Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings - Quarterbacks (Divisional Round)

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Just because the regular season in the NFL is over, it doesn't mean you can't play fantasy football. With that in mind, we started up a fantasy football playoff contest in which you can compete against the Bruno Boys staff for FREE PRIZES. Even with the first round of the playoffs being over, it's never to late to participate in the fantasy playoff contest. The winner of the playoff contest will receive a $25 gift card of their choice, while 2nd place will receive a $15 gift card of their choice and 3rd place will receive a $10 gift card of their choice. To enter the contest, just click here... FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CONTEST.

To help the Bruno Boys Nation win FREE PRIZES, we bring to you the Divisional Round Quarterback Rankings.

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1. Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) @ Carolina

During the Cardinals 30-24 Wild Card round victory over Atlanta, Warner was his typical self, as the savvy veteran finished with 271 passing yards and two touchdowns. If you owned Warner in this game he rewarded you with 16 fantasy points and he should do much of the same this week against the Panthers. In a week 8 loss to Carolina, Warner completed 35 of 49 passes, had 381 passing yards and two touchdowns. With this game expected to be a shootout, a reasonable projection for one of the best fantasy quarterbacks is 275-300 passing yards and two touchdowns. Even if Anquan Boldin (hamstring) misses this game expect Warner to be the highest scoring fantasy quarterback in the 2nd round of the NFL playoffs.
Point Projection: 20 points

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2. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. San Diego **CHECK STATUS**

We know there is snow in the forecast, we know Big Ben is fresh off a concussion, but the writing is on the wall for Roethlisberger to throw all over a second rate Chargers (31st in NFL against pass) pass defense. Despite fighting snow flurries in a week 11 victory over San Diego, Big Ben completed 31 of 41 for 308 passing yards but he failed to throw a touchdown pass. Still, his 41 passing attempts tied a season high and if Pittsburgh was smart they will ditch the run in the Divisional round and attack the Chargers with a heavy dosage of Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington and Heath Miller. Unless the snow is heavier than expected in Pittsburgh, look for Roethlisberger to be one of the better plays of the week.
Point Projection: 17 points

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3. Jake Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) vs. Arizona

Of late, Delhomme has been at his best just handing the ball off to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart but this match-up calls for Carolina to be more aggressive with their passing offense. The Cardinals have allowed 38 passing touchdowns in 17 games and Delhomme had a good taste of the cake when he torched Arizona for 248 passing yards and two touchdowns in week 8. No doubt about it the Panthers top priority will be to establish the run, but as the Cardinals try to contain the surging Williams, expect Delhomme to hook up with Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad at will. This should lead to around 225 passing yards and 2 TD's from the veteran who is just two wins away from taking Carolina back to the Super Bowl.
Point Projection: 15 points

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4. Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) @ New York Giants

Talk about peeking at the right time. Over the last month, McNabb continues to play his best football despite having no go-to wide receiver and a running game that has been hit-or-miss for most of the season. Taking on the 5th rated New York Giants defense will be no easy task, but in week 14 this same Eagles team traveled to the Meadowlands and defeated the Giants to keep their playoff chances alive. In that game, McNabb threw for a touchdown, had 191 passing yards and we expect a similar performance for the most part. In his last four meetings against New York, McNabb has thrown for just 702 yards, but he has five TD's passes in that span and has turned the football over just twice. Finally, McNabb was sacked 12 times in a game against New York last year, but the Giants defense failed to wrap up the quarterback in 2008.
Point Projection: 13 points

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5. Eli Manning (New York Giants) vs. Philadelphia

Everyone talks about David Tyree's catch in the Super Bowl, but it was the play of Manning throughout the playoffs that led the Giants to the promise land. In four playoff games, Manning passed for 854 yards and six touchdown passes as the Giants ran the table and upended the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. This year he will be without Plaxico Burress and the Giants will emphasize the run against a tough Eagles secondary, but Manning is a skilled enough player to hover around 225 passing yards and a touchdown. Plus, the Giants will have to throw a fair amount to prevent Philadelphia from stacking the box.
Point Projection: 13 points

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6. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) @ Pittsburgh

Last week, Rivers failed to play to his potential in the Chargers shocking 23-17 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts and things won't get any easier in the Divisional round. The last time San Diego traveled into Pittsburgh there was a snowstorm and Rivers could only muster a 44.4 quarterback rating and 164 passing yards to go along with two turnovers. This time, they are expecting a high of 19 degrees and some snow showers, which is enough to make the warm weather QB a risky play. Talent wise, Rivers has enough to post a big day regardless of the surroundings, and opponent, but we expect the Chargers to take a run first game-plan into Pittsburgh. Bottom line, play with caution!
Point Projection: 11 points

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7. Kerry Collins (Tennessee Titans) vs. Baltimore

Throughout the season Collins sported an 80.2 quarterback rating, which was good for the 3rd highest in his career, but he was more of a game manager than a fantasy football stalwart. His 12 touchdown passes and 2,676 passing yards ranked towards the bottom of the league for quarterbacks who played in 12 or more games, but the Titans are sitting atop the AFC East because of his decision making. Still, you don't win fantasy games by QB's playing it safe, so you shouldn't be that guy who takes a gamble on Collins. Plus, the Ravens have the 2nd rated passing defense and two of his 7 interceptions came in a week 5 match-up against Baltimore.
Point Projection: 8 points

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8. Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) @ Tennessee

Flacco's 59.1 quarterback rating in the Ravens wild card round victory is less than spectacular, but the rookie didn't turnover the football and scored on a touchdown run to salvage the day for those who started him. Things won't get any easier this week, as the Ravens travel to Tennessee to face a Titans pass defense that limited Flacco to 153 passing yards and two interceptions in a week 5 loss. Baltimore ran the football 38 times in the teams' previous meeting and we expect that trend to continue this week, so odds are Flacco will need another rushing TD to eclipse double-digit fantasy points.
Point Projection: 7 points

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DIVISIONAL ROUND RANKINGS

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense

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Fantasy Football Weekly Words - Wild Card Weekend

Bruno Boys Whooley — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:59:00 GMT

What a difference a day makes! In less than a 24 hour period, we witnessed first hand what makes the game of football and the NFL such a pleasure to watch. As we headed into Wild Card Weekend, the script called for all four road teams to come out victorious; after all, they were the ones favored by the Vegas odd-makers. However, the script was thrown out the window on Saturday as both the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers came out victorious at home. Just when NFL fans everywhere were getting used to the idea that anything could happen on any given Sunday, which meant bad news for the road warriors, Sunday's games played out just as we all had expected with the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles taking care of business on the road.

For more of what surprised us on Saturday and what played out as scripted on Sunday, check out the Wild Card Weekend Weekly Words.

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Surprise Saturday, Scripted Sunday

Surprise Saturday! - After passing the football 290 times more than they ran it in the regular season, the Arizona Cardinals showed a rare balance in their play calling on Saturday, throwing the ball 32 times, while rushing it 28.

Scripted Sunday! - The Baltimore Ravens, as was the norm this season, relied heavily on their running game, rushing the ball a full 10 times more than they threw it. With rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco, completing just 9 of 23 passes, it's a good thing the Ravens had a solid ground game to turn to.

Suprise Saturday! - The running back to do the most damage Saturday, despite big names like Michael Turner, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Joseph Addai also taking the field, was Chargers' back-up Darren Sproles, who went for 328 total yards on the day along with two TDs, including the game winner in the Chargers upset over the Colts.

Scripted Sunday! - The running back to do the most damage Sunday was Vikings' running back, Adrian Peterson, who went for 83 yards and two scores. Peterson leading the running back charge on Sunday was no surprise as the back was second only to Turner when it came to fantasy points this season among the wild card runners.

Suprise Saturday! - While giving up 331.5 yards per game over the regular season, good for just 19th in the league, the Arizona Cardinals buckled down, leading all post-season defenses as we head into the divisional round of the playoffs with just 250 yards allowed in their Wild Card win.

Scripted Sunday! - The Ravens, who led the NFL this season with 26 interceptions, forced Miami Dolphins' quarterback, Chad Pennington, to throw 4 interceptions in the Ravens victory.

Surprise Saturday! - Despite Peyton Manning going for over 300 yards passing and throwing a TD and Philip Rivers throwing for just 217 yards along with an interception, the Chargers came out on top of the Colts in Saturday's overtime thriller.

Scripted Sunday! - With Donovan McNabb throwing for 300 yards, a score, and an intercpetion and Tarvaris Jackson hurling the ball for just 164 yards and an interception, the Eagles came out on top of the Vikings in Sunday's evening affair.

Surprise Saturday! - Michael Turner, who averaged a hearty 4.5 yards per carry during the regular season, mustered just 2.33 yards per carry in Sunday's contest with the Cardinals, a team that allowed opponents' 4.0 yards per carry during the regular season.

Scripted Sunday! - As expected, the Minnesota Vikings' staunch run defense held Brian Westbrook in check on the ground, limiting the back to just 1.9 yards per carry; however, Westbrook showed why he's such a valuable commodity, exhibiting his dual threat ability by racking up 83 receiving yards and a score.

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DIVISIONAL ROUND RANKINGS

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense

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::Also, you can click the Fantasy Sports Dashboard (powered by partner Screaming Sports) at the top of the screen and import plus manage all of your fantasy teams from one page::

2008 Fantasy Football MVP Awards (Position by Position)

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:10:00 GMT

Taking on this task of identifying those fantasy football players that established themselves as the top performers at their position is Ryan Hallam, creator of Fighting Chance Fantasy.

So, join Ryan as he takes us through the 2008 FANTASY FOOTBALL MVP AWARDS. As always if you have any questions for him, email rhallam@brunoboys.net for all of your offseason fantasy advice.

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QUARTERBACK MVP

Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - Peyton Manning might have won the actual league MVP, but this is the fantasy MVP and it goes to Drew Brees hands down. He came within 16 yards of breaking the all- time single season yardage record, and completed 65% of his passes. Brees only had one game all season long in which he failed to throw a touchdown pass as he shared the league lead in that category as well with 34.

Hallam's Take: Can you believe that the an San Diego Chargers had both Brees and Philip Rivers on their roster at the same time not long ago? Half the teams in the NFL can't find one legitimate QB, while the Chargers had two Pro Bowlers. Brees should be the top quarterback off the board on draft day again in 2009 as the New Orleans Saints pass as much as any team in the league, and he is the field general of that team.

Honorable Mention

Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - Shared the lead in TD passes, Rivers carried you down the stretch with 11 TDs in the last four weeks after starting the season with three straight three score games.

Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) - Wasn't even drafted in most leagues, but still threw for 4,500 yards and 30 TDs. Only drawback was he faded down the stretch.

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RUNNING BACK MVP

DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) - Williams had an incredible season for the Carolina Panthers all while sharing some carries with Jonathan Stewart. He was third in the league with over 1,500 yards, but led the NFL in total touchdowns with 20. In the final nine games of the season, Williams reached the 100 yard plateau seven times and scored a whopping 16 times over that span including two four touchdown games. He carried fantasy teams on his back and single handedly won many matchups for his owners.

Hallam's Take: Who saw this one coming? In his first few years he shared the backfield with DeShaun Foster, never able to wrestle the job away from him. As soon as Foster leaves town, the Panthers draft a running back in the first round. None of this led to any confidence from fantasy football players. Even though he was the best running back in fantasy this season I just can't see spending a top five overall pick on Williams in next season's drafts. He certainly has the talent to repeat this performance, but pick him with some caution.

Honorable Mention

Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) - Can't argue with 17 TDs. You think the Chargers wished they kept him instead of LaDainianTomlinson?

Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) - Fell short of expectations, but still led the NFL in rushing and scored 10 times. Only a case of fumblitis and injuries can stop him from becoming a megastar.

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WIDE RECEIVER MVP

Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) - The model of consistency, Fitzgerald had five or more catches in every game except two, and he had a touchdown in both of them to make up for the points. He shared the league lead in touchdowns with 12, and broke the 100 yard barrier seven times this season. Most importantly, Fitzgerald came through when his owners needed him most. In the last two weeks of the season (read: fantasy championship time) he had two 100 yard games and scored three times.

Hallam's Take: My favorite fantasy wide receiver, Fitzgerald is so good it is scary. He can make the short pass and turn it into a big gain, can go deep, and is the perfect option for a jump ball around the goal line. Fitzgerald can go overlooked sometimes because he just quietly puts up great numbers but isn't flashy like Moss or Owens. He loses some touchdowns to Anquan Boldin but there is serious speculation that Boldin will be moving on to somewhere new next season. Rank Fitzgerald among the top wide receivers for your 2009 fantasy football draft.

Honorable Mention

Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) - Led the NFL in receptions with 115, and yardage with 1,575. Still just scratching the surface of his talent, consistent quarterback play could raise his touchdown numbers.

Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) - Considering he was on an 0-16 team with no quarterback his numbers are staggering. 78 catches, 1,300+ yards, and tied for the league lead with 12 TDs. A total stud.

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TIGHT END MVP

Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs) - Far and away the best tight end in the NFL in 2008, Gonzalez led tight ends in catches with 96, yardage with 1,058, and touchdowns with 10. This was his second consecutive season of nearly 100 catches and over 1,000 yards, but it was the first time he scored double digit touchdowns since 2003. With the emergence of Tyler Thigpen, Gonzalez could add three to four years of production to his career.

Hallam's Take: After two down seasons, this is two more of "turn back the clock" for Gonzalez. I can't believe I am saying this, but as long as the Chiefs are committed to Thigpen, Gonzalez should continue his success. He is about to turn 33, however, so the decline in his statistics probably isn't far away but he still should be the best or among the top three tight ends in fantasy for 2009.

Honorable Mention

Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts) - Like his quarterback, Clark just gets the job done. His touchdown numbers dropped, but his yardage and receptions increased nicely.

Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) - Injuries and inconsistencies have dropped him down a couple notches, but he's still one of the best tight ends.

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KICKER MVP

Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) - Gostkowski led the NFL in scoring and in field goals made. He had a field goal in every game but one, and in that game he kicked seven extra points. He was very consistent as he only missed four attempts all season long, although two of them were within 30 yards.

Hallam's Take: Does New England have a star player EVERYWHERE besides running back? Gostkowski has stepped right in and made the people forget that Adam Vinatieri ever kicked in Foxboro, as he has been just as good after a shaky rookie year. He actually scored more points this season then in New England's record setting scoring binge of 2007.

Honorable Mention

John Carney (New York Giants) - Wasn't even supposed to kick for them, but the 44-year old had only one few field goal than Gostkowski and only missed three times in 15 games.

David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) - Back on the fantasy map after that gruesome hamstring injury, Akers missed at a higher rate than the other two guys but 33 field goals will get you big fantasy points.

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TEAM DEFENSE MVP

Baltimore Ravens D/ST - No other defense has as many playmakers as Baltimore. They allowed the second least number of points in the league, had the most interceptions, three safeties, and sacked the quarterback over 30 times. The most valuable aspect of their defense to fantasy players is their ability to score. The Ravens returned six turnovers for touchdowns in 2008, and I don't need to tell you how valuable a defensive touchdown is to a fantasy owner.

Hallam's Take: They brought back memories of their smothering early 2000s defense when they went to the Super Bowl. Not only do the Ravens beat you, but they beat you up. They hit you so hard they make you lose your will to succeed. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are starting to age and aren't as healthy as they used to be, but if the Ravens aren't the first defense off the board on Draft Day 2009, they better be one of the first three.

Honorable Mention

Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST - The best statistically against the run and the pass, allowed the least number of points, and was second in sacks. Even with a tough schedule, they were fantasy gold.

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST - Among the league leaders in all the fantasy defense categories, plus they scored five times. What else did you expect from Philly?

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::Questions? Comments? How about you SIGN UP for an account and leave a comment. Plus, by signing up, you can MANAGE ALL of your FANTASY FOOTBALL teams from ONE ACCOUNT::

::Also, you can click the Fantasy Sports Dashboard (powered by partner Screaming Sports) at the top of the screen and import plus manage all of your fantasy teams from one page::

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Roundtable - Wild Card Edition

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Bruno Boys Cavigs: Just because the regular season in the NFL is over, it doesn't mean you can't play fantasy football. With that in mind, we started up a fantasy football playoff contest in which you can compete against the Bruno Boys staff for FREE PRIZES. The winner of the playoff contest will receive a $25 gift card of their choice, while 2nd place will receive a $15 gift card of their choice and 3rd place will receive a $10 gift card of their choice. To enter the contest, just click here... FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CONTEST (Password is BRUNO).

To help the Bruno Boys Nation win FREE PRIZES, we bring to you the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Roundtable - Wild Card Edition, which we breakdown NFL players and their fantasy value heading into this weekend's games.

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Wild Card Round Burning Questions!

1. With the NFL playoffs starting in less than 24 hours which teams do you think will represent the AFC & NFC in the Super Bowl? Also, who will WIN Super Bowl XLIII?

Bruno Boys Cavigs: With there being so much parity in the NFL, all 12 teams are serious contenders to win the Super Bowl. On paper the front runners are the Tennessee Titans in the AFC and the New York Giants in the NFC, but something tells me that both teams will stumble before they can make it to Tampa Bay. The team I like in the AFC is the surging Indianapolos Colts. With quarterback Peyton Manning playing some of the best football of his career and the team riding a nine game winning streak I don't see anyone knocking them off in the AFC. This team reminds me alot of the 2006 team that won the Super Bowl. They have Dominic Rhodes back, Bob Sanders is healthy and ready to shutdown the run like he did that year and even with the possibility of Indianapolis having to play three road games I still like their chances.

As for the NFC, it's a crap shoot. You can make a case for all six teams, but the team that I like is the Philadelphia Eagles. Call me crazy, because the backdoored their way into the playoffs, but that defense is playing at such a high level they will be tough to beat. They have allowed just two offensive touchdowns over the past four games and they won 4 of their last five games just to get into the playoffs. Plus, after getting benched quarterback Donovan McNabb has been re-emerged and been one of the top QB's in the NFL since week 13. It will be a tough road to get to Tampa Bay, but this same Eagles team did travel to the Meadowlands and beat the Giants in week 14.

Finally, I like the Indianapolis Colts to upend the Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 27-20 en route to their 2nd Super Bowl in three years.

Bruno Boys Whooley: Just take a gander at this week's NFL Point Spread Pick Em and you'll see just how close things are between all these playoff teams as not a single point spread is greater than 3. It's parity at its best baby! However, never one to back down from a difficult task, I'm going to put it all on the line and let you know who my Super Bowl picks are. First, in the NFC, I have to go with the Carolina Panthers. When looking at this season's version of the Panthers, I'm reminded greatly of that squad that made it to the Super Bowl back in 2004. Like they did back then, this squad has a two-headed monster at the running back position (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart), a solid defense that ranks 12th in the league in points allowed per game at 20.6, and wide receiver, Steve Smith, playing at the top of his game. This Panthers team is a force to be reckoned with, especially as owners of one of the first round byes, and they'll be the ones representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.

As for the AFC, I have to agree with my counterpart in Bruno Boys Cavigs and give the nod to the Indianapolis Colts. Sure, the road to the Super Bowl will be difficult as they'll be on the road throughout, but we've seen it done before (aka last year's Super Bowl Champions the New York Giants). There's no doubt in my mind that 3-time MVP, Peyton Manning, can't repeat what his brother Eli accomplished last season, especially with the New England Patriots watching from home. Riding a 9 game win streak, this team is hot, and the hot team is usually the one that makes it through the do-or-die situations.

In the end, the Indianapolis Colts ride the hot streak to another Super Bowl crown, defeating the Panthers 31 to 24.

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Wild Card Round Weekly Match-ups! (Who'll Have the Better Week?)

1. Peyton Manning vs. Philip Rivers

Bruno Boys Cavigs: MANNING. It was Philip Rivers who scored more fantasy points in an earlier meeting, but Manning is the NFL MVP and he will lead the Colts to victory on Saturday Night. With the Chargers having allowed 25 passing touchdowns and over 240 passing yards per game you can expect the Colts to attack through the air. Both should produce, but give me the seasoned veteran.

Bruno Boys Whooley: MANNING. Rivers had a great season in 2008, racking up 269 fantasy points along the way, but how do you go against the league's MVP? To be honest, you just can't.

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2. Reggie Wayne vs. Vincent Jackson

Bruno Boys Whooley: WAYNE. Yes, Jackson had the better fantasy day the first time these two teams met, but with the Colts giving up just 6 passing TDs on the year compared to the 25 allowed by the Chargers, the odds are in Wayne's favor for the wideout to get his revenge in this one.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: WAYNE. The veteran has only two touchdowns since week 10, but he found his rapport with quarterback Peyton Manning down the stretch and should be able to find holes in the Chargers enemic secondary. In fact, San Diego allows opposing quarterbacks to complete 25.7 passes per game, so you can expect 6-7 catches out of Wayne.

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3. Adrian Peterson vs. Brian Westbrook

Bruno Boys Whooley: PETERSON. Both will be heavily involved in their teams' game plans. After all, both are the main reasons their respective teams are in the playoffs. With that said, Peterson gets the edge in this head-to-head match-up as Tarvaris Jackson is a lot less likely to eat into his fantasy production as Donovan McNabb is to eat into Westbrook's.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: PETERSON. Tough call here but the only way the Vikings have a shot in this football game is if they control the clock and hand Peterson the rock. Plus, Brian Westbrook has struggled down the stretch and with Donovan McNabb playing at a high level expect the Eagles to air it out more often than usual.

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4. Kurt Warner vs. Matt Ryan

Bruno Boys Cavigs: WARNER. The only way the Cardinals compete in this football game is if Warner has a big afternoon, and with me taking Arizona in our Weekly Pick 'Em article I can't bet against Warner. Plus, the Falcons will be running Michael Turner more than 20 times in this game.

Bruno Boys Whooley: WARNER. Rookie, Matt Ryan, has had a wonderful rookie campaign and should have a solid game against a Cardinals' pass defense that allowed 36 passing TDs over the course of the regular season, but while Ryan should be solid, the Falcons aren't going to place the game on the rookie's shoulder; rather, they'll rely on a heavy dosage of Michael Turner. Meanwhile, the Cardinals will live-or-die with the arm of Kurt Warner due to their lack of a sound running game. Warner should have more opportunities to put up fantasy points.

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5. Larry Fitzgerald vs. Roddy White vs. Anquan Boldin

Bruno Boys Cavigs: FITZGERALD. All three wide receivers are set to have big games, but Fitzgerald was the leading fantasy receiver in 2008 and he is the hottest of the bunch. Look for him to go over 100 yards and a touchdown against a Falcons pass defense that ranks 21st in the NFL.

Bruno Boys Whooley: FITZGERALD. You just can't bet against the lone wide receiver to have over 200 fantasy points on the year, even with both Boldin and White having solid 2008 campaigns, Fitz is the man.

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6. LeRon McClain vs. Ronnie Brown

Bruno Boys Whooley: MCCLAIN. Let's see here, Brown has just one double digit outing in his last 7 games and has to face a Ravens' rush defense that gave up just 81.4 rushing yards per game and 4 rushing TDs on the season. Yea, I'm pretty sure I'm going with McClain, who has double digits in three of his last four outings.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: MCCLAIN. The bulky running back has scored at least 8 fantasy points in seven straight games and nothing should change here. McClain has at least 18 carries in every game since week 12 and we expect him to get over 20 in this game.

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7. Chad Pennington vs. Joe Flacco

Bruno Boys Cavigs: PENNINGTON. Neither will have big games, but if the Dolphins are going to win they will need to lean on Pennington. After all, he did get four 1st place votes for NFL MVP on Friday. In all reality, stay away from both of these guys.

Bruno Boys Whooley: FLACCO. Neither of these guys are "wow, me!" type fantasy options, but based solely on match-up, you have to like Flacco. I mean who would you rather throw the ball against, the 2nd best pass defense in the league of the Baltimore Ravens or the 25th ranked pass defense of the Miami Dolphins.

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8. Derrick Mason vs. Davone Bess

Bruno Boys Whooley: MASON. You have to give Mason his due for the season he put together. Dislocated shoulder an all, the receiver was out there each and every week, providing his owners with solid fantasy performances. This week won't be any different.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: MASON. He is one of the most sure handed wide receivers in the NFL and the Dolphins pass defense ranks in the bottom third in the league. Look for Mason to have a solid showing on Wild Card weekend.

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To enter the contest, just click here... FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CONTEST (Password is BRUNO).

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WILD CARD ROUND RANKINGS

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense

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Want to take on the Bruno Boys in a Fantasy Playoff Contest? If so, to enter the contest, just click here... FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CONTEST. Plus, if you win the Playoff Contest you will WIN a FREE PRIZE!

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::Questions? Comments? How about you SIGN UP for an account and leave a comment. Plus, by signing up, you can MANAGE ALL of your FANTASY FOOTBALL teams from ONE ACCOUNT::

::Also, you can click the Fantasy Sports Dashboard (powered by partner Screaming Sports) at the top of the screen and import plus manage all of your fantasy teams from one page::

Wild Card Weekend Updated Rankings - Risers & Fallers

Bruno Boys Whooley — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:45:00 GMT

To help the Bruno Boys Nation win FREE PRIZES, we bring to you the Wild Card Round UPDATED Rankings, which highlight all of those players who are on the rise or falling as we head into this weekend's games.

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RISERS

RB Edgerrin James (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Atlanta

Be aware that James has recaptured the starting running back job for the Arizona Cardinals. However, keep in mind that no back for the Cardinals has received more than 14 carries since week 9.

WR Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Atlanta

After being a limited participant in Wednesday's and Thursday's practices, Boldin practiced fully on Friday, meaning it's a near certainty that the wide out will play on Saturday despite being listed as "questionable." Boldin has not been effective for fantasy purposes as of late; however, if Arizona wants to win this game, they will look to get him involved in the offense early on, which could lead to a big day for Air Anquan.

WR Derrick Mason (Baltimore Ravens) @ Miami

Those fantasy owners who had Mason during the season are well aware of the drill by now, but for those that have secured his services for the playoffs, let us recap. While Mason is listed as "questionable" due to a dislocated shoulder, the wide out will be a go on Sunday. He's played most of the season with the injury and still managed multiple solid outings. Do not be afraid to have him in your line-up this weekend.

RB Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Philadelphia

Despite aggravating an ankle injury last weekend, Peterson is not listed on the team's injury report for this weekend's match-up with the Eagles. Feel free to utilize the stud back as you normally would.

WR Bernard Berrian (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Philadelphia

A limited participant in Wednesday's and Thursday's practices, Berrian will be on the field for Sunday's match-up with the Eagles as he was a full participant in Friday's practice. Berrian will fill his normal role as the Vikings' number one wide receiver, and as was the case throughout the season, makes for a high risk/reward option due to his hit or miss nature.

RB Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Minnesota

While a limited participant in practices throughout the week and sporting a "questionable" label, Westbrook is fully expected to start Sunday against the Vikings as rumor has it that the team was just being cautious with its bread and butter. The Vikings do own a staunch run defense, though, so Westbrook will more than likely need to do his damage this weekend as a receiver, which shouldn't be too much of an issue for this dual threat. An added bonus for Westbrook's owners is the fact that it appears Pat Williams will miss the contest due to injury.

RB Darren Sproles (San Diego Chargers) vs. Indianapolis

Even with LT expected to go, due to his banged up body, look for Sproles to be more involved than usual. That could lead to the explosive back putting up some solid fantasy numbers against a Colts defense that isn't exactly known for stopping the run.

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FALLERS

WR Mark Clayton (Baltimore Ravens) @ Miami

A limite participant in Wednesday's practice, Clayton is currently sporting a "questionable" tag due to a knee injury; however, it is expected that he will go in this weekend's playoff game in Miami.

TE Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) @ Miami

While it is expected that Heap will play in Sunday's game with the Miami Dolphins despite a "questionable" listing, it is worth noting that the tight end is battling back issues and was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) vs. Indianapolis

The good news is that despite groin and ab injuries, it appears LT will give it a go Saturday against the Colts. The bad news is that he'll be playing at less than 100%. On paper, this match-up is a solid one, but fantasy owners should remember LT did sit out last year's playoff game with the Pats after just two carries due to injury. A similar situation could occur in this weekend's battle with Indy, which is why we suggest you downgrade him just a bit.

TE Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) vs. Indianapolis

A high ankle sprain has Gates' status for this Saturday's playoff game with the Colts up in the air. The tight end, officially listed as "questionable," will be a game-time decision. Chances are due to the importance of the game, he'll give it a go, but at best. expect the tight end to be limited.

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WILD CARD ROUND RANKINGS

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense

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2008 Bruno Boys Waiver Wire Awards - Part 2 (RBs - TEs - DEFs)

Bruno Boys Cory — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:27:00 GMT

In the first part of the waiver wire recap we looked at the top quarterbacks, wide receivers and kickers that were plucked out of free agency by astute fantasy owners. In this second part, we’re going to take a look at the top running backs, tight ends and defenses that helped fantasy owners win their leagues this 2008 season.

Without further ado here, is the second part of the waiver wire recap.

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RUNNING BACKS

DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers)

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams was drafted in many leagues, but in the first four games of the season he rushed for a combined 201 yards and had no touchdowns. With rookie Jonathan Stewart sharing carries with him, Williams was then dropped by many fantasy owners into the free agency pool. In week five, Williams broke out for 132 yards and two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs. It appeared a fluke at first as he gained just 27 yards the following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But, Williams went on to record double-digit fantasy performances in the final 10 games of the season and had two four-touchdown games. Williams finished the season with 273 attempts for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns.

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Steve Slaton (Houston Texans)

Despite a prolific college career at West Virginia, Houston Texans rookie Steve Slaton was one of the less heralded running backs in the NFL Draft. He was considered too small, but the Texans took him knowing he would be a perfect fit in their offense as Slaton ran behind similar zone-blocking schemes as a Mountaineer. Slaton managed just 43 yards in the first week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but then busted out for 242 yards and three touchdowns the next three weeks against the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts. Slaton recorded 11 double-digit fantasy performances on the season and had four 100-yard games in the final seven weeks. He finished the season with 1,282 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 268 attempts. He also had 50 receptions for 377 yards and a touchdown.

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Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions rookie Kevin Smith was drafted in some leagues because he was considered to be the team’s only option at running back. The team brought in Rudi Johnson but he had just 76 attempts on the season. Smith was the only guy at running back for the Lions and played well after some early season struggles. In the team’s first five games, Smith averaged just 8.4 attempts a game. Once he started getting regular carries, he began to flourish. He finished with nine double-digit fantasy performances, including three straight to finish out the season. Overall, Smith rushed for 976 yards and eight touchdowns on 238 attempts. He also caught 39 passes for 286 yards.

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Le’Ron McClain (Baltimore Ravens)

Willis McGahee was the Baltimore Ravens running back that was drafted in every fantasy league, but it was Le’Ron McClain who led the team in rushing. McGahee battled injuries and inconsistent play throughout most of the season, opening the door for McClain. McClain opened the season with four consecutive double-digit performances, including a two-touchdown game against the Cleveland Browns in week three. McClain only had one 100-yard game, but that didn’t matter with the way he scored touchdowns. He had eight games with at least one touchdown, four of them coming in the final six weeks. Overall, McClain finished the season with 902 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 232 carries. He added 19 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.

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Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints)

New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas started the season buried on the depth chart behind Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and Aaron Stecker. Injuries to all three of those backs allowed Thomas to take over in week 11 against Kansas City. In that game against the Chiefs, Thomas rushed 16 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, starting a streak of strong games to finish out the season. Following that game he had five more double-digit fantasy performances before being held out in week 17 because of injury. Thomas finished with 625 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 129 attempts and also had 31 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns.

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TIGHT ENDS

Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings)

In a year in which not many tight ends scored a lot of fantasy points, finding the right one outside the draft proved difficult. However, Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe was that player. Shiancoe never caught more than seven passes in a game and only broke 100 yards once, but with seven touchdowns, he was a top five tight end. In week 16 when most leagues were finishing their championship rounds, Shiancoe caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 42 receptions for 596 yards and seven touchdowns.

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John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks)

Seattle Seahawks rookie John Carlson was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise bad team. Carlson was known more as a blocking tight end coming into the league but established himself as a good pass-catcher as well as he opened the season with 10 receptions for 130 yards in the first two weeks. Carlson only broke 100 yards once, but he scored three touchdowns in the final six weeks. He ended the season with 55 receptions for 627 yards and five touchdowns.

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Anthony Fasano (Miami Dolphins)

Miami Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano came to the team in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys, where he was stuck behind All-Pro Jason Witten. Finally given the chance to play regularly Fasano rose to the occasion. He opened the season with eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in the first week against the New York Jets. He never broke 100 yards in a game, but he had four touchdowns in the final four weeks of the season. He finished with 34 receptions for 454 yards and seven touchdowns.

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DEFENSES

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts defense struggled without safety Bob Sanders in the lineup but started playing well upon his return. The Colts finished the season ranked seventh in points allowed, 11th in total yards allowed, sixth in passing yards allowed and 24th in rushing yards allowed. What also stuck out about the Indianapolis defense was how well it played down the stretch. In the final five weeks, the Colts forced five interceptions, recovered four fumbles and had two defensive touchdowns in recording four double-digit fantasy performances.

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Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins defense wasn’t considered as a fantasy option entering this season, especially after trading away their best player in defensive end Jason Taylor. But new head coach Tony Sparano had this unit ready to go this season, and it was led by linebacker Joey Porter. Porter had an incredible season as he racked up 18 sacks. The Dolphins had six double-digit fantasy performances and ended the season ranked ninth in points allowed, 15th in total yards allowed, 25th in passing yards allowed and 10th in rushing yards allowed.

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Atlanta Falcons

Given how bad the Atlanta Falcons were last year it’s no surprise the defense wasn’t considered a fantasy option entering this season. But, new head coach Mike Smith came from a defensive background having served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Falcons had just one double-digit fantasy performance in the first eight weeks of the season but finished with four in the final nine games. Atlanta was 20th or worse in rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed and total yards allowed, but were 11th in points allowed.

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WILD CARD ROUND RANKINGS

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense

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Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings - Team Defense (Wild Card Round)

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:30:00 GMT

To help the Bruno Boys Nation win FREE PRIZES, we bring to you the Wild Card Round TEAM DEFENSE Rankings.

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1. Baltimore Ravens @ Miami

What a season the Baltimore Ravens defense had. They were second in the NFL with only 261.1 YPG allowed as well as 15.3 PPG. Those are numbers that Come Back Player of the Year Chad Pennington has to be worried about. Baltimore should be able to run and pass on Miami with ease meaning that Miami most likely will be playing from behind most of the game. What does that mean to you? It means that if you are playing the Ravens defense this week expect some good turnover points.

Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

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2. Philadelphia Eagles @ Minnesota

You don't hear too much about the Eagles defense but believe us, they are very dominating. They rated third in the NFL in total yardage allowed and gave up only 18.1 PPG. That is not good news for a Vikings offense that sports Adrian Peterson and not much else. The Eagles will be able to focus on stopping the speedy second-year RB while at the same time being able to qualify to rack up some solid fantasy points as they should be able to hold the Vikings to a pretty low score. If you can't play Baltimore, Philadelphia is a great consolation prize.

Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

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3. Miami Dolphins vs. Baltimore

It isn't that the Dolphins defense is that good, because they are not as they allowed well over 300 yards per game, but they are facing a Baltimore offense that will be relying on a lot of younger players. Young players make mistakes and that is what should be expected in this match up. Even if there are not a lot of turnovers, the fact that this will be a game played primarily on the ground should result in a fairly low-scoring game.

Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

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4. Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia

Philadelphia can get it done through the air and on the ground which is not good news for a Vikings defense that is pretty solid defending the run but putrid against the pass. Look for Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook to have solid games this week, sending the NFCN Vikings packing and back home.

Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

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5. Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona

Atlanta ranked 24th in total yardage allowed in 2008 and faces an Arizona offense that was dominating in 2008. The only chance the Falcons have of keeping this a lower scoring game is if Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart collide and accidentally break each others throwing arms. Do you think that scenario will play itself out? Ya, we don't either.

Bruno Boys Stars: * *

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6. Indianapolis Colts @ San Diego

First of all let's not kid ourselves, these are two high-powered offenses so the makings are there for a high-scoring affair. Neither team turns the ball over at an alarming rate so expect a very well played, exciting game in which neither one of these defenses will help you in fantasyland this week.

Bruno Boys Stars: * *

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7. Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta

The Cadinals allowed an insane PPG average of 26.6, which is very high for a team that qualified for the playoffs. The Falcons ranked in the top-10 in most offensive categories. The only chance they will at having a solid game is if Matt Ryan and crew completely flop because of jitters. Don't expec that to happen though. The Cardinals will have their hands full, but at least we will have a high-scoring, entertaining game to watch.

Bruno Boys Stars: *

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8. San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis

See the Colts.

Bruno Boys Stars: *

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WILD CARD ROUND BYE WEEK DEFENSES

Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST - BYE

The Steelers ranked first in total yards and scoring allowed during the season which is bad news for every offense in the playoffs right now, even the high-powered ones. They will be a great play next week.

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Tennesee Titans D/ST - BYE

The Titans lost a little bit of juice with the season winding down, but that could of had a lot to do with pressure for an undefeated season finally taking its' toll. Depending on who they play next week this will be a team that you should either play or sit. Stay tuned.

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New York Giants D/ST - BYE

The Giants are looking to repeat their fairy tale 2007 season and for that to happen this fantastic defense is going to have to play very well once again. Expect that to happen making them a solid play for the next round of the playoffs.

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Carolina Panthers D/ST - BYE

Carolina wasn't horrible on defense this year, but they were far from being good. With so many great defenses that are in the playoffs this year this is a team that you should avoid.

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WILD CARD ROUND RANKINGS

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense

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::Questions? Comments? How about you SIGN UP for an account and leave a comment. Plus, by signing up, you can MANAGE ALL of your FANTASY FOOTBALL teams from ONE ACCOUNT::

::Also, you can click the Fantasy Sports Dashboard (powered by partner Screaming Sports) at the top of the screen and import plus manage all of your fantasy teams from one page: