Fantasy Football Impact: Under the Radar Offseason Moves

NFL Key Questions: NFC North

2009 Fantasy Football Running Back Forecast: AFC South

With the 2009 NFL Draft having come and gone, it is now time to start focusing more on the most important draft of all in football…YOUR Fantasy Football draft.

 

And the Bruno Boys can’t think of a better way to get in the mood than to start focusing some attention on the running back position.

 

Now, we are not saying that the running back position is make or break, because we firmly believe that the best way to ensure success is to not only have an extremely well rounded team…but a deep team as well.

But, as Bruno Boys Nation already knows, part of my (Bruno Boys Ziza) responsibilities at the Bruno Boys is critiquing the running back position on a weekly basis throughout the season. 

 

So, today I am bringing you a rundown of what is happening in the NFL; that way you are not left scratching your head when August rolls around and you are wondering why Edgerrin James is not an Arizona Cardinal anymore.

During the weeks leading up to the season, myself and Bruno Boys Greg will be bringing you periodic updates that will guarantee that you stay one, no…thirty two steps ahead of your competition.

 

Today, we will be focusing on the teams in the AFC South. Keep on checking back with the Bruno Boys for other divisional running back updates that will help you stomp your way into your leagues’ Fantasy Football playoffs.

 

 

 

HOUSTON TEXANS

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take: Steve Slaton enjoyed a very nice rookie year accumulating a total of 1,659 all-purpose yards as well as 10 touchdowns.

 

To me, it would be a shocker to see him come close to repeating those numbers.

 

Last year, Chris Brown missed the entire season because of a back injury. That won’t be the case this year as Brown is already participating in off-season team drills, and is expected to take some of the red zone carries away from Slaton.

For fantasy football purposes, expect Slaton to be no more than a RB2 unless Brown gets hurt again. As for Brown, he could sneak into a solid RB3/4 option if the Houston Texans do commit to Brown during goal line situations.

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take: Last year, many fantasy owners who were able to grab Steve Slaton got rewarded with huge performances that led them to fantasy titles. 

 

Because of that, Slaton won’t be around in many drafts for long this year, as he will be the lead back for Gary Kubiak’s Texans. 

 

His back-ups are guys who have traveled around the league in Ryan Moats and Chris Brown. Houston decided to pass on finding Slaton a complement back in the draft, which means he will see most of the touches out of the backfield.

 

No doubt about it, Slaton is an RB1 and should be taken in the first round of every draft. His back-ups should not be considered on a roster.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Steve Slaton and *Chris Brown (Missed 2008 w/back injury) 

2009 SCHEDULE: NYJ (1) , @ TEN (2) , JAC (3), OAK (4), @ ARZ (5), @ CIN (6), SF (7), @ BUF (8), @ IND (9), BYE (10), TEN (11), IND (12), @ JAC (13), SEA (14), @ STL (15), @ MIA (16), NE (17)

 

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take: 2008 was a major head scratcher for Joseph Addai owners as he just could not stay healthy. Even when he could get onto the field, he looked confused and sometimes over matched as he just could not get anything going.

 

It got so bad at one point that the Indianapolis Colts convinced themselves that they needed help at that position, using their first round draft pick on Donald Brown.

 

While Addai remains the main back in Indianapolis, don’t be surprised if Brown steals some of his all so important fantasy football statistics in yardage and touchdowns.

 

Watch this situation carefully as it may be time to start considering Addai as a lower-end No. 1 to possibly even dropping him into RB2 range.

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take: After the draft, it now seems evident the Colts are looking to get back to the running game. 

 

Already occupying slots on their roster were incumbent starter, Joseph Addai and Mike Hart—who missed most of last year due to an injury.

 

Still, they drafted Connecticut running back Donald Brown, who rushed for 2,083 yards and 18 TDs while at UConn in the first round of the draft.  

Although the Colts should run the ball more, it seems this is a huge timeshare waiting to happen. 

 

Addai will see the most touches, followed by Brown.

 

Hart may steal a few carries and could see the ball more toward the end zone. Consider Addai a low-end R2/ high-end RB3, Brown a RB4, and Hart a RB5. 

 

One thing to remember is Addai has been injury prone over the last two years. If he misses action, Brown could see more of a workload and would thus become a RB2. 

 

Brown is a guy you definitely want to keep an eye on all season long.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Joseph Addai and Donald Brown

2009 SCHEDULE: JAC (1), @ MIA (2), @ ARZ (3), SEA (4), @ TEN (5), BYE (6), @ STL (7), SF (8), HOU (9), NE (10), @ BAL (11), @ HOU (12), TEN (13), DEN (14), @ JAC (15), NYJ (16), @ BUF (17)

 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take: There is no mistaking who the man is for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Maurice Jones-Drew signed a five year, $31 million dollar contract this off season. To take it a step further, the team also released veteran running back, Fred Taylor who had been splitting carries with Jones-Drew the past few seasons.

 

The Jaguars have a solid schedule in which Jones-Drew and, to a much lesser extent, his backups Greg Jones and Chauncey Washington should have plenty of chances to be successful this year.

 

Look into Jones-Drew as being an RB1 where as the other two are more of a handcuff type backs.

 

You’ll most likely do your team just as much good keeping both Jones and Washington on the waiver wire instead of using up one of your bench spots as an insurance policy.

 

But,to be honest, I have never been a huge fan of the handcuff approach to things.

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take: For the last three years Maurice Jones-Drew has driven fantasy owners crazy as he was always the second banana in Jacksonville—not getting the touches he deserved. 

 

He scored a lot of touchdowns though, totaling 38 in his three years in the NFL. 

 

Since touchdowns rule fantasy football, Jones-Drew was still considered a gold mine at times despite the timeshare with Fred Taylor. 

 

Figuring out when he’d score though was the difficult part, especially since he never spread out his production…instead going three or four games without any scores or many yards then breaking out for four touchdowns in a game.

However, this year is different.

 

Jones-Drew will be the No. 1 guy with no one there breathing down his neck as Fred Taylor is off to New England.

 

Serving as Jones-Drew’s back-up, instead, will be Chauncey Washington. The Jaguars did draft Rashad Jennings in the seventh round out of Liberty to add depth to the position, but he will only give Jones-Drew some breathers at best. 

 

Jones-Drew is finally worth a first round selection and is an RB1 this season. His back-ups do not deserve a roster spot.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Maurice Jones-Drew, Greg Jones, and Chauncey Washington

2009 SCHEDULE: @ IND (1), ARZ (2), @ HOU (3), TEN (4), @ SEA (5), STL (6), BYE (7), @ TEN (8), KC (9), @ NYJ (10), BUF (11), @ SF (12), HOU (13), MIA (14), IND (15), @ NE (16), @ CLE (17)

 

 

 

TENNESSEE TITANS

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take: Without a doubt, the Tennessee Titans had the best running back tandem in the league with Chris Johnson and LenDale White.

 

Johnson had a combined 1,488 yards and 10 touchdowns while White had 773 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

 

Those numbers would be welcomed on any fantasy football team this year—The problem is that it will be tough for either of these backs to repeat as 2008 was just one of those seasons where everything went right.

 

While Tennessee has a few cupcake defenses that they will be facing this year, they also have their fair share of tougher match ups.

 

Depending on the defense, they will be facing both and will have their chance to shine, which is why you are going to have to come back and read the running back weekly rankings that the Bruno Boys provide week after week throughout the season.

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take: Last year, Tennessee pounded the ball on the ground to win games. Expect more of the same this year. 

 

They have a talented backfield with Chris Johnson and LenDale White. Joining those two on the roster are 2007 second round pick Chris Henry and Michigan State’s Javon Ringer, who was selected in the fifth round in the 2009 NFL Draft. 

 

It was interesting seeing the Titans select Ringer with the talent and depth they have at running back, but his 1,637 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns in college must have looked appealing that late in the draft. 

 

For 2009, it will be Johnson and White splitting the load with Ringer and/or Henry seeing a carry only here and there. Many experts will suggest taking Johnson as an RB1, but I am not one of them. 

 

His 1,488 total yards and 10 total touchdowns as a rookie are impressive, but when selecting an RB1…you want a guy who will get most of the touches. 

 

Johnson, meanwhile, will still split time with White which prohibits him from being a star RB1. 

 

I put Johnson as a high end RB2 and White, who is the goal-line back, made evident by his 15 TDs a season ago as a low-end RB2 / high end RB3.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Chris Johnson and LenDale White

2009 SCHEDULE: @ PIT (1), HOU (2), @ NYJ (3), @ JAX (4), IND (5), @ NE (6), BYE (7), JAC (8), @ SF (9), BUF (10), @ HOU (11), ARZ (12), @ IND (13), STL (14), MIA (15), SD (16), @ SEA (17)

 

For more fantasy football insight and advice, click the link below…

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

 

2009 Fantasy Football Questions Answered: Impact Rookies

When you think about the NFL, you think about its premier draft held every April. And when you think of the premier fantasy football website that offers you outstanding, FREE advice throughout the year, who else is there to think of besides the Bruno Boys?

While the “so called” experts have already taken your money, packed it in, and said “see you in a few months,” we here feel that it is our duty to offer up Bruno Boys Nation our opinion of what just happened in the 2009 NFL Draft so you can remain light years ahead of your fantasy football competition.

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NFL Draft Burning Questions!

1. The Oakland Raiders surprised everyone, not only in round one when they took wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree, but also when they selected little-known safety Michael Mitchell in the second round. Does the NFL need to step in and take the whip out of Al Davis’ hands?

Bruno Boys Cavigs:  It’s not the NFL’s job to tell anyone how to run their teams, so I feel they shouldn’t touch the mess that Al Davis has created in Oakland. Being a Bay Area native and a San Francisco 49ers fan, we love seeing the so-called Silver & Black continue to fail. In fact, I hope Davis lives a long life and never gives up his power in the Raiders franchise.

 

Looking at this from the business side of things and not my hatred for anything Raiders, someone in the franchise needs to convince him to take a step back and let some fresh blood call the personnel shots. Davis has done nothing but make bad decision after bad decision since he traded his head coach Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the future doesn’t look bright in Oakland.

Bruno Boys Ziza: While I understand how you would love to see this happening, Marc, I really think that the NFL should at least attempt to do something. I am not saying they should tell them how to run a franchise, but there has to be some type of testing or what-not to see if someone has lost it.

 

I am not just talking about Al Davis either, but the Detroit Lions’ William Clay Ford is another example. The Lions were a great organization until WCF took over, and 50 years later he still has had only one playoff victory. The difference between the two though is that WCF is not calling the shots, he is just too trusting.

 

Davis, on the other hand, you know he always has his hands in the cookie jar. No chocolate chip for you Mr. Davis.

 

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2. The NFL has been in talks of possibly moving the NFL Draft into prime time a few years from now. It would be broken into three nights possibly. Although the format is far from being set in stone, it is rumored that the first day would be the first round, the second day would be the second round, and the third day would be the final four rounds of the draft. Would you be for this or against it?

 

Bruno Boys Cavigs: Go for it, Roger Goodell. There is nothing like waking up on a Saturday morning and watching the NFL Draft for 12 hours, but if they move to this format it means all of us die-hards get an extra day of football.

 

Plus, from a fantasy football content standpoint, it gives the Bruno Boys Nation an extra day to read our draft day analysis. If Goodell feels the draft will get good ratings on a Thursday night in prime time, then it’s worth the shot. We all know the NFL continues to grow in popularity and this is just another move to make the brand bigger.

 

Plus, what would you rather watch on a Thursday Night in April…the NFL Draft or Grey’s Anatomy?

Bruno Boys Ziza: I am pretty torn on this. I do agree that this would give us die-hards a more spread out three day event, but at the same time I am not sure.  I think round two deserves a day and round three through seven is the third day.

 

What I would like to see is perhaps a day for round one, rounds two and three on one day and then rounds four through seven as most people don’t pay attention to the latter rounds as much anyways.

 

What I would love to see though is that they provide a little more information on how trades developed and such, if general managers were willing. Maybe a few more feel-good stories. I don’t know. But anything to get away from Mel Kiper once in a while would be a good thing if you ask me.

 

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NFL Draft – Draft Selections (Who’ll Have Biggest Fantasy Impact for 2009?)

1. Matthew Stafford vs. Mark Sanchez

Bruno Boys Cavigs: SANCHEZ. If Stafford was given the starting position from week one, he’d be my choice, but the Lions are expected to ease him into the mix, so Sanchez is the pick.

 

He doesn’t have the weapons that Stafford has surrounding him, but Sanchez is an accurate quarterback with a big-time arm. Plus, the Jets offensive line is one of the best in football, so this should give their rookie quarterback enough time to sit in the pocket and make smart decisions. Still, let both options gain experience before you rely on them being your fantasy football QB.

Bruno Boys Ziza: BOTH. I really do believe that somehow, some way, Matthew Stafford will be thrown into the mix at some point this year, most likely before week eight to give him a half of a year to groom before starting to try and make a push in 2010.

 

I say if you have Mark Sanchez, he will be the better of the two on the fantasy football year, but that is mainly because he will have a full year worth of stats. Keep in mind, though, that Sanchez has not won the job yet. Either way, if Stafford does play during the second half of the season, he would be the quarterback that I would want during the second half.

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2. Knowshon Moreno vs. Chris Wells vs. Donald Brown

 

Bruno Boys Ziza: WELLS. Just the situation itself lends a different degree of probable success to Chris Wells, but he must stay healthy to do that. He is pretty injury-prone and you have to take that into account.

 

Now, while all three should have a solid rookie year, I do not see a Joseph Addai or Maurice Jones-Drew type of rookie campaign in the making here. If I were rounding out a fantasy football roster right now, neither of these three would warrant much attention from me until RB3 in deeper leagues.

 

Bruno Boys Cavigs: WELLS. He was drafted behind both Moreno and Brown, but couldn’t be in a better situation to get immediate playing time. The Arizona Cardinals struggled running the football in 2008 and Wells should get the first crack at being the primary option. The team released Edgerrin James and is not sold on Tim Hightower being an every-down back, so a healthy Wells should propel him to being the top rookie rusher.

 

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3. Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. Michael Crabtree vs. Jeremy Maclin

Bruno Boys Cavigs: CRABTREE. You think he isn’t taking it as a slap in the face that he wasn’t the first wide receiver taken in the 2009 NFL Draft? Diva or not, Crabtree is the best pure wide receiver out of the bunch and will make the most of every opportunity he gets in San Francisco. Think 50-60 receptions for 700-800 yards for the rookie out of Texas Tech.

Bruno Boys Ziza: MACLIN. All three of these wide receivers bring a different type of game to this position. While I do think if they are groomed right, all three will be successful, I like Jeremy Maclin.

 

Unlike the running back position, the wide receivers’ success depends greatly on who is throwing the pigskin. No offense to the Raiders or the 49ers, but I think Donovan McNabb beats out your quarterbacks just slightly. Ok, I think he does a lot. And with Maclin going to an offense who already has some talent around him, he is going to help keep the defenders off of his butt some.

 

If I were to have to draft one of these three wide receivers in a fantasy football draft, I would feel most confident with Maclin as I think he will be the most consistent from week to week.

 

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TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE… BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

 

 

NFL Draft Recap: Fantasy Football Impact (RB’s & TE’s)

In the first part of the 2009 NFL Draft Recap we took a look at the top quarterbacks and wide receivers expected to make an immediate fantasy football impact this season.

In the second part we’ll take a look at the players who can make the easiest transition to the NFL and the ones who usually have the biggest fantasy football impact in running backs. Not to be outdone, we’ll also discuss the top rookie tight ends and how they’ll be expected to fare this season.

Running Backs

Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos): It was a bit of a shock when the Denver Broncos opted to select running back Knowshon Moreno instead of upgrading at a position of greater need.

It was also surprising considering the Broncos have traditionally found good running backs in the later rounds of the draft. But beyond the surprise of the pick you’ll see Moreno has a chance to come in and immediately contribute.

With decent size, Moreno is a good all-around back who can run and catch. The one thing holding Moreno back is the lack of top-end speed, however it did not seem to effect him during his time at Georgia. Thus, the biggest obstacle facing Moreno this season will be the other running backs on the Denver roster.

In no particular order the Broncos have Peyton Hillis, Selvin Young, LaMont Jordan, J.J. Arrington, Ryan Torain, and Correll Buckhalter, all of which have proven they can play well in one capacity or another.

New head coach Josh McDaniels is enamored with Moreno but with all the other running backs on the roster, don’t expect a huge rookie season from Moreno.

Chris Wells (Arizona Cardinals): It seems a lot of teams went back and forth with their thoughts on former Ohio State running back Chris Wells, mostly because of his injury history.

After completing his junior season and declaring for the draft, Wells was checked out by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews and returned with a clean bill of health. This didn’t prevent Wells from slipping all the way to the 31st pick, where he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals.

With the release of Edgerrin James, and the inconsistent play of Tim Hightower, Wells will have an opportunity to play right away and get a lot of touches in the process. His power running style will serve as a nice compliment to Hightower and playing in the NFC West will also be a boon to the rookie.

Still, the injury concerns are legitimate. Though Wells managed to play through most of them at Ohio State he was rarely 100 percent. If Wells remains healthy through the season, look for him to get around 280-300 touches and 1,200 total yards.

Shonn Greene (New York Jets): The New York Jets thought so much of former Iowa running back Shonn Greene they decided to trade up to the top pick of the third round to select him.

What Greene brings to the table is toughness and physicality. He is a tough inside runner who carried the ball 307 times in 12 games last year for the Hawkeyes, breaking the 100-yard mark every week.

The drafting of Greene likely signals that Thomas Jones is slowing down a bit and the Jets know they can’t rely on Leon Washington to be an every-down back. Greene may start the season third in the pecking order in New York but will likely end it as the first.

His production may be limited because of the play of whomever starts at quarterback, as teams know they’ll be able to stack the box, so do not get too high on Greene when drafting this year.

Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts): The Indianapolis Colts were another team who surprised many on Saturday when they selected former Connecticut running back Donald Brown with their first round selection, picking him over Wells.

Between Joseph Addai and Mike Hart, the Colts appeared to be in a good position at running back, but the drafting of Brown must signal that Indianapolis is more concerned about injuries to the two incumbent players than it is letting on.

Brown is the type of back the Colts like and, with the lingering injuries to Addai and Hart, he should get a chance to play right away. The question is: How much will he get to play?

Brown will likely start the season as the 2A running back to Mike Hart’s 2B, with both of them being behind Addai. As the season goes on expect Brown to be phased into the mix more often but unless injuries take out Addai and Hart, do not expect more than 175 touches from Brown this season.

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles): The Philadelphia Eagles needed a running back with the release of Buckhalter and got one with the second-round selection of former Pittsburgh Panther LeSean McCoy.

McCoy is the type of back the Eagles love, a smaller who is good with the ball in space and good in the passing game. He’s stuck behind Brian Westbrook, who has not proven he can stay healthy through a full season. Because of this expect McCoy to be involved in the offense right away, getting as many as 10-12 touches a game.

However, on the scoring totem-pole, McCoy will fall behind DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb, and possibly one of the other wide-outs in Philadelphia.

The touches will be there so McCoy will have some value, especially in PPR leagues, but without scoring he might not have a huge impact until next year.

Glen Coffee (San Francisco 49ers): Needing somebody to provide a good complement to starter Frank Gore, the San Francisco 49ers picked up former Alabama running back Glen Coffee in the third round of the draft.

Despite being less than 200 lbs Coffee is a tough inside runner in the same mold as Greene, a guy who does most of his work between the tackles. Displaying good patience and an ability to find the hole is what makes Coffee a good back.

The biggest thing holding him back is his lack of speed, particularly in the open field. While he did have some long runs last year for the Crimson Tide, in most of his games his longest run would be anywhere from 12-17 yards.

He will get a chance to play right away, but will likely yield to Gore or Michael Robinson in the red zone, thus diminishing his fantasy football value.

Andre Brown (New York Giants): The New York Giants may have found a nice sleeper in former North Carolina State running back Andre Brown.

Part of the reason Brown fell to the fourth round was that no one part of his game stood out. He didn’t run a blazing 40-yard dash time, and he is not known for breaking multiple tackles on one play or dancing around several tacklers.

What makes Brown good is he’s an all-around solid player in every aspect of the game. His has good size, decent speed, and is decent both in the running and passing game. With Derrick Ward gone to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brown will become the third back behind Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

This may limit Brown this season but the Giants have shown in the past a willingness to play three different running backs, so keep Brown in mind if you’re in a deeper league.

Tight Ends

Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit Lions): The Detroit Lions caught some flack for selecting a tight end in Brandon Pettigrew with their second first-round pick instead of upgrading the offensive line.

But Pettigrew will probably be worth it. For anybody that watched an Oklahoma State football game last year, you saw a freak of nature playing tight end. The guy has amazing athleticism for his size and also has a great pair of hands.

He will be counted on to contribute right away as the Lions have no pass-catching tight ends on their roster, and Pettigrew will be a nice safety outlet for whomever starts at quarterback.

Jared Cook (Tennessee Titans): Former South Carolina tight end Jared Cook gained some recognition after the combine for posting an impressive 40 time of 4.50, which was faster than guys like Moreno and Wells.

However, Cook is strictly a pass-catching tight end and nothing else. At 245 pounds, he is not big enough to serve as an extra blocker on the offensive line, and that is not an area in which he much practiced in college playing in the spread offense.

Cook will also be stuck behind Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife, so do not expect much production from him this season.

Chase Coffman (Cincinnati Bengals): The Cincinnat Bengals made a nice selection with their third-round pick of former Missouri tight end Chase Coffman.

Despite playing in 12 of the team’s 14 games last season, Coffman had 90 receptions in his senior season for the Tigers, and that kind of production from the tight end position in college is unheard of.

Coffman is big, athletic, has good hands, and runs good routes. The only thing against Coffman is that he was rarely, if ever, asked to block at Missouri in the spread offense.

While Ben Utecht is currently the Bengals’ top pass-catching tight end he dealt with injuries and inconsistency last season. If Coffman can crack the starting 11, then expect some decent production from him this season.

Travis Beckum (New York Giants): Before last season started, Travis Beckum was considered one of the top pass-catching tight ends in college football.

He caught 61 passes as a sophomore and 75 as a junior. He appeared on his way to another good season, but missed the first two games, then broke his leg in the eighth game of the season against Illinois and was done for the year.

The injury was pretty nasty and required a long rehab, which prevented him from doing the combine or private workouts, causing him to fall in the draft. In reality he would’ve been a first-day pick without the injury.

Kevin Boss is the top tight end right now for the Giants, and Beckum is still recovering from the injury so don’t expect much production early on, though it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him come on at the end of the season.

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NFL Key Questions: NFC West

The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, and despite the holes many teams were able to fill with their selections, there are still questions surrounding all 32 squads. The Bruno Boys though are here for you, attempting to shed light on the key issues surrounding all 32 NFL teams. We’ll start the enlightening in the NFC West.

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Arizona Cardinals

Will the Arizona aerial assault be grounded due to an angry Anquan Boldin?

It’s no secret that stud wide receiver, Anquan Boldin, isn’t happy in Arizona at the moment. In fact, the wideout had gone as far as requesting a trade this off-season, a possibility the Cardinals seemed to entertain, only to decide to keep the receiver on their roster. Obviously, maintaining Boldins’ services is a plus as he is incredibly talented, made evident by the 1,038 receiving yards and 11 TDs he racked up in just 12 games last season. But, in the end, will the headache be worth it?

We’re all familiar with how detrimental an unhappy wide receiver can be to a team. See: Terrell Owens. Thus, the Cards better hope that Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin’s wide receiving counterpart and friend, can help keep Boldin happy and motivated throughout the season. If Fitz can’t do so, the team may regret not dealing Boldin, especially since it seems they have a receiver in Steve Breaston, 1,006 receiving yards and 3 TDs in 2008, who could occupy the number two slot across from Fitz. 

In the end though, the Cardinals aerial attack should be able to weather this storm. Even if Boldin throws a hissy fit here or there, the veteran leadership of quarterback Kurt Warner and Fitzgerald’s ability as one of the top wide receivers in the league should be enough to keep Arizona’s passing attack firing on all cylinders.

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San Francisco 49ers

Will the addition of Texas Tech wide receiver, Michael Crabtree, take the 49ers’ passing game to that next level?

The football gods were apparently smiling on the 49ers during the 2009 NFL draft. Thanks to the Oakland Raiders’ (read: Al Davis’) miscue, in which they selected wide receiver, Darrius Heyward-Bey, thought to be only the 3rd best wide out in the draft, with the 7th overall selection, the 49ers found Michael Crabtree still sitting on the board when their selection came at number 10. For a team that has not had a legitimate number one wide receiver since Terrell Owens’ departure in 2003, the move to take Crabtree was a no brainer. However, the question now is whether Crabtree be the difference between a mediocre passing offense and a strong one?

The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. Obviously, adding someone with Crabtree’s talent can only help things; however, the true key to the Niners’ taking that next step in the passing game will be the play of their quarterback, projected at this time to be Shaun Hill.

Hill played solidly in 2008, finishing with 2,046 passing yards, 13 passing TDs and 8 interceptions in 9 games played. The experience he gained in 2008 combined with the return of the 49ers’ top wide receiver from last season, veteran Isaac Bruce, the continued development of young wide out, Josh Morgan, and the addition of Crabtree should give the Niners’ one of their best passing games in a long while.

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Seattle Seahawks

How will the switch from Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora effect Seattle?

In years past, the Seattle Seahawks were defined by their running game; however, the rapid decline of stud running back, Shaun Alexander, forced Mike Holmgren’s hand, leading the coach to rethink the team’s offensive philosophy into one of a pass first mentality. Despite Jim Mora’s reputation as a run first coach, thanks to his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons, don’t look for him to reverse the move made by Holmgren. Mora is a wise man and knows that the talent on the Seahawks resides in the passing game. With veteran quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, emerging tight end, John Carlson, and newly signed free agent, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Mora will continue to allow the Seahawks to be defined by their aerial attack, which should lead the team to more than the 4 wins they compiled in 2008 as a large part of the Seahawks’ poor performance had to do with injuries and not philosophy.

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St. Louis Rams

What can be expected of running back, Steven Jackson, in 2009?

Steven Jackson may be one of the hardest players to get a gauge on fantasy wise for the 2009 season. The back, who possesses first round talent, made obvious by the fact that he’s gone for at least 1,200 total yards and 6 total TDs in each of the last 4 seasons, despite missing significant time in 2007 and 2008, will be the center piece of the Rams’ offense. Naturally, one would assume a healthy number of touches would translate to a healthy number of fantasy points, especially with the Rams adding stud offensive tackle, Jason Smith, to the team in this year’s draft.

However, there are some concerns that Jackson could struggle in the coming year. First and foremost, there is the back’s durability. Missing four games in each of the last two years is a cause for concern. After all, if Jackson is to be the center piece of the offense, he needs to be on the field. Secondly, it is quite clear that Jackson will be the focal point not only of the Rams offense, but also opposing defenses. With the team letting go of future hall of famer, Torry Holt, the pass catchers for St. Louis are slated to be sophomores Donnie Avery and Kennan Burton. Until those two prove themselves, team will be more than ok with sending at least 8 men in the box to slow Jackson down. So, while Jackson will see an increase in touches, he may very well see a decline in productivity.

It’ll be hard with his talent to pass on Jackson if he’s still sitting there in the lower part of the first round in your league’s draft. Just know though, that Jackson is in that boom or bust category for the 2009 season.

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5 Things to Do in the Fantasy Football Off Season

An off-season in fantasy football can leave you more desperate for action than a single bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding. Here are 5 ideas to keep your fantasy wheels spinning and prepare you for next season. 

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1. Create Your Own Fantasy Football League

Gather your family, friends, coworkers or whomever else you think would enjoy it and start your own fantasy football leagues. They’re easy to put together and give you something to do while you’re waiting for that first kick off. Once the season starts you’ll be glad you did. If you’re planning on being the commissioner of your fantasy football league you should know that while it can be rewarding it can also be a thankless job. So be sure to create some well defined league rules and communicate them clearly. Or save yourself the drama and find someone in your league who enjoys being in control of things (sorry, my wife is already in a league).

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2. Research Rookies

There are almost always a few rookies who make an immediate impact in fantasy football. If you want proof just look at what Matt Forte and Chris Johnson did for fantasy teams last year. Unless you’re in a keeper league, these rookies can usually be had in the later rounds. This is where you can strike fantasy gold. All it takes is some research, preparation and a little luck. There are loads of scouting and team reports worth checking out. Plus mini-camps and preseason games can be a good source on how rookies are faring on the next level. And be sure to check out www.brunoboys.net for the latest rookie news and player ratings.  

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3. Join a Forum

Forums are a great place to talk about anything fantasy football related. They’re free, easy and the perfect outlet when family and friends have banned you from any conversation that includes the word “sleepers”. Get the latest news and rumors from around the league. Ask other fantasy fanatics for their advice on trades, drafts and the upcoming season. Or maybe you just need to rant about something that’s been bothering you. You can find great fantasy football forums to keep you in the know at www.brunoboysforum.com.

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4. Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Game

They say the truth is in the details. This is true for fantasy football. The more you understand about how the game of football is played, the better equipped you’ll be to make good decisions for your fantasy team. Knowing exactly how offensive and defensive schemes work becomes a weapon you can use to your advantage. Like being able to tell when a sub par running back is going to have a superb game. Or why a particular 3-4 defense may not be the best match up for a quarterback who already has trouble reading coverage. Even the simple act of watching a game becomes a richer and more fulfilling experience when you can identify the little things that make football such an amazing team-oriented sport. 

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5. Get to Know thy Enemy

Fantasy football is fun but it’s still a competition, which makes the off season a prime time for uncovering other team’s strategies and learning how they think. There are several ways to do this: You can get everyone together, start lining up shots at the bar and ask them a barrage of fantasy football questions. Or you can take a less aggressive approach and look at previous drafts to find patterns in how teams pick players. For example, I noticed in one draft that after the first tight end was taken, several teams panicked and immediately used the next pick to grab theirs. So next year, I made sure to grab the first tight end. Just like before, teams panicked and as it worked out I ended up getting the guy I wanted a round later with the best tight end to boot. Mind you, this kind of trick can backfire but if you get to know your competition well enough, you’ll always have an edge.

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READ MORE BRUNO BOYS CONTENT AT… WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

 

2009 Fantasy Football Breakout Players: AFC North

Every year there are multiple players at each position that have breakout seasons and put their name on the fantasy football map.

In 2008, we saw players like Matt Cassel, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Turner, Derrick Ward, Antonio Bryant and Dwayne Bowe put together what is considered breakout season and because of this they will be highly targeted in 2009 fantasy football drafts.

With it never being to early to start planning for your fantasy football draft, the Bruno Boys offer you their opinion on what players will flourish in 2009 and have a breakout season.

In this installment of 2009 Fantasy Football Breakout Players we bring to you the AFC North division.

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Cincinnati Bengals: After being released by the Chicago Bears and latching on with the Cincinnati, Cedric Benson had something to prove.

Drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, Benson was supposed to change the whole dynamic of the Bears running game, but that headed south fast.

Benson combined three sub-par seasons, with a DUI and a BUI (boating) and eventually was given his pink slip from the Windy City.

However, this could have been the best thing that happened to the troubled veteran, as Benson was signed by the Bengals, was starting by mid-season and had 932 total yards.

The reason why we are high on Benson is because he flourished at the end of last season and everything has fell into place for him from a personnel standpoint. 

Over the Bengals final three games Benson went for 462 yards from scrimmage and with the Bengals drafting OT Andre Smith to bulk up the offensive line it should open up even more holes.

Plus, All-Pro quarterback Carson Palmer returns from an arm injury which will prevent teams from scheming around Benson.

From a personnel standpoint, Cincinnati released former first-round pick Chris Perry and did little to improve the running back position during the off-season. 

Going into your 2009 fantasy football draft, you should target Benson as a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 as this looks to be the year he figures it all out.

Also Consider: WR Chris Henry (if Ocho Stinko leaves town), TE Chase Coffman

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Pittsburgh Steelers: A broken hand ended the season of running back Rashard Mendenhall just one month in and prevented fantasy football owners across America to see how talented he really is.

When the Steelers drafted Mendenhall with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 draft it was to eventually faze Willie Parker out of the offense and a healthy Mendenhall in 2009 could be the beginning stages of the transition. 

We aren’t saying that Parker won’t get his touches and yardage, but you can expect Mendenhall to play a more significant role as the weeks go by.

Plus, Mendenhall should be the primary ball carrier around the goal-line and all fantasy football players know that a one-yard touchdown is still 6 fantasy points!   

Look for the Steelers to start the season with a 70-30 split of touches with Parker getting the bulk, but by seasons end you can expect it to be closer to a true RBBC with Mendenhall being the fresher back and gaining momentum come fantasy football playoff time.

Enter your draft targeting Mendenhall as a RB4 with hopes that he plays his way into a RB3/Flex option each week. The ideal situation would be to own both Parker and Mendenhall and play the hot hand.   

Also Consider: WR Limas Sweed (big red zone target)

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Baltimore Ravens: It’s slim pickings in Baltimore as the Ravens have talent but the system will prevent any player from being considered a “breakout” fantasy football option.

You can make a case for wide-out Mark Clayton, who turned into a WR3 over the final six weeks of the 2008 season, but he’s about reached the height of his potential.

Another option is second-year running back Ray Rice, but with Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee still in Baltimore he won’t see consistent touches. Last but not least is signal caller Joe Flacco, who is a great leader at the quarterback position but he won’t have enough opportunity to be a weekly fantasy option.

Flacco threw the football just 26 times per game in ’08, averaged 185.7 passing yards per contest and the Bruno Boys don’t see those number increasing outside of moderation in 2009.

Like most years, the Ravens will be a run first team that relies on their defense to force turnovers and make big plays as the offense spends the majority of the time grinding it out on the ground.

Also Consider: WR Mark Clayton, QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice (will he get enough touches?)

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Cleveland Browns: It’s still a mystery as to who the starting quarterback will be in Cleveland, but at this point it looks like head coach Eric Mangini will go with Brady Quinn over Derek Anderson.

Also Consider: WR Brian Robiskie (rookie should play right away)

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READ MORE BRUNO BOYS CONTENT HERE… WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

2009 AFC North Fantasy Football Running Back Forecast

With the 2009 NFL Draft having come and gone, it is now time to start focusing more on the most important draft of all in football: your fantasy football draft.

And the Bruno Boys can’t think of a better way to get in the mood than to start focusing some attention on the running backs. Instead of saying that the running back position is make or break, we firmly believe that the best way to ensure success is to, not only have an extremely well rounded team, but a deep team as well.

But as Bruno Boys Nation already knows, part of my (Bruno Boys Ziza) responsibilities at the Bruno Boys is critiquing the running back position on a weekly basis throughout the season. So, today I am bringing you a rundown of what is happening in the NFL.

That way you are not left scratching your head when August rolls around and you are wondering why Edgerrin James is not an Arizona Cardinal anymore.

During the weeks leading up to the season Bruno Boys Greg and I will be bringing you periodic updates that will guarantee you stay one, no…thirty two steps ahead of your competition.

Today we will be focusing on the teams in the AFC North. Keep on checking back with the Bruno Boys for other divisional running back updates that will help you stomp your way into your league’s fantasy football playoffs.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

 

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take:

The Ravens have a trio of fantasy quality backs in Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain. Of the three, if McGahee is still on the roster come training camp, he will be the expected lead back for the Baltimore organization.

All three have proved to be worthwhile additions, particularly in deeper leagues. But as was proved in 2008, the players’ values were best when they were the featured back that week. Unfortunately, there were way too many weeks in which you did not know who was going to be the one running the rock. With McGahee expected to be healthier this year, predictability will come even scarcer this year.

But…

If McGahee is traded or released then you will probably see more of a 50/50 work load for Rice and McClain, with their defensive opponent determining the type of game plan that the Ravens will use. McClain did prove that he has skills in getting the pigskin into the end zone, so he gets the slight edge at this moment.

This is a running back situation that you definitely want to keep an eye on though as all three have the talent to be a solid fantasy RB2 if any of them win the job outright.

 

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take:

Baltimore selected one running back in this year’s draft, but it wasn’t until the sixth round (Cedric Peerman of Virginia). It will be tough for Peerman to crack into the Ravens backfield though, with Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and Le’Ron McClain all sitting there. 

All three guys split time pretty evenly last year, with Rice getting the least amount of the work. Expect that trend to continue.

The Ravens will run the ball a lot, which makes the committee approach frustrating to fantasy owners because they can never tell who may have a big game. Consider McGahee and McClain RB3s and Rice an RB4.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain, Ray Rice

2009 SCHEDULE:KC (1) , @ SD (2) , CLE (3), @ NE (4), CIN (5), @ MIN (6), BYE (7), DEN (8), @ CIN (9), @ CLE (10), IND (11), PIT (12), @ GB (13), DET (14), CHI (15), @ PIT (16), @ OAK (17)

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS

 

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take:

In what is looking as one of the weaker running back groups in the NFL, the Bengals will be relying on Chicago Bears cast-off Cedric Benson to be their go-to guy. He will be backed up by long-time Bengal Kenny Watson.

Let’s be brutally honest here. Benson is really the only back that the Bengals have on their roster who deserves any type of fantasy roster spot at this point. But don’t despair. There is some hope to grasp onto.

The Bengals used their first round pick (sixth overall) on offensive tackle Andre Smith out of Alabama. Once projected as a possibility to be the first overall player chosen in the 2009 NFL Draft, he came to the combine overweight and out of shape. To make matters worse he had a horrible workout during his Pro Day as well.

But one thing is clear.

He does possess the skills and talent that can help him become a very dominant player in the NFL. If and when he does take his job seriously and plays up to his potential, he will add a force to the Bengals’ offensive line that will bring their running game to a whole new level.

The question is whether that comes in 2009? My instincts tell me that if you do grab Benson, do it only as a RB3 and no higher. That is probably all you can expect from this set of backs for the up and coming fantasy football season.

 

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take:

The Bengals selected two running backs over draft weekend, Bernard Scott of Abilene Christian and Taufui Vakapuna of BYU. Their hope is one will work out to help out the running game. 

Cincinnati brings back the same runners from a year ago in Cedric Benson, Kenny Watson, and Chris Perry. Benson will again be the starter and may have some upside. He finished the year strong last season with 462 total yards his last three games. 

The Bengals strengthened their offensive line and bring back Carson Palmer. Believe it or not, Benson should be targeted as a low—end RB2 or RB3. He will get the touches and won’t be splitting too much time. Watson and Perry will only see the field to spell Benson or on third downs. 

Both would be considered RB4s or RB5s as we head into 2009.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Cedric Benson, Kenny Watson, Chris Perry

2009 SCHEDULE: DEN (1), @ GB (2), PIT (3), @ CLE (4), @ BAL (5),HOU (6), CHI (7), BYE (8), BAL (9), @ PIT (10), @ OAK (11), CLE (12), DET (13), @ MIN (14), @ SD (15), KC (16), @ NYJ (17)

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS

 

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take:

The 2009 NFL Draft did not add any significant players to the Browns running game except for the possibility of first round draft choice, center Alex Mack out of California.

That is pretty much a nice way of saying that you can expect what you saw in 2008 without much significant improvement whatsoever.

The Browns are led by running back Jamal Lewis. He had a somewhat successful season last year as he surpassed the 1,000 rushing mark. He had 1,002, but his touchdowns slipped to its lowest level since 2005 with four. He has had only one double-digit touchdown season in his career and other than his amazing 2003 campaign in which he accumulated 2,066 yards, he has never been much of a yardage eater either.

A lot of so-called fantasy football geeks like Lewis as a RB2. I just am not one of them. Draft him as no more than a low-end RB2 in deeper leagues, but remember he is coming off of ankle surgery. His backups are nothing special although Jerome Harrison did have solid yardage and two touchdowns in very limited duty last year.

 

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take:

The running back situation for Cleveland is bleak. They surprisingly waited until the seventh round to try to find a complement for Jamal Lewis, selecting James Davis out of Clemson, who may be able to nab the backup role considering the competition he is up against. 

Jamal Lewis is the only Brown running back worth owning in fantasy football and should be considered a RB2. The reason is he has no other competition and is running behind a good offensive line. 

If their quarterback, whether it be Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn can keep some of the pressure off the running game, look for Lewis to go over 1,000 yards rushing with roughly 8 touchdowns. He will have a good year and is worth starting on a weekly basis.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison

2009 SCHEDULE: MIN (1), @ DEN (2), @ BAL (3), CIN (4), @ BUF (5), @ PIT (6), GB (7), @ CHI (8), BYE (9), BAL (10), @ DET (11), @ CIN (12), SD (13), PIT (14), @ KC (15), OAK (16), JAC (17)

 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

 

Bruno Boys Ziza’s Take:

Already possessing a very solid running game, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the Steelers did not draft anyone of significance to help out the running attack this year.

 

 

They will be going into 2009 with speedster Willie Parker and second-year back Rashard Mendenhall who’s rookie campaign was cut way too short due to injury.

Both are very talented, but don’t expect Parker to be unseated anytime soon.

Mendenhall should see more touches this year than last, but as long as Parker is healthy and producing it really is his gig to lose. Draft Parker with no reservations as your high-end RB2, but Mendenhall remains nothing more than a solid handcuff who’s value will only be worthy of fantasy play if Parker gets hurt. Allow Mewelde Moore to ride the waiver wire pine.

Bruno Boys Greg’s Take:

One thing you know about the Steelers is that they love to run the ball. Willie Parker has been a commodity on fantasy teams and should be again this season. Although there is a lot of depth behind him (Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore), Parker will still be the starter and get a good amount of yards. 

Pittsburgh did draft Frank Summers of UNLV in this year’s draft—a goal line-type back who has a nose for the end zone. Mendenhall was drafted a year ago though to help in the red zone, therefore making Summers irrelevant. 

The guys to watch on this team are Parker and Mendenhall (who should take on a bigger role than he did in 2008), with Moore getting touches here and there or filling in for an injury. Consider Parker a low end RB2 because of his injury history and Mendenhall a low end RB3. Moore should be considered RB4 at best.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore

2009 SCHEDULE: TEN (1), @ CHI (2), @ CIN (3), SD (4), @ DET (5), CLE (6), MIN (7), BYE (8), @ DEN (9), CIN (10), @ KC (11), @ BAL (12), OAK (13), @ CLE (14), GB (15), BAL (16), @ MIA (17)

 

 

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Tony Gonzalez Traded to Atlanta Falcons: Fantasy Football Impact

Most draft experts agree that the Falcons did well for themselves in this past weekend’s NFL Draft.

With seven of their eight picks the Falcons addressed their defense, but it was a move they made the week leading up to the draft that may have the biggest impact in 2009—especially from a fantasy-football standpoint.

Atlanta sent a 2010 second-round draft pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is a 10-time Pro Bowler who has spent his entire 12-year career with the Chiefs. He is coming off a season in which he had 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns. He enters the 2009 season as the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, yardage, and touchdowns for a tight end.

From a fantasy football standpoint, Gonzalez should once again be a top-three tight end.

He may be hard-pressed to put up the huge overall numbers he did with Kansas City in 2008, but he will be a threat to put up double-digit fantasy football points week in and week out. And, he will make the entire Atlanta offense better.

In 2008, the Falcons did not have a threat at tight end; starter Justin Peelle had just 15 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Gonzalez not only makes a nice safety valve for Matt Ryan in the passing game, he is also a threat down the field and over the middle. He is a solid blocker who will help open holes for Michael Turner in the running game. The addition of Gonzalez also draws coverage away from the Falcons’ top wide receiver, Roddy White.

Finally, Gonzalez may be one of the classiest players in the NFL. He held a press conference in Kansas City this week to say goodbye to the Chiefs’ fans. He said that if he is elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (he should be a lock-in), he will definitely go in as a Kansas City Chief.

He also stated that his only regret in leaving Kansas City is that he was not able to bring the team and its fans a championship.

Maybe the addition of Gonzalez will be enough to bring the Atlanta Falcons their first championship.

 

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