Fantasy Football Week Seven Rankings: Tight Ends

Tight end continues to be one of the toughest positions in fantasy football to evaluate. With an exception of a handful of tight ends in the NFL, you don’t know what you are going to get on a weekly basis.

In Week Five there were only six tight ends to score more then seven fantasy points, but in Week Six there were seven tight ends that scored 11 points or more. Tight end is often overlooked by fantasy owners, but a good tight end can balance your team and help lead you to the playoffs.
 
As you search for the fantasy balance that will help lead you to an important Week Seven victory, please enjoy the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week Seven Rankings: Tight Ends. 

1. Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts) @ St. Louis

Dallas Clark has been the most productive tight end in the NFL this year. The Colts are coming off their bye week and he leads all tight ends in receptions (35) and yardage (441). He is one of the top targets in one of the most productive offenses in the league, and did we mention that he has Peyton Manning passing the ball to him?

Clark is a weekly must-start and he has a great matchup this week against a St. Louis Rams team that is ranked No. 27 against the pass this season.
Point Projection: 14 points

2. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) @ Kansas City

Antonio Gates led the Chargers with five receptions for 70 yards in a Week Six loss to the Denver Broncos. He is once again a very productive tight end this season, as he has at least five receptions and more than 60 receiving yards in each game, but fantasy owners would like more then the two touchdowns he has so far.

Gates will look to find the end zone this week against a Kansas City defense that is giving up nearly 250 passing yards per game and has surrendered 10 passing touchdowns through six games.
Point Projection: 13 points

3. Owen Daniels (Houston Texans) vs. San Francisco

In a Week Six victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Owen Daniels had seven receptions for 78 yards with two touchdowns. He is emerging into a stud tight end and he is quickly becoming a weekly must-start.

Daniels has posted nine or more points four times in six games this season. He will look to continue his solid fantasy production this week against a 49ers team that is ranked No. 20 against the pass through five games this season.
Point Projection: 12 points

4. Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) @ Dallas

Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez had four receptions for 52 yards with a touchdown in the Falcons Week Six victory over the Chicago Bears. He continues to be a huge asset for Atlanta’s offense and fantasy owners alike.

He has 23 receptions for 267 yards with three touchdowns this season and he has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of the Falcons’ five games this season. Continue to use Gonzalez as a No. 1 fantasy tight end, including this week against a Cowboys defense that is giving up 251.4 yards per game this year.
Point Projection: 12 points

5. Kellen Winslow (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. New England   *At Wembley Stadium, London*

After scoring 22 fantasy points against the Philadelphia Eagles Week Five, fantasy owners were hoping for more then the two points Kellen Winslow managed in a loss to the Carolina Panthers last week. He has been a little hit or miss this season. His off weeks are bad, but his good weeks have been great.

Winslow has scored nine or more fantasy points three times and topped 15 twice. He is arguably the Buccaneers’ biggest offensive threat and he should be used as a TE1 this week against a good New England Patriots defense at Wembley Stadium in London.
Point Projection: 11 points

6. Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Minnesota

Pittsburgh’s new passing offense has worked wonders for Heath Miller this season. After a slow start, he has scored in double-figure fantasy points each of the last three weeks. He has been targeted 40 times this season and he has rewarded the Steelers with 34 catches for 315 yards with four touchdowns.

It appears that Miller has finally turned the corner and is starting to live up to expectations. Use him as a mid-level No. 1 fantasy tight end this week in a tough matchup against a good Vikings defense.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Brent Celek (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Washington

At this point last season, not many of us even knew who Brent Celek was. Fast forward one season and his 47 fantasy points are top-six among tight ends after six weeks of the season. He has 30 receptions for 378 yards with two touchdowns this season and he has not scored less than five fantasy points in any of the Eagles’ five games this season. Continue to use Celek as a starting fantasy tight end. 
Point Projection: Nine points

8. Greg Olsen (Chicago Bears) @ Cincinnati

Greg Olsen has been a disappointment to fantasy owners this season. He was drafted with hopes of being a top-five fantasy tight end, but he has only managed 15 catches for 151 yards this season with three touchdowns.

The good news is, he seems to be building a better rapport with quarterback Jay Cutler, who has found Olsen for a touchdown in each of the Bears’ last three games. Use him as a TE1 this week against a Bengals defense that is ranked No. 27 against the pass this season. 
Point Projection: Nine points

9. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Atlanta

With 28 receptions for 259 yards and just one touchdown this season, Jason Witten has not lived up to the hopes of fantasy owners, many of whom took him as the No. 1 tight end in fantasy football drafts this summer. Witten should still be used as a low-end starting tight end this week against the Falcons. He has been targeted 33 times this season and he is the most consistent receiving option for the Cowboys.
Point Projection: Eight points

10. Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins) vs. Philadelphia

After not making a single catch Week Five against the Carolina Panthers, Chris Cooley led the Redskins in receiving last week in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He had five catches for 57 yards, but did not manage a touchdown. He is the top option in the Redskins passing game with 42 passes targeted his way this season and he has 27 catches for 311 yards with two touchdowns. Consider Cooley a low-end TE1 this week against a very good Eagles pass defense. 
Point Projection: Eight points

11. Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers) @ Houston

Vernon Davis is another tight end who appears to be ready to start living up to the hype. He is well on his way to having the best year of his career with 22 catches for 262 yards with three touchdowns through five games this season. Look for another solid performance from Davis this week as the 49ers return from their bye week and travel to Houston to take on the Texans.
Point Projection: Eight points

12 Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) @ Miami

In his first meeting against his former team, Jeremy Shockey did not disappoint the Saints or fantasy owners when they played the New York Giants last week. New Orleans won the game 48-27 in a battle of undefeated teams and Shockey had four receptions for 37 yards with a touchdown. Continue to use him as a starting fantasy tight end this week, as the Saints will play the Dolphins in Miami, where he played his college football.
Point Projection: Eight points

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

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Fantasy Football Week Six Rankings: Risers and 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 Six 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 football value for the weekend’s upcoming games either rise (increase) or fall (decrease).

 

WEEK SIX RISERS

QB Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals)

It’s never good to hear a quarterback has a thumb injury, but in Palmer’s case, it shouldn’t cause his owners to lose any sleep. First off, Palmer’s injury is on his non-throwing hand. Secondly, he’s practiced all week.

QB Eli Manning (New York Giants)

Sure, Manning didn’t partake in all 60 minutes of the Giants’ Week Five contest with the Raiders, but that’s because he didn’t need to. The Giants’ QB, despite his heel issues, is listed as probable for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints, and you know, this game will be a lot closer. Look for Manning to play the full game here.

RB Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers)

With a probable listing heading into Sunday’s action with the Buccaneers, Stewart’s Achilles looks to be well on the mend. Coming off a solid nine point fantasy outing and having a matchup against the 28th ranked rush defense of the Bucs, Stewart makes for a nice flex play in Week Six.

RB Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns)

Lewis came back from injury with a vengeance in Week Five, going for 117 yards on 31 carries. The performance had to make his fantasy owners happy, as should the news that he’s been able to practice fully all week. What shouldn’t make his owners happy is the matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lewis is nothing more than a flex-type option.

RB Correll Buckhalter (Denver Broncos)

Practicing all week, it appears Buckhalter is a good bet to go this Monday Night against the Chargers. With San Diego ranking 27th against the rush and Buckhalter averaging 9.25 fantasy points in the four games he’s played in, utilize him as a strong flex play.

RBs Pierre Thomas & Mike Bell (New Orleans Saints)

It was actually a dilemma as to where to place Thomas and Bell in this week’s “Risers and Fallers.” On the one hand, both are probable and will play on Sunday against the Giants. On the other, with both healthy and Reggie Bush in the mix, there division of labor is somewhat up in the air. If you have safer options, we’d turn to them. But, if not, the fact that they’ll be on the field should at least be somewhat comforting.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) 

Bradshaw does have an ankle injury, but while it has limited his practice time, it won’t keep him off the field this week. Bradshaw is coming off a strong 165 total yard and two TD effort in Week Five, which helps propel him to RB2 status this week despite a tough matchup with the Saints.

RBs Rashard Mendenhall & Willie Parker (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Mendenhall, despite flu symptoms earlier in the week, practice fully on Friday. Meanwhile, Parker is probable and expected to play despite his turf toe issues. Yes, both backs being healthy takes away some what from their values, but the matchup against the Cleveland Browns allows both to be fantasy relevant. Mendenhall is a RB2 type play, while Parker is a flex option.

RB Justin Forsett (Seattle Seahawks)

While we’re not recommending Forsett, he is still a player whose value is on the rise and one all fantasy owners should watch moving forward. Forsett has been the most dynamic of the Seahawks’ backs, and according to ESPN’s Mike Sando he will be getting a larger role moving forward. If you have a bench spot that’s just being used on wasted space, grab Forsett.

WR Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals)

Breaston is listed as questionable heading into the weekend, but he was a limited participant in practice throughout the week and is expected to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Breaston has at least six fantasy points in each game he’s played him, so feel free to continue using him as a WR3.

WR Derek Mason (Baltimore Ravens)

Mason’s zero catch performance in Week Five may have fantasy owners nervous for Week Six, but let us ease your concern. Cam Cameron , the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, has stated that it is unacceptable for the Ravens to go forward without getting Mason involved, so look for Mason to get back to his WR3 status.

WR Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers)

Smith’s fantasy owners got a bit of a scare with the wide out appearing on this week’s injury report with a knee injury, but don’t fret much. Smith’s simply listed as probable and practiced fully on Friday. Continue to use him as normal.

WR Randy Moss (New England Patriots)

Moss, who was a limited participant in practice this week, has been designated as probable for the Patriots matchup with the Titans. Use him as a WR1 against the 31st ranked pass defense in the league.

WR Wes Welker (New England Patriots)

For the first time all season, Welker’s owners can breathe easy. The wide receiver is no longer listed on the Patriots’ injury report. Brady will continue to look Welker’s way often, so use him as a WR2 option.

WR David Clowney (New York Jets)

Looking for a sleeper play for Week Six, then look no further than Clowney. Clowney, who had four catches for 72 yards last week, should once again see an expanded role thanks to injuries to Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith .

WR Braylon Edwards (New York Jets)

A doubtful Jerricho Cotchery is good news for Edwards and his fantasy owners. The former Browns receiver, who apparently has remembered how to catch the ball, made a splash in his first game with the J-E-T-S! and should have another solid one this weekend.

WR Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles) 

Kevin Curtis did participate in full on Friday, but the fact that he’s still sporting a questionable tag leads us to believe Maclin will be the wideout lining up opposite DeSean Jackson for the majority of the game. After his Week Five outing, Maclin is definitely worth a fantasy play against Oakland.

WR Nate Burleson (Seattle Seahawks)

With a matchup against the 32nd ranked pass defense of the Arizona Cardinals on the horizon, Burleson gave his owners a scare by being a limited participant in the Seahawks’ Thursday practice; however, rest assured the wide out, who is listed as probable, is expected to play Sunday.

WR Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Those Bryant owners who have been disappointed by his bust of a 2009 season thus far, take heart because according to coach, Raheem Morris , Bryant is looking as good as he has since OTA. It may be time to plug Bryant back into your fantasy lineups; however, do not use him as more than a WR3 until he proves he’s worthy.

TE Kevin Boss (New York Giants) 

After a promising 2008 campaign, Boss has disappointed so far in 2009. However, if you’re in a pickle and need a bye week TE, Boss is listed as probable and play against the Saints on Sunday. Just know though that the Saints are giving up less than 5 points on average to opposing TEs.

 

WEEK SIX FALLERS

QB Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions)

Stafford may only have a questionable listing, but that’s the same listing he had in Week Five when he didn’t play against the Pittsburgh Steelers . All indications are pointing to Daunte Culpepper starting, so if for some crazy reason you were using Stafford as your starting fantasy QB, you’ll need to find another option yet again in Week Six.

QB Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs)

Cassel’s healthy. The problem is starting LT Branden Albert is not. Cassel hasn’t exactly been getting the most time in the pocket, and this won’t help. It might be best to look for another option to man your fantasy offense.

RB LaMont Jordan (Denver Broncos)

Not that he had much value to begin with, but seeing as Correll Buckhalter will be back for the Broncos, Jordan should not be on any fantasy rosters.

WR Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)

The Lions have listed Johnson as questionable for Week Six, but that listing may be more a tease to fantasy owners than anything else. The Lions’ wide receiver has not practiced all week due to his knee injury.

WR Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings) 

Despite partaking in Thursday and Friday’s practices as a limited participant, Harvin will be a game-time decision on Sunday. While it seems likely he’ll go, the shoulder injury he’s dealing with and the fact that he’s only mustered three and six fantasy points the last two weeks has us staying away in Week Six.

WRs Jerricho Cotchery & Brad Smith (New York Jets)

Both wide receivers are listed as doubtful for this week, and while Rex Ryan doesn’t want to rule them out just yet, we’re willing to.

TE Dante Rosario (Carolina Panthers) 

Rosario did have a TD in both Week Two and Week Three, but did have just one catch for 22 yards last weekend. Couple his inconsistencies with a questionable tag and it’s best to look for your bye week tight end elsewhere.

TE Benjamin Watson (New England Patriots)

Due to a head injury suffered in the Patriots loss to the Denver Broncos, Watson is sporting a questionable tag heading into Sunday’s contest with the Titans. He has been a limited participant in practices this week, but will be a game-time decision. As the Patriots will be partaking in a late afternoon game, it’s best to look for a safer TE option.

K Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns) 

The good news is that Dawson was able to practice on a limited basis, which is a step forward. The bad news is he’s still going to be kicking for the Cleveland Browns.

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

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Week 6 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 5 of football action as Bruno Boys Kyle presents the Week 6 Game Previews (Fantasy Style) .

 

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have a chance to continue to surprise people and move their record to 5-1 against a 2-3 Houston squad. Nobody saw this coming from the franchise formerly known as the Bungles, and if they did, I want them to buy me some lottery tickets.

On the other hand, Houston will once again finish behind the Colts in the AFC South.

Fantasy Prediction: Cedric Benson runs for over 100 yards and two scores.

 

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

With one win, the Lions can’t be officially called the worst team in the NFL any longer. But, they’re still bad. They’ll be facing a Packers team that is just 2-2 and in third place in the NFC North.

The Packers desperately need a win and will surely play with that type of intensity, especially at home.

Fantasy Prediction: Greg Jennings goes off, catching at least five passes for 120 yards.

 

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

This is an intriguing match-up and one in which you wouldn’t have been looked at funny had you called it a possible Super Bowl preview before last week. But, that was before Baltimore lost, at home, to Cincinnati.

Minnesota is firing on all cylinders right now, but the Ravens are not, so we’ll see if they can rebound.

Fantasy Prediction: For the fifth straight game, Adrian Peterson fails to gain 100 rushing yards.

 

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

One of these two teams will suffer their first loss in what is arguably the best game in a weekend full of mediocre contests (much like last week).

Drew Brees has thrown for fewer than 200 yards and zero touchdowns in each of his last two games, killing his fantasy owners. Now, he faces a Giants team that is first in the league in pass defense… by a wide margin.

The Giants have allowed only 105 passing yards per game; the Panthers are second in the NFL in pass defense, and are allowing 166 passing yards per contest.

Fantasy Prediction: Brees throws for two scores, but for fewer than 225 yards.

 

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

If you thought it was impossible for a starting quarterback of an NFL team to play four quarters and complete just two passes, you certainly weren’t alone.

But Cleveland’s Derek Anderson pulled off the feat last week, averaging one-half of one completion per quarter.

Now, he faces the Steelers, with a healthy Troy Polamalu back in the lineup. Good luck, Derek.

Fantasy Prediction: Rashard Mendenhall goes over 100 rushing yards with at least one score.

 

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the Panthers and Buccaneers combining for a 1-8 record, it’s safe to say this isn’t one of the marquee match-ups of the weekend.

At the very least, it should be fun to see if Panthers wideout Steve Smith can get on track against an opponent he’s charred in the past.

Fantasy Prediction: Smith catches seven or more passes for 100 or more yards.

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

Washington is playing with a lame-duck coach, and everyone knows it. They had an early-season schedule that was sent from paradise…with consecutive games against St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Carolina and now Kansas City, but are somehow 2-3.

If they lose this game, Jim Zorn may not last until Monday.

Fantasy Prediction: Matt Cassel again throws for fewer than 200 yards.

 

St. Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Rams have gotten their brains beaten in on a regular basis, losing all but one of their first five games by a minimum of 19 points, but at least they were in the news a lot this week.

Oh, wait, that was because a blowhard was part of a group bidding to buy the team. Well great. God, it’s difficult being a Rams fan.

Fantasy Prediction: Steven Jackson scores his first two touchdowns of the season.

 

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Even at 2-3, Seattle could find themselves just a half-game behind idle San Francisco in the horrid NFC West with a win over the Cardinals.

It won’t be easy, but the Seahawks are formidable playing at Qwest Field in one of the league’s best home-field advantages. 

Fantasy Prediction: T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson each catch touchdown passes.

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

As mentioned before in this space, JaMarcus Russell is the worst quarterback in the league. Oakland’s brass has to recognize this; even the Crypt Keeper has to understand how insanely awful he is.

The Eagles’ reserves should be on the field by the third quarter of this one. Fantasy Prediction : Russell throws three interceptions.

 

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

The fact that the Titans are winless is about as surprising as the fact that the Bengals have just one loss.

The Titans rolled through the regular season last year, and though they lost a disappointing game in the playoffs, then lost Albert Haynesworth in free agency, this type of precipitous drop-off didn’t seem to be a realistic possibility.

Now, with the second worst pass defense in the NFL, they have the unenviable task of trying to cover Randy Moss and Wes Welker all day.

Fantasy Prediction: Tom Brady has his best day of the year so far, throwing for over 350 yards and a minimum of three scores.

 

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Like the Redskins, the Bills are playing with a lame-duck coach in Dick Jauron , who made the brilliant move of firing his offensive coordinator in the preseason and now has an offense that is 26th in scoring and 25th in total offense.

Those numbers won’t improve against a very good Jets defense.

Fantasy Prediction: Terrell Owens has fewer than 50 receiving yards.

 

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons

Another one of the few solid match-ups, the 3-1 Bears travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons, who are also 3-1. Both teams are in second place, so this is a very important contest for each.

Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan are two of the best young signal-callers in the game, and watching them go toe-to-toe should be scintillating in what promises to be a close game.

Fantasy Prediction: Matt Forte has a huge day, with 150 combined rushing and receiving yards.

 

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

Denver’s defense has been remarkable, and up until last week, it hadn’t allowed even one touchdown pass. Tom Brady changed that, and expect Philip Rivers to add on to it.

The Chargers, at 2-2, need a win badly in order to keep their hopes of a division championship alive, because the Broncos have yet to lose in five contests this year.

Fantasy Prediction: Philip Rivers throws for at least 250 yards and two scores.

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

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY KYLE SMITH !

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Roundtable: Week Six

WEEK SIX BURNING QUESTIONS

1. With the New York Giants squaring off against the New Orleans Saints this weekend, we have a battle between the league’s top-rated defense (the Giants) and the league’s third-best offense (the Saints). Something has to give, so who wins the match-up: the Giants’ defense or the Saints’ offense?

 

Bruno Boys Jimbo: GIANTS’ DEFENSE. The New Orleans Saints’ passing game has been pretty quiet in their last two games. The strength of their offense has been Pierre Thomas .

The New York Giants have been missing some key members of their defense due to injury, but have constantly been finding ways to be effective. I don’t think this game is going to be quite the shootout that everybody’s predicting.

We’re going to find out if the Saints really are a contender this week, but I think Drew Brees and his boys are going to be quiet for a third straight game. The Giants aren’t the Detroit Lions .

 

Bruno Boys Cavigs: NEITHER. I expect both of these units to do just enough to make their fantasy football owners happy. Basically, what I am saying is that you can expect the Giants defense to do enough to be used as a low-end D/ST No. 1 this week but still expect Drew Brees & Co. to get their fantasy points.

On paper, the Giants defense look tough, but who have they played? Outside of a match-up against the Cowboys, New York and their second-rated defense has taken on Washington, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Oakland. Not what I call stiff competition.

Expect the score to be in the 24-20 range, with neither team having a true edge. 

 

2. Donnie Avery and Eddie Royal had high expectations heading into 2009 only to disappoint fantasy owners early on, becoming waiver wire fodder; however, both finally put together solid outings in week 5. As owners look to grab one of the two off their league’s waiver wire, who has more staying power?

Bruno Boys Jimbo: AVERY. I think you have to go with Donnie Avery here because of the loss of Laurent Robinson . Marc Bulger has to pass to somebody and Avery is literally his only option now.

The St. Louis Rams are going to be behind a lot, so they’ll have to pass a lot to keep up. Meanwhile, Brandon Marshall has returned to his old form of being a standout wide receiver. What worked for Eddie Royal with Jay Cutler last year, isn’t working with Kyle Orton .

Bruno Boys Cavigs: AVERY. Both finally made an impact in Week 5 but outside of a scarce amount of teams they were either on the bench or on the waiver wire.

The reason I like Avery is because unlike Eddie Royal , he is the clear cut No. 1 wide out in St. Louis and with the Rams playing from behind on a weekly basis, it should lead to plenty of garbage stats from Avery.

Both will likely be somewhat of a roller coaster ride throughout the season but it’s Avery that should get closer to his preseason projection.

WEEK SIX LIGHTNING ROUND   (Fantasy Football Questions in a Flash)

Real Deal or One-Week Wonder

1. Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys (37 points in week 5)

 

Bruno Boys Cavigs: ONE WEEK WONDER. Chalk this one up as a career game for Miles Austin . Like the first five weeks of the season expect it to be a revolving door in terms of play makers in the Dallas Cowboys s offense.

When the match-up is right, you can consider Austin as a Flex play in a deep league, but it takes more than one big game to make me a believer. I don’t think Austin produces anywhere near this level again.

 

Bruno Boys Jimbo: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Last week, Roy Williams was out of the lineup and the Dallas Cowboys were playing the Kansas City Chiefs . Miles Austin is a boom-or-bust receiver, and last week he was a definite boost.

As long as Williams is out of the lineup, he has a chance or putting up nice numbers, but Tony Romo’s top targets are still Williams and Jason Witten .

 

2. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (26 points in week 5)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: REAL DEAL. He finally got a chance to show what he can do last week, and he put up huge numbers. Jeremy Maclin is almost a mirror image of DeSean Jackson in terms of speed, except Maclin is taller than Jackson.

The only downside to him is how much Donovan McNabb likes to spread the wealth around, but Maclin should see a lot more opportunities to succeed.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: REAL DEAL. No doubt about it, Maclin is one talented wide receiver, and that showed during his torching of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.

However, I was a bit hesitant to proclaim Maclin as the “Real Deal” because he is still learning on the spot and everyone knows quarterback Donovan McNabb doesn’t play favorites.

Maclin owners should expect some solid outings of production but if he tanks from time to time (similar to DeSean Jackson ), don’t hit the panic button.

 

3. Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts (12 points in week 4 and 21 points in week 5)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: REAL DEAL. You’d be crazy to think he is going to average 16.5 fantasy points per contest like Collie has since Week 4, but don’t be surprised if Peyton Manning continues to target his sure-handed rookie. 

Manning has already told the media that he loves throwing to Collie and the Indianapolis fans have gravitated to Collie and have already nicknamed him “Lassie.”

Collie might not be as productive once Anthony Gonzalez returns, but he still should be productive enough to post double-digit fantasy points on some weeks.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Let’s not forget that Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are still by far the two best options in this passing attack. In addition, Austin Collie is competing with Pierre Garcon to be the third receiver.

Don’t forget about Anthony Gonzalez when he returns to the lineup. There just isn’t enough room on this team for Collie to be a consistent fantasy contributor.

 

4. Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins (17 points in week 5)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: REAL DEAL. Chad Henne looked like an old pro last Monday night. He connected with Ted Ginn Jr. for a 53-yard touchdown.

It looks like he’s got a better arm than Chad Pennington , which could be just what the doctor ordered for Ginn, as well.

Ronnie Brown is basically the QB on the Miami Dolphins , but Henne should make this passing attack a little stronger.

 

Bruno Boys Cavigs: ONE WEEK WONDER. Henne did impress against what was supposed to be a top-notch New York Jets passing defense, but I can’t see the second-year QB producing at this level on a weekly basis.

Remember the Dolphins have a talented, yet inconsistent, wide-out in Ted Ginn Jr. but after that, their talent declines at the position, and this will hinder Henne’s ability to be fantasy-relevant.

 

WEEK SiX MATCH-UPS   (Who Will Have the Better Week?)

1. Andre Johnson (Hou) vs. Cedric Benson (Cin)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: BENSON. Never thought I would choose Benson over the most prolific wide receiver in all of football (along with Larry Fitzgerald ), but when all is equal I always lean towards playing the running back.

The reason for this is because we can just about guarantee that Benson will get 20 touches in this football game while Johnson will hover anywhere between 6-10 receptions.

The more touches means the more opportunities, and with Benson facing a Texans defense that has allowed nine rushing TDs in five games, you have to like his chances to be the top a top performer in Week 6.

 

Bruno Boys Jimbo: BENSON. Nobody is worse at defending the run than the Houston Texans . Cedric Benson has been electric for the most part this season, and this matchup looks like an excellent one for him.

While Andre Johnson is always a must-play receiver, you can’t ignore what the Cincinnati Bengals have done on defense this season.

 

2. Kevin Smith (Det) vs. Ryan Grant (GB)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: GRANT. It’s hard to bet against anybody going against the Detroit Lions . While Ryan Grant hasn’t been spectacular so far this season, this is a good matchup for him to get going.

I think the Green Bay Packers are going to put this game away early with the passing game, but it will leave a lot of time for the Packers to run the ball with Grant with the lead.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: GRANT. Close call here as both options should surpass 10+ fantasy football points, but it’s the Lions with the weaker of the two defenses and something tells me Grant breaks out in a big way this week.

Expect him to make it two straight games against Detroit with at least 100 rushing yards. Look for Grant to punch in a touchdown for the first time since the second week of the season.

 

3. Donnie Avery (StL) vs. Mike Sims-Walker (Jax)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: SIMS-WALKER. I flipped a coin and it landed on “tails” so MSW gets the nod here. Just kidding, but in all reality you can make a strong case for either option.

It’s Sims-Walker who plays in the more dynamic offense and his consistency (minus Week Five) over the past three weeks has been enough of a sample size to make me believe in him against the St. Louis Rams and their 25th-ranked passing defense.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: AVERY. I think the St. Louis Rams have a good chance of getting their first win of the year this Sunday. With the sudden one-game suspension of Mike Sims-Walker , you don’t really know what to expect from him this week.

I think we’ll see a lot of Maurice Jones-Drew this week, as well. The Jacksonville Jaguars have been pretty terrible on the pass defense, and Donnie Avery is really the only option in the Rams’ passing attack.

 

4. Joe Flacco (Bal) vs. Brett Favre (Min)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: FAVRE. If this game was being played in Baltimore, I’d probably go the other way here, but I like the Minnesota Vikings’ defense at home. Jared Allen is a stud on defense for the Vikings, and I think their defensive line will give Joe Flacco trouble all day long.

Brett Favre is playing like he’s back in his prime right now, and while the Baltimore Ravens’ defense has been solid, they’ve had their trouble against the pass and I think Favre is good for a couple scores on Sunday.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: FAVRE. Despite being old enough to be considered a “father” to some of his teammates, Favre has been nothing short of spectacular on the field.

The 19-year veteran has thrown nine touchdown passes to just two interceptions and what used to be a tough match-up against the Ravens secondary is no more.

Baltimore ranks 26th against the pass and with the presence of Adrian Peterson forcing the defenses to worry about the rush this should lead to Favre throwing into single coverage against inexperienced defensive backs.

5. Brandon Jacobs (NYG) vs. Pierre Thomas (NO)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: JACOBS. With Pierre Thomas likely entering this game far from 100 percent (hamstring), you have to play it safe and use the big bruising running back in Jacobs.

I know his fantasy football owners are discouraged by his inability to find paydirt but you can’t let just five games get the best of you. Roll with the healthy option and watch Jacobs score his first TD since Week 3. 

Bruno Boys Jimbo: THOMAS. Pierre Thomas has been the best asset to the New Orleans Saints’ offense in the past couple weeks. Thomas has been on a roll since returning from his injury.

I don’t think he’ll have a huge day this week against the New York Giants’ tough defense, but I think he’ll outperform Brandon Jacobs .

Owners of Jacobs have got to be hoping that the apparently sleeping giant (no pun intended) just hasn’t awoken yet, but Ahmad Bradshaw has been terrific for the G-men.

6. Hines Ward (Pit) vs. Santonio Holmes (Pit)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: WARD. Everybody got all excited over Santonio Holmes because of the postseason last year and the first game of the season, but the consistent top receiver on the Pittsburgh Steelers is still Hines Ward .

He is the team’s leading receiver, and unless he gets hurt, I like him to stay that way.

Bruno Boys Cavigs:

7. DeAngelo Williams (Car) vs. Cadillac Williams (TB)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: DEANGELO. This divisional showdown against Tampa Bay looks just like what the doctor ordered to get him back on track.

Williams has just 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns through four games, but with the Buccaneers allowing over 152 yards per game against the rush, I wouldn’t be surprised if Williams puts together his best game of a young season.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: DEANGELO. I actually like the running backs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers more in this game, but it’s likely to be an even split in the carries between Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward , while DeAngelo Williams should see the bulk of the work for the Carolina Panthers .

Both of these teams use two RBs, but I like Williams having the best day out of all four.

 

8. Dwayne Bowe (KC) vs. Santana Moss (Was)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: BOWE. I’m not crazy about either of these receivers, but Santana Moss is more inconsistent in this matchup. Dwayne Bowe is really the only option for Matt Cassel , while Chris Cooley is also a big target for the Washington Redskins .

The Cassel-Bowe combination has been pretty productive so far, and the Redskins’ are in so much disarray right now, Cassel and Bowe should connect again on Sunday.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: BOWE. Like Bruno Boys Jimbo , neither are “great” plays but if you are forced to choose between the two go with Bowe. You win fantasy football with consistent options that will be a staple in your roster through thick and thin.

That guy is Bowe and even against a touch Redksins passing defense 60-70 yards and a TD is likely.

9. Brian Westbrook (Phi) vs. LeSean McCoy (Phi)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: WESTBROOK. Both running backs should have solid games but it’s Westbrook that is a better threat to find the end zone and reach his projected point total.

McCoy, a rookie out of Pittsburgh , will be a productive lead back in the NFL, but don’t expect the Eagles coaching staff to phase out their workhorse anytime soon.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: MCCOY. The job still belongs to Brian Westbrook , but LeSean McCoy is coming on stronger and stronger. All it’s going to take is one more injury to Westbrook, and McCoy could take on an even larger role in this offense.

In this week’s matchup vs. the Oakland Raiders , the game will probably be over so quickly that the Philadelphia Eagles are likely to take Westbrook out early to keep him healthy.

 

10. Kurt Warner (Ari) vs. Matt Hasselbeck (Sea)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: HASSELBECK. The Arizona Cardinals pass defense is one of the worst in the league. Last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars , Matt Hasselbeck went off for four touchdowns.

This game looks like it’s going to be a shootout. I don’t think you can go wrong with either QB here, but I like Hasselbeck slightly more.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: HASSELBECK. It’s tough to go against Warner because the Cardinals still have one of the most dynamic passing attacks in football but Hasselbeck is fresh off a four touchdown performance and he has the opponent to do it again.

The Cardinals rank dead last against the pass thus far and they have surrendered nine passing touchdowns in just four games.

If the weather holds up, look for Hasselbeck to ride the tails of T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson en pursuit of top-5 fantasy football numbers for Week 6.

 

11. Chris Johnson (Ten) vs. Randy Moss (NE)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: MOSS. It’s not often that I take a WR1 over a RB1, because running backs are guaranteed touches, which leads to more opportunity each week, but you can’t pass on Moss in this contest.

The Tennessee secondary has allowed 13 passing touchdowns and over 1,500 passing yards and just five games thus far which leads me to believe Moss should have no problem bouncing back after a few lackluster showings. Think 90-100 receiving yards out of Moss in Week 6. 

Bruno Boys Jimbo: MOSS. Here you have Tom Brady and Randy Moss facing a terrible team with an equally bad pass defense.

This smells like a huge day for the New England Patriots’ passing attack. Chris Johnson shouldn’t have a bad game, but Brady and Moss should put big smiles on their owners’ faces this week.

 

12. Marshawn Lynch & Fred Jackson (Buf) vs. Thomas Jones & Leon Washington (NYJ)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: LYNCH & JACKSON. Marshawn Lynch put up 100 total yards last week. The Buffalo Bills’ passing attack has been pretty lackluster, so I think a pretty even 50-50 split between Lynch and Fred Jackson is likely to be on the menu since the New York Jets defense didn’t look too tough last week against the Miami Dolphins .

Granted, Miami was running with the Wildcat, but I still like Lynch and Jackson more here.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: JONES & WASHINGTON. Despite Jones averaging a shade over two yards per carry over the last two weeks the edge goes to the Jets.

New York has the better of the two match-ups which is evident by the Bills allowing 154 rushing yards per game and seven TDs allowed and they should have no problem running the football down the throat of a struggling Buffalo franchise.

13. Matt Forte (Chi) vs. Michael Turner (Atl)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: TURNER. On paper it’s Forte with the better match-up but the deciding factor between the two options will be touchdowns.

Look for Turner to build off his three TD performance in Week 5 and hit pay dirt at least once against a Chicago Bears defense that allows one rushing TD per week.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: FORTE. Fresh off of a bye week against a team that is susceptible to the run, I like Matt Forte more in this game.

It’s hard to bet against Michael Turner after his huge week last week, but I think Forte is on the verge of turning things around right now. Also, I like the Atlanta Falcons to try to beat the Chicago Bears through the air.

14. Brandon Marshall (Den) vs. Vincent Jackson (SD)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: JACKSON. Brandon Marshall has looked good the past couple weeks, but Vincent Jackson has been sensational so far this season.

The San Diego Chargers are facing a tough defense this week, but Philip Rivers and Jackson have proven in the past that they can produce against stiff defenses.

I like both receivers in this game because the Chargers’ defense has been quite a disappointment, but I like Jackson a little bit more.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: MARSHALL. Tough to bet against a guy that has 17 receptions, 222 receiving yards and three touchdowns over his last three games.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson has more receiving yards, but until the San Diego Chargers offense starts finishing off drives give me Marshall because he is the better TD threat.

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

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football News and Notes (Week Six)

The key word heading into the sixth week of the fantasy football season is focus.

No matter what your record is heading into this week’s game you must remain focused. Even if you haven’t won a game this season you are not out of it yet. You must remain focused and prepare yourself to once again put together the best possible lineup this week.

The Bruno Boys are here to go over this week’s News and Notes from around the NFL and study its possible fantasy football impact. If you keep yourself prepared with the most up-to-date fantasy football information it will help you to remain focused on putting your best lineup forward.

Good luck in Week Six, no matter what your record is this is likely a big week in your fantasy football season.

Calvin Johnson Misses Practice Wednesday & Thursday, Questionable for Week Six

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, resting a sore right knee from a hit that he took in Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers . He left the game in the first quarter with one reception for two yards, not exactly what fantasy football owners were hoping for.

Losing Johnson would be a big blow for the Lions and fantasy owners alike. He is a huge part of Detroit’s offensive system and is a must-start WR1 for fantasy owners. Before being injured last week Johnson had posted 21 receptions for 323 yards with one touchdown through four games.

Keep an eye on whether he practices on Friday or not; usually if a player can’t practice by Friday, they don’t get to play on Sunday. If he is able to play this week, he should be used as a must-start against a Green Bay Packers team that he had success against in two games that season.

Carson Palmer Injures Thumb Week Five, Participates in Full Practice

Just three days after injuring his left thumb during the Bengals’ Week Five win over the Baltimore Ravens , Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer was able to complete a full practice Wednesday. He wore a glove on his left hand to help protect the injury and it appears he will be ready to go this coming Sunday against the Houston Texans .

This is good news for fantasy football owners who were hoping to use Palmer this week against a Texans team that is ranked No. 16 against the pass this season, giving up more then 220 passing yards per game.

Palmer has passed for 1,116 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions in five games this season and he should be considered a low-end QB1 this week, making him a solid bye week replacement.

Pierre Thomas Was Limited in Practice Wednesday & Thursday, While Mike Bell Had a Full Practice

New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas was limited in practice on Wednesday while nursing a hamstring injury. The injury does not appear to be serious and he is expected to play this week in a possible NFC Championship preview against the New York Giants .

Fellow running back Mike Bell is also expected back this week after practicing in full on Wednesday. Bell has missed the Saints’ past two games due to a sprained MCL.

Both running backs are expected to play, but how the carries will be divided and will likely depend on the health of both players. Thomas is expected to start, but he will likely share carries with Bell and Reggie Bush .

Thomas, if expected to see a solid amount of touches, should be used as a low-end RB2 in this tough match-up, while Mike Bell (if healthy) and Reggie Bush could be used as RB3 or flex options if needed in deeper leagues.

Eli Manning Still Struggling With Injured Heel, Limited at Practice on Wednesday

While dealing with the ongoing plantar fasciitis injury on his right heel, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said he expects Manning to get more and more reps with the first team offense each day leading up to the game on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints . Expect Manning to start again this week.

Keep on eye on this situation as it could change right up until game time. If he is healthy enough to play this week, consider Manning a high-end No. 2 fantasy football quarterback this week.

He could be used as a bye week replacement if necessary, but he will be facing a Saints defense that has given up just three passing touchdowns, with 10 interceptions in four games this season.

Willie Parker Has Full Practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Expected to Play in Week Six

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker was able to participate in full team workouts over the past two days of practice. He has missed the team’s last two games with a toe injury, but after getting in a full workout he appears likely to return to action this week as Pittsburgh will take on the Cleveland Browns .

Even if he returns for this week’s game against the Browns, Parker should not be considered more then a RB3 or flex option. Not only is he recovering from an injury, but he will likely be splitting carries with second-year running back Rashard Mendenhall who has played very well in Parker’s absence over the past two games.

Mendenhall could also be used as a RB3 or flex option this week, but he does have more upside for the future. However, until we get a better gauge on what head coach Mike Tomlin plans to do it’s best to limit your expectations on both options.

Jerricho Cotchery Questionable For Week Six Match-up With the Buffalo Bills

New York Jets wide receiver Jericho Cotchery missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice because of a hamstring injury and he is questionable for the Jets’ Week Six game against the Buffalo Bills .

Cotchery also missed two days of practice last week while resting the injury, but he was able to play Monday night against the Miami Dolphins .

Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan has already said that Cotchery likely won’t practice this week, leaving him a question mark against the Bills. He has 24 receptions on the season for 360 yards with one touchdown, but he only managed one catch for four yards against the Dolphins.

He should not be used as anything higher then a WR3, even if he is healthy enough to play in a good match-up. The Jets have also added a new No. 1 target for quarterback Mark Sanchez , as they traded for wide receiver Braylon Edwards last week.

 

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

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY LARRY JOSEPH .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Identifying Fantasy Football Value

::The Bruno Boys are proud to introduce our newest fantasy football writer Jeff Bunney . Bruno Boys Bunney (isn’t that catchy) will be tackling a new weekly feature in which we take a look “beyond the box score” and bring to our readers attention some scenarios that happened each week that could help your fantasy team down the road. Enjoy and let us know if you have any suggestions::

We as fantasy football owners can do all we can using the tools we are given—the internet, watching games, post-game breakdowns, etc. But there is no substitute to watching each game and identifying situations that either helped or hurt certain players throughout each particular game.

For instance, a wide receiver get’s tackled at the one yard line and the next play the quarterback scores on a sneak; a running back gets two shots from the one yard line then the team goes with a play-action pass to the tight end. You all know what I’m talking about, the little things that have A LOT to do with luck. I’m here to bring as many of those good luck/bad luck situations to your attention to help you make better decisions as the season goes on. With that being said it’s with my pleasure that I introduce to you the first edition of Carrots or Karats? – Identifying Fantasy Football Values .

Adrian Peterson already has five red zone touchdowns this year. He only had six last year and seven in 2007. For comparison, Michael Turner had 14 red zone TDs last year. Those of us wondering about the effect Brett Favre would have on AD’s production have a pretty clear answer. Peterson faces tough rushing defenses in the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in the next two weeks and should still be able to do well considering the red-zone opportunities he’s receiving.

Randy Moss was held to a single catch on four targets against Champ Bailey and the Denver Broncos on Sunday. It seems New England learned a lesson after watching Tony Romo face Denver last week—don’t throw the ball at Champ. Considering Moss picked off a Kyle Orton hail mary to end the first half, the wide out actually had as many interceptions in Week 5 as catches. I’m going out on a limb here and saying that won’t be happening again throughout the veteran’s career.

Steven Jackson owners can’t be thrilled with the way his season is going. The Rams aren’t making too many trips to the red zone, and they don’t seem to handle it well when they do get there. Jackson and Rams tight end Daniel Fells each lost a fumble inside the Vikings’ five-yard line. TDs should be coming soon for Jackson and hopefully his owners can stick it out.

Top-ranked fantasy tight end Jason Witten isn’t putting up the catch and yardage numbers owners are used to seeing, though that’s partially due to the long TD passes Romo has been throwing this year. In 2008 Romo threw six TD passes longer than 50 yards and this year he’s already thrown four. As the Cowboys use the bye week to regroup on offense expect the double-digit-play drives with Witten getting 2-3 targets per drive to come back soon. Plus, you can’t imagine that all defensive backs taking on the Cowboys are going to forget how to tackle like previous weeks (see Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs and Week 1 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .) If you’re an old-school, “that’s how WE used to tackle” aficionado, have a bucket nearby if watching those plays.

Lost in the Texans’ pathetic goal-to-go effort in Sunday’s game with the Arizona Cardinals was that both Steve Slaton and Matt Schaub missed out on some last-minute points. Trailing 28-21 in the 4th quarter Schaub hit Slaton with a 5-yard pass to the ONE yard line with a minute to go. The next three plays: Chris Brown stuffed for no gain; Schaub incomplete pass; Brown getting stuffed AGAIN! Game Over. Though Schaub and Slaton missed out on the TD on that drive, their fantasy football owners as well as owners of Texans and Cardinals players would have been happy if Brown had scored due to the chance for overtime points for your fantasy team. Yards are yards, and any fantasy owner will take them whether it’s the 1st quarter or OT.

Roddy White’s breakout day Sunday could have been even better than his off-the-charts 8 catch for 210 receiving yards and two TD performance. If you’re the greedy type, you can be upset that late in the 2nd quarter White went up and snagged Matt Ryan’s pass, landed at the three and was tackled just short of the goal line. Next play…Michael Turner short yardage touchdown.

Brandon Jacobs’ owners might be a little frustrated these days, especially with the way Ahmad Bradshaw is playing. However, Jacobs has been getting his chances: on Sunday he caught an 8-yard pass to the Raider 11-yard line, then rushed to the 5, then to the 2, then carried for one yard to the 1, then got stuffed at the one. Next play..TD Ahmad Bradshaw . In case you forgot how to count, that’s five red zone chances in one drive and nothing but yardage to show for it. Ouch!

Rashard Mendenhall followed up his strong prime-time performance last week with another solid outing Sunday vs. Detroit. Mendenhall had 43 combined yards including a 7-yard rushing TD after two drives. On Pittsburgh’s third drive, Mendenhall again was impressive, gaining 33 combined yards and got the call from Detroit’s 5-yard line. He outran the pursuit around the right end for a second TD, but the score was nullified by a sketchy holding call. Next play…Big Ben 15-yard TD pass to Heath Miller , and Mendenhall didn’t do much from that point on.

Michael Bush was responsible for the only points the lowly Raiders scored against the New York Giants on Sunday, but that score almost didn’t happen. On the play before the TD run, Justin Fargas lost a fumble at the Giants’ 5-yard line, but Giants head coach Tom Coughlin was unable to challenge the fumble call as the referee’s decision was that forward progress had been stopped on the play. Hmmm. Sounds like somebody felt a bit sorry for the sad Oakland squad. Or felt a bit sad for the sorry Oakland squad. Either way works, and if we’re dealing with the Raiders, close is usually good enough.

YES AND NO ONE-LINERS

YES , Chris Cooley played yesterday. NO , he didn’t have any catches. NO , he didn’t have any targets. YES , he spent the whole day blocking due to an injury to OL Chris Samuels .

NO , Mike Sims-Walker didn’t play yesterday. That’s NO catches or targets as Sims-Walker was a late scratch due to violating team rules. YES , last week’s hot waiver wire pickup of the week let down more than a few fantasy football owners.

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

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week 5 Rankings: Defenses

Defenses have been more valuable then ever this season, as there have been many who put up top scores for all fantasy football players on certain weeks. While it is nice having one defense you don’t have to worry about, this may be the year where playing the waiver wire each week for a defense isn’t a bad thing. That makes the Defense/Special Teams rankings every week more important then ever before. Let’s hope we can once again point you in the right direction and to find out who will be a great plug-n-play simply read the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 5 Defensive Rankings.

BRUNO BOYS DEFENSIVE STAR SYSTEM

5-Stars (* * * * *) – Bruno Boys Top Plays of the Week

4-Stars (* * * *) – Bruno Boys Very Solid Plays of the Week

3-Stars (* * *) – Bruno Boys Average Plays of the Week

2-Stars (* *) – Bruno Boys Try to Avoid Playing this Week

1-Star (*) – Bruno Boys Do Not Start Unless You COMPLETELY Have To

Key Abbreviations: YPG (Yards Per Game); PPG (Points Per Game)

1. (Minnesota Vikings) @ St. Louis Rams

Did anyone happen to see what the Vikings defense, and in particular defensive end Jared Allen, did to Green Bay on Monday Night? Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was under pressure all night, and Allen recorded 4.5 sacks and forced a fumble. Did you also see how badly the Rams offense played against the 49ers defense? San Francisco’s defense/special teams recorded 3 total touchdowns, which was more than their entire offense. Any defense playing the Rams is a must start unless they show signs of turning it around. Considering the Vikings are already solid, they should produce a field day.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

2. (New York Giants) vs. Oakland Raiders

The Giants have the best defense in the NFL, allowing a total of 232.3 yards of offense per game this season. The Raiders are the worst offense in the NFL, totaling 208.5 yards per game. Does that spell mismatch? You bet. New York should handle the Raiders offense with ease this Sunday, especially with their only good player on offense (Darren McFadden) out of the lineup. Expect minimal yards gained and the Giants to put stellar numbers across the board.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

3. (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Detroit Lions

The Steelers were the unanimous first defense chosen in drafts this season and have yet to perform like the best. The injury to Troy Polamalu has limited their blitzing attack and allowed other teams to attack through the air. No matter who lines up behind center on Sunday, Matthew Stafford or Daunte Culpepper, they will struggle regardless if Polamalu plays or not. Pittsburgh will shut down running back Kevin Smith and corner Ike Taylor has shown he can cover top receivers, which means Calvin Johnson may be in for a long day. That means Pittsburgh may be able to bring more pressure and finally start racking up some points on defense. The Steelers may only have two sacks per game, but are still the fifth best in yards allowed at 279.8 per contest.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

4. (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a bye week, the Eagles couldn’t have picked a better opponent to get warmed back up. Tampa Bay is already starting their second quarterback and has had injuries to both the running back and wide receiver position. The Eagles defense meanwhile has been excellent outside the Saints game, allowing 262 yards per game while adding 10 sacks. Philadelphia should have no problem being a dominant force this Sunday.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

5. (Dallas Cowboys) @ Kansas City Chiefs

Dallas’ defense has been atrocious so far this year, allowing a whopping 371.3 yards per game and getting 6 sacks and 4 turnovers. One thing they have done though is not allowed their opponent in the end zone, as teams have scored an average of 19.6 points on them. The hideous numbers should make you wonder why they should be recommended, but the only reason to play Dallas is because their opponent is so bad. Kansas City can’t get anything going on offense, only putting up 246.5 yards and 16 points per game. Their running attack is terrible and you might as well sign yourself up to play receiver for this team because quarterback Matt Cassel has no one to throw to. Almost every week, the defense playing one of the 5 mentioned teams should be a start in fantasy football no matter who it is.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

6. (New York Jets) @ Miami Dolphins

The Jets may have lost last Sunday for the first time but here is something you may not realize. The Jets defense held the high powered Saints attack to only seven points all game, with the New Orleans defense scoring the other two. In fact, that touchdown did not come until the 4th quarter, with 6 minutes remaining in the game. Miami may have gotten their offense jump started, but they will need quarterback Chad Henne to play near perfect football with all the pressure he will be facing. The Jets defense allows 277.8 yards and 14.3 points per game.  They are a must start every week no matter the matchup at hand.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

7. (Indianapolis Colts) @ Tennessee Titans

With Dwight Freeney playing last week in limited action, he should be able to be a full participant this week in this divisional matchup. That is big news, as the pressure he creates off the edge makes up for safety Bob Sanders not playing. Tennessee has struggled on both sides of the ball this season. The only weapon that has produced for them so far is running back Chris Johnson and with teams knowing this, it allows for the defense to scheme around him. The Colts give up 308.3 yards per game but a very low 15.5 points per game. Indianapolis does a great job of applying pressure with 12 sacks on the year, which leads to turnovers, as they have six. This is a very favorable matchup for the Colts against the struggling Titans.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

8. (Washington Redskins) @ Carolina Panthers

If only the Redskins offense could step up like their defense has been able to do so far, they may be in contention. Washington’s defense has had some favorable matchups, but has performed quite well this season. They have seven sacks and five turnovers, and allow 301.5 yards and 15.5 points per game. The Panthers do not seem like the team who ran the ball down everyone’s throats of a year ago, as they have amassed 293.3 yards and 12.3 points per game. Their quarterback can’t stop turning the ball over and the offensive line doesn’t seem to want to protect. Until Carolina gets its offense turned around, you have to like any defense that has some skill to be a good play.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

9. (New England Patriots) @ Denver Broncos

New England’s defense has proven over the last two weeks it can stop good offenses, as both Atlanta and Baltimore did not blow up the stat sheet. The Patriots have allowed 287.5 yards (only 95.3 on the ground) and 17.8 points per game. The Patriots defense has eight sacks and four fumble recoveries, but the scary number is the 1 interception they have made so far. Denver’s offense relies heavily on the run, with 148 of their 376 yard average coming though the running game. With the Patriots being tougher on the ground, this looks like a good matchup play for the Patriots. However, with old offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels now the coach of the Broncos, it has to keep you questioning how much that affects the game. Even with that being said, you still have to like New England’s defense to be an average play with a lot of upside, which gives them an extra star.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

10. (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

No one really talks about the Ravens defense without Rex Ryan being there, but they are still a potent bunch. They have created 10 sacks and seven turnovers in this young season, and don’t stop bringing pressure on opposing offenses. While Cincinnati’s offense has looked good at times, they will likely struggle to put up a lot of offense against Baltimore. After seeing the offense disappear in the second half of their game against a pathetic Cleveland team, it is tough to say they will show up ready to light the world on fire on the road. If you own the Ravens, you likely play them every week. No need to think twice about a possible change for one week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

11. (Carolina Panthers) vs. Washington Redskins

Carolina’s defense has been terrible so far this year, giving up 362.3 yards and 29 points per game. They cannot create pressure with only four sacks and also cannot turn bad play into turnovers, with only four in their three games. The reason Carolina gets ranked so high though is because of the struggles the Redskins have had on offense. Washington has 325.3 yards and a minuscule 14 points per game. If there was ever a game for Carolina to get its defense back on track, it’s this one. The matchup allows Carolina to be an average play for this week. 
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

12. (Denver Broncos) vs. New England Patriots

After playing so well on defense through three weeks, last week was supposed to be a good test for the Broncos defense. They were quite successful, holding Dallas to 10 points on 315 yards and creating five sacks and two turnovers. That elevates them to an average play against a really good offense in New England. If Denver can shutdown the Patriots, you may be able to start them on a weekly basis without worrying about the matchup. Denver has only allowed 239.8 yards and an amazing 6.5 points per game. They have 15 sacks and 10 turnovers in their four games.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK 5 DEFENSIVE RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY GREG WARNOCK.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Four Sit ‘Ems

With the bye weeks now upon us, we are left with fewer options to choose from for our weekly lineups. This makes sitting a player an even more difficult decision than before. However, remember that leaving a guy in your lineup that puts up a stinker is the worst way to lose your fantasy matchup.

As such, the Bruno Boys bring to you our Fantasy Football Week Four Sit ‘Ems.

Quarterbacks: Sit ’em

Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) at Denver

Romo’s inconsistencies can be extremely frustrating to fantasy owners. Even though he shows legitimate flashes of brilliance, he can also struggle miserably in other starts.

Before the season began, most would have argued that this was a great matchup versus a weak opponent, but Mike Nolan’s Broncos defense has flourished.

The Broncos have allowed an astonishing 5.3 points a game along with just 136.3 passing yards per game and ZERO TDs through the air. Yes, they have been that good.

However, they haven’t exactly faced the best QB competition in Carson Palmer, Brady Quinn, and JaMarcus Russell. Tony Romo will do better than all of them and record the first TD against the Broncos, but don’t expect lofty numbers against Champ Bailey and the rest of the Broncos’ secondary.

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) at New Orleans

Mark Sanchez has been as impressive as any rookie QB in NFL history. Yes, it’s actually true. He’s the only QB in NFL history to win his first three games.

However, the Jets and Sanchez face their toughest matchup in week four against the high-powered New Orleans Saints. While everyone knows about the Saints’ offensive power, their defense has been instrumental in frustrating QBs to the tune of seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Expect the Jets to try to control the clock by running the football and playing solid defense throughout this matchup.

Sanchez will probably play decently, but his fantasy stats could suffer on Sunday.

Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. New York Giants

The Giants have been the best team in the NFL defending the pass, allowing only 124 yards per contest and two TDs on the year, while recording five interceptions.

It is unsure what WR Dwayne Bowe’s health status is currently. Without him, Matt Cassel will struggle mightily as he did in week three against the Eagles when he had just 90 passing yards.

The Chiefs offense has been horrendous (except when Brodie Croyle was under center), and it doesn’t seem like this matchup will make it any easier on them. Scour the waiver wire for ANY other options instead of trying to use Cassel this weekend.

Running Backs: Sit ’em

Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) at New England

While the RBBC in Baltimore has been better than good to fantasy owners thus far, this could be the week where it sputters.

While Ray Rice is the starter in Baltimore, he probably will not be finding too much open room to run on the New England defense. Most people believe the Pats’ defense hasn’t been very Patriot-esque, but they have only allowed 88.3 rush yards per game and one rushing TD through three weeks.

Considering that RB Willis McGahee will probably be stealing those goal-line carries, Ray Rice makes for a Sit ‘Em in week four.

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) at Minnesota

With the bye weeks upon us, many fantasy owners may be struggling to find running backs to plug into their lineup. If that is the case, this is probably not a player you will be able to bench unless you have some solid options waiting in the wings.

Grant faces a tough opponent in the Minnesota Vikings, while he has only been average against some great opponents through week three.

Through three games, Grant has averaged 18.7 carries a game for just 69 yards rushing (per contest) and two TDs.

The Vikes pose more of a threat than any of the Grant’s previous opponents considering they have allowed zero TDs through week three.

Grant may see some decent carry totals, but don’t expect him to find the end zone in this matchup.

Darren Sproles (San Diego Chargers) at Pittsburgh

He just hasn’t looked like the same player that was able to tear up teams when he was splitting time with LaDainian Tomlinson. Being the “only” RB on this team, his real value is in PPR leagues where he is still very talented as a receiver.

The Steelers allow 76.7 rushing yards per game and have only given up one TD. If the Chargers do get into goal-line sets, RB Michael Bennett would probably be seeing those carries if LT is out.

This is a tough matchup for a RB who has not exactly shined in his two starts (2.4 ypc in weeks two and three).

Wide Receivers: Sit ‘Em

Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns) vs. Cincinnati

His 16 TD season is a distant memory in the eyes of fantasy owners everywhere. Honestly, those that have him on our roster would be happy if he could just score once every four weeks…which would mean this is the week he’s due to score.

Realistically, though, that probably won’t be happening.

Even though he definitely has a better relationship with QB Derek Anderson than with Brady Quinn, the Cincinnati defense will probably be shutting down the Browns’ passing game.

The Bengals have given up 240 passing yards and a TD per game through three weeks (which isn’t phenomenal), but they have only allowed 45 yards and no TD’s to opposing teams’ top WR’s (B. Marshall—27, G. Jennings—0, S. Holmes—18).

Braylon could definitely be shut down in this matchup.

Donnie Avery (St. Louis Rams) at San Francisco

Donnie Avery is again the No. 1 receiver in St. Louis, so people believe he could perform like he did last season? With WR Laurent Robinson out for the year, it is essential for the Rams to find someone to pass to other than Steven Jackson.

Perhaps Donnie Avery could step up and be that player. It probably won’t happen this week with CB Nate Clements covering him all game, though.

Clements has given up 189 receiving yards and a TD (to Larry Fitzgerald), but Donnie Avery isn’t exactly as good as Fitz.

With a QB dilemma in STL (Bulger or Boller…Does it really matter?), Avery could struggle against the Niners solid defense.

Ted Ginn Jr. (Miami Dolphins) vs. Buffalo

While Miami is attempting to get out of their 0-3 start, they will do so without their starting QB, who went down for the season (career ending?) in week three.

While QB Chad Henne has a stronger arm than Chad Pennington, it is expected that coach Tony Sparano will run the ball to avoid Henne having to make too many plays.

Ginn has not been allowed to be a playmaker so far this season as he only has 134 receiving yards on 13 receptions.

While some would think Henne’s arm equates to more value for Ginn (we do), Henne’s first start of his career is probably not when the relationship brings success.

Tight Ends: Sit ’em

Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) vs. New York Jets

He’s not exactly an elite option, and while his overall numbers look/are impressive (128 yards and two TDs), in his last two games he has posted just 97 yards combined.

Don’t let his week one leave you jaded. He is not that valuable of a commodity in the world of TE’s anymore. If you have someone like Celek or Gonzalez (TE’s on a bye this week), Shockey is a decent replacement, but 4-5 points is more his regularity than the 15 he posted in week one.

Kickers: Sit ‘em

Kris Brown (Houston Texans) vs. Oakland

Typically, it is recommended that a kicker playing a mediocre team is a good start. However, there are the times when an offensive juggernaut (Houston) could score at will and leave a FG kicker like Brown in the dust.

While he could definitely post seven points (a field goal and four extra points), it would not surprise us if he doesn’t get the opportunities for field goals.

Defenses: Sit ‘em

New York Jets D/ST at New Orleans

The breakout D/ST so far this season has undoubtedly been the Jets. They have forced seven turnovers and have only allowed 11 points per game.

Rex Ryan has transformed this defense into a matchup problem for anyone playing them. But, this is no ordinary game. The Saints are the best offensive team in the NFL averaging 40 points a game.

And while the Jets will NOT allow that many points, this is not the matchup you want for your fantasy defense. Words of advice: Bench ANY defense going against the New Orleans Saints until otherwise noted.

 

FOR THE WEEK FOUR START EMS, CLICK HERE!

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY JACOB LERMAN.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week Four Rankings: Defenses

Week Four is knocking at the door, which means the bye weeks are upon us and will be for the next seven weeks of the football season.

In looking for the favorable matchups to fill the void left by a bye week team, you will need to find a defense who won’t bring your team down.

That means these rankings will become more and more important the rest of the season, so stayed plugged into the Bruno Boys as we try to help steer you towards a championship with the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week Four Defensive Rankings!

Bruno Boys Defensive Star System

5-Stars (* * * * *) – Bruno Boys Top Plays of the Week

4-Stars (* * * *) – Bruno Boys Very Solid Plays of the Week

3-Stars (* * *) – Bruno Boys Average Plays of the Week

2-Stars (* *) – Bruno Boys Try to Avoid Playing this Week

1-Star (*) – Bruno Boys Do Not Start Unless You COMPLETELY Have To

Key Abbreviations: YPG (Yards Per Game); PPG (Points Per Game)

1. New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs

The Giants defense played incredible in Week Three, not allowing a single point on the board for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while holding them to 28 yards rushing and 58 yards passing.

The Giants have forced seven turnovers in only three games and still have yet to peak with their pressure packages, only averaging a sack per game.

Look for a strong showing similar to what they did last week against an anemic Chiefs offense.

Bruno Boys Stars: *****

2. San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams

Things couldn’t get much worse for St. Louis, and the team who gets to benefit most against the beleaguered Rams is San Francisco.

The 49ers defense has done well so far this year, as they have not allowed big games to good offenses like Arizona and Minnesota.

Their six sacks and four interceptions demonstrate the pressure the 49ers have gotten up front, which should continue this week.

Bruno Boys Stars: *****

3. Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

The Bengals defense has been solid so far, registering a league high 10 sacks in three games. They have also held opponents to a respectable 18.7 points per game and allowed a mere 88.7 yards on the ground.

As good as those numbers are, their opponent is the best part this week. The Browns don’t have any idea what they want to do on offense, averaging 9.7 points per game and 218 yards per game.

Until the quarterback situation is settled and they can get their running game going, any defense playing Cleveland is a must start.

Bruno Boys Stars: *****

4. Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

The Bears have been an above average defense so far, but what makes them standout this week is their nine sacks and four forced turnovers.

The Detroit Lions are a young team led by a rookie quarterback in Matthew Stafford who usually makes mistakes every game.

With the Bears putting up solid numbers against better teams, it should be expected that Chicago’s defense dominates in this one.

Bruno Boys Stars: ****

5. Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

Buffalo has been a ho-hum defense so far but look at two of the three offenses they have played—the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, who have the first two quarterbacks taken in most fantasy drafts.

Now, they get to play a second year pro that has never started a game in Chad Henne.

Sure, Buffalo’s defense has given up 117.3 yards per game on the ground and Miami loves running the ball. But, if you’re Buffalo, you will likely drop an extra man in the box to stop the run and see what Henne can do with his arm to beat you.

With a bunch of average plays defensively this week, rolling the dice on Buffalo may end up being worth the gamble.

Bruno Boys Stars: ****

6. Washington Redskins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington has had some great matchups the last couple weeks for their defense, and so far, they have only taken advantage of one of the two.

With the third and final game where you can play the Redskins D, will they come to play?

As long as the offense can keep them off the field for at least half the game, then yes. Surprisingly, what has hurt Washington is their inability to stop the run (127.7 yards per game), and lack of pressure (four sacks in three games).

With Tampa Bay starting a new quarterback, though, this may be the game Washington needs to turn things around.

Bruno Boys Stars: ****

7. Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

Okay, the Ravens defense played great against two terrible offenses in Kansas City and Cleveland but only average at best against San Diego.

Well, they get a good rating here because right now, New England has not looked as explosive on offense as they did a couple years back.

Baltimore’s seven sacks and six interceptions shows they are still getting pressure on the quarterback, and as we saw in the Patriots-Jets game, when that happens, New England’s offense tends to sputter.

Bruno Boys Stars: ***

8. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. San Diego Chargers

Pittsburgh’s defense has not been the best defense this season as originally projected, but they also have been without their best playmaker in Troy Polamalu.

The biggest problem for the Steelers is their inability to get to the quarterback, as they have only five sacks and have created just two turnovers.

Even with that being said, the Steelers have yet to play their best and usually create a lot of problems for the Chargers. If you have them, you have to keep rolling with them.

No need to look for a matchup. They are still a top-10 defense in almost every week they play.

Bruno Boys Stars: ***

9. Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys

Yes, the Denver Broncos haven’t played a premier offense (their opponents have included the Browns, Bengals, and Raiders), but for a defense that was supposed to be terrible, they’ve put up some respectable numbers.

Through three weeks, the team has allowed the least amount of yards (214.7) and points (5.3) per game, are tied for the most sacks in the NFL (10), and have created eight turnovers.

Now the real test comes against a Dallas Cowboys offense that is prone to turnovers but can rack up yards in a hurry. If Denver comes out of this game with stellar numbers, you may want to buy on this defense in a hurry.

Bruno Boys Stars: ***

10. Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee’s defense has been middle of the pack so far at best, but it has a good matchup in Week Four.

The Jaguars’ strength is to give the ball to running back Maurice Jones-Drew and let him do the damage. With Tennessee only allowing 60.7 yards per game on the ground and Jacksonville only putting up 202.7 yards through the air, this seems like a good matchup play even if you have lost faith in the Titans.

Bruno Boys Stars: ***

11. New York Jets at New Orleans Saints

A good defense versus a good offense will likely see mixed results this Sunday. The Jets will want to pressure Drew Brees, forcing the Saints to keep their high flying aerial attack out of commission.

If the Saints can get their ground game going, the Jets will have to start playing less aggressive. This is going to be a terrific matchup to watch.

This will likely be as low as the Jets defense gets ranked all year, as they have been outstanding through three weeks of the season.

Bruno Boys Stars: ***

12. Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers

Minnesota’s defense has yet to see a big challenge with three games against struggling offenses (Lions, Browns, 49ers).

While the Packers offense led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers may be a good test, it still isn’t great, as Green Bay has yet to blow up the offensive stat sheet.

If you own the Vikings defense, you have to start them as they have been rock solid so far in totaling eight sacks and six turnovers in three games.

Bruno Boys Stars: ***

 

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK FOUR DEFENSIVE RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY GREG WARNOCK.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings: Kickers

By now certain kickers are solidifying themselves as must-start fantasy football options every week regardless of match-up while others are either underperforming or play on offenses that can’t give them enough opportunities to score. Whatever the reasons for a kicker’s success or failures, it’s become more clear which kickers you want on your roster week to week, which players should be ranked by match ups alone, and which kickers that it’s just best to avoid altogether. However, it’s still pretty early in the season and lots can change (for better and for worse) from now and into the middle of the season. So as always, check out the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 4 Kicker Rankings, to stay informed as these changes occur. 

1. Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants) @ Kansas City 

Lawrence Tynes came back to earth a bit in week 3 against Tampa Bay and missed a 21 yard FG. He ended up converting 1 FG and 3 extra points. Tynes may have missed a kick but he’s been pretty consistent the last 3 weeks and the Giants offense looks to keep chugging along. The Giants play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 which could end up being a huge game for Tynes.
Point Projection: 11 points

2. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Green Bay

In Week 3 against the 49ers, Longwell continued his status as one of 2009’s best fantasy kickers. He kicked 2 FGs, one a 52 yarder, and 3 extra points as well.  The Vikings face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, which should be a great match up. Expect Adrian Peterson to bounce back from last week’s pedestrian game in a big way and drive the Vikings down the field giving Longwell plenty of chances to put up points.
Point Projection: 11 points

3. John Carney (New Orleans Saints) vs. New York Jets

John Carney is having quite the season so far, averaging about 10 points weekly. Last Sunday that trend continued against the Buffalo Bills as he kicked 2 FGs and 3 extra points. Carney is on one of the league’s best offenses and has only missed one FG this season. As long as he’s the kicker in New Orleans, he should remain at the top of this list. The Saints play the New York Jets in Week 4 which should spell lots of FG opportunities for Carney.
Point Projection: 10 points

4. Jay Feely (New York Jets) @ New Orleans

Jay Feely only attempted 1 FG in the Jets win against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. He did hit 3 extra points but did not give his fantasy football owners much to smile about. Despite his low scoring performance in week 3, Feely has been perfect so far, going 5 for 5 this season. The Jets face New Orleans in Week 4 which should give him plenty of chances to improve on last week’s numbers.
Point Projection: 10 points

5. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) @ Pittsburgh

Though they were all below 30 yards Nate Kaeding hit 3 of 4 FGs in the Chargers week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins. He also booted in two extra points. Kaeding has been on a roll and should continue to kick well on a potent Chargers offense. San Diego plays the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4 so it’s a strong possibility that FGs could trump extra points in that game, making him a good start. 
Point Projection: 10 points

6. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) @ Minnesota 

Despite missing an extra point, which is almost impossible, Mason Crosby had a good day for his owners. He went 3 for 3 on FGs and had 3 extra points in the Packers Week 3 win against the St. Louis Rams. More proof that a good kicker’s value spikes when playing St. Louis. Crosby has been consistent so far this season. He’s only missed 2 FG out of 8 and has been successful from long range. Minnesota’s defense is tough but expect the Packers to give them a good game. This could quickly turn into a shoot out. If it does, Crosby will reap in some serious points.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

The Patriots may be struggling but Gostkowski was on fire nailing 4 FGs below the 40 and 2 extra points. All said and done, he netted owners 14 points in Week 3. The Patriots play the Baltimore Ravens in New England this week. While Brady and company are trying to rediscover their dominant offense, Gostkowski should continue to put up good numbers each week. 
Point Projection: 9 points

8. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) vs. Detroit

Robbie Gould missed a 53 yard attempt in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks but then again long distance was never his thing. He did make 1 FG and 2 extra points. The 53 yard attempt was Gould’s first missed FG all season but he has not racked up lots of points for fantasy football owners. Expect a better performance when he kicks against the Detroit Lions in Week 4.
Point Projection: 9 points

9. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) @ Jacksonville

Rob Bironas played on a bad ankle but still converted one FG for 38 yards and 2 extra points against a solid New York Jets defense. His production has been up and down so far this year. Look for Tennessee to run wild over Jacksonville in Week 4 which should allow Bironas to see the field plenty. Consider him a No.1 option thanks to the good match up.
Point Projection: 9 points

10. Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Seattle 

Adam Vinatieri continued to show why he’s not a virtual lock anymore when he walks on the field. He missed another FG against the Miami Dolphins but he did manage to convert one FG and kick 4 extra points. If the Colts offense were not so good, Vinatieri would not be worth having on your roster at this point the way he’s playing. The Colts play Seattle in the RCA Dome in Week 4 and should put up lots of points. Despite his inaccuracies, Vinatieri remains a good start this Sunday.
Point Projection: 9 points

11. Kris Brown (Houston Texans) vs. Oakland

Houston’s offense is churning but it’s not reflecting in Kris Brown’s numbers. In Week 3 against the Jaguars, he kicked a 27 yard FG and converted 3 extra points. Brown has made all of his kicks this season, when he’s gotten the chance. The Texans take on the Oakland Raiders in Week 4 which should translate to a great day and numbers for the solid kicker.
Point Projection: 9 points

12. Nick Folk (Dallas Cowboys) @ Denver

Folk had made his last 16 FGs until Monday night against the Carolina Panthers when he missed a 40 yard attempt. He did redeem himself though converting 2 FGs and an extra point. The Cowboys are still trying to work out the kinks in their offense but they have enough weapons to keep the chains moving. Folk is one of the best kickers in the league and as long as the offense can get better each week, so will his points. Dallas faces a tough Denver Broncos defense in Week 4 but Folk is a must-start every week right now.
Point Projection: 8 points

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK 4 KICKER RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY DOMINIC BROWN.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010