Fantasy Football Week Two Rankings: Quarterbacks

Week One of the 2009 season is officially in the books, and it feels like it took forever to get to this point.

The first week of the season saw some great performances by quarterbacks, including six touchdowns by Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, as well as some downright atrocious ones, like the four-interception performance by Jake Delhomme of the Carolina Panthers.

In injury news, Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback, Donovan McNabb, went down in the third quarter with broken ribs, after throwing for only 79 yards. The good news, he did have three total touchdowns before the injury. McNabb was replaced by Kevin Kolb.

McNabb is hoping to play this week against the Saints, but he is listed as questionable and the Eagles did go out and sign Jeff Garcia as insurance. Should McNabb not be able to go, Kolb would get the starting nod this week, but this is a situation all McNabb owners should keep a close eye on this week.

And so we don’t get too far off topic, here are the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week Two Quarterback Rankings.

1. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) at Miami

In the offseason, one of the main things the Miami Dolphins wanted to address was their pass defense.

The Dolphins made a few additions, most notably safety Gibril Wilson, but that didn’t stop them from yielding 229 passing yards and two touchdowns to Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons.

The Indianapolis Colts lost wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, a popular preseason sleeper, to injury and he’ll be out 2-6 weeks, but that shouldn’t affect quarterback Peyton Manning too much.

The Dolphins were very susceptible to passes to the tight end against Atlanta, and the Colts have one of the game’s best in Dallas Clark at that position so expect a good game from Manning.

Point Projection: 24 Points

2. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) vs. Cincinnati

Aside from the fluke 87-yard touchdown pass Brandon Stokely caught off a tipped ball from cornerback Leon Hall, the Cincinnati Bengals defense actually played pretty well against the Denver Broncos last week.

But, the Broncos are in a state of transition right now and quarterback Kyle Orton is limited in what he brings to an offense.

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are not limited at all and should have no problem exploiting mismatches against the Bengals’ secondary, which is still not good against the pass.

Rodgers had only a pretty good game against the Chicago Bears last week as he had 184 yards with just one touchdown and no interceptions, but he played well when the team needed him the most.

This week against the Bengals you can expect a much more favorable state line from Rodgers.

Point Projection: 22 Points

3. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) at Philadelphia

Brees and the Saints looked unstoppable in the preseason and they continued that trend with a dominating performance in the win over the Lions last week. Brees was especially on point as he threw for 358 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.

Will Brees throw six touchdowns every week?

Of course not, but he’s still in the top three this week even though he’s going against a good Philadelphia defense that forced four interceptions last week.

Brees and the Saints’ offense are much better than Delhomme and the Panthers so even though the New Orleans quarterback won’t come close to replicating his performance last week in this game, he’ll still have a good showing.

Point Projection: 21 Points

4. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) at New York Jets

The Jets had the pieces in place for a good defense, and it appears new head coach Rex Ryan has started to shape those pieces into an elite defense like he had when he was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore.

However, it’s a lot easier to game plan for the Houston Texans and Matt Schaub than it is for the New England Patriots and Tom Brady.

Though Brady started slow last week against the Buffalo Bills, he ended the game strong as he finished 39-for-53 for 378 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Expect another good game from Brady, though not one as good as last week.

Point Projection: 20 Points

5. Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks) at San Francisco

Last week against an overwhelmed St. Louis Rams defense, the Seattle Seahawks passing game looked incredible.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck repeatedly took advantage of mismatches and rolled up 279 passing yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

The addition of T.J. Houshmandzadeh along with Nate Burleson—who combined for 13 catches for 122 yards—helped a lot but it was the play of tight end John Carlson that really allowed Hasselbeck to be successful.

And this week against the San Francisco 49ers the Seahawks will likely use a similar scheme on offense. The 49ers don’t have anybody to match up with Carlson when they have 3-4 wide receivers on the field, which is what makes Hasselbeck another good play this week.

Point Projection: 19 Points

6. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) vs. Baltimore

San Diego Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers did not get off to the start he had hoped in the game against the Oakland Raiders last week.

Perhaps frustrated at his play early in the game or the poor offensive line play, Rivers bounced back in the second half. Even though he’s going against a tough Baltimore defense, it’s the same defense that allowed Kansas City quarterback Brodie Croyle to throw for 177 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Point Projection: 18 Points

7. Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had no trouble playing well against a supposedly revamped Miami secondary, and while some of that credit goes to his growth as a quarterback, the majority of it lays with tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez helped the Falcons find the holes in the Dolphins secondary, which proved to be particularly effective on third down. The Panthers didn’t give up a lot of yards in their opener, but did allow 38 points.

The Panthers will find it hard to come up with a game plan that will stop Ryan, Gonzalez, and running back Michael Turner so expect another good game from the second-year quarterback.

Point Projection: 18 Points

8. Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings) at Detroit

The story from the Minnesota Vikings’ first game was running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

Peterson’s play was so good that perhaps it overshadowed a solid and efficient performance by quarterback Brett Favre. In the win over the Browns, Favre went 14-for-21 for 110 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Since Favre is still getting acclimated to the team and the playbook, and the Vikings have Peterson, Favre probably won’t be posting any 300-yard games anytime soon. However, this week he’s matched up against the Lions, who found a way to give up six touchdown passes last week. Thus, Favre should have a solid day.

Point Projection: 18 Points

9. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) vs. New York Giants

Could it be that the departure of wide receiver Terrell Owens is just what the Dallas Cowboys offense needed? After the way the offense and quarterback Tony Romo played in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week it appears that way.

Romo went 16-for-27 for 353 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. And the Cowboys displayed often the ability to create big plays as Romo’s touchdown passes were 42, 66, and 80 yards long.

The Giants have a good secondary and one of the league’s best defensive lines, but that may not be enough to stop Romo in this game.

Point Projection: 17 Points

10. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Chicago

One thing became abundantly clear about the Pittsburgh offense in the team’s overtime win over the Tennessee Titans last week: the Steelers can’t run the ball.

Now, obviously Tennessee features one of the best run defenses in the league, but the Chicago Bears aren’t exactly a bunch of slouches either. To win this game, the Steelers will need to rely on the arm of Big Ben, who apparently has found a new favorite receiver in Santonio Holmes.

Roethlisberger may throw a pick or two in this game but it won’t outweigh his production.

Point Projection: 17 Points

11. Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) at Jacksonville

After playing so well last season, quarterback Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals offense struggled in a losing effort to the 49ers last week. Warner did throw for 288 yards and a touchdown but he also threw two interceptions and completed just 59 percent of his passes.

The Jacksonville Jaguars managed to keep the game with the Colts close last week, but they did give up 294 passing yards in the process. Arizona still has some issues to iron out on offense, especially if the running game continues to suck, so while Warner should be a solid play this week, don’t expect an explosive performance.

Point Projection: 16 Points

12. Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) at San Diego

The growth made by quarterback Joe Flacco from his rookie season has been tremendous, and it was evident how much the Baltimore Ravens trust him as he was allowed to operate out of multiple formations and make a ton of different throws in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs last week.

Consider that Flacco is working with one of the game’s premier offensive coordinators in Cam Cameron, who helped develop Rivers in San Diego, and it’s easy to see why Flacco will be leaned upon this season instead of being asked simply not to lose games.

The match-up with San Diego is not an easy one, but Flacco will play well as the Chargers will focus a lot of attention on stopping the running game.

Point Projection: 16 Points

 

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK 2 QUARTERBACK RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!

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Fantasy Football: Week 1 Studs

Once again taking on the task of identifying those over performers and under performers from the previous week of fantasy football is Ryan Hallam, creator of Fighting Chance Fantasy. So, join Ryan as he takes us through the Week One Studs and check back tomorrow as he takes a look at the Week One Duds. And if you have any questions for him, email rhallam@brunoboys.net

for Week Two fantasy football advice.

Note: All point projections read in this recap are from standard scoring leagues (non-PPR) and are projections made by the Bruno Boys staff

 

QUARTERBACK – STUDS

Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)—It isn’t often that the No. 1 rated guy turns up on the “Studs” list, but Brees blew past everyone’s expectations to start the season with a mammoth game.  He threw for 358 yards and six touchdowns in a big win against the Detroit Lions.  Brees’ 36 points were not only the most by a quarterback, but well past the 25 he was projected for.

Hallam’s Take: Brees picks up right where he left off which shouldn’t be a surprise to many of you.  Now, he obviously won’t do this again, and it was against the lowly Lions, but you can expect impressive performances nearly every week for Brees.  If he isn’t the No. 1 rated QB at the end of the season, he will be in the top three.

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens)—Flacco had an impressive start to his sophomore season, as the usual ground heavy Ravens took their game to the air.  He had his first 300 yard game (307 to be exact), and had three passing touchdowns as well.  Considering what was expected of the Ravens offense, his 12 point projection seemed reasonable, but Flacco crushed it by scoring 22 fantasy points.

Hallam’s Take: One of my favorite sleepers coming into the year, Flacco certainly looks like the real deal.  Again, it was against a subpar opponent, but the fact of the matter is that this guy is cool, calm, and has the tools to be a quality NFL quarterback.  He won’t throw for 300 yards often, but I think it is safe to expect him to throw 24-26 TDs this season.

Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)—Romo was under a lot of heat coming into the season, wondering if he was going to take the next step in his career.  Well, he began 2009 with perhaps the best game of his career, as he threw for 353 yards, three touchdowns, and he didn’t throw an interception.  It was an impressive 26 point performance for the Dallas signal caller, well better than the 18 that was expected of him.

Hallam’s Take: Romo gets disrespected because of his failures in the playoffs, but this is fantasy football, honey. Tthe playoffs don’t mean a thing. 

Even with missing games last year, he still threw 26 TDs, and you shouldn’t be surprised if he gets to 30 scores in 2009.  Even without Terrell Owens, Romo has enough talent at wide receiver to keep his stats among the top five QBs in all of fantasy football. 

 

RUNNING BACK – STUDS

Thomas Jones (New York Jets)—Jones went about proving that last year was not a fluke as he ran over a Houston Texans defense that was supposed to be better coming into the year.  Jones had 20 carries for 107 yards and two scores.  Jones was only expected to score 10 points, but racked up an impressive 22.

Hallam’s Take:  We keep saying that Jones has to slow down and that he is old, but he just keeps producing.  Even though he has a great offensive line in front of him, I will continue to be a non-believer.  With Leon Washington obviously going to see more and more touches, I still don’t see Jones repeating last year’s statistics.  Watch for the New England Patriots to stuff him in Week Two.

Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)—Again, the top ranked player at the position shows up on the “studs” list.  Peterson was the top scoring player in fantasy football this week, as he ran for 180 yards, had 18 more yards receiving, and had three touchdowns.  He put up a robust 37 points this week, crushing the 20 he was projected for.

Hallam’s Take: He’s the best.  He went against a pretty weak defense.  He went off.  OK, maybe the numbers are gaudy, but anyone who didn’t expect Peterson to have a big day just isn’t paying attention.  Obviously he is a must start regardless of his opponent.

Julius Jones (Seattle Seahawks) – Thomas’ brother Julius was having a decent game, but then broke a big 62-yard run late in the third quarter to finish off the St. Louis Rams.  All told, Jones racked up 117 yards on the ground with another 19 through the air and a touchdown.  Like his brother, Jones was only supposed to score 10 points, but he was able to score 18.

Hallam’s Take: I had conflicting feelings on what to expect from Jones this year.  On one hand, the Seahawks offense had improved with the health of Matt Hasselbeck and the addition of T.J. Houshmandzadeh.  They would not be a one dimensional team. 

On the other hand, the Seattle offensive line was in shambles with the injury to Walter Jones and two other members of the group.  Jones did have impressive numbers, but don’t forget that more than half his yards came on one run.  Don’t put your expectations too high after this performance against a trainwreck of a team in St. Louis. 

 

WIDE RECEIVER – STUDS

Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh Steelers)—After catching the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, Holmes picked up right where he left off as he torched the Tennessee Titans defense in every way.  Holmes had nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown.  It seemed like a 12 point projection was right in line with what you should have expected, but Holmes blew by that with a 19-point game.

Hallam’s Take:  My concern with Holmes coming into the season was the fact that the Steelers offense really revolves around the run game.  But Pittsburgh threw more than they normally do and Holmes was the major beneficiary.  Was this just a case of a game where they passed because it was working or will Pittsburgh start to throw the ball more?  I can’t say for sure, but the Steelers have been the same way for nearly 40 years, I don’t see a change in philosophy all of a sudden.  Holmes looks to have surpassed Hines Ward as the most fantasy friendly receiver in Pittsburgh, but I don’t think you should expect his Week One performance to be duplicated too many times.

Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings)—Harvin had a great all-around first game, but even if you don’t get return yards he still had a much better game than expected.  To go with his 99 return yards, Harvin brought in three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.  It wasn’t spectacular, but his 9 fantasy points were far better than the three he was projected for.  Look for even more opportunity from the rookie in the future.

Hallam’s Take: Harvin is a star in the making, and his stock rose with the signing of Brett Favre.  He has blazing speed and also helps you in leagues where you get points for return yards.  He should become more involved in the passing game for Minnesota week by week, and will no doubt be the best rookie receiver of this class.

Justin Gage (Tennessee Titans)—Despite being on a team that doesn’t tend to throw very much, Tennessee found itself moving the ball through the air, and Gage was the main man.  He had seven catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.  He didn’t blast past his projection of eight points, but his 13 fantasy point outing was a surprise to me.

Hallam’s Take:  Although it appeared that Gage was the one receiver that Kerry Collins felt comfortable with, I wouldn’t expect him to be among the “studs” on too many other weeks.  The Titans are just not a high powered passing offense, and while he will likely be the best of the bunch, I wouldn’t expect more than 65 catches and maybe five or six touchdowns. 

 

TIGHT END – STUDS

John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks)—It might not been against the best defense, but Carlson had a opener to remember as he caught six passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Ten fantasy points is a healthy projection for a tight end, and Carlson more than doubled it, scoring 21.

Hallam’s Take: Carlson broke out last year when the Seahawks were destroyed by injuries to their wide receivers.  Now that Matt Hasselbeck is healthy, he will prove not only was last year not a fluke, but he still can be a better overall player.  He obviously won’t score two touchdowns every week, but I could certainly see Carlson break into the top five tight ends as long as his QB stays on the field. 

 

KICKER – STUDS

Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants)—Tynes is likely looking at a quality season and he got it off to a good start.  To go with his two PATs, he hit field goals from 28 yards out twice, and one from 45 yards.  Tynes was pegged for eight points, but was able to score with 12 fantasy points.

Hallam’s Take: Things might get hairy in the Northeast in the winter time, but Tynes is a solid kicker.  The Giants are going to score, so he should be among the top ten fantasy football kickers, likely towards the back end of that.  You can feel confident with him as your starting kicker. 

 

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS – STUDS

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST (3 Stars)—Perhaps they were inspired by the memory of their Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson, but for whatever the reason, the Eagles defense came to play.  They allowed just ten points, recovered two fumbles, picked off Carolina Panther quarterbacks five times, and also had five sacks.  To top off the impressive effort, one of the fumbles was recovered and brought back for a touchdown.  A true five star effort on Sunday.

Hallam’s Take:  This was probably the best that they will do all season long, but I feel that Philly gets overlooked as one of the elite team defenses in fantasy football.  Not that they are ignored, but they are just as good as the powerhouses such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.  As an added bonus, for those of you whose league counts special teams in your defense numbers, DeSean Jackson also returned a punt for a touchdown.  What a monumental week for the Eagles. 

::Ryan Hallam, Owner of Fighting Chance Fantasy Sports writes the Studs and Duds every Tuesday as a Guest Columnist for Bruno Boys Fantasy Football::

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Whooley’s Weekly Words: Steelers, Tight Ends and Thomas Jones

Could you really have asked for more from a week 1 of NFL action? An overtime game to start the season off, a tipped ball leading to a miracle reception for the win, a six-TD effort by perhaps the league’s best quarterback, a Sunday Night affair that went down to the wire, and, to top it all off, we still have two games to look forward to this Monday night! Yes, it’s great to have football back in full force.

As with the start of every NFL season, so, too, comes the start of Whooley’s Weekly Words, an article in which I’ll break down those things of interest to me from the week’s worth of action. This week, I delve into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense, the strong showing by the tight end position, Thomas Jones’ stellar start to the season, and more!

Pittsburgh – Philosophy Change?

Six time Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers have always been known for being a smashmouth football team. Defense and a strong rushing attack has been their M.O, but based on week one it looks like that may be about to change.

Granted the Steelers faced a difficult task on the ground against a Tennessee Titans defense that ranked sixth in rush defense in 2008, allowing just 93.9 rush yards per game. Still, the Steelers’ ground game looked uninspired. Amassing a mere 36 yards on 24 carries, the Steelers averaged 1.6 yards per carry. Not a good start to the season for a team that averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season.

The talent for the Steelers’ offense resides in the team’s passing game, so look for the Steelers to change their philosophy going forward. Defense will still play a large part in their winning equation, but the ground game will be replaced by the team’s aerial assault. In 2009, look for Pittsburgh to ride the arm of Ben Roethlisberger and the hands of Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward in their quest for No. 7.

Tight Ends Come Up Big in Week One

Following a year in which only four tight ends surpassed the century mark for fantasy points, the group as a whole made a statement in week one action. Shedding their anemic ways from 2008, nine tight ends totaled nine fantasy points or more.

Yes, a few of the usual suspects were included in the nine with Tony Gonzalez putting up 13 points, Chris Cooley going for 12, and Kellen Winslow finding paydirt on his way to 9 fantasy points. But the group also included some rejuvenated tight ends making a splash in Jeremy Shockey (15 points), Todd Heap (13) and Robert Royal (12), not to mention young guys on the rise like John Carlson (21), Dustin Keller (9), and Brent Celek (9).

If tight ends can keep putting points on the board like this, the position will add a whole dimension to fantasy games that was absent during their dismal 2008 season.

Thomas Jones Proves Doubters Wrong

Despite finishing among the top four fantasy running backs in 2008, Thomas Jones was avoided like the plague in fantasy drafts heading into 2009. From the departure of Brett Favre to the emergence of Leon Washington to Jones’ age of 31 years, fantasy owners justified their staying away from Jones in many ways. If this week is any indication, though, staying away from Jones may have been a mistake.

Picking up where he left off last season, Jones came out against the Houston Texans and posted a strong performance of 107 rush yards and two scoring TDs, good for 22 fantasy points.

So, what about those excuses that had fantasy owners doubting Jones? For one, yes, Favre has gone, but rookie Mark Sanchez, looked more than capable in week one’s action, completing 18 of 31 passes for 272 yards, one TD, and an INT in his NFL debut. If Sanchez continues to play at that level, those eight-man fronts owners were afraid Jones would face will be few and far between.

Then there was the presence of Washington, amassed 15 carries in the Jets’ win over the Texans. But Jones surpassed that with 20 of his own. Finally, Jones’ age didn’t seem to be a factor as the back was as explosive as ever, even breaking off a 38-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Granted, this was just one outing in what will be a long season, and against a team that ranked 23rd against the rush in 2008. Nevertheless, Jones’ performance has to have many fantasy owners kicking themselves for passing on the back.

No. 1 for a Reason

Sure, both Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson had soft matchups in their respective openings to the NFL season—with Brees facing a Detroit Lions defense that ranked 27th against the pass in 2008 and Peterson battling a Cleveland Browns defense that finished last season ranked 28th against the run—but both got the job done in big ways on Sunday.

Brees torched Detroit for 358 passing yards, six TDs, and just one INT, while Peterson rushed for 180 yards and three TDs. The matchups may have been easy, but both Brees and Peterson had to be sure to take advantage. Both did, to their fantasy owners’ delight, showing why they were No. 1 at QB and RB going into the season.

 

 

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Fantasy Football Week One Rankings: Risers & Fallers

The NFL is an ever-changing landscape, from year to year, week to week, and even day to day. Hence, the Bruno Boys bring to you our Week One Edition of the Fantasy Risers and Fallers. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept behind the article, it’s rather simple. Risers and Fallers highlights those players who have seen their fantasy value for the weekend’s upcoming games either rise (increase) or fall (decrease).

WEEK 1 RISERS

WR Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals) – Hamstring issues have left Anquan Boldin as iffy for Sunday’s match-up with the San Francisco 49ers. If Boldin can’t go, it’s Breaston—who is probable for the game—wjp moves into the No. 2 receiver slot for the Cardinals, a spot he occupied quite nicely in 2008.

WR Mark Clayton (Baltimore Ravens) – Despite a strained left hamstring, Clayton was not listed on Baltimore’s injury report this week and is fully expected to suit up and be on the field against the Chiefs on Sunday. Clayton, who is still the team’s No. 2 wide receiver thanks to Derrick Mason’s unretirement, should only be used in deep, deep leagues.

RB Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) – Stewart participated in all of the Panthers’ practices this week and does not appear on the injury report, despite missing time in the preseason due to an Achilles injury. While his value has risen, owners may still want to play it cautious here as Stewart faces a tough matchup against the Eagles and will likely see his workload reduced upon his return from injury.

RB DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) – Yes, Jonathan Stewart will be around in week one, but the split in carries will be more in Williams’ favor than it was in 2008 as the Panthers will look to ease Stewart back into the mix.

QB Carson Palmer & WR Chris Henry (Cincinnati Bengals) – Palmer and Henry were both expected to be ready to go in a nice matchup against the Denver Broncos as both were listed as probable, but it’s nice to have head coach Marvin Lewis confirm that both will go.

QB Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos) – Orton, despite a questionable listing, is expected to start Sunday against the Bengals. No doubt, though, the injured finger on his throwing hand leads us to recommend you stay away even if Orton goes here. I mean, this is a guy who threw three INTs in his first work ever as a Broncos’ QB in week one of the preseason.

RB Correll Buckhalter (Denver Broncos) – With rookie Knowshon Moreno a question mark for week onee’s battle with the Bengals, Buckhalter will be the Broncos’ starting back. While he’ll share duties with LaMont Jordan and Peyton Hillis, this is a matchup he can exploit, making him an interesting option as a flex play.

K Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) – Hanson is probable for the Lions matchup against the Saints this weekend. However, we have to assume you have a better option for your kicker for week one as Hanson ranks 24th in our kicker rankings.

QB Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) – Always a health concern, Schaub is probable for week one and after full participation in Friday’s practice, he looks like a safe start. The Texans will need to beat the New York Jets through the air, so look for Schaub to post some nice numbers.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) – After an injury scare in the team’s last preseason game, MJD appears to be fine as he gets set for a week one smack down with the Indianapolis Colts, a team he has scored six TDs against in six career games.

RB Reggie Bush & RB Mike Bell (New Orleans Saints) – With Pierre Thomas officially ruled out for Sunday’s matchup with the Lions, both Bush and Bell will see an expanded role—which is great news for those owners who own the two, as the Lions’ are looking like a juicy opponent.

RB Darren McFadden & RB Michael Bush (Oakland Raiders) – Justin Fargas’ absence means it will be these two who carry the load against the San Diego Chargers.

QB Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) – Bulger is apparently having no issues in regard to the broken finger he suffered. Still, until Bulger returns to the form that made him a perennial top-10 fantasy quarterback, we suggest you stay away.

 

WEEK 1 FALLERS

WR Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) – A limited participant in the Cardinals’ practice on Friday, Boldin’s status for week one won’t be known until pre-game warmups. With the Cardinals playing an afternoon game, it’s wise to look elsewhere. After all, you don’t want to start the fantasy season off with a goose egg in a slot due to an inactive player.

TE L.J. Smith (Baltimore Ravens) – Smith has never quite lived up to his potential, and it appears as nothing is changing but the scenery. Smith, already behind Todd Heap on the depth chart, is doubtful for the Ravens’ week one battle with the Kansas City Chiefs.

RB Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) – At less than 100 percent, the Broncos’ rookie running back is questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Bengals. With the depth the Broncos have at the RB slot, the team probably feels fine taking it slow in returning Moreno to the lineup.

WR Kevin Walter (Houston Texans) – Walter, who is dealing with hamstring issues, remains a game-time decision. Check back with the Bruno Boys on Sunday for a status update.

QB Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) – While Cassel is still a game-time decision, we’re not even going to tell you to check back on Sunday because in a matchup with the Ravens, he is not worthy of a fantasy start.

WR Bernard Berrian (Minnesota Vikings) – His quarterback situation has improved with the arrival of Brett Favre, but Berrian may not be on the field on Sunday to take advantage as a hamstring has limited his participation in practice. Check on his status on game day.

RB Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) – For those of Thomas’ owners holding out hope that the back would play against the Lions, I hate to burst your bubble—but Thomas has officially been ruled out of week one’s action.

RB Justin Fargas (Oakland Raiders) – Fargas missed practice yet again on Friday. The possibility of him playing on Monday night against the Chargers is slim.

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NFL Week 1: Game Previews (Fantasy Style)

Throughout the off-season, the Bruno Boys peered into their Crystal Ball to provide you out there in Bruno Boys Nation with a look into what the future held for specific players for the 2009 season.

Now, we shift our focus and utilize our psychic powers to provide you with a breakdown of all the NFL games on the docket for this Week 1 of football action as Bruno Boys Kyle presents Week 1—Game Previews (Fantasy Style).

 

Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

The two biggest surprises of last year square off as their respective franchises take another resurgent step forward. Fantasy owners will be watching to see if Matt Ryan takes a noticeable step forward during his sophomore year.

Fantasy Prediction—Ronnie Brown nears 100 yards against an Atlanta run defense that was in the bottom quarter of the league a year ago.

 

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals, who we’ve gotten to know through the “Hard Knocks” series open against what will be one of the most interesting teams to follow from a fantasy perspective in the Broncos.

Fantasy Prediction—If there was ever a game you should feel good starting Cedric Benson, this would be it.

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns

Everyone will be watching the quarterbacks from both teams, as Brett Favre comes out in a stylish purple helmet for the first time. Meanwhile, Cleveland will be trying to answer questions about their talent at every skill position.

Fantasy Prediction—Brian Robiskie will not make the splash everyone thought he would to start his career, and gets, at most, two fantasy points.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

The Jags were 1-1 against the Colts last season, with each team claiming a win at the other’s home stadium. Maurice Jones-Drew had a combined 329 rushing and receiving yards in those contests, but scored only once.

Fantasy Prediction—MJD will match that touchdown total in this game, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he doubled it.

 

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints

Can Detroit win their first game since 2007? No. One need only look to Week 16 of last year, when the Saints throttled the Lions by the score of 42-7 in Detroit, and four different Saints players scored a rushing touchdown. 

Fantasy Prediction—Drew Brees threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns last season. He’ll throw for fewer yards this time, but more touchdowns.

 

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay

This game is a rematch of a real barn burner from last season that saw the Cowboys prevail, 13-9. In fairness, Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia were the quarterbacks, and that’s not what you’ll see this year. What you will see is Byron Leftwich sacked at least twice by DeMarcus Ware because it takes longer for him to get rid of the ball than it does for a 90-year-old woman with arthritis to cross a street.

Fantasy Prediction—Leftwich fails to reach double-digits in fantasy points.

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers

Both teams have to be considered legitimate contenders in the NFC to reach the postseason, so this match-up will be a good litmus test for each.

Fantasy Prediction—Neither DeAngelo Williams nor Jonathan Stewart cross the goal-line for Carolina.

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens

The Chiefs will try to replicate what the Ravens did last season and go from a struggling team to one in playoff contention. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they don’t have Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, etc.

Fantasy Prediction—Larry Johnson gets five or fewer fantasy points.

 

New York Jets @ Houston Texans

The Mark Sanchez era begins in a game that pits what should be a very good defense in New York against what we know can be a powerful offense in Houston.

Fantasy Prediction—Steve Slaton is decent but not great against a solid Jets run defense, picking up fewer than 10 points.

 

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

New York took both games in the series last season, one with Plaxico, and one without him. Brandon Jacobs had 187 rushing yards and one touchdown in the two games against the Redskins.

Fantasy Prediction—Jacobs scores the first touchdown of the season for the Giants, en-route to at least 15 points.

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals beat the 49ers twice last season to account for two of their nine wins. Anquan Boldin had 15 catches for 174 yards and two scores in the two games, while Frank Gore ran for 96 and 99 yards, respectively, with one touchdown.

Fantasy Prediction—Gore is the centerpiece of the Niners’ offense, and proves it with another day of at least 90 rushing yards.

 

St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks beat the Rams twice last season, despite Steven Jackson amassing 255 rushing and receiving yards with one touchdown.

Fantasy Prediction—Like the aforementioned Gore with the 49ers, Jackson will be the main focus of the Rams’ offense, and will accumulate over 125 yards of total offense.

 

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

These two teams split the series last season at 1-1, including a 20-17 win by the Bears in overtime. Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns and two picks combined in the two contests.

Fantasy Prediction—Greg Olsen was the leading receiver for the Bears in both games against the Packers last season, and will be so once again this year, with over 50 receiving yards.

 

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

The Bills were 0-2 against the Patriots last season, and scored a total of 10 points in the two games. Trent Edwards didn’t amass even 130 passing yards in either of the two games, and finished them with a grand total of 248 passing yards.

Fantasy Prediction—Edwards’ numbers improve, but not much, as he registers fewer than 10 fantasy points.

 

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

The Chargers beat the Raiders twice last season by the combined score of 62-25. LaDainian Tomlinson had two of his better games on the year, scoring three rushing touchdowns to go with 197 rushing yards.

Fantasy Prediction—More of the same from LT, who scores once and proves his precipitous decline isn’t going to be as rapid as some believe.

 

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY KYLE SMITH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

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Seven Habits Of Highly Successful Fantasy Football Owners

I’m sure you’re a good fantasy owner, but you could be better. Not exactly a way to win friends and influence people, but that’s not my goal. As you can probably imagine, I get quite a bit of email every day from people looking for fantasy football advice.

The questions are wide-ranging, and I make a point to answer every one I get as quickly as I can. A solid majority are start/bench questions. Some want to know my opinion on a particular player, while others want to discuss draft theory. But, believe it or not, two of the most popular questions I get each week are:

    1. What separates a good fantasy owner from a great one?

    2. What can I do to become a better fantasy owner?

The truth is there are no easy, concrete answers to these questions. There’s a laundry list of improvements the average fantasy owner can make to become a great fantasy owner. For the sake of my laptop battery and my sanity, I selected seven easy things the average fantasy owner can do to improve and become a great fantasy owner.

Utilize one, utilize all seven, it doesn’t matter. Implementing any of these habits will help you improve and take another step to annual league domination. So, without further ado, here are Seven Habits of Highly Successful Fantasy Owners.

 

1. Highly successful fantasy owners embrace technology.

You’re using the Internet. Congratulations! Sorry to say, but there’s a number of tools available via the World Wide Web that you’re probably not utilizing that could definitely expedite your evolution from fantasy chum to fantasy shark.

First of all, if you’re not on Twitter, you should be. Yes, I am well aware that nothing in the history of the planet so amazingly cool has ever been so inappropriately named. And I know that “tweeting” sounds like something your wife does on Sundays while you’re watching football.

The fact of the matter is that if you’re not using Twitter, you are getting information much later than the other owners in your fantasy football league who are wisely monitoring Tweet Town. Think about it.

For NFL insiders like Peter King, Jay Glazer, Adam Schefter (personal favorite), and Chris Mortensen, Twitter is the fastest way for them to break a story. They may not have a camera or a laptop handy, but if they’ve got their iPhone or Blackberry, they can publish breaking news immediately to millions of people on Twitter.

I’m not saying you have to tweet, but be warned that it is fun and kind of addicting. Just follow key football people and read what they post. And make sure two of those “key people” are @mattkamke and @BrunoBoys.

The second major Internet tool all great fantasy owners use is an RSS reader. You know that little orange square with the weird white lines you see popping up on more and more websites? That’s a link to that particular website’s RSS feed.

An RSS reader allows you to “subscribe” to your favorite websites and automatically receive updates to those websites in one convenient place. The RSS reader I recommend (and personally use) is Google Reader. It’s free and, as you’d expect with Google, very easy to use.

Please don’t be intimidated, it’s much easier to set up than it sounds and the time you’ll save going to one website for all your football news instead of 20 different websites will more than make up for any time lost setting up the RSS reader.

Right now, my RSS reader has 36 subscriptions or feeds: 25 are NFL-related and the other 11 are college football related. That means I get to read up to the minute pro and college football news from 36 different websites in one convenient place. If that doesn’t sound like something you should be using or something that could make you a better fantasy owner, I don’t know what will.

 

2. Highly successful fantasy owners consider the Vegas over/under totals line in starting lineup decisions.

I have a feeling this one may turn some heads, and that’s a good thing. Don’t fool yourself, no one reading this column (or writing it for that matter) is more in tune with football than the guys who create betting lines on which millions of dollars will be wagered each week.

These linemakers are not just good. They are wicked-sick, scary good. The drinks in Vegas are free for a reason, and it’s not because of the plethora of winning football bettors. The NFL lines are arguably the toughest to beat in Vegas and deservedly so since the most money is wagered on them.

So what does the over/under totals line have to do with fantasy football? I’m glad you asked. Everyone and their sister knows that Drew Brees is a good start this week against a pitiful—though improved—Detroit Lions team.

That’s an obvious, no doubt about it, must start. But let’s look at some other games. Right now, I’m wondering why the over/under in the Minnesota @ Cleveland game is only 40 points. The Vikings have a high-powered offense and the Browns offense is better than people think. The Minnesota defense is above average and Cleveland’s defense leaves a bit to be desired. Couldn’t you see Adrian Peterson andin the Commodore opener against Western Carolina company putting up 30-plus and making a statement right out of the gate? So why is that line set at just 40 points?

The other game that stands out is St. Louis @ Seattle. Both teams have some decent offensive playmakers and neither defense is anything special. So why is the line just 40.5 points? What does the linemaker know that I don’t?

Probably quite a bit, and it would certainly be worth my while as a fantasy football owner to find out. If you have a questionable starting lineup decision, I would advise taking a look at the over/under total lines for the games. You will probably find a game where more or less points than you thought are expected to be scored and you can try and take advantage of that by starting or benching players in those games. The most intelligent sports bettors will tell you the No. 1 rule to successful sports betting is always respect the line. Fantasy owners would be wise to do the same.

 

3. Highly successful fantasy owners avoid conventional wisdom.

With all due respect to the Worldwide Leader In Sports, if you saw or heard it on ESPN, you can rest assured someone else in your fantasy league did too.

Conventional wisdom downs fantasy teams like Kirstie Alley downs Twinkies. To be successful in fantasy football, you have to find or give yourself an edge. The information contained in most preseason fantasy football magazines is common knowledge. To alienate yourself from the average fantasy owner, you need to find information that the other competitors in your league will not.

At the very least, get in the habit of finding the information before they do. The best places for this information are blogs that cover a specific team. Some of these blogs are operated by the local newspaper and the team’s beat writer. Some of them (usually the best ones) are created and maintained by a crazy but dedicated fan of the team. These blogs are going to give you important information that flies under the radar to the general fantasy community.

I jumped on the Jermichael Finley bandwagon very early in training camp when the Green Bay Press Gazette Insiders Blog reported that Finley had matured, vastly improved his game, and was a one-man highlight reel. Needless to say, I got a lot of strange looks at my early August drafts when I took Finley with one of my final picks.

When most of the guys at your draft are asking who that guy is, you know you’ve done your homework and have found an edge. Fast forward three weeks later, and instead of asking who that guy was, competitors in my league responded with vulgarities when I snatched Finley a few picks before they planned to.

This is just one of many examples. In 2001, it was a rookie running back from Texas Christian University with the strange name of LaDainian Tomlinson that had my opponents wondering what I knew that they did not. You know the “it” fantasy players each season.

I hear the word “sleeper” abused worse than Tila Tequila (too soon?). If every fantasy owner and preseason magazine is touting a certain player as a sleeper, is that player really a sleeper? Find the players that could give you an edge. Nobody said becoming an elite fantasy owner was easy, but it is well worth the effort.

 

4. Highly successful fantasy owners rarely make trades and do not abuse the waiver wire.

This is going to draw a few blank stares. Fantasy football is not Major League Baseball. I know this may be hard to believe, but you don’t have to make a blockbuster deal every week for your team to be good.

No, really, you don’t.

Few things in fantasy football annoy me more than the owners who are constantly proposing trades, especially the ridiculous insult-my-intelligence trades. Recently, a guy in one of my What The Hell, Why Not Leagues was generous enough to offer me Ben Roethlisberger for (drumroll please)…Greg Jennings.

And no, this league does not award points to a quarterback for getting sacked.

I obviously declined the offer and told the guy that someone dumb enough to accept that deal wouldn’t have been smart enough to figure out ESPN’s Draft Room to get a team in the first place. Few fantasy owners would ever willingly admit that they drafted poorly and have a crappy team.

And yet, owners who wheel and deal and abuse the waiver wire each year are unknowingly saying precisely that. Do I use the waiver wire in my leagues each year? Absolutely. I’ll make three to five moves per season to cover defense and kicker bye weeks, and combat injuries.

The owners I’m talking about are the ones who make two to four moves each week. These owners are always looking for the hot hand or the next big thing. In the process, they usually end up dismantling what could have been a solid team. Unless I am devastated by injuries, I will rarely need to make a trade or waiver wire move all season.

Did you catch the key word in that last sentence? N-E-E-D. Very few fantasy teams ever actually need to make a trade or waiver-wire move. If you prepared properly and dominated your draft, trading your players for other players will only weaken your team while strengthening the competition. Every day, I get email from fantasy owners wondering if they should pull the trigger on this deal or that blockbuster.

In truth, most of the offers are pretty much a toss-up, no real advantage or edge for either team. But to the average fantasy owner, that doesn’t matter. They want to make big, blockbuster (and unnecessary) trades. I can’t tell you how many fantasy football owners every year make trades that improve a position of strength instead of fixing a position of weakness.

This is the complete opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish when making a trade. If you NEED to make a trade because you didn’t draft well and have very little talent or depth, you should trade players from a position of strength to acquire players that fix a position of weakness. Players are rarely traded for other players in the NFL. Why should your fantasy league be any different?

 

5. Highly successful fantasy owners do not overreact.

Elite fantasy owners maintain perspective and always look at the big picture. To the average fantasy owner, a 0-2 start is a fate worse than death. They immediately start looking to make changes when, in reality, no changes are needed.

If your team is healthy and putting up good scoring numbers, there’s not a whole lot you can do and patience should be the flavor of the day. The absolute worst thing you can do is start a fire sale, yet I see it happen in nearly every league nearly every season. Fantasy owners seem to forget that a fantasy team can be the second highest scoring team every week and still finish the season a Motown-esque 0-13.

If your team or a particular player starts out poorly, diagnose the problem before coming to a hasty resolution. Is your team posting solid numbers but coming up short to a better team that particular week? Did a particular stud player start slowly because he had to face two tough defenses to kick off the season?

Too many fantasy owners are looking to fix something that isn’t broke. Overreaction will kill a fantasy football team as quickly as conventional wisdom. Don’t believe me? Just watch. Check out how the Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall owner in your league acted after Thursday’s game. One NFL game is officially in the books and there is a large majority of fantasy owners chomping at the bit to overreact to it.

Right now, as I’m writing this, some guy can’t sleep because he can’t decide which running back he’s going to pick up when he drops Parker or Mendenhall this weekend. Patience is a virtue for a reason. The NFL regular season is 17 weeks long. While each week is important, the season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Always maintain perspective and keep the big picture in mind. Fantasy football is like pretty much every other endeavor life has to offer. It’s not how you start, but how you finish that counts. 

 

6. Highly successful fantasy owners are not results-oriented.

Too many owners take a bottom-line approach when it comes to fantasy stats. Far too many fantasy owners consider only the numbers and fail to dig deeper to see the whole picture.

They see that Vincent Jackson caught five passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Pretty good numbers, right? What they miss is that 80 yards of that was the touchdown play, a blown assignment in the defensive backfield left Jackson wide open to stroll into the end zone. Take away that freak blown assignment and your receiver registered a pedestrian four catches for 22 yards.

Obviously, those numbers don’t look so impressive now. Whether out of laziness or ignorance, the vast majority of fantasy owners take a results-oriented approach. Copy them at your peril.

 
7. Highly successful fantasy owners challenge themselves every year.

Challenge yourself and make a concerted effort to try new things each season. Join leagues you don’t think you can win. Play against people you know to be top-notch fantasy football owners. Try out an auction league, a keeper/dynasty league, or a league that uses individual defensive players.

You may find out that you absolutely love one of these variations. You will not grow and evolve as a fantasy owner if you continue to beat up your brother, father, and uncle in a family league every year. Not that family leagues aren’t fun, but get in other leagues that will challenge and push you to be the best fantasy owner you can be. Get out of the kiddie pool and dive headfirst into the deep end. That’s the only way you’ll ever learn to swim…

 

I hope you enjoyed this article and I hope you consider incorporating these habits into your fantasy football routine. My new weekly feature, Kamke’s Korner, debuts next week. Be sure to check it out! As always, if you have any fantasy football questions, feel free to email me at mkamke@brunoboys.net

. Best of luck to your fantasy teams this week…unless, of course, you’re playing against me!

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Fantasy Football Week 1: Sit ‘Em

Sitting your studs is typically the most difficult decision you will encounter in fantasy football each week. When your top overall pick is playing a tough defense like the Pittsburgh Steelers, it takes some serious guts to sit them for lesser talented players, but it can be that foresight that will lead to fantasy football championships.

No, we aren’t suggesting you bench your studs in Week 1, but we do recommend you check out the Fantasy Football Week 1 Sit Ems for players to think twice about before plugging them into your opening day lineup. 

QUARTERBACKS—SIT ‘EM

Jake Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) vs. Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles were a very good defense in 2008, and even with the losses of Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard they figure to be once again in the top-10. It seems as if the Panthers best shot at winning will be to run the ball with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart with only small doses of Delhomme. Keep this in mind, and comfortably sit Delhomme in Week 1 because quite frankly he hasn’t produce at a high enough level to be fantasy relevant in some time.

Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings) @ Cleveland

Sure, it seems like a great match-up for all the Brett Favre lovers out there. Typically you could assume Favre would have a field day against a sub-par defense like the Cleveland Browns, but with Cleveland struggling against the run it will be Adrian Peterson doing most of the damage. Being this is his first game as a Viking and we saw him in limited action this preseason we don’t really know how much Favre will be relied on, which makes us uneasy to give him the green light in Week 1. 

Matt Cassel/Tyler Thigpen/Brodie Croyle (Kansas City Chiefs) @ Baltimore

Even if Cassel was healthy (and with a better team), he would still not be a good start against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense. Hopefully you didn’t pick Cassel as your QB1, but if you did, this may be a good week to let him stay where he can’t get more seriously injured, the bench. The Ravens will be blitzing early and often and trying to prove a point this season that their defense can once again lead them to a Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ are likely to fall behind early on and be forced to pass the entire second half but that’s still not enough to warrant Cassel a fantasy starter in Week 1.

RUNNING BACKS—SIT ‘EM

Steve Slaton (Houston Texans) vs. New York Jets

The last time Slaton faced a Rex Ryan-led defense, he mustered seven yards on four carries. That time Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens but this time around he will face Slaton in his debut game with the New York Jets.  While Slaton should see a few more touches this go around, there is no guarantee that he posts the impressive numbers most fantasy football owners are hoping for out of their first or second round pick.

It’s obviously tough to sit such a high-investment, so realize you should only sit him if you have some fantastic options ready for plucking on your bench. And by fantastic we mean running backs who have similar skills but a better match-up then Slaton.

Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins) @ New York Giants

Even with former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo out of the picture, the Giants are still a force with a fantastic defensive line. In 2008, Portis was held to 106 yards on 34 carries and no touchdowns in his two games against the New York Giants and nothing has changed to help his chances of producing in Week 1. Similar to Steve Slaton, only if you have a more viable option should you bench Portis, but don’t be surprised if he can only muster 5-7 fantasy points. Fantasy owners should be home for a short yardage touchdown to save what otherwise will be a pedestrian day from the veteran.

Tim Hightower/Chris “Beanie” Wells vs. San Francisco

While on the surface this looks like a good match-up against a favorable opponent, Tim Hightower was put in check by the Singletary-led 49ers (13 rushes, 22 yards) in their 2008 match-up. The 49ers have stressed the importance of defense, and this will certainly be a week where it will be necessary. The most important thing is while Hightower has been named the starter, there is a good possibility at a 60-40 split with Chris “Beanie” Wells. As with many platoons, use Week 1 to gauge how this duo should be used moving forward, and sit both these RBs on your bench.

WIDE RECEIVERS—SIT ‘EM

Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs) @ Baltimore

In Week 1, Bowe is forced to be unsure about who his starting QB will be in what was already a difficult match-up against a fired up Baltimore Ravens defense.  Granted Bowe is the only offensive weapon in Kansas City, but doesn’t that mean the Ravens will do their best to shut him down and make the Chiefs other wide outs beat them?

Bowe could see some solid yardage and receptions, but don’t expect him to find pay dirt in Week 1. If you are in a start three WR league you are going to want to play Bowe, but in a league that starts just two WRs you might want to consider other options.

Chad Ochocinco (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Denver

There is no doubt about it that this game projects to be a shootout. Both teams ranked towards the bottom in overall defense in 2008 and have done little to improve on that statistic from a year ago. After reading that last sentence you are probably asking yourself why is Chad Ochocinco on the Week 1 Sit Em list.

The answer…Champ Bailey.

The last time Ochocinco faced Bailey he went by Chad Johnson and he put up a measly 32 receiving yards on three receptions (in 2006). If you drafted him to be your WR2, you are obviously not going to sit him, but temper your high expectations of him for this week. 

Lee Evans (Buffalo Bills) @ New England

Even though we’ve listed Terrell Owens as a Week 1 Start Em for this week, we feel that Evans is in for a tough assignment. The Patriots defense is aging but still one of the best in the league, and Evans’ deep threat ability will probably be shut down. Much like Santana Moss, Evans can put up some games that have you wonder why you drafted him as a low WR2 (five games with four points or less in 2008). On top of his inconsistencies, Evans have never scored a touchdown in 10 career match-ups against the Patriots.

TIGHT ENDS—SIT ‘EM

Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) @ Cleveland

We believe Shiancoe can take the next step in his development as he gains rapport with quarterback Brett Favre, but Week 1 may not be the time for that. With All-Day Adrian Peterson running the ball against a weak Cleveland Browns defense, their need to throw to Shiancoe could be minimal.  With the Browns offense struggling to find an identity this game could be put away early, so the lack of opportunity makes Shiancoe a recommended sit even with a great match-up this week.

KICKERS—SIT ‘EM

David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Carolina

People thought David Akers kicking career was just about finished before last season, and then he came back with a stellar 2008 where he put up the second most fantasy football points by a kicker. Whether or not, in Week 1 he faces a Carolina Panthers defense that looks to make a statement this week and there are definitely better options out there. Check out our Week 1 Kicker Rankings and find someone that has a more favorable match-up.

DEFENSES—SIT ‘EM

New York Jets D/ST @ Houston

While we don’t particularly like Steve Slaton’s match-up vs. the New York Jets, they could struggle stopping the high-powered Houston Texans passing attack. Quarterback Matt Schaub figures to throw early and often against one of the worst pass defenses from 2008, and even without wide receiver Kevin Walter (check on Sunday morning for updates), wide out Andre Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels should be able to more than bail Schaub out. The Jets won’t be stumping the “Schaub” this weekend.

 

READ THE WEEK 1 START EM ARTICLE HERE…

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 1 START EM

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NFL Week 1: Fantasy Football Game of the Week

With Week One of the NFL season upon us, it is once again time for the Bruno Boys to pick a Game of the Week, with a fantasy football twist. Each week we will choose one NFL game that we feel will have a lot of impact on the fantasy football world.

This week we will head to Lambeau Field, where the Green Bay Packers will host the Chicago Bears in a NFC North division battle. With the addition of Jay Cutler at quarterback in Chicago, this game will feature two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.

It also features some very good running backs and a couple of very nice receiving options. Boy, gone are the days when the NFC North (or NFC Central) was referred to as the “black and blue” division and featured fearsome defenses like the “Monsters of the Midway” and the “Purple People Eaters.” It is now becoming a hotbed for some of the better offensive stars in the game.

It all begins with the quarterbacks this week. In his first season as the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2008, Aaron Rodgers passed for 4,038 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He quickly became the leader of the Packers offense, and we look for him to continue to improve this season. Rodgers is a must-start QB1 in all formats this week and we have him as the No. 5-ranked quarterback this week.

Jay Cutler enters his first season in Chicago coming off a Pro-Bowl season in Denver last year when he had 4,526 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Cutler is also a must-start QB1 option this week as he is our No. 9-ranked quarterback.

Both the Bears and Packers also have prolific running backs on their teams. The Bears will feature second-year man Matt Forte, who had 1,715 total yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns as a rookie in 2008. He is a RB1 option this week and he is our No. 10-ranked running back.

The Packers will feature Ryan Grant, who—after missing most of training camp in 2008—spent a good portion of the year dealing with nagging injuries. He still managed 1,203 yards rushing with five total touchdowns. Healthy, and with a full training camp under his belt, we expect Grant to improve on last season’s totals. Consider him a solid RB2 this week as we have him as the No. 15-ranked running back.

This game will also feature some very good receiving options. Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target will be Greg Jennings, who had 80 catches last season for 1,292 yards with nine touchdowns. He has improved on his reception and yardage totals in each of his first three seasons. Jennings is a must-start WR1 this week, and our No. 7-ranked wide receiver.

The Bears return both of their leading pass catchers from 2008, but neither were wide receivers. Jay Cutler’s top option in the passing game will likely be tight end Greg Olsen, who had 54 catches for 574 yards with five touchdowns in 2008. Olsen is heading into his third NFL season and could be in for his biggest statistical season yet. He is our No. 4-ranked tight end this week and will likely be a must-start on a weekly basis. The leading pass-catcher in terms of receptions last season was Matt Forte, who had 63.

The Bears and Packers both feature solid kickers in Robbie Gould and Mason Crosby respectively. Either kicker would be a worthy fantasy starter this week and they both ranked in the top-ten in our preseason rankings.

Both teams have respectable D/ST units, but in a game that should have a lot of points being scored, you may want to keep them on your bench if possible.

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Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Running Backs

“For, lo, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”

While this is a poem that the legendary baseball broadcaster of the Detroit Tigers, Ernie Harwell used to describe spring’s arrival and, with it, the game of baseball, in a sense it fits for the arrival of Week 1 of the NFL season as well.

After all, the first kick off of the NFL season is the sport’s spring as hope springs eternal at that moment. With that, I’d like to dedicate this little paragraph to Mr. Harwell who was recently diagnosed with incurable cancer.

Mr. Harwell, I would like to thank you for all of the late nights of great baseball announcing you’ve done and for being one of the inspirations in as I pursue my dream to write about sports. You are in my prayers, and I dedicate the work I do this season to you.

Speaking of prayers, your opponents will not have one against you, Bruno Boys Nation, as you have the Bruno Boys on your side. As I was saying, Week 1 is upon us and with that brings something that has been long anticipated for months now; the start of the fantasy football season.

I (Bruno Boys Ziza) will have the pleasure of once again bringing you the running back weekly rankings. While I don’t want to take credit away from the other positions, there is no position in my mind that is more important in your pursuit of a playoff berth and ultimately the main goal; a championship ring.

I give you my word that I will dedicate myself to making sure that every single one of you has a successful season. With that being said, let’s jump into the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Rankings.

Key Abbreviations: YPC (Yards Per Carry), YPG (Yards Per Game)

 

1. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) @ Cleveland

How does the highest rated fantasy option improve upon his performance? By spending the off-season trying to improve his playing weight, strength, and pass-catching ability.

That last one is what really could help Peterson in 2009 as his ground game in 2008 was awesome (1,760 yards and 10 touchdowns), while his aerial assault was pretty tame at 125 yards.

In Week 1, Peterson faces a Cleveland rush defense that stinks it up worse than my youngest girl’s diapers. And, believe me, that is pretty stinky.

Peterson has never faced the Browns in his career, so it will be interesting to see how much damage he can do this week. We are predicting a ton of yardage and a touchdown.

Point Projections: 20 points

 

2. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) @ Oakland

While LaDainian Tomlinson has turned 30, he still remains a solid RB1 in all fantasy formats. And, he will reward those that have taken a chance on him this year by having an outstanding Week 1.

He has owned the Raiders during his career. Even last year, a year that LT played through injuries, he still averaged over 100 all-purpose yards and 1.5 touchdowns a game.

You can sleep well knowing that Tomlinson is a no-brainer start, who will make you look like a genius from draft day. Tomlinson is hands down one of the best plays at any position this week.

Point Projection: 19 points

 

3. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) @ Indianapolis

What a year this will be for Maurice Jones-Drew. His backfield mate Fred Taylor was let go, giving Jones-Drew the responsibility of being the primary back in Jacksonville.

Luckily for his fantasy football owners, his Jaguars start the season off against the Colts; a team that Jones-Drew has destroyed in his career.

Last year against his division rival, Jones-Drew averaged 99 yards on the ground and another 65 yards through the air; he also had a touchdown.

The Bruno Boys are very confident that Jones-Drew will start the season out with a bang, making him an easy choice as a running back that you must start.

Point Projection: 18 points

 

4. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) @ Seattle

During the pre-season, Steven Jackson saw very little playing time. Is it because they are looking to dump his contract? Not likely.

In fact, Jackson being released is not at all likely. The Rams want to keep their star running back healthy and for a good reason; he IS the Rams offense.

The workload will be there during Week 1 as Jackson gets to face a Seahawks team who is only average against the run.

There is no denying Jackson’s fantasy value when he is healthy enough to be on the field.

In his last three meetings against the Seahawks, Jackson has averaged just shy of 100 total yards and 1 touchdown. We expect more of the same.

Point Projection: 16 points

 

5. Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) @ Arizona

After putting together another solid season in 2008, big things are expected from Frank Gore this season. Catapulting back into a true RB1 status for this fantasy draft season, Gore showed little in the pre-season as he was trumped by his backup, Glen Coffee.

That is nothing to be too concerned with, though, as the offense in San Francisco will be run through Gore.

His first task at hand is the Cardinals defense, a team he destroyed last year, averaging a total of 128 yards; he also threw in a touchdown during those two games.

Look for a continuation of dominance, as Gore is a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Point Projection: 16 points

 

6. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) @ New Orleans

The Lions’ Kevin Smith enjoyed a heck of a rookie season once he grabbed the starting gig permanently from Rudi Johnson. He finished with over 1,250 all purpose yards and 8 touchdowns; normally an outstanding season for a rookie, but last year’s rookie crop was amazing.

Nonetheless, Smith ranks as a solid RB2 this year and someone that you definitely want to have on your team come Week 1. Last year against the Saints, Smith went for 111 rushing yards and a touchdown.

With the Lions undoubtedly wanting to control the time clock come game time to keep the Saints offense off the field as much as possible, Smith should see plenty of action early.

This is a put up or shut up play, though, as if the game gets out of hand, the Lions will have to pass, pass, pass.

Point Projection: 16 points

 

7. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Miami

There was not a bigger free agent acquisition last year than the Falcons locking up Michael Turner long-term. At first people, including myself, whispered that they had overpaid for LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup, but lo and behold, we were wrong.

Not only did he rush for 1,699 yards, but he also reached pay dirt a remarkable 17 times. During the off-season, the Falcons brought in tight end Tony Gonzalez to spread opposing defenses even more.

In Week 1, Turner faces a lack luster Miami rush defense. Big things are in store for Turner in 2009, and the success will start this week.

Point Projection: 16 points

 

8. Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) @ Atlanta

After dealing with injuries from the 2007 season, 2008 was expected to be a quiet year for Ronnie Brown, but he bounced back much quicker than expected and started in 13 of the 16 games he played. He had 10 touchdowns and over 1,150 all-purpose yards.

To start the 2009 season, he faces an Atlanta rush defense that is well below average. Brown should continue where he left off last year and have a great start to this season.

Point Projection: 16 points

 

9. DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) vs. Philadelphia

DeAngelo Williams led the list of excellent running backs last season as he totaled 1,636 all purpose yards while accumulating 20 touchdowns.

What made it even more eye opening is that his partner, Jonathan Stewart, also had a heck of a rookie year.

While Williams never faced the Eagles defense during the regular season last year, the Bruno Boys are still very confident he will get the best of this tough Eagles rush defense. Play Williams with confidence in Week 1.

Point Projection: 15 points

 

10. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) @ Green Bay

The Bears’ Matt Forte enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign last year as he went for over 1,700 total yards and 12 touchdowns. Will he continue that success this season?

The Bruno Boys believe that he will and his first obstacle is facing a below average Green Bay rush defense. Forte enjoyed success last season against this division rival and went for over 100 total yards the game that he played at Green Bay.

With Jay Cutler now under center, the yardage may dip a little, but we expect Forte to punch one in this week. Forte is a very solid start for Week 1.

Point Projection: 14 points

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CHRIS ZIZA. TO FIND OUT WHERE THE REST OF THE RUNNING BACKS RANK FOR WEEK 1, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

BRUNO BOYS WEEK 1 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

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Lessons Learned from the 2009 NFL Preseason

From here on out, every game matters in the NFL.

About time, right? We are four nights away from the season opener and I’m sure everybody reading this article can’t wait for Thursday, whether you have somebody playing in that game or not.

Most of your drafts are probably over by this point, but you have to remember that your job is not done after your draft—it’s just beginning.

Just as much work as you put into examining players during the offseason, you need to check out how everybody did in the preseason to be informed about your team, your opponent’s players, and potential pickups off the wire.

With that said, here are some things to take note of from the 2009 NFL Preseason.

 

QUARTERBACKS

No quarterback had a better preseason than Aaron Rodgers. The former Cal Bear appears to already be in mid-season form. The Green Bay Packers’ explosive passing attack seems to be clicking on all cylinders already.

Matt Schaub is still made of glass. Talk about taking the good with the bad, here’s a guy who has the potential to put up numbers similar to Drew Brees and Tom Brady, but there’s a good chance he’ll also miss five games again this year.

Could we actually see for the first time a true QBBC? Will Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick eventually split time under center once Vick is able to return to the team? Probably not any time soon, but McNabb seems to be open to try a bunch of new stuff with Vick on board now. Don’t waste a draft pick on Vick, but keep an eye on how the Philadelphia Eagles use him.

Kurt Warner still has Anquan Boldin to throw to in addition to Larry Fitzgerald. Now all he has to do is stay healthy, but even if he doesn’t, Matt Leinart didn’t do too badly in the preseason.

In the only preseason game that had a playoff mentality, the Denver Broncos welcomed home Jay Cutler, who sent his former fans home even more frustrated than when he left the team. Cutler will most likely not put up numbers like he did last year, but you could definitely do worse than him as your QB.

Cutler’s counterpart in that game, Kyle Orton, suffered that fluke finger injury that has him questionable for week one. Orton is a mediocre quarterback at best. Even with the emergence of Eddie Royal, he needs Brandon Marshall to put points up.

Another QB who had a strong preseason was Joe Flacco (40-for-61, 94.3 passer rating, 156 yards per game). If only he had better receivers to work with, he would be a valuable asset to your squad. Flacco may end up becoming a nice waiver-wire pickup down the road if he doesn’t get picked in your draft, but you shouldn’t have to draft him. There’s already so much depth at QB ahead of him.

Finally, Brett Favre is still Brett Favre, and it appears Tom Brady is still Tom Brady, as well.

 

RUNNING BACKS

Out of the elite RBs in the preseason, Michael Turner and Matt Forte really stood out the most. Turner busted out for some long touchdown runs and Forte found the end zone a couple times himself. Time will tell if the loss of Kevin Jones will hurt Forte at all, but I doubt it.

Even if he plays in week one, Jonathan Stewart’s absence from the preseason raises DeAngelo Williams’ value, at least in the first couple weeks of the season.

LaDainian Tomlinson participated in the preseason for the first time in the past couple years. I think he may wish there were still more practice games available because he still looks just as sluggish to me as he did last year.

Speaking of aging running backs, while Brian Westbrook still has some gas left in the tank, as long as he stays off the injury report, he may have met his heir apparent in LeSean McCoy. Among all the rookie running backs in 2009, McCoy may have the best season.

At the start of the preseason, I thought Knowshon Moreno would have been that guy, but he got hurt in his NFL debut and the Denver Broncos’ backfield appears to be more of a black hole than the one in the Oakland Coliseum.

Keeping in line with all the rookies, we got our first look at Beanie Wells in week three. He’s another guy who got a little banged up like Moreno, but still looked strong in his debut. Unfortunately for Wells, Tim Hightower had a decent preseason and will open the regular season as the starter.

Glen Coffee of the San Francisco 49ers had a phenomenal preseason. He won’t be a true handcuff for Frank Gore, but if Gore misses a few games like he normally does, keep an eye out for Coffee.

As I said about Matt Schaub in my QB paragraph, Reggie Bush still appears to be made of glass and I wonder if Maurice Jones-Drew will suffer the same fate now that he’s going to get all the action he’s ever wanted.

Exit Willis McGahee, enter Ray Rice, a nice RB3 for your team.

I would advise against drafting LenDale White on your team. He lost weight, which actually just takes away from his value as being a big, bruising back.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

It appears as though Brady Quinn is beginning to build a little bit of a rapport with Braylon Edwards, as the two connected for a touchdown in week three. I’m still not sold on the Cleveland Browns’ offense in general, but if Edwards can hang on to the ball, he’d make a good WR2.

When the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos met in week three, the most consistent things I saw were passes going in the direction of Eddie Royal. The second-year standout appears he doesn’t need Brandon Marshall to be productive.

The question is, will that last for the entire season if Marshall and the Broncos can’t see eye-to-eye all year? Either way, Royal is a nice addition to your team and a must-have in PPR leagues.

Chris Henry scored four times in the preseason and a lot of people are talking about this guy for having a breakout season, but I’m not buying it just yet. The Cincinnati Bengals got Laveranues Coles for a reason and it’s not to back up Henry.

In 2009, look for Henry to be an ultimate boom or bust receiver—one week he’ll get you a 50-yard touchdown, and then the next week he’ll have two catches for 15 yards.

Dwayne Bowe and T.J. Houshmandzadeh had impressive preseason performances and both would make a fine WR2 on your team. I’m a little bit more skeptical about Bowe because of the team he plays for. I think he’s a little bit overrated, but he’ll get a ton of targets this season.

Among the rookie wideouts, Michael Crabtree has really…oh, yeah…never mind…

One guy who is enjoying his new contract, Greg Jennings, should be in line for a huge year with Aaron Rodgers. Another Green Bay Packer who everybody wrote off again but is still producing is Donald Driver.

Hakeem Nicks has been the bright spot thus far in the New York Giants’ passing game. It’s not always wise to snag a rookie WR, but if I had to pick one this year, it would be Nicks.

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