Can you believe that the bye-weeks are already here? Missing this week are six teams, which include some better defenses in the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks. That is fine though as only one of those four have even done a crap so far in 2008! The biggest question is how you all are doing? If not too well, hit the Bruno Boys boards quickly as time is running out to turn things around, especially if you are 0-3! Let's jump on the problem and get it rectified! Part of the reason could be defenses, so here is what the Bruno Boys have to offer up in Week 4. Before we head into the article, I would like to explain the “Star System”.
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
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1. (Baltimore Ravens) @ Pittsburgh Steelers
If you enjoy slow, low-scoring, defense impacted NFL games you are in luck this week! The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens game should be a real snoozer, I mean exciting game! With Big Ben and Willie Parker (OUT for Week4) banged up, the Ravens D should make mince meat of the rest of the Steelers group!
Bruno Boys Stars: *****
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2. (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Baltimore Ravens
It is not very often that you get to see the top two defensive picks of the week as each others opponents, but this week we do. The Pittsburgh Steelers eat up running backs and that is all that the Baltimore Ravens have to offer!
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *
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3. (Tennessee Titans) vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Tennessee Titans host the incumbent Minnesota Vikings offense who’s lone star, Adrian Peterson, is hurting. The Titans are giving up only 9.7 points per game and the Vikings are struggling right now on offense, so the Titans should end up being a great play this week!
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *
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4. (San Diego Chargers) @ Oakland Raiders
The Shawne Merriman-less San Diego Chargers have been the biggest defensive disappointment in fantasy football this year, having given up an average of 394 yards per game. That should change this week as they visit the Oakland Raiders who are doing well in the rushing game, but are banged up there as well.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *
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5. (Minnesota Vikings) @ Tennessee Titans
The Minnesota Vikings eat up running backs like a fat man eats up ice cream! With the Tennessee Titans offense being made up by two really solid RB’s I think there is a very good shot that the Titans will struggle to put up many points in the game. Their only chance lies in a really inconsistent passing game, which of course the Vikings are horrible at defending. It could really go either way, but I am choosing that it will go in the Vikings direction.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *
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6. (Denver Broncos) @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Denver Broncos are not the greatest group of defensive players in the game, but they are challenging a Kansas City Chiefs team that has struggled mightily offensively this year. That being said, the Chiefs will need to go for a bunch of passing plays to keep up with the Broncos this week, which in return should mean plenty of INT’s, sacks and possibly even a defensive TD or two!
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *
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7. (Carolina Panthers) vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Carolina Panthers have been solid, but unspectacular this year and in Week 4 they face an Atlanta Falcons club that has Michael Turner at RB, but Matt Ryan at QB, so you never know where things are going to go! This should be a pretty solid week for the Panthers defense who should cause some turnovers on this young, energetic group.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *
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8. (Buffalo Bills) @ St. Louis Rams
Surprisingly, the Buffalo Bills have been pretty solid on the defensive end this year and they get to go against the lowly St. Louis Rams offense who just changed out their QB’s from Marc Bulger to Trent Green. The Rams have accumulated only 202 yards offense this year so the Bills should be able to benefit from not only facing a confused offense, but one that may be trying to air the ball out a bit more than normal!
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *
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9. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers running game has struggled so far this year, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a fairly solid defensive group. This should be a battle that will be won on the ground. If that is the case, expect plenty of time clock to be used up, making this one of the more quickly played games this week, and maybe even one of the lower scoring.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *
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10. (New York Jets) vs. Arizona Cardinals
Ok, this could be the Pollack in me, but the Jets have played fairly well this year on the defensive end of the ball, barring last Monday nights shellacking by the San Diego Chargers. This week they face a Arizona Cardinals offense that has been high-octane as of late, but something tells me that the New York Jets are going to employ a running attack and short yardage passing tactic that should keep the Cardinals off of the field some. That should help their defense immensely, making the Jets an average play this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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11. (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Houston Texans
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been pretty solid this year on the defensive end of the ball, but they also have to take on the high-flying Houston Texans aerial attack. Andre Johnson has not done much this year and this could be the week that he explodes..
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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12. (Arizona Cardinals) @ New York Jets
The New York Jets have not been nearly as good offensively as people had hoped when Brett Favre took over as commander in chief. I am looking for more dump passing going on this week against the Arizona Cardinals which could backfire with the way the Cardinals have stepped up defensively this year. Favre is bound to have a good game sometime, isn’t he?
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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13. (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Chicago Bears
The Philadelphia Eagles have been VERY GOOD defensively this year, allowing only 45.7 rushing yards per game. That is going to have to continue if they are to keep the Chicago Bears off the board this week as Matt Forte is the obvious choice on offense for Chicago..
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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14. (Green Bay Packers) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Green Bay Packers are a bit banged up defensively this week and they face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that is leaning towards airing the ball out big time, yet still has a very solid running attack. The Packers should have their hands full this year and it will take all that they have to bring in an average showing.!
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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15. (Chicago Bears) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Chicago Bears are a good defensive club, and have been so far in 2008, but they are facing a scorching Philadelphia Eagles offense that has done nothing wrong for the most part this year. The Bears have their hands full!
Bruno Boys Stars: * *
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16. (Dallas Cowboys) @ Washington Redskins
The Dallas Cowboys are a bit banged up defensively and they face a Washington Redskins team who always brings their A game to this match up. This should be a high-powered affair!
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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17. (Houston Texans) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Houston Texans are an up and coming defensive squad, but even better is that they are facing a struggling Jacksonville Jaguars offense… Or are they? I have a feeling that the Jaguars are going to put up some solid points this week, starting with the rejuvenated running game. Try to avoid playing the Texans this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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18. (St. Louis Rams) vs. Buffalo Bills
The St. Louis Rams have been one of the worst defensive clubs this week, and if they were facing a team that was more high-powered, they would be even further down the charts. That being said, even the Buffalo Bills warrant the Rams to be in the lower 1/3 of this weeks picks..
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *
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19. (Cleveland Browns) @ Cincinnati Bengals
In one of the biggest yawner match ups of the week, the Cleveland Browns are facing a rejuvenated Cincinnati Bengals offense that did well in Week 3. That should continue into Week 4.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *
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20. (San Francisco 49ers) @ New Orleans Saints
This will be a very high-powered match up this week and neither of these clubs will do well defensively. The better of the two will be the San Francisco 49ers though as the New Orleans are fairly banged up.
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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21. (Washington Redskins) @ Dallas Cowboys
Huge match up against bitter rivals should result in a ton of points on both sides. I look for the Dallas Cowboys to torch the Washington Redskins this week..
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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22. (Atlanta Falcons) @ Carolina Panthers
The Atlanta Falcons are one of the weaker defenses in the league. This week they take on a Carolina Panthers offense that is well balanced and should have a field day!
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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23. (New Orleans Saints) vs. San Francisco 49ers
The banged up New Orleans Saints defense has to take on the rejuvenated and highly productive San Francisco 49ers defense this week. They should allow a ton of points!
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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24. (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Cleveland Browns
The Cincinnati Bengals should have their hands full as the Derek Anderson led Cleveland Browns will have a ton to prove this week!
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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25. (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. Denver Broncos
Oh my God. It was hard not to put them as dead last this week. The only reason that they aren’t is because a miracle will happen and the Kansas City Chiefs offense will be able to stay on the field long enough to burn some decent time-clock.
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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26. (Oakland Raiders) vs. San Diego Chargers
The Oakland Raiders can not stop the rush. The San Diego Chargers have the best back in the game. And now Phillip Rivers can’t be stopped as his WR’s are doing a heck of a job. This should be brutal for the Raiders!.
Bruno Boys Stars: *
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WEEK 4 BYE WEEK DEFENSES
Detroit Lions – BYE
This is not a team that you should start as a defensive play…EVER!!! They made the Falcons, 49ers and Packers look like they are all Super Bowl bound!
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Indianapolis Colts – BYE
This group of defenders are about in the middle when it comes to fantasy worthy plays. A solid bye-week replacement if the match up is right.
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Miami Dolphins – BYE
They made the New England Patriots look like, no pun intended, the Miami Dolphins. I don’t expect that to continue.
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New England Patriots – BYE
I don’t know what is happening with this group as they were one of my personal favorites when the season started. As they say, there is a reason that you play the games. We are seeing it right now! But they should bounce back and be a solid play the rest of the year.
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New York Giants – BYE
Very solid group of defenders that has played very well so far this year. If there was a defense that you wanted to pick up that may not cost much to acquire, this would be the one.
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Seattle Seahawks – BYE
Talk about another major disappointment. But to be honest, if your offense is that banged up and can’t stay on the field, the defense is bound to struggle just from tiring out. Once the offense gets healthy they should be just fine. But until then, be prepared for up and down weeks!
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WEEK 4 RANKINGS (click to view)
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense
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Also, check our the Week 4 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em Article (click to view)
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Current Waiver Wire Articles (click to view)
Waiver Wire - Week 3 Edition
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