bye week, the Redskins face an Atlanta Falcons team that is ranked No. 22 against the run and, through their first seven games this season, is allowing 117.7 rushing yards per game and to go along with six rushing touchdowns. Portis should be used as a low-end No. 1 fantasy running back this week against the Falcons.
Point Projection: 15 points

13. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Denver

Even after losing a fumble in each of the Steelers’ last two games Rashard Mendenhall has received a vote of confidence from head coach Mike Tomlin , who stated that he will remain Pittsburgh’s starting running back coming off the team’s bye week. He failed to score a touchdown in Week Seven against the Minnesota Vikings for this first time in four games since taking over the starting role. Mendenhall has a tough match-up against the Denver Broncos this week who have the No. 3 run defense in the league, but they did allow Baltimore’s Ray Rice to score 16 fantasy points last week. Consider Mendenhall a No. 2 fantasy running back this week against in Denver.
Point Projection : 15 points

14. Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Dallas   **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

After suffering a concussion Week Seven against the Washington Redskins , Brian Westbrook was inactive for the Eagles’ game last week against the New York Giants. However, he was a game time decision, leading us to believe he should be ready for this week’s outing with the Cowboys. In 14 career games against Dallas, Westbrook is averaging 89.3 total yards per game with nine total touchdowns. If active this week, he should be used as a No. 2 fantasy running back, just make sure you keep an eye on the injury report.
Point Projection : 14 points

15. Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) @ New England

With just 27 yards rushing, Ronnie Brown   had his worst outing of the season against the New York Jets in Week Eight. This week, he faces a New England Patriots team that is giving up just under 110 yards per game, but has only surrendered one rushing touchdown this season. Brown has averaged 58.3 rushing yards per game against the Patriots with five touchdowns in six career games. Use him as a RB2 in this match-up.
Point Projection : 14 points

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK 9 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS , CLICK HERE !

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Breaks, Bumps, and Bruises: NFL Week Eight Injury Report

A couple big injuries came to the for front in Week Eight, which will lead to you moving from this article to the Bruno Boys Pick ‘Em Up section. Continually check back to the Bruno Boys for the latest news in fantasy football .

A lot of injuries this week will need to be wait and see and with that in mind lets take a look at some of the biggest breaks, bumps and bruises from Week Eight.

Owen Daniels, TE, Houston Texans : The biggest injury of the day went to the Houston Texans tight end, as he suffered a torn ACL, ending his 2009 season. Daniels was off to an impressive season, coming into Week Eight as the highest scoring tight end in fantasy football points.

This will be a big blow for your team if you own Daniels because at this point of the year there is no way you will find a replacement that can rival his production at the tight end position. See what is available in your league’s waiver wire and even in terms of a trade.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals : Boldin left a second game early in a row, as he re-injured his sprained ankle that his been giving him fits the last three weeks. With Boldin unable to make it all the way through games, it seems as though the Cardinals will try to hold him out for a week to let him rest up and be at 100 percent for Week 10.

With the way Boldin heals and plays through pain, it would not be surprising to see him on the field. All reports say he will not play against the Bears though and even if he did, it’s hard to say whether he could play an entire game.

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions : Smith injured his shoulder against the St. Louis Rams and was held out for part of the game. Head coach Jim Schwartz claims Smith could have returned if necessary but decided to lean on the side of caution. Instead, Smith’s back up Maurice Morris got to take advantage of the favorable matchup, leaving many fantasy football owners rather frustrated.

Even with Morris doing well, it’s hard imaging the Lions keeping Smith (their best playmaker with Calvin Johnson out) on the bench when they were trailing in the game. There may be something more to this injury than what is being presented and with the way the Lions cover up injuries, you may want to check back with the Bruno Boys to see if any new reports surface. 

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions : Johnson practiced both Thursday and Friday with all signs pointing to him being out on the field for Week Eight. Apparently warm-ups did not treat him well, as he was made inactive before kickoff. Johnson was very close to playing this week and there are no reports of any kind of setback. This means you should be safe to deploy him next week.

In any case, check back with the Bruno Boys for reassurance.

Mario Manningham, WR, New York Giants : Manningham said throughout the week that he would play in the Giants game against the Philadelphia Eagles, took part in pre-game workouts, but was made Inactive before the game.

Head coach Tom Coughlin said Manningham wasn’t comfortable going through the warm-ups and isn’t exactly sure what the problem is with his shoulder. Manningham will likely be questionable this week and may have some lingering effects all season long. If you can get some value for him, you may want to pull the trigger now because with the emergence of Hakeem Nicks it looks like his best days for the season are behind him.

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts : Gonzalez, who has yet to return to practice and after missing yet another game, may still be a couple weeks away from returning. With most of the bye weeks over, if you’ve held on to him at this point there is no real reason to drop him.

He may miss the next game or two but should return in time for the fantasy football playoffs. With the Colts at 7-0, Indianapolis will likely ease him into action slowly and get him ready for their Super Bowl run.

Continue to monitor the situation but keep him out of your lineup until you see him in at least one game, maybe two. 

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles : Westbrook did work-out without any problems from his concussion on Friday before being deactivated from Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Head coach Andy Reid decided to be cautious towards Westbrook, and instead turned to rookie running back LeSean McCoy to carry the workload on the ground for the Eagles. Westbrook should play this week but may see a limited role, considering the strong play of McCoy and the fact the team wants their star back fully healthy at the end of the season.   

Steve Slaton, RB, Houston Texans : No, Slaton is not injured. Many may see his low production totals of one carry for one yard and think he must have went down with an injury. Another lost fumble planted Slaton’s butt on the bench while backup Ryan Moats turned in a big day.

There is no word on how the Texans will handle the running back situation for next week, but when your backup goes for 100 plus rushing yards and three scores there is cause for concern.

Make sure to check back with us during the week for more information regarding the Houston backfield.

Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina Panthers : Considering how poorly Delhomme has played all season, you likely haven’t been using the Carolina quarterback in your lineup. With another six teams on bye this week, it’s worth noting the status of Delhomme. He left the Panthers game against the Arizona Cardinals with a chest injury.

He got a CT scan, which came back negative, meaning he has a good chance he may be able to heal in time for their game next week against the New Orleans Saints. With a banged up Delhomme (who isn’t playing well this year) and a bad matchup for next week, it’s best to look in another direction. 

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins : Last week it was being reported that Cooley would miss the rest of the season. A wrong diagnoses and a successful surgery on his injured right tibia means Cooley could see game action in about four weeks.

If you are able to do so, stash him away, as you likely will not find an ample replacement this time of year. Cooley’s stats may not be up to par when he does come back, but what other options could you really have that will be much better?

Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco 49ers : Clements suffered a fractured right scapula in the 49ers loss to the Indianapolis Colts and there is no word on how much time he will miss. Clements will miss some games, but the question remains whether it’s for a short time or if he will be out for the year. if the injury isn’t enough for you to dump him in your IDP league then the fact that he lost his starting job prior to Week Eight should be.

Remember, injuries happen all the time. Even if it is your star that goes down, finding the replacements before the other owners in your fantasy football league may be the difference at the end of the year. With that be said it will benefit you to check out our Fantasy Football Waiver Wire—Pick Them Up article to identify which player to pick up.

Have a guy on our injury list and not sure what to do with your roster? Contact our injury expert Greg Warnock for advice. He can be reached at gwarnock@brunoboys.net

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Nine Waiver Wire: Pick Them Up

Week Eight brought about an interesting development at the quarterback position. A pair of high first-round draft picks that had fallen into backup roles now find themselves as starters again, and both played pretty well on Sunday.

Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers and Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans both earned their starting jobs back this season after lackluster performances by the players in front of them— Shaun Hill and Kerry Collins , respectively. They do have some value in fantasy football, but to find out where they stack up, continue reading the Fantasy Football Week Nine Waiver Wire: Pick Them Up article below.

Note: If you’re debating on who to drop to pick these guys up, you should be checking out the Bruno Boys’ article, Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire – Cut Them Loose . And remember that you can always visit our FORUMS to get your questions answered about waiver wire candidates, players to drop, or anything at all related to fantasy football .

QUARTERBACKS

Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers)

Since he took over for San Francisco last week, Smith has put together consecutive double-digit performances while throwing four touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also kept the 49ers competitive in both of those games, including a close loss to the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday.

Smith is somewhat of an enigma because the talent is there, but it has never been fully displayed. Since he has never shown the ability to be a consistent player, he should only be targeted in deep leagues. However, it is worth noting he has favorable matchups coming up against the Titans, the Chicago Bears, the St. Louis Rams, and the Detroit Lions.

Vince Young (Tennessee Titans)

Once the Titans decided to switch to Young at quarterback, it was a decision that was made with the intent of him being the starter for at least the rest of the season. And, in his first start this season, Young played well, as he went 15-for-18 for 125 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also rushed for 30 yards on 12 carries. He didn’t attempt many hard throws and didn’t go downfield, but we’ve seen Young be a force in fantasy football before. For those desperately seeking a quarterback, you could do worse than Young.

RUNNING BACKS

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles)

With starter Brian Westbrook out because of a concussion sustained in Week Seven, LeSean McCoy got the call at running back for the Philadelphia Eagles last week. In a win over the Giants, McCoy rushed 11 times for 82 yards and a touchdown, and he also caught two passes for 10 yards.

Westbrook did not practice at all in the week leading up to the game this past weekend and concussions are a weird thing. Sometimes players can come back from them quickly, and other times it takes a while. Even if Westbrook does return next week, he would at the very least share carries with McCoy. Monitor Westbrook’s situation this week, and if it appears he’s not going to play, McCoy would be a good pickup in any league.

Ryan Moats (Houston Texans)

A fumbling problem by starter Steve Slaton opened the door for Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats in the team’s win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Moats came in and absolutely took over the game, as he had 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. He also had two receptions for 25 yards.

Given Slaton’s problems with fumbles—he’s had seven this season, five of which were lost—and the way Moats played against the Bills, it’s likely he’ll continue to start. This is the type of player any fantasy team should pounce on right now if the opportunity is available because Moats could have some more big games in him before the season is over.

Maurice Morris (Detroit Lions)

Starter Kevin Smith left this past weekend’s loss to the Rams with a shoulder injury, though Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz insisted he could have returned had he been needed. Maurice Morris took over for Smith and finished the game with 63 yards on 11 carries, compared to Smith’s 45 yards on 14 attempts. Smith has been injured and inconsistent this season and Morris ran well, leading us to believe that Morris will continue to see about five to 15 touches of the ball in the future. Since that isn’t a whole lot, Morris should only be considered in deeper leagues.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles)

It hasn’t taken long for the Eagles to get rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin involved in the offense. This past week against the Giants, Maclin caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. He was only targeted four times, but he made the most of his opportunities.

So far this season, Maclin has been inconsistent, as you would expect that with a rookie wide receiver. He’s now had two double-digit performances with the next highest point total for him being just five, which came two weeks ago. Maclin is explosive and you can expect him to continue to be targeted in the Eagles offense, but his inconsistency still scares us a bit. Those in shallow leagues could afford to stash him on the bench for now.

Kelley Washington (Baltimore Ravens)

The Baltimore Ravens receiver is an interesting player. Once considered a first-round talent, he slipped to later in the draft over concerns about injuries and his attitude. After a stint in Cincinnati, it appeared his career was close to over because of injuries. He spent the last two season with the New England Patriots, where he had just one reception.

Now healthy, he’s on a team in desperate need of a receiver to step up, and he has started to do so with 24 catches for 325 yards and a touchdown. He’s averaging a solid 13.5 yards per reception, and though he was buried on the depth chart, he is quickly rising to the top of it for the Ravens. Still, he hasn’t caught more than five passes in a game, so he should only be considered in deeper leagues for now. If his good play continues, he could eventually find himself second in line at receiver.

TIGHT ENDS 

Dustin Keller (New York Jets)

After hitting a low point earlier in the season, the passing game looks to be back on track for the New York Jets. A big beneficiary of this has been tight end Dustin Keller, who caught eight passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in the team’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.

It was by far Keller’s biggest game of the season, and it appears rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has discovered a nice option as teams focus on Braylon Edwards and running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. Keller has never been a consistent force in fantasy football before, so for now, he should only be looked at in deeper leagues.

KICKERS

Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans)

Now that Vince Young is the starter at quarterback for Tennessee, the Titans should be able to find themselves able to move the ball better, or at least reach field goal range more often. Kicker Rob Bironas is a pretty good kicker who’s got a powerful leg, so if the Titans get anywhere near the 35-yard line he comes into play. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bironas was three-for-three on field goals and hit three extra points. That’s the kind of production you’re looking for out of a kicker.

Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears)

Similar to Bironas, Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould is a guy with a powerful leg who has no problem hitting the long field goals. And, like Bironas last week, Gould hit three-for-three on field goals and had three extra points in a win over the Cleveland Browns. As the Bears offense continues to grow under new quarterback Jay Cutler, Gould will find himself in field goal range more often.

 

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CORY STEGER .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Nine Waiver Wire: Cut Them Loose

When your fantasy football players can’t cut it, it’s time to “Cut Them Loose.” Too often, though, we can’t bring ourselves to pull the trigger. That’s where the Bruno Boys come in.

Alleviating the agony, you out there in Bruno Boys Nation experience over those roster moves, we highlight the guys you should cut from your fantasy squads and in our “Keep them Cut” area, guys out there that you need to continue to stay away from. It’s all here in the Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire – Cut Them Loose.

Note: While you are watching to see if these players can redeem themselves or if you are cutting your losses and dropping some players, you should be checking out Fantasy Football Week Nine Waiver—Pick Them Up article so you can start planning on whom to pick up to replace them.

And, remember you can always visit our FORUMS to get your questions answered about waiver wire candidates, players to drop or anything at all related to fantasy football .

QUARTERBACKS—CUT THEM LOOSE

Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) This is more so a reminder to the 7-10 percent of you who rolled with Marc Bulger in Week Eight because you were faced with a bye week dilemma. On paper this match-up with the Detroit Lions was a good one, as the Lions defense had allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 74.2 percent of their passes while surrendering 17 touchdowns in just six games.

Owners who started Bulger expecting a breakout game were highly disappointed as the veteran signal caller completed just 17 of 35 passes for 176 yards and an interception. His lackluster performance led to just five fantasy football points and if Bulger can’t produce against the Lions don’t expect him to do anything moving forward.

After a Week Nine bye the Rams play just three games against opponents who are under .500 through the seasons first eight weeks and with Bulger’s season high being 10 fantasy points in Week Six you are better off finding a back-up QB with some better matchups.

Keep Them Cut : JaMarcus Russell (Oakland Raiders), Jake Delhomme (Carolina Panthers), Jason Campbell (Washington Redskins), Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions), Derek Anderson (Cleveland Browns), Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills), Kerry Collins (Tennessee Titans), Shaun Hill (San Francisco 49ers)

RUNNING BACKS—CUT THEM LOOSE

Tashard Choice (Dallas Cowboys) Early season injuries to Marion Barber and Felix Jones opened the door Tashard Choice to do some damage and he made the most of his opportunity. With Barber and Jones being limited or out of action in Weeks three through five, Choice had 49 touches for 290 total yards and two touchdowns while running in a timeshare.

However, Dallas used their Week 6 bye to get their workhorses back to full strength and this has resulted in a significant decline in Choice’s production over the last two weeks. The Cowboys have scored 75 points over the last two games and all Choice has to show for it is five touches for 34 total yards. In comparison, Barber has 30 touches during that span while Jones has touched the football 19 times.

Despite showing flashes of his potential at the end of last season and beginning of this season it’s tough to keep a guy on your roster who is the third running back in an offense that has thrown on 54 percent of its offensive plays.

There is just simply not enough footballs to be spread around for Choice to have any true value on fantasy football rosters and unless you own Barber it’s time to cut bait.

Michael Bush (Oakland Raiders) With primary running back Darren McFadden suffering a knee injury in Week Four it allowed Michael Bush and Justin Fargas to see an increased workload. While Fargas has made the most of his opportunity having totaled 294 yards over the last four games, Bush has just 139 yards and 16 fantasy points during that span.

With head coach Tom Cable expecting McFadden to return after the Raiders’ Week Nine bye the lackluster play of Bush should lead to a decrease in opportunity moving forward. When the Raiders take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10 the steady play of Fargas should propel him into a running back by committee backfield McFadden moving forward with Bush being relegated to short yardage and goal-line touches.

Unless you are in a TD-only league this is not what you want from a running back taking up a roster spot so with that in mind it’s best to dump Bush and snag someone from our Week Nine Waiver Wire—Pick Them Up article.

Keep Them Cut : Willis McGahee (Baltimore Ravens), Jerome Harrison (Cleveland Browns), Fred Jackson (Buffalo Bills), Leon Washington (New York Jets), LenDale White (Tennessee Titans), Julius Jones (Seattle Seahawks)

WIDE RECEIVERS—CUT THEM LOOSE

Mohammed Massaquoi (Cleveland Browns) After hauling in eight receptions for 148 receiving yards in a Week Four loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Massaquoi was considered the pick-up of the week on many waiver wires. However, those who added the rookie wide receiver out of Georgia failed to remember Massaquoi plays on the Cleveland Browns , who arguably sport the worst offense in the NFL .

Since his 148 yard output in Week Four Massaquoi has totaled just nine receptions for 149 receiving yards and until the Browns’ offense can find some consistency he isn’t worth employing on your fantasy team.

During the four game stretch in which Massaquoi has just nine receptions the Browns’ quarterbacks have completed only 30 passes and the offense has scored just two touchdowns. Instead of hanging on to a No. 1 wideout in a dysfunctional offense you are better off targeting a secondary receiver in a high powered offense.

Eddie Royal (Denver Broncos) With all the preseason troubles surrounding wide receiver Brandon Marshall it was supposed to be second year Eddie Royal who stepped up as the lead receiver in a revamped Denver Broncos offense.

With new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels coming from the New England Patriots there was talk that Royal would be used similar to how the Patriots’ use Wes Welker but through eight weeks it hasn’t happened.

In fact, Royal, who had 91 receptions as a rookie, has just 20 receptions for 158 receiving yards and no touchdowns over the Broncos’ first seven games. To make matters worse, if you take away Royal’s 10 reception for 90 yard effort in Week Five the speedster has a measly 10 receptions for 68 receiving yards over a third of the season.

Unless you are in a league that gives you points for return yards Royal has no business being on your fantasy football roster. The Broncos face some tough pass defenses over the next four games and outside of Brandon Marshall there has been no consistent second option in a surprisingly efficient Denver’ passing attack.

Keep Them Cut : Isaac Bruce (San Francisco 49ers), Justin Gage (Tennessee Titans), Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills), Laveranues Coles (Cincinnati Bengals) Domenik Hixon (New York Giants), Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis Colts)

TIGHT ENDS—CUT THEM LOOSE

Marcedes Lewis (Jacksonville Jaguars) – With many fantasy football owners scrambling to find a bye week tight end over the past five weeks it seemed that Marcedes Lewis ’ name was always popping up. Over the course of the seasons first month Lewis had 11 receptions for 179 receiving yards and two touchdowns while emerging as a reliable down-field target for quarterback David Garrard .

Since, the fourth-year veteran out of UCLA has been on the decline. With the Jaguars’ offense hitting a standstill it has led to inconsistent play from Lewis and the rest of the offense, outside of running back Maurice Jones-Drew .

Despite having solid match-ups over the last three games, Lewis had just five receptions for 38 receiving yards and did nothing but disappoint those owners who rolled with him thinking the matchups were right.

Bottom Line, if Lewis can’t get the job done against the likes of the Seattle Seahawks , St. Louis Rams, and Tennessee Titans don’t expect him to produce at a level worth a roster spot anytime soon because the schedule only gets tougher for a Jacksonville club that has dropped two of their last three games. 

Keep Them Cut : Kevin Boss (New York Giants), Anthony Fasano (Miami Dolphins), Randy McMichael (St. Louis Rams), Alge Crumpler (Tennessee Titans)

FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW…

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NFL Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Ems

Trick or Treat! Yes, folks the words spoken by children everywhere who are celebrating Halloween, hold relevance in the world of fantasy football. Essentially, each week when setting our lineups, we try to avoid those “Tricks” (players that are due for a bad week) and plug in those “Treats” (players that that are set to go off). In the scope of helping you do just that, the Bruno Boys proudly present the Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit Ems.

QUARTERBACKS – SIT ‘EM

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Denver

Flacco is posting a stellar sophomore season, racking up 1,674 passing yards and 11 TDs with just 5 INTs through six games. In fact, Flacco’s play is a large reason why the Ravens have been able to remain competitive this season despite the slow demise of their defense. In addition, he’s coming off a bye week, which means he and his supporting cast should be fresh. So, why are we down on a rock solid QB coming off the bye week? Simple, while Flacco has played himself into QB1 discussions for fantasy purposes, he’s not quite at the must play level, which means when a bad match-up presents itself, it’s best to avoid. This week Flacco and the Ravens host the Denver Broncos, a team that’s giving up just 6.5 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. Yes, they did allow double digit fantasy points to the QB position in week 5 and week 6, but their opponents those two weeks were Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers, and while both put up double digits, their point totals were just 14 and 12 respectively. If the Broncos can keep those two under wraps, they will do the same to Flacco.

Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) @ Detroit

While we’re advising you to avoid Flacco due to the match-up, that’s not the reason we suggest leaving Bulger on your bench. In fact, to many fantasy owners who own the likes of Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, or Carson Palmer, Bulger’s match-up has them thinking bye week fill in. But, we’re going to advise against that. Yes, Bulger does face a Detroit Lions’ secondary that is allowing opposing QBs to go for 21.5 fantasy points per game, the second most in the league, but the quarterback’s days of being a fantasy option are in the past. Bulger has posted just one double digit outing this season in the six games he has played in, and he just made it to the double digit plateau in that one with 10 fantasy points. The name and match-up could fool owners into using him, but the good news is since you’ve read this, you won’t be one of those poor owners cursing his name come Monday.

Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Philadelphia

Manning started out the season with 8 TD passes and 64 fantasy football points over the first four games but since a Week 4 showing in which he had three TDs and 19 fantasy points he has been mediocre at best. Over the last two games, against tougher competition, Manning has completed just 48.5 percent of his passes and has started to get turnover happy, having thrown four INTs to just two TD passes. With the New York Giants taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in a crucial divisional game you would think Manning should play at a high level. However, if you combine his recent struggles with the fact that the Eagles’ pass defense allows just 190 passing yards per contest and is averaging two INTs per game, you have yourself a risky Week 8 play. The icing on the cake, Manning has failed to throw for 200 yards in four of his last five contests against the Eagles, and he has at least one interception in three of those games.

RUNNING BACKS – SIT ’ EM

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota

Grant is coming off his best outing of the season as he ran for 148 yards and a score in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns. Luckily for Grant’s owners, he took advantage of that match-up because this Week 8 one is not appealing. Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau means the Minnesota Vikings are in town, a rush defense that is giving up just 95.4 rushing yards per contest and that has allowed just two rushing TDs on the year. Grant did amass 10 fantasy points against the Vikings when these two teams met in Week 4, but he was saved that week by the five points he gained as a receiver due to 50 receiving yards. We don’t expect Grant to be such a big part of the team’s passing plans in this one, which means he could very well end the day in the four-to-seven fantasy point range if he fails to find pay dirt.

Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) @ Baltimore

While it is true the Baltimore Raven’s defense is struggling in 2009 as mentioned in Joe Flacco’s write-up above, those struggles are due to their inability to stop the pass. The Ravens rank seventh in the league in rush defense, giving up just 91.2 rushing yards per game to go with three rushing TDs on the season. So, yes, when you see your running back matched up with them, like Moreno’s owners do this week, it’s best to look elsewhere for a RB play. Since Moreno posted back-to-back weeks of double digit fantasy points in weeks three and four, the runner has just 13 fantasy points in two games. His struggles continue in Week 8.

Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Seattle

Jones posted some big days prior to suffering an injury earlier this year, so fantasy owners are eager to get the running back back into their line-ups, especially since the larger role Tashard Choice was supposed to see, according to Jerry Jones, didn’t come to fruition. While it is true that Jones is the clear cut No. 2 RB in Dallas behind Marion Barber, it’s not clear whether his explosiveness is back on the field with him following the knee injury. Before using Jones again, we want the RB to post more than one fantasy point as he did in Week 7 and prove he is flex-option worthy.

WIDE RECEIVERS – SIT ’ EMS

Roy Williams (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Seattle

Can the torch be passed from one player to another if that first player never gets it lit? If it hasn’t happened before, but it’s happening in Dallas right now. Coming over to Big D from the Detroit Lions via a trade last season, Williams was supposed to be the future for the Cowboys at the wide receiver position—a belief further solidified by the fact that the Cowboys parted ways with the oft-troubled Terrell Owens this offseason. But, as the team’s “No. 1” Williams has just 230 receiving yards with one score on the year. Those are numbers that Miles Austin surpassed in one game as he tallied 250 yards and two scores against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. Following a bye, Austin exploded again in Week 7 for 171 yards and 2 TDs against the Atlanta Falcons. Austin is now the team’s No. 1, making Williams the No. 2 wide receiver. If he couldn’t get points as the go-to-guy, what makes you think he’ll do so as the second fiddle.

TIGHT ENDS – SIT ’ EMS

John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks) @ Dallas

After his 95 receiving yard, 2 TD and 21 fantasy football point performance in Week 1, Carlson has been just another tight end. The second year player out of Notre Dame has failed to score a TD since the season opener and has only been able to muster 17 fantasy points over the Seahawks’ last five games. The match-up against the 22nd ranked Dallas Cowboys pass defense looks good on paper, and Carlson did have 6 catches for 105 receiving yards in a 2008 meeting, but Dallas has been surprisingly good at defending the tight end position this year. Outside of Week 1 and Week 3 in which Dallas surrendered a TD (26 combined fantasy points) to the tight end position, Dallas has allowed just 10 fantasy points to opposing tight ends and until Carlson starts scoring touchdowns he will be nothing but a three-to-six point yardage play and not much more.

KICKERS – SIT ’ EMS

Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Carolina

Racks started out the season on fire, having converted on three 40-plus yard FGs and scoring 22 fantasy points over the Cardinals’ first two games, but it’s been all downhill since. With Arizona starting to find the end zone at a consistent rate, Rackers has attempted just four FGs over the last four games and none of them have been outside of 38 yards. In comparison, Rackers has nailed all 10 of his extra point attempts since the Cardinals’ Week 4 bye week. Facing a stingy Carolina Panthers passing defense would make one think Rackers should see plenty of FG changes in this game, but the Panthers have allowed opponents to attempt just six FGs in six games. At the rate Arizona has been finding paydirt can you really rely on Rackers to have more than two FG chances? If you are looking for a safe four-to-six point play it’s Rackers, but beyond that look elsewhere.

DEFENSES – SIT ’ EMS

Green Bay Packers D/ST vs. Minnesota Vikings

Don’t let the recent success of the Packers defense fool you. Yes, they have allowed three points, forced five turnovers and racked up 35 fantasy points over the last two games but that was against the struggling Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns offenses. Facing a Minnesota Vikings offense that is third in the NFL in scoring (29.4 points per game) will be no easy task for a defense that had allowed 93 points over their first four games. In a Week 4 meeting against Minnesota, quarterback Brett Favre threw for three TDs in a 30-23 Minnesota route of Green Bay. In that game the Packers failed to sack Favre and if it wasn’t for an Adrian Peterson fumble that was returned for a TD their defense would have posted just two points in standard scoring league. With both of these teams offenses in high gear you can expect this game to be yet another high scoring NFC North match-up and if Green Bay fails to record sacks or force turnovers, like their last match-up, they have little fantasy value.

 

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Fantasy Football News & Notes (10/30)

After eight weeks of NFL action it is getting harder and harder to field a fantasy football team. Between bye weeks, injuries and suspensions there seems to be a ton of players who are either out or questionable for this week’s action.

As you try and prepare the best possible lineup for your fantasy football team this week, the Bruno Boys are once again here to bring you the latest NFL news and study the potential fantasy football impact for Week 8. This week we will take a look at a litany of injuries around the league and another suspension for Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson.

Andre Johnson suffers lung contusion Week 7, likely to play versus Buffalo

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson suffered a lung contusion in the second quarter of the team’s Week 7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers after he was hit in the lower back. He remained in the game, but ended up coughing up blood after landing on the ball while making a catch in the fourth quarter. He stayed in the game for one more play before the Texans’ medical staff took him off the field.

Johnson ran with the team, but did not practice on Wednesday. However, he did practice on Thursday. He is listed as day-to-day and he is expected to play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, unless he suffers a set-back. The Bills who have struggled this season are actually ranked No. 10 against the pass and pose a tough match-up, but if he plays he is a must-start fantasy football wide receiver. Keep an eye on this situation throughout the weekend, but it does appear Johnson will be ready to go this week.

Calvin Johnson still unable to practice Wednesday, limited Thursday, listed as questionable for Week 8

It is a bad week to own a wide receiver named Johnson, as Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is also banged up and is questionable for the team’s showdown with the winless St. Louis Rams this week. Johnson is suffering from what is believed to be a sprained knee, which he injured during Detroit’s Week 5 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed the Lions’ game Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions’ had a bye last week and were hoping to get their top wide receiver back for this week’s game against the Rams. Johnson sounded optimistic earlier this week about being ready for the St. Louis game, but the fact that he hasn’t been able to practice at all this week has us concerned. Reports out of Detroit are that the Lions are being cautious with him, but if he doesn’t practice on Friday it would seem doubtful that he would be able to play Sunday. We will keep you updated on this situation throughout the week.

If he is able to play, he should be inserted into your starting lineup against the Rams’ who are ranked No. 25 against the pass this season and have given up 11 passing touchdowns.

Kansas Chiefs suspend running back Larry Johnson for two weeks

In what seems to have become an annual thing, the Kansas City Chiefs have suspended running back Larry Johnson for two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team. This time he has spouted off about his head coach Todd Haley and used homophobic slurs on his Twitter account and in the Kansas City media. The suspension means that he is not allowed to report to the team’s headquarters or participate in any team activities before November 9.

Fantasy owners were already going to be without Johnson this week as the Chiefs are on their bye, but they will also lose him for Kansas City’s Week 9 match-up with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is the teams leading rusher this season with 132 carries for 358 yards, but he has not scored a touchdown and his is only averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Keep Johnson stashed away on your bench if possible, but it is questionable how much value he will have this season. Chiefs’ backup running back Jamaal Charles has some value now as a sleeper in deeper leagues for Week 9.

Brett Favre listed on injury report, expected to play this week at Green Bay

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was limited in practice Wednesday with a hip injury. He is officially listed as questionable for the team’s game this week against the Green Bay Packers, but he is expected to play in what would be his first trip to Lambeau Field since being traded to the New York Jets in August of 2008.

He has been on the injury report several times this season with various ailments, but has yet to miss a game. Favre is coming off his second 300-yard passing performance of the season last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and he should be considered a low-end QB1 this week. In the Vikings Week 4 match-up with the Packers, Favre had 271 yards passing with three touchdowns and he should be motivated to have an even better game this week in his homecoming in Green Bay where he played 16 seasons.

Aaron Rodgers has sprained foot, limited in Wednesday’s practice

Brett Favre’s replacement in Green Bay is also banged up and was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers is suffering from a sore foot due to a sprain and he did not participate in full with the team on Wednesday. He is listed as questionable on the injury report, but he is expected to start in the big game this week against the Minnesota Vikings.

Rodgers passed for 384 yards with two touchdowns and one interception Week 4 against the Vikings. He was blitzed often by Minnesota and was sacked eight times in the game. Look for another big game from Rodgers this week, as the Vikings are very good against the run and he should once again be forced to pass early and often. He should be used as a high-end No. 1 fantasy football quarterback this week.

Reggie Wayne sits out with a sore groin, expects to play against 49ers

Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne suffered a pulled groin in the team’s Week 7 victory over the St. Louis Rams and he did not finish the game. He said that he “feels good,” but did not practice with the team on Wednesday. Colts’ head coach Jim Caldwell said, “We’re hoping he will progress throughout the week and we will increase his activity. We will see were he is come Friday or so.”

If you read between the lines, it sounds like Wayne will rest until Friday and then see how his groin feels. It appears he will be able to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but he could very well be a game time decision. Keep an eye on this situation throughout the week and check in with us Sunday morning to make sure he is active for the game. If active, Wayne should be used as a WR1 this week in a good match-up against the 49ers.

Westbrook a game time decision after suffering a concussion Week 7

Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was injured with a concussion early in the team’s Week 7 victory over the Washington Redskins. He was forced to leave the game and was unable to return. He will be a game time decision for the Eagles contest this week against the New York Giants.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid did say that he’s counting on Westbrook being there Sunday, but you should be cautious before inserting him into your starting lineup. Check back with us Sunday morning to see if he is active for the game or not. If active, he should be used as a low-end RB2 in the NFC East battle. If he is unable to play, rookie LeSean McCoy will get a bulk of the work load and could be used as a low-end RB2.

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BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH.

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