Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Thanksgiving teaches us a valuable lesson that aligns perfectly with the spirit of fantasy football. Upon sitting down at the table, our eyes take in the wondrous spread and immediately, we want it all. Unfortunately our eyes are often bigger than our stomaches, which means decisions have to be made. Do you go with the mashed potatos or the stuffing? Another piece of turkey or some cranberry sauce? These are tough choices my friends. Similar choices arise in the world of fantasy football. Our starting line-up can hold just so much, so it's important that we make the right decisions in order to be the most satisified once the week is over. To help you do this, the Bruno Boys offer the Week 13 Start Em & Sit Em report. Sorry, you're on your own for the Thanksgiving meal decisions.
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QUARTERBACKS - START 'EM

Brett Favre (New York Jets) vs. Denver

It appears Favre may finally be comfortable in the new green he's donning for 2008 as the Jets' quarterback has put up at least 220 passing yards and 2 scores in the team's last two games, both of which came against solid pass defenses in the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans. This week things get easier as Favre will battle it out with the 25th ranked pass defense of the Denver Broncos. 250 passing yards and two scores is a very real possibility. The only concern Favre owners should have is if the Jets go extremely run heavy against the Broncos' 27th ranked rush defense. Starting Favre, though, is a gamble you need to take. 

Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) @ San Diego

The rookie hasn't thrown a TD in either of the past two weeks, but against a San Diego Chargers' team that has allowed 19 passing TDs on the year, that should change. Ryan has some big fantasy days this season, going for 14 or more points in 5 weeks. This week should make it 6 as the Falcons will look to exploit the weak pass defense of San Diego, a unit that ranks dead last in the league.

Chad Pennington (Miami Dolphins) @ St. Louis

The loss of Greg Camarillo undoubtedly hurts Pennington's value going forward; however, we think he'll be just fine in week 13 thanks to a match-up with a soft Rams' pass defense that is giving up 224.5 passing yards per game to go along with 16 passing TDs on the year. Pennington has gone for double digit fantasy points in 6 of his last 8 games, including a stellar 29 point effort against the Pats just last week. He won't match those 29 points, but he should make it 7 for 9 for double digit performances.

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QUARTERBACKS - SIT 'EM

Matt Cassel (New England Patriots) vs. Pittsburgh

Two 400 yard games in a row, and we're suggesting you sit Cassel? Crazy, right? Wrong. The Patriots have tweaked their system to better fit Cassel, and you can't argue with the results these past two weeks as Cassel torched the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. Remember though, both of those squads rank 26th or lower against the pass. Cassel faces a true test this week as he'll take on the top ranked pass defense in the league in the form of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he may not fail, we think at best he earns a "C."

Jason Campbell (Washington Redskins) vs. New York Giants

The mere 3 interceptions on the year are nice, but the fact that he's averaging less than 1 TD per game leaves something to be desired. Campbell is coming off a strong showing against the Seattle Seahawks in which he tallied 15 fantasy points, but the Giants are a much better defense, one that has already held Campbell to a pedestrian 133 passing yards and 1 score in their first meeting this season. They'll bottle him up once more.

Brady Quinn / Derek Anderson (Cleveland Browns) vs. Indianapolis

Whether Quinn is done for the year or not is unknown, but what is certain is that he won't be playing in this week's match-up with the Colts. While admirable that Quinn attempted to play through his broken finger, it turns out the decision could cost the quarterback the rest of the season as playing simply made things worse. Quinn's absence opens the door once more for Derek Anderson; however, don't expect Anderson to miraculously regain his 2007 form, especially in a match-up with the 12th ranked pass defense of the Colts. Remember, there was a reason Anderson was benched for Quinn in the first place.

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RUNNING BACKS - START 'EM

Thomas Jones (New York Jets) vs. Denver

While it was thought that wide receivers, Jerricho Cotchery  and Laveranues Coles would benefit the most from Brett Favre's arrival, the real winner has been Jones. With teams worried about the Hall of Fame quarterback beating them, Jones has found plenty of open space to run in, and he's converting that space into fantasy points. The back has 7 straight games with double digit fantasy points, including six of 15 or more. He'll continue the hot streak with another stellar game, this time against the Broncos, a team allowing 144.5 rushing yards per game and 15 rushing TDs on the year.

Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) @ San Diego

It was beginning to look like Turner would play himself into a simple match-up role as the back burned bad defenses, but struggled against solid squads; however, that all changed last week as Turner went off against the Carolina Panthers to the tune of 117 yards and 4 rushing TDs. That performance has now propelled Turner into elite back territory, making him a must play each and every week.

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills) vs. San Francisco

The Bills' back appears to have found his mojo, putting up 22 and 15 fantasy points over the last two weeks, during which time, he's also recorded his first 100+ yard rushing game. Expect the good times to continue to roll this weekend as Lynch will take on a 49ers' defense that's allowing 103.8 rushing yards and has given up 10 rushing TDs on the season. At the very least, he should tally 70 yards on the ground to go along with a score.

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RUNNING BACKS - SIT 'EM

Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) vs. Miami

Jackson has been running during recent workouts, and his questionable tag means there is a possibility that he can return to the Rams' line-up this Sunday; however, despite his big name, you just can't risk using him during this crucial time of the season. Not only are the Miami Dolphins tough against the run, ranking 9th in the league, but there is an increased possibility that Jackson could take one bad hit and be done for the day.

Sammy Morris (New England Patriots) vs. Pittsburgh

While the backfield is a little less crowded in New England than it was earlier in the season, Morris seems to be a little less effective. In fact, he has just a combined 3 fantasy points in his two games since returning from a knee injury. Facing the top ranked rush defense in the league is not exactly the way to get things back on track. Do yourself a favor and keep Morris out of your line-up on Sunday.

Willis McGahee (Baltimore Ravens) @ Cincinnati 

A virtual lock last season to get double digit fantasy points each and every week, McGahee is now a back for which uncertainty abounds. Not only do his owners have to deal with concerns regarding the health of his body, but they're also forced to deal with a 3 man running back by committee. The uncertainty surrounding McGahee makes even a match-up with the 24th ranked rush defense of the Cincinnati Bengals a risk not worth taking.

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WIDE RECEIVERS - START 'EM

Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) @ San Diego

With both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers in his division, White's schedule isn't the easiest for a wide receiver, which is all the more reason to expect him to take advantage of this week's outing against the league's worst pass defense. Ranking 4th among wide receivers this season in fantasy points, White is an obvious must play, but he's placed here just to talk those owners disappointed from his 5 points last week off the ledge. Start him and enjoy a big day.

Hines Ward (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ New England

Because of Matt Cassel's 415 yard and 3 TD performance last week, Chad Pennington's 341 passing yards and 3 TDs against the Pats has been overlooked. But, Pennington's numbers reveal New England's struggles against the pass. In fact, New England has allowed 19 passing TDs on the year. That's good news for Ward, who leads the Steelers' receivers with 5 TDs on the season. Number 6 should come in this one.

Kevin Walter (Houston Texans) vs. Jacksonville

As we head into week 13, Walter finds himself just 15 fantasy points behind super stud teammate Andre Johnson. In fact, Walter has been the 13th best fantasy wideout this season. Remarkably, he's still not owned in over 20% of leagues on ESPN. If Walter is on your waiver wire or your bench, make sure you plug him in your line-up for this one as Walter has great recent history against the Jags, posting 19 fantasy points against them in week 4 of this season and 16 fantasy points against them in week 6 of 2007.

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WIDE RECEIVERS - SIT 'EM

TJ Houshmadzadeh (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Baltimore

By the end of the season, Housh may have the distinction of being the most noted Sit Em on the year as it seems like nearly every week, he appears in this section of the weekly Start Em and Sit Em. Housh is doing a tremedous job of mimicking teammate Chad Johnson's 2007 season by posting the majority of his points in just a handful of games. If you take away his three 20 point performances, the wide out has just 33 points over 8 games. That's not someone I'm starting when the Ravens are the opponent.

Isaac Bruce (San Francisco 49ers) @ Buffalo

In the world of fantasy football in which the idea of "what have you done for me lately" takes center stage, it's easy to get caught up in a strong outing. Bruce's 18 points in week 12 are a perfect example as many owners will employ Bruce in week 13 in the hopes of a repeat. These people will be severly disappointed. After all, prior to his 18 points in week 12, Bruce had a combined total of just 13 points in his previous 5 games.

Donnie Avery (St. Louis Rams) vs. Miami

Fantasy owners always like to be the ones to find the next big thing, and it appeared after two solid weeks in weeks 7 and 8 of this season that Donnie Avery would be just that, but since those 12 and 22 point efforts, Avery has just 15 fantasy points in 4 games. Even with Miami ranking 28th against the pass, we don't suggest you place your playoff hopes on the rookie. 

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TIGHT ENDS - START 'EM

Visnathe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Chicago

Shiancoe has just one double digit performance on the year, against these very Bears; however, he still ranks 7th among tight ends in fantasy points on the season, which just goes to show the consistency Shiancoe has demonstrated this season, tallying 4 or more points in 7 of 11 games. We don't think he'll quite match his previous performance of 12 points against Da' Bears, but he should get around 6-8 points this Sunday.

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TIGHT ENDS - SIT 'EM

Kellen Winslow (Cleveland Browns) vs. Indianapolis

While Winslow has 54 fantasy points on the year, only slightly more than half of those came with Derek Anderson under center as the tight end has totaled 28 fantasy points in Anderson's 8 games compared to the 26 he scored in the 3 games with Brady Quinn starting under center. Thus, the fact that Anderson will once more serve as the Browns' quarterback is bad news for the tight end. So, is a match-up with a Colts team that has allowed just 4 passing TDs on the year.

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KICKERS - START 'EM

Rian Lindell (Buffalo Bills) vs. San Francisco

Week 12 was a stellar week for the Bills' kicker as Lindell was 4 for 4 on field goals and added 6 extra points in a game in which the Bills put up 54 points on the Chiefs. All in all, it led to 18 fantasy points for the kicker. Granted, the Bills won't be hitting the 50 point mark again this week, but a match-up against the San Francisco 49ers, who are allowing 28.2 points per game, should yield a point total somewhere in the high 20s or low 30s for the Bills, which means Lindell will have another solid fantasy outing.

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KICKERS - SIT 'EM

Kris Brown (Houston Texans) vs. Jacksonville

When you get limited opportunities as a kicker, you need to take advantage of every chance you get. Brown was doing just that, up until last weekend when he missed not only his first field goal of the season, but also his second. The misses cost Brown a chance at his first double digit outing since week 6. The single digit streak will continue again in week 13.

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DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS - START 'EM

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati

The last time these two teams met way back in week 1 of the season, the Ravens held the Bengals in check, giving up just 10 points and 154 total yards. Making this week's match-up look even sweeter is the fact that Carson Palmer was under center for the Bengals in that week 1 meeting. If the Ravens could hold Palmer down, they should have no problem holding Ryan Fitzpatrick in check in this one.

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DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS - SIT 'EM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans

Granted it's tough to sit the Bucs as they are the top fantasy defense in standard scoring leagues, but they do take on the best offense in the league in the New Orleans Saints, a team that is coming off a 51 point outing. Throw in the fact that the Bucs managed just 8 fantasy points against the Saints in their previous meeting this year in week 1, and the case becomes even stronger for leaving them on your bench.