Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Hey Mr. Rookie Fantasy Football Player (Part 4)

Bruno Boys Ziza — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:50:00 GMT

In Part 3 of Hey Mr. Rookie Fantasy Football Player, I threw you some advice on how to prepare for your fantasy draft. Today we are going to touch on what to do when draft day comes. Let’s break down the day for you, leading to your first pick of the draft.

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The Morning of the Draft

At this point you should have had a good night sleep with very little partying; that way you are on top of your game. All of your research should have taken place before the morning. Your tiered draft sheets prepared, all of your sleepers and draft strategy in place, and already having a little bit of an idea on who you may be grabbing with your pick if you already know the position in which you are drafting. All you really have to do this morning besides eating a solid breakfast is take one last look at an up-to-date injury report that way you don’t accidentally draft an injured player a tad too early. After you have done research on injured players it is time to head to your draft. Be prepared. Remember to bring a few pens, preferably 2 different colors so you can take notes and also bring your tiered draft sheet and if need be, a printout of the injured players around the NFL if you can’t remember who is banged up. Other than that all you need is a folder to carry all of your stuff from your house to your draft. If drafting online it is still a very good idea to be well organized just so you can have the player information quickly at hand as internet drafts go much quicker than live person drafts.

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Heading to the Draft

You are a bit nervous as you haven’t done this before; don’t worry that is normal. In fact I for one always get anxious before a fantasy draft. But you still need to keep a level head. Remember, you have followed the Bruno Boys preparation lessons to a "T", so you have us backing you. Just play whatever music helps you to relax, mine being heavy metal. So heading to my draft this year I will probably be blasting some good old Mudvayne or Disturbed. Either way, whatever your preference is, do it. This is going to be fun. So get rid of all those nervous tensions before you exit your vehicle. If that means staying in there and reading over your notes and listening to one or two more songs do it. Just don’t make it obvious what you are doing. It is time now; evacuate your vehicle.

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Walking the Plank

Well it might feel like it anyways. Don’t let your competition know that you are anything but 110% confident about what is about to take place. Walk up to people on your way to settle in, say hello to all that you know and make sure that you walk up to those that you don’t know and introduce yourself to them as well. This is a great time to meet new friends as you may be in a league with them for years to come. As you head to where you will be stationed at during the draft all that you should have with you is a folder with your team name on it that contains your draft sheets, injury sheets (if you decided to print one) and also 2 pens. I prefer black and blue pens as they are both dark and easily decipherable at a close distance but not so much if someone is sitting 5 feet away from you trying to peek at what you are writing. Of course this only works if both pens look the same yet write differently. If one pen is colored blue and the other is colored black odds are your opponents will be smart enough to catch on. Haha. When you set your stuff down make sure you have something that is keeping your folder closed; it can be anything from a paperwork heavy duty paperclip to the food and beverage that you brought to share if you are barbequing half-way through the draft; a personal favorite of mine. Trust me when I tell you that not only will being highly organized help you out during the draft, your opponents that are relying on magazines will become apparent. Not to mention that your opponents are going to believe that whatever you do must be right as you came with very little to dominate. This will help with your trash talking or misinformation spewing during the draft just to keep people on their toes.

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One More Sheet You Should Bring With You

What I have forgotten to mention, and it is something that you all should do is write down the names of all the teams and have a sheet for all the draft positions possible. This will consist of the starting lineup and bench spots. That way when Team A drafts a running back you can cross one of the running back slots for his team off that way you know what he will need going into the next round and so forth. Trust me, a good handful of rounds into the draft this really starts to help you be able to predict what your opponent may be doing in the next round. If you can use that information as well as utilize the information on your tiered sheets, I have no doubt that you will be able to become the Nostradamus of the draft. This will help you out so much that you will be amazed at how easy it is to have a very solid, flowing draft with the potential for domination.

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Open Your Ears and Take Notes

Before most league drafts, the commissioner will hold a brief voting session about league rules that some may want to introduce or void from previous seasons. Take notes of all that is said so you know exactly what rules have changed and so forth. And don’t be nervous and shy. If you have a question about a league rule this will be your time to get it out in the open so you can understand it before you draft. No one is going to be taking questions in the fourth round. This is part of the complete progression of being as prepared as possible. As soon as the league has discussed everything that needed to be discussed the draft will begin. Make sure your bladder is empty; you have your drink at hand with you (preferably soda pop as drinking alcohol during the draft will only hinder your thought process) and if you want a snack have it next to you. And while the draft prepares to begin, remember to mark off players that are drafted and mark off the position/team that he went to, using the folder to cover all of your notes so know one knows your rankings.

The draft has begun and your next on the clock. What do you do now? Well, that is a discussion for next week.

Next week, I will dive into Lesson 5 in which I will help you on what to do now that players are coming off the board, how to keep your cool and what to do and not to do as the draft unfolds.

Under the Radar Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:16:00 GMT

Looking for sleepers in your draft come August? Bruno Boys Greg will analyze who he feels should have a strong fantasy football showing in 2009. Throughout the course of two weeks Bruno Boys Greg will give you his position by position sleeper picks. This week, he covers the quarterback position.

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Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: The All-Pro quarterback who only played in 4 games last year has no reason not to bounce back in 2009. Many people will rank him lower then he belongs due to injury concerns and the changes in Cincinnati but don’t pay any attention to that. Palmer averaged nearly 4,000 yards the previous three seasons before being hurt and is just a year removed from being a top five fantasy football quarterback. He did lose T.J. Housmandzadeh to free agency but gained veteran wide receiver Lavernaus Coles. Odds are you will be targeting Palmer in the 6th or 7th round and drafting him as a low-end QB1 but if he can regain his form he will produce at the level of the top tier QB's.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks: Hasselbeck returns from an injury as well and gains Palmer’s former teammate, Housmandzadeh. He has a lot left in his game and is still a starting quarterback in fantasy football. Reports out of Seattle indicate that Hasselbeck will operate at 100-percent this season and playing in a division that lacks defense he should be able to regain his form. You should consider targeting Hasselbeck as a QB2 in all leagues and hope he stays healthy because there will be some weeks when he will produce like the good 'ole days. Expect him to rebound in a big way in '09.

Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns: Quinn struggled with injuries last year after taking over for 2007 Pro Bowler Derek Anderson. While it is an open competition in Browns training camp, Quinn will likely grab the starting job. The offense isn't much different than the the one Anderson had success with two seasons ago (minus Kellen Winslow) and Quinn is a lot more talented of a player. While you need to draft him as a backup, he could prove to be valuable, possibly providing a nice spot start for you. If given the right matchup, Quinn could really put up some big numbers and and help take your fantasy football team to the promise land.

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GET YOUR COMMISH KIT DRAFT BOARD NOW

The Bruno Boys have once again teamed up with Commish Kit to sell their fantasy football draft boards. In fact, the 2009 draft boards are available for purchase and you can pick one up by clicking here… http://brunoboys.commishkitstore.com.

Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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::The above article was written by Bruno Boys staff writer Greg Warnock::

5 Things I Learned in June

Bruno Boys Whooley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:03:00 GMT

With June coming to an end, Bruno Boys Dominic takes a look at 5 things he learned throughout the month, so join him as he covers everything from Chad Ochocinco's rejuvenation to the naming of RBBCs.

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1. Ocho Cinco is still muy funny

I’ll admit I didn’t think Chad would ever return to my good graces after the last couple seasons of whining and under-producing. However, it seems the 31-year-old wide receiver has helped himself to a slice or two of humble pie in the off-season, giving him new perspective. (If anyone knows the cook, send a few slices to Brandon Marshall please.) Now, a new and improved Ocho Cinco is poised to rejoin the ranks of the fantasy relevant. And as always, he’s done so in style. First, he told the world he was going to live with Carson Palmer and his family for a couple of weeks to develop a closer relationship with the QB. A gesture quickly shot down by Palmer’s wife. Then, Johnson delighted us again with his flair for the dramatic by proclaiming he wanted to beat the nutrisystem out of Mike Golic for making negative comments about him. Of course, what’s important about all of this is not that Chad is cracking me up again, though it certainly doesn’t hurt, rather, it’s that he appears to be 100% dedicated to returning to his status as one of the league’s most productive receivers. That makes him a prime candidate for a huge year and someone you should definitely target in your upcoming draft.

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2. Roger Goodell has his own laws

He’s set a precedent. I’ll give him that. In fact, anytime I hear about one of my fantasy players going to meet with the commish, I cringe. Goodell’s made it crystal clear that he won’t stand for any action made by a coach, team or player, which reflects negatively on the league. Donte Stallworth’s DUI manslaughter sentence appalled most of us. And, when compared with Michael Vick’s, it seems like US law cares more about dogs than Jaywalkers. However, Goodell handed out his own justice, suspending Stallworth indefinitely and sending him a strongly worded letter that pretty much said, "I don’t care what punishment the courts give you, it will not fly in the NFL." Fantasy-wise, Stallworth is fairly useless this season, or was he already? Regardless, if your players are set for trial or have a tendency to commit small to mid-range felonies in their spare time, make sure you snag their back up or avoid them altogether. And, when drafting future players, keep a keen eye on their history and character issues as Goodell isn’t going anywhere and neither is your fantasy player if they can’t keep out of trouble.

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3. Never make a fantasy football trade at a wedding with an open bar

Do I really need to elaborate on this one?

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4. For some reason people love to name RBBCs

Earth, Wind and Fire. Smash and Dash. And, most recently voted in by Raider’s fans, Shake, Rattle, and Roll. It seems that if a team has more than one back running the ball successfully, the committee is bound to get a name. However, like identical twins whose parents tragically dress them in the same clothes, some players crave individuality and don’t want a name that is linked with someone else. But, whether or not, Chris Johnson will suffer the shared glory of Smash and Dash is not the point. What matters in the world of fantasy is that if they’ve earned a name, it usually means you want all of them on your roster. Unless of course, they’ve earned a name that’s not so flattering like my running back team last season, Battered, bruised and broken.

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5. If you trade for Brandon Marshal, buy your antacids in bulk

When I realized an owner in my fantasy keeper league was clearly fed up with Brandon Marshall and his off the field issues, I made my move. He agreed to give me Marshall for a mere 3rd round pick in our upcoming draft. Not bad for arguably one of the top 10 receivers in the league. Unfortunately, he also carries enough baggage to keep La Guardia airport busy for days. So I admit it, there’s a risk, not to mention a possible 2-3 game suspension. It’s a keeper league though, no biggie. And, call me stupid, but I held high hopes that he would mature into the man he claims he wants to be and stop getting into fights with his lady friends. Of course, days after I traded for him, he decided to use the leverage he had, which was none, to demand more money. And, soon after that, the trade request came in. For an instant, I was excited at his possible new destinations until logic sunk in. Not only was he not probably going anywhere, his antics may have harmed his relationship between him and his QB and coach. The lesson: trading for troubled studs can be a great investment but remember that investment can go both ways. In other words, if you take a diva, you get a diva.

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Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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::The above article was written by Bruno Boys staff writer Dominic Brown::

2009 Position Battles to Watch - Quarterbacks

Bruno Boys Whooley — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:29:00 GMT

Every fantasy owner knows the difficulty that can come with trying to decide between one player or another. Luckily, the decisions we make are simply critiqued by our friends and not the whole nation. Unfortunately, for NFL head coaches, their decisions become the lead story on SportsCenter. With that in mind, Bruno Boys Whooley takes a look at some of the position battles that NFL coaches will be monitoring this pre-season, starting with the Quarterbacks. For fantasy purposes, these are battles you should be keeping an eye on, also.

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CLEVELAND BROWNS - Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson

It's a new year, but it's the same story in Cleveland as the Cleveland Browns head into the pre-season not knowing who will be running their offense, Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn.However, while the participants may be the same, the circumstances surrounding this year's battle are quite different than those that surrounded it just last year. Heading into 2008, the Browns seemed to have a problem every NFL franchise would love to have as their roster housed what many thought to be two Pro-Bowl caliber quarterbacks in Anderson, who had just come off a season in which he threw for 3,787 yards, 29 TDs, and 19 INTs, and Quinn, the team's apparent QB of the future. Now, though, the team is just hoping one of them can step it up enough to simply be a capable starter as neither impressed with their play during the 2008 season. In fact, both finished the year with QB ratings under 70, with Quinn coming in at 66.6 and Anderson right on his tail with a 66.5 rating.

With new head coach, Eric Mangini, expected to employ a safer, less risk orientated offense, Quinn iseems to be the favorite to win the job as Anderson's biggest strength is his strong arm and ability to throw the deep ball. Still, this competition is just as close as the two's QB ratings were last season, so be sure to stay tuned to see who comes out on top. In the end though, neither will be anything more than a QB2 for fantasy purposes.

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DETROIT LIONS - Daunte Culpepper vs. Matthew Stafford

For the good of the Lions and Matthew Stafford, it would behoove the team to start the season with Culpepper under center. Don't get me wrong, Stafford, who has outperformed Culpepper this spring, might be the more talented of the two at this stage of their careers, but going with Culpepper would allow Stafford to learn the intricacies of the NFL game from the sidelines and not from on his back.

The NFL, though, is a business, and with the Lions going 0-16 last year, Detroit needs to do anything it can to generate excitement among its fans for the upcoming year. Handing the starting job to Culpepper, who completed just 52.2% of his passes for 786 yards, 4 TDs, and 6 INTs in his 5 games played for the Lions last season isn't exactly going to do the trick. That fact, coupled with the $41.7 million the rookie is guaranteed, makes it very likely that it will be Stafford starting for the Lions in week 1. If that's the case, don't expect Stafford to mimic the success that both Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had in their first years as the Lions' supporting cast isn't up to par with that of last year's Falcons or Ravens.

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Matt Cassel vs. Tyler Thigpen

While the Chiefs are trying to paint this as an "open competition," many around the league, and even Thigpen, himself, believe otherwise, and for good reason. In trading a second round pick for Cassel, the Chiefs will be willing to give him every chance they can to ensure he lands the starting gig. Case and point, it was Cassel, not Thigpen, that was put with the team's starting offense during the Chiefs' minicamps. Thus, it seems safe to pencil in Cassel as the Chiefs' 2009 starter.

However, fantasy owners need to beware. Just because it appears Cassel will, once again, be a starting quarterback in the NFL, doesn't mean he's guaranteed to have the same success he had last season. By no means are the Chiefs anywhere close to being the New England Patriots, especially when comparing the two teams' wide receiver corps. In fact, Dwayne Bowe, who will now be Cassel's main weapon, would more than likely find himself third on the Patriots' depth chart behind both Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Look for 2009 to illuminate us to whether Cassel is the real deal or simply thrived because of a well-ran system.

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MIAMI DOLPHINS - Chad Pennington vs. Chad Henne

It appears the Miami Dolphins do not adhere to the "What have you done for me lately?" philosophy that dominates the NFL. Rather, the club seems to be abiding by the "What will you do for me in the futurue?" ideology. Despite finishing as a runner-up for the league's MVP award last season and playing a crucial role in the Dolphins' turnaround from a one win team to AFC East division champions, Miami has been unwilling to hand Chad Pennington a contract extension. Worst yet, there is talk that the team would like to get Chad Henne, who they've already named their 2010 starter, some gametime action this season, meaning Pennington is a QB with an expiration date.

Pennington, who had a career year in 2008 with 3,653 yards passing, 20 total TDs, and just 7 INTs, is currently set to start the season as the man under center for the Dolphins, but job security is lacking. The Dolphins are dead set on Henne being their quarterback of the future, and if that means moving away from Pennington sooner than later, then so be it. Normally, a QB, who finished 9th among all quarterbacks in fantasy points the previous season, would be someone to target in your fantasy drafts, but due to the situation in Miami, that's not the case with Pennington as we head into 2009.

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MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Sage Rosenfels vs. Tarvaris Jackson

Stellar running game? Check! Spectacular defense? Check! Quarterback capabale of managing a game? Umm, has Brett Favre returned our call yet?

There's a reason the Minnesota Vikings are pursuing Favre so heavily. The pieces are there for the team to make a championship run, except at the quarterback position. Despite a cannon for an arm, Tarvaris Jackson has yet to develop into the quarterback the Vikings have hoped he could become. In fact, things got so bad last season, that Jackson was benched in favor of journey-man, Gus Frerotte. While some would like to point to Jackson's final four games of the regular season last year, in which he went for 740 passing yards, 8 TDs, and just 1 INT after working his way back onto the field as a sign of improvement, it is worth remembering that those games weren't against the toughest of pass defenses. During that span, Jackson faced the Lions (27th against the pass), Cardinals (22nd), and Falcons (21st). The one team with a solid pass defense he went up against, the New York Giants, held Jackson in check to the tune of just 239 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. So, don't be fooled - because the Vikings themselves aren't fooled. Hence, the trade for Sage Rosenfels, who played decently during his opportunities with the Houston Texans while backing-up Matt Schaub these past two years.

Right now, thanks to a better accuracy (Rosenfels has completed 62.5% of his passes over his career to Jackson's 58.4%), it seems Rosenfels will be the man in Minny this season; however, that point becomes moot, if one Mr. Favre decides to return to the gridiron.

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NEW YORK JETS - Mark Sanchez vs. Kellen Clemens

You have to feel just slightly for Jet's quarterback, Kellen Clemens. Last season, Clemens was primed to secure the team's starting gig, outshining Chad Pennington in training camp, only to end up holding a clip board once the smoke from the Brett Favre saga cleared. This season, Clemens, once again, seemed a shoe in to take over the Jets' quarterback position, with Favre retiring, only to see the team trade up in this year's draft and select Mark Sanchez with the 5th overall selection.

It's been a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for Clemens, but he still has a shot to line up under center come week 1 as new head coach, Rex Ryan, will give both Clemens and Sanchez a shot to prove that they give him and the team the best shot at winning. This is one battle that appears set to go deep into the pre-season. Ryan, himself, was even quoted as saying, "We probably won't know (the starter) until ...who knows? Whenever it becomes obvious to us, we'll make the decision. Obviously, you'd prefer it sooner than later, but I don't think that's going to happen." But, don't worry Bruno Boys Nation, because once things become finalized, the Bruno Boys will let you know.

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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Shaun Hill vs. Alex Smith vs. Damon Huard

While Damon Huard has by far the most experience of these three, the battle for San Francisco's starting spot is really a two man competition between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith. Seeing as a position battle is meant to determine what player will give the team the best shot at winning, it would make sense that Hill, who has gone 7-3 in his 10 starts for San Francisco, would have an inside edge on Smith, who has compiled a miserable 11-21 record as San Francisco's starter. And, that was the case prior to the team's mini camps and OTAs.

However, Smith, once a huge underdog in this competition, has narrowed the gap significantly, partly due to his own body of work this off-season and partly due to Hill's tendency to struggle in practices. If Smith keeps outshining Hill, the QB could very well get a chance at resurrecting his career and prove that he's not the bust everyone has made him out to be.

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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Byron Leftwich vs. Luke McCown vs. Josh Freeman

The winner of the Buccaneers' job isn't going to become a must start in the world of fantasy football, but they will still have an impact in fantasy football leagues as their play will determine the value of wide receiver, Antonio Bryant, and tight end, Kellen Winslow. And, if things keep progressing as they are progressing in Florida, it may be wise to move Bryant and Winslow down your cheat sheets.

Once thoroughly opposed to throwing rookie, Josh Freeman, into the fire this season, the team is changing its tune as both Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich are struggling. Unless something changes drastically before the season starts, the Bucs are looking at either starting one of two veteran quarterbacks that have been underwhelming at best this off-season or a rookie that will suffer through plenty of growing pains throughout the year. Having your receiver or tight end receiving throws from any of the above is not exactly encouraging.

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Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Roundtable - AFC North Edition

Bruno Boys Ziza — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:00:00 GMT

It's already late June, time to really start gearing up for the up and coming 2009 fantasy football season. Over here at Bruno Boys headquarters that means discussions of events happening around the NFL are in full-force. Today, Bruno Boys Larry and Bruno Boys Ziza are breaking down the AFC North.

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AFC North Burning Questions!

1. With all of the injury concerns revolving around Carson Palmer, not to mention downgrading from T.J. Houshmandzadeh to Laveraneus Coles at the wide receiver postion, what type of year do you expect from the quarterback?

Bruno Boys Ziza: Larry, the most important thing at this point is to make sure that Carson Palmer remains healthy. According to reports, Palmer is gaining strength and has rediscovered the zip on his passes. If he continues to progress like that until training camp, he will be a very solid quarterback; one that you can trust as a QB1 option in deeper leagues. He definitely still has some legitimate talent around him, headlined by star wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. He should be just fine.

Bruno Boys Larry: Ziza, you couldn’t be more right. The most important thing will be making sure that Carson Palmer remains healthy in 2009, but if he does (and I believe he will) I look for Palmer to return to form quickly. This is a quarterback who heading into last season had three consecutive seasons with over 3,800 passing yards with at least 26 touchdowns in each season. As you said, Ziza, he is progressing well and he should be ready to start training camp on time. Barring any setbacks, Palmer could vault back into the top ten in quarterbacks in 2009.

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2. After a pretty successful 2007 season as a group, the Cleveland Browns offense completely flopped in 2008. During the offseason, they traded tight end Kellen Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What do you see from the offense this season?

Bruno Boys Larry: I have to say there was not a more disappointing team to me in 2008 than the Cleveland Browns and, Ziza, that includes our beloved Detroit Lions who went 0-16. The Lions did not have high expectations heading into last season, but after finishing 10-6 in 2007 expectations were soaring for the Browns. They finished the season 4-12 and were just plain awful at times. Their offense which exploded in 2007 went stagnant last season and what might be even more puzzling is what this team did in the offseason. After bringing in a new coaching staff with Eric Mangini at the helm, they trade one of their best offensive players in tight end in Kellen Winslow. I have to say I am completely baffled by this team, and I do not have high expectations for any of the Browns players from a fantasy football standpoint for 2009.

Bruno Boys Ziza: In all honesty, this offense went through a horrible funk last season and is entering 2009 having traded away their star tight end in Kellen Winslow and is still willing to trade Braylon Edwards if they get the right package deal for him. That is not encouraging considering that their running back Jamal Lewis is getting older. I don't see much that is positive to elaborate on, but I do see plenty of negative. That is why I would not touch any of the Cleveland Browns this year.

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Fantasy Football Preference - AFC North (Based on 12 team, standard scoring leagues)

1. Ray Rice vs. Willis McGahee vs. LeRon McClain

Bruno Boys Larry: RICE. The easy answer would be to go with the veteran McGahee here or even McClain who was the team’s best back in 2008, but I believe when all is said and done, it will be the second year man Rice who this team will rely on at running back. McClain is expected to be used more as a fullback this season and Rice is younger and faster than McGahee, and I believe he is better suited to be the team's primary back. The only drawback with Rice is the fact that McClain and McGahee will likely see the bulk of short yardage and goal line situations, which may limit his touchdowns.

Bruno Boys Ziza: RICE. All three of these backs have talent and in a way all three will be stealing carries from one another this season, but if it were to come down to one back that I would like to have off of this roster, it would most definitely be Ray Rice. According to his offensive coordinator, Rice has improved all over the board. Even more, he is entering his second season, meaning he has had the opportunity to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. I, for one, believe Rice is going to have an excellent 2009 campaign.

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2. Willie Parker vs. Jamal Lewis

Bruno Boys Ziza: PARKER. It isn't that I am blown away by Willie Parker's talent as he has not lived up to the expectations that were beset on him after a great start to his career. But, Parker is still young enough to make an impact whereas Jamal Lewis is getting older and is definitely on the downturn of his career. Even with Rashard Mendenhall getting some of the playing time this year, Parker should produce adequately enough to be a solid RB3 option in deeper leagues.

Bruno Boys Larry: PARKER. This wasn’t even close for me. Sure, Lewis actually had more yardage than Parker in 2008, but fast Willie did miss five game due to injury. Lewis turns 30 this season and appears to be heading to the downside of his career. Plus, Lewis plays for the Browns, who compared to the Steelers, are offensively challenged. If Parker can stay healthy this season, he should improve on his yardage totals. The addition of Rashard Mendenhall, who missed most of his rookie season with injuries, should help keep some of the wear and tear off of Parker’s 29 year-old body.

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3. Pittsburgh DEF vs. Baltimore DEF

Bruno Boys Ziza: PITTSBURGH. There is a mixture of solid veterans with younger players in Pittsbugh that I just love. Honestly, though, both defenses are great and both team's deploy a solid ground attack, which only helps keeping opposing offenses off of the field. You really can't go wrong with either as I like them both pretty evenly, but when it comes down to it, I would put the Pittsburgh Steelers defense under my name during draft day. Expect big things from both defenses, though, this year.

Bruno Boys Larry: PITTSBURGH. This was another easy choice for me, Ziza. The Steelers did not lose much from the dominant defense that helped lead them to the Super Bowl in 2008. The Ravens, also, had a dominant defense in 2008, but they had some significant losses during the offseason. The most notable losses for the Ravens were linebacker Bart Scott and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. Both Scott and Ryan were key cogs in the Ravens defensive machine in 2008, and I believe they will be greatly missed this season. The Steelers, on the other hand, will likely finish the season as a top three defense once again.

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Bruno Boys’ Quick Hits (Opinions Delivered Harder than Ray Lewis Tackles!)

1. Best addition by a team in the AFC North?

Bruno Boys Larry: The best addition to an AFC North team during the offseason to me has to be wide receiver Laveranues Coles to the Cincinnati Bengals. Coles isn’t likely more then a low-end WR2 or even a WR3 from a fantasy standpoint, but his value to the Bengals may be greater than any other AFC North offseason move. Coles should help make up for the loss of free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Seattle Seahawks. He will be a reliable veteran for Carson Palmer to lean on, and he should help take pressure off both Chad Ochocinco and Chris Henry.

Bruno Boys Ziza: While he was with the team last year, Rashard Mendenhall missed most of the season because of injury. In a lot of ways, this will qualify as his rookie year, which is why I am choosing him. As long as he is healthy this year, I see him becoming the goal line back as well as getting a solid amount of carries behind Willie Parker to garner him as a solid RB4. The potential lies there as well to where he can see an even bigger role in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense should Parker get hurt.

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2. Biggest sleeper from the AFC North?

Bruno Boys Ziza: We talked about him earlier; my biggest sleeper for 2009 out of this division is quarterback Carson Palmer. He has just enough question marks surrounding him to where plenty of fantasy owners will be scared off in selecting him, yet he has the potential and talent around him that if he does continue to heal from his elbow injury, he will qualify as a QB1 in deeper leagues. Considering that quarterback is an important position in fantasy football and that his draft value will be low while his potential remains high, I see no one that even nears his possible impact this season as a solid sleeper.

Bruno Boys Larry: Ziza, I don’t necessarily disagree with you about Carson Palmer. Though, I do believe he will be drafted as a QB2 in many drafts this summer, and he has a chance to finish the season as a QB1, but I will go with Rashard Mendenhall as the biggest sleeper in the AFC North this season. Mendenhall will enter the season with low expectations and minimal value, but in the Steelers' ball control offense Mendenhall has a chance to shine. He is a big strong runner who will likely move into the role of the Steelers' short yardage back. With Willie Parker as the team’s primary back, Mendenhall might not have huge yardage totals, but I believe he has a chance to approach double digit touchdowns and could make a nice RB3 in this offense by the end of the season.

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3. Biggest possible bust for the AFC North?

Bruno Boys Larry: I will go with the Baltimore Ravens D/ST as the biggest bust in this division in 2009. Now, I am not saying that the Ravens aren’t going to be a starting fantasy D/ST this season, because they are. What I am saying is that many owners will draft Baltimore’s defense earlier than they should and this could make them a bust. This is a defense that is getting older and with the key losses I stated earlier in the discussion in linebacker Bart Scott and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan (who are both now with the New York Jets) I believe this team will fall outside the top five or six defensive units in fantasy football. If you spend an early pick on the Ravens as a top two or three defense this season, I believe you are setting yourself up for a bust.

Bruno Boys Ziza: This one is an easy one. Whoever starts for the Cleveland Browns at quarterback, between Derek Anderson and likely starter Brady Quinn, will be thrown into a bad situation. They traded tight end Kellen Winslow and have been trying to move wide receiver Braylon Edwards. That alone is going to bring an iffy atmosphere into the locker room. While everything went right in 2007, nothing will be going right in 2009. Stay away and let one of your opponents select one of these quarterbacks.

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OTHER DIVISION ROUNDTABLES (click to view)

NFC WEST | NFC SOUTH | NFC NORTH | NFC EAST

AFC WEST | AFC SOUTH | AFC NORTH | AFC EAST

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::Don’t forget, we've added plenty of fantastic people to the Bruno Boys staff this off season, that way we can further help you dominate your competition. Visit us at www.brunoboys.net frequently as we are constantly putting up new content for fantasy football enthusiasts::

Fantasy Football Crystal Ball: Steven Jackson

Bruno Boys Whooley — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:57:00 GMT

St. Louis Rams' running back, Steven Jackson, has become quite the Twitter aficionado, but that’s not his only talent. When healthy, few players in the NFL offer the type of dynamic package No. 39 does. The key words there being, “when healthy.” That’s been a problem for the former Oregon State star throughout his NFL career, as just once in his five seasons has he played a full 16-game schedule. It’s been particularly difficult for him to stay on the field over the last two seasons, as he’s missed a total of eight games during that span.

Despite his health issues, Jackson’s numbers have been impressive. He’s rushed for 1,000 yards in every year of his career, except his rookie season, and has scored at least six times per year over the same time span. Jackson is, also, an attractive option for fantasy owners because he is one of the few true feature backs left in the NFL who stays in on third downs. The reason for that is his prowess in the receiving game, as he’s caught 38 or more passes in each of the last four seasons. That won’t change in the 2009 season, as the Rams failed to pick up a back worthy of displacing Jackson for more than a series or two per contest. What the team did change, however, was the dynamic of their offensive line.

Out are the journeyman centers the team has employed the last few years, and in is former Baltimore Raven Jason Brown, a bruising 6-foot-3, 320 lb. run-blocker who helped Baltimore to a top-five ranking in rushing yards last season. Also added to the line was offensive tackle and second overall pick Jason Smith from Baylor. He has a nasty disposition and attitude that will serve the team well as they transform from the doldrums of the Scott Linehan era to the swagger of new head coach and former New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

One of the most important hires a new head coach can make is that of his coordinators, of course, and on offense, Spagnuolo brought in former Philaldephia Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur to run the show. He will be installing a West Coast offense similar to the one the Eagles employ under head coach Andy Reid. And, if you’ve played fantasy football for any period of time, you know how effective Brian Westbrook has been in that system. Health is the key here, of course, but if Jackson can stay on the field, he should be able to at least mimic the success Westbrook has been able to attain, and possibly do more. Don’t be surprised if the dreadlocked Jackson rolls up about 1,500 or more combined rushing and receiving yards with double-digit scores in 2009, making him a strong RB1 option.

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GET YOUR COMMISH KIT DRAFT BOARD NOW

The Bruno Boys have once again teamed up with Commish Kit to sell their fantasy football draft boards. In fact, the 2009 draft boards are available for purchase and you can pick one up by clicking here… http://brunoboys.commishkitstore.com.

Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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::The above article was written by Bruno Boys staff writer Kyle Smith.::

2009 Fantasy Football Sophomore Jinx Predictions

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:00:00 GMT

You can put the dreaded sophomore jinx right up there with the Madden curse and the SI cover curse as things that can spoil you top fantasy football players and have you kicking yourself all season. First off, don’t take these “curses” too seriously. You can cause yourself to over think and assume things and end up messing up your draft picks over something that isn’t really there. Still, the sophomore jinx is something that definitely happens in the NFL, like all sports. Here are some of last year’s breakout rookies who may or may not be in line for the sophomore jinx.

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Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans

This is the guy a lot of people have gone both ways on. Some people say he will be more effective in 2009, while others say to draft him with caution. The Tennessee Titans are likely to stick with what earned them a first-round playoff bye last year, the tandem of Johnson and Lendale White running up and down the field. Given the fact that Jeff Fisher has said this offseason that Johnson could have handled the ball more had he not been a rookie leads me to believe that he will get more carries in 2009, including more goal-line touches. There’s no doubt that he is the cornerstone of this offense. The Titans have tried to strengthen their passing game a little bit with the acquisition of Nate Washington and the drafting of Kenny Britt. If the passing game can improve and either White or Javon Ringer can do a decent job of spelling Johnson, he should be in line for a productive second season. Another factor here is that Johnson has no health issues right now. He’s healthy and ready to go. I say Johnson will be huge in ’09. Book it!

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Matt Forte – Chicago Bears

Here’s another rookie RB in 2008 who came out of nowhere and had a great opening season. He should be the focal point of the Chicago Bears’ offense, despite the addition of Jay Cutler. The problem with Cutler being on the team now is they didn’t acquire him because he’s great at handing the ball off. They want him to sling it down the field like he did in Denver. But Chicago didn’t add any new or better receivers to go with Cutler. This is going to cause more pressure on Forte to not only carry the ball well, but to possibly be the team’s leading receiver for the second straight season. Forte won’t be fooling anybody this season either. Defenses have had the offseason to prepare for him and they know that the Bears will go where Forte goes. Combine that with the fact that Forte is dealing with a hamstring issue right now, and this could all be adding up to a stressful season for Forte and the Bears.

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Kevin Smith – Detroit Lions

Why don’t I think Kevin Smith will suffer the sophomore jinx? He’s already survived the freshman jinx. Last season, Smith, who at one point had lost his job as the Detroit Lions top RB, had only five touchdowns after Week 14. In addition, he had only one game in which he recorded over 90 yards rushing. In the final three games of the season, though, Smith finally got it going, scoring in each of last three contests, logging his first 100-yard rushing performance and notching performances of 92 yards and 88 yards in the other two contests. Keep in mind that although their season was realistically over, the Lions were trying desperately to not finish 0-16. So in each of those last three games, Detroit was playing with a playoff mentality and Smith rose to the occasion. Calvin Johnson is still the main man in this offense, which is causing Smith to be greatly overlooked. The more he’s under the radar, the better it could be for him. The last three games of 2008 should propel Smith to a strong 2009 campaign.

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DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles

DeSean Jackson’s inaugural season started off with a bang as he turned in back-to-back games with 100 yards receiving. He was Donovan McNabb’s main target, though, because Kevin Curtis and Jason Avant were still nursing injuries. Once those two receivers came back, specifically Curtis, Jackson’s production decreased simply due to the fact that McNabb was spreading the ball around to everybody. This offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Jeremy Maclin, so McNabb can now add another name into the hat of receivers on this team. Don’t forget about Brian Westbrook. As long as he’s healthy, he will be involved in this offense more than any of the receivers. Jackson seemed to almost fall off the map by the end of 2008 and I don’t think much will change in 2009 as long as everybody’s healthy. This could of course all change if some of these receivers suffer injuries during camp and the preseason.

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Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos

Eddie Royal found himself in a great situation in 2008. With Brandon Marshall facing suspension at the outset of the campaign, Royal was able to make a name for himself to Jay Cutler and his coaches, and he remained a key part of the offense when Marshall made his 2008 debut. Things have changed in ’09 for Royal and the Broncos. Cutler is gone and who knows where Marshall will be (Denver, another team, jail). Kyle Orton will be Royal’s quarterback now, but don’t forget that Orton had a pretty respectable season in Chicago, playing for a team that really didn’t have any legitimate receivers. Orton now has Royal, Brandon Stokely, Tony Scheffler and maybe still Marshall as much better options who will spread the field. This bodes well for Royal as, with or without Marshall, he should be a strong target for Orton. The AFC West isn’t known for its defense, so there’s six games right there where Royal could post some big numbers.

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Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons

First impressions are everything, and that’s exactly what Matt Ryan did in his first game last year when he chucked a touchdown to start the season. Ryan went on a roll for most of the season, eclipsing 300 yards passing twice and three more games of 250 yards and higher. He had 13 touchdowns after Week 13. In the last four regular-season games, however, Ryan was only able to throw for three scores and had five interceptions. In the last three contests, he was only able to manage 206, 134 and 160 yards passing. Combine that with another sub 200-yard performance, two more picks and three sacks in the Atlanta Falcons’ lone playoff game and you could make a fair assumption that being a rookie caught up to Ryan. He does have a star in Roddy White and future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez to throw to, but Ryan’s end to the 2008 doesn’t look as promising to 2009 when defenses will know his tendencies better. There’s also Michael Turner who is still expected to carry the ball a lot. Ryan's success will heavily weigh on his shoulders and his ability to make adjustments on the fly.

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Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco seemed to mature pretty quickly last year for the Baltimore Ravens, leading them to the AFC title game. Flacco didn’t have many weapons at his arsenal on offense, but he found ways to win football games. He reminds of Eli Manning, a smart quarterback who finds ways to win football games, but doesn’t look pretty on the stat sheets. That’s great for John Harbaugh, but not so great for fantasy football owners. In contrast to what I said about Matt Ryan, I think Flacco will continue to produce like he did in 2008, but that’s not really saying much when you look at what this offense is capable of. Until the Ravens can get him a better receiver (one that can stretch the field) than the aging Derrick Mason, Flacco isn’t going to put up tremendous numbers. On the plus side, the Ravens’ defense isn’t going to be as strong as it had been in years past, so they may need to score more points than in recent years now. The running game looks like it’s still a bit of a question mark right now, so you can take solace in the fact that Baltimore should ride Flacco’s arm to success in 2009.

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GET YOUR COMMISH KIT DRAFT BOARD NOW

The Bruno Boys have once again teamed up with Commish Kit to sell their fantasy football draft boards. In fact, the 2009 draft boards are available for purchase and you can pick one up by clicking here… http://brunoboys.commishkitstore.com.

Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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::the above article was written by Bruno Boys Jimbo Jones::

Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A (6/25)

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:18:00 GMT

In sixth edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag I will be tackling a email question from a reader who has quite the dilemma of who to keep in a keeper league. Last but not least we will provide you with some valuable information on how everyone should use a Commish Kit Draft Board at their fantasy football draft.

As always, if you have a question about a player or draft strategy send an email to contact@brunoboys.net and we will give you all the advice needed to make you successful. With that being said. lets get started on the June 25th, 2009 edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A.

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QUESTION: Help! I am in a PPR keeper league where we keep 2 players from previous season. I have 3 bona-fide top 15 players (Forte, Chris Johnson, Brees) and am fairly certain I will keep Forte as one of the two. Who do I keep between Brees and C. Johnson? As last year’s champion, I will be picking last in the first round (12th). -- (Tim (TJ) Edwards)

ANSWER: TJ... Congrats on winning your league in 2008. Now it's time for a repeat performance in 2009. Before I give you a thorough breakdown on who to keep I wish I knew what your leagues scoring system was because that would be my deciding factor when choosing between your three options. However, for the purpose of this question I will assume that it's a standard scoring (4-points for passing TD's) league like the majority of fantasy leagues out there.

Assuming that you start two RB's and it's standard scoring the guys I would keep are running backs Matt Forte and Chris Johnson. When our 2009 Top 150 fantasy football rankings come out on July 1 you will notice that Forte is 3rd overall and Johnson isn't too far behind at 10th overall. With so many NFL teams employing a RBBC backfield these days it makes getting the studs at the position more important and in Forte and Johnson you have a foundation you can build around. Plus, with everyone keeping two players and you not draft until 1.12 that means there will be 35 players off the board before you pick. If you decided to keep Brees and try to target a RB with your first pick your options are more of the low-end RB2 status. Going by our top-150 and looking average-draft-position (ADP) some of the running backs that might be available are Joseph Addai, Darren McFadden, LenDale White and Jonathan Stewart. None of these choices are bad options but there is no comparison to Johnson in terms of potential and projection - though I feel McFadden is due for a stellar '09 season.

If I was in your shoes, I'd keep Forte and Johnson, use my 1.12 pick to snag a wide receiver in the range of Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston and Brandon Marshall range and than use my 4th or 5th round pick on a quarterback. Based on ADP the available quarterbacks should be in the range of Philip Rivers, Kurt Warner, Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo. You can't go wrong with any of these signal callers but if I had my pick it would be Rodgers. Last year he finished with the second most fantasy points at the QB position and with the Packers offense continuing to mature you can expect Rodgers to keep the torrid pace. Plus, the NFC North division was a division that had plenty of shoot-outs last year and you can expect the same this season.

By keeping Forte and Johnson you get two of the ten best RB's and can use one of your next three picks to snag a QB that will be comparable to Brees.

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GET YOUR COMMISH KIT DRAFT BOARD NOW

The Bruno Boys have once again teamed up with Commish Kit to sell their fantasy football draft boards. In fact, the 2009 draft boards are available for purchase and you can pick one up by clicking here… http://brunoboys.commishkitstore.com.

Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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PAST BRUNO BOYS MAILBAGS (CLICK TO VIEW)

June 18th, 2009 | June 11th, 2009 | May 28th, 2009

May 21st, 2009 | May 14th, 2009 | May 7th, 2009

Hey Mr. Rookie Fantasy Football Player (Part 3)

Bruno Boys Ziza — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:04:00 GMT

In Part 2 of Hey Mr. Rookie Fantasy Football Player, I threw you some advice on the major mistakes you have to avoid if you want to be successful in your rookie campaign. This week, I am going to hit on the next step as I walk you through what you must do when preparing for your league's draft. So, let’s get on with it.

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Must Do #1 : Know the Players' Roles Heading Into 2009

You are an avid fan of the NFL. You know who did well and who didn’t in 2008; therefore, you have the information that you need heading into your draft, right? Wrong! Players’ roles sometimes differ from year to year. For example, last year, Tom Brady got hurt and Matt Cassel stepped into the starting spot and did a heck of a job. So, now that both have a starting gig, Brady’s with the New England Patriots and Cassel’s with the Kansas City Chiefs, you now have two really good quarterbacks to choose from, right? Once again, I am sorry, but you are dead wrong. Cassel now has a less experienced supporting cast, which will make it difficult for him to duplicate 2008, while Brady, on the other hand, is once again surrounded by some of the leagues’ best.

If being on a new team isn’t the reason a player's role has changed, perhaps it is due to the addition of a rookie or a free agent. Before the NFL draft, Joseph Addai was eyeing a comeback season of sorts with Dominic Rhodes heading to Buffalo, yet the Indianapolis Colts drafted Donald Brown out the University of Connecticut with their first round pick to help carry the load. Don’t you think that that will hurt Addai’s value some heading into 2009? Yeah, we do to. Make sure you are caught up not only on the comings and goings around the NFL draft this past offseason, but also on younger players that are about to take on larger roles, cutting into a veteran's play. If you are not up to date on the roles of every player around the NFL, you are guaranteed to blow at least one draft pick thinking that you were smart, while all the other owners just sit there laughing quietly.

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Must Do #2 : Stay on Top of Injury Information

While every serious fantasy football veteran out there is wise on the fact that Brian Westbrook had ankle surgery this off-season that could affect him during the pre-season, the novice or rookie may not be. What does that mean? That means that you probably will not only be overvaluing Westbrook when creating your tiered rankings, but you will be undervaluing his backup, rookie LeSean McCoy, as well. Any off-season surgery needs to be taken into account when strategizing your rankings, but that isn’t the end of it.

Every year, there seems to be at least a handful of top players that are bit by the injury bug for at least a few weeks, if not longer, to start the NFL season. Information is available in regards to nearly all of these injuries going into your fantasy football draft. Don’t be the guy that wastes his third round pick on a player that would normally have gone in the first round. If a player drops that far, there is a good chance that an injury has surfaced. If you don’t know this vital information, you will be the owner sitting there thinking they just got a steal when all that you drafted was really a pretty rotten deal.

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Must Do #3 : Create Your Tier-Ranking Sheet(s)…NOW!!!

It is summer time! The barbeques and grills are in full affect and staying up a tad later trying to catch the end of your favorite baseball teams’ game is going to leave you a bit more tired than usual. You prefer to wait until a week or two before the season to get a finalized read on the football players before you make a tiered sheet. Now, while some have been successful by using this approach, waiting may be a mistake. If you find yourself in a league with a very knowledgeable king pin around the fantasy football circles, right now is the best time to start when it comes to your tiered sheet.

Now, we here at the Bruno Boys don’t expect you to take a whole weekend to rank all of your players; where is the logic in that? It is summer time; time to party! So, what we do suggest is instead of doing it all in one weekend, why not tackle the quarterback position this week, the running back position the next week and so forth? If you do this for all of the positions by August 1 you will have your main tiered sheet in full affect and will be able to pay attention to all league news for that month leading to the draft, already having a preconceived notion of whom you value and whom you don’t. That way if there are any injuries or news out of camp that will bolster or devalue a player, you will be ready to adjust at a whim, which will allow you to roll into your fantasy draft with the best tiered sheet that you possibly could have had. This will definitely give you an edge on draft day.

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Must Do #4: Start Utilizing All of the Bruno Boys Tools

Not only do we offer the best fantasy football webazine in the business, we also offer many more tools at our site. Did you know that we offer a forum board for the Bruno Boys Nation to utilize? That way you can use your peers as an advice tool, not to mention the Bruno Boys staff itself, to answer any and all questions that you have. The Bruno Boys also offer many new articles daily during the season and continue with new postings daily during the off-season, all focused on getting you the championship win. With that, we, also, offer podcast shows, live streaming shows, live question and answer sessions including one on Sunday mornings and many new surprises for the 2009 season. Did I forget to mention that we also have our own personal Bruno Boys emails that we accept personal questions through? We offer it all, and if we don’t have what you are looking for, ask us for it. And, best of all we offer this to the public for free! Show us any other site that offers all of that and more, at such a wonderful price! So, without trying to sound to full of ourselves, you have to trust on the Bruno Boys for all of your championship run needs. Start today as the 2009 fantasy football season is fast approaching.

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Next week, I will dive into Lesson 4 in which I will help you through the draft process, including what to expect and how to handle yourself in time pressured situations.

Fantasy Football Impact: News and Notes from around the NFL (6/24)

Bruno Boys Larry — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:50:00 GMT

Believe it or not fantasy football fanatics we are only about five weeks away from NFL teams reporting to training camp. While some of the teams that hired new coaches in the off-season are in the midst of their second minicamp (teams with returning coaches only get one), other NFL coaches and players are taking their final vacations with friends and family before the rigors of a long NFL campaign begins with the opening of training camp in late July or early August.

No matter whether your favorite NFL teams or players are working hard at minicamp or on vacation, it is time to start preparing for the upcoming fantasy football season. Just as the off-season can make or break an NFL team, the off-season could make or break your fantasy football team. The more prepared you are for your upcoming fantasy football draft this summer, the better chance you will have of dominating your league. So, as you anxiously await the upcoming unveiling of the 2009 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets Webazine, please enjoy the following news and notes from around the NFL.

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Houshmandzadeh having good off-season with Seattle

Reports out of Seattle are that wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is having a good off-season in his first season with the Seattle Seahawks. The News Tribune reports that Housh has picked up the offense well and has developed some chemistry with Seahawks' quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.

Houshmandzadeh signed a multi-year deal with the Seahawks in the off-season and is expected to become the teams top wide receiver in 2009. The Seahawks were decimated by injuries in 2008 when they lost their top two wide outs, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson, for extended periods of time. Rookie tight end, John Carlson, led the Seahawks with 55 catches for 627 yards and five touchdowns.

Even with Branch and Burleson expected to be healthy heading into training camp, Houshmandzadeh should be an upgrade at the position. He has had three consecutive 90+ reception seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Housh should lead the team in receiving this season and should be targeted as a WR2 in fantasy drafts, drafted somewhere between rounds four and five.

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Jennings and Packers appear close to a contract extension

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Green Bay Packers' wide receiver Greg Jennings said that he and the Packers are close to an agreement on a contract extension. Terms were not disclosed nor was a date on which the contract could be done, but it does appear he and Green Bay would like to get a deal done before training camp begins.

Many were expecting a big year from Jennings this season as it appeared he would be playing for a new contract, but even if he signs an extension before the season starts, there is plenty of reason to believe he will have a very productive season. He had 80 catches for 1,292 yards (both career highs) with nine touchdowns in 2008, and he has improved his reception and yardage totals over each of his first three NFL seasons. He has had 21 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he should once again be the number one receiving option for second year quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Jennings should be considered a WR1 heading into fantasy drafts this summer, likely going in the second or third round.

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Kevin Smith wants to be workhorse in Detroit

Earlier this off-season the Detroit Lions second-year running back, Kevin Smith, made a statement promising the Lions would make a playoff appearance this season. That is obvious a very bold statement considering the Lions completed the first ever 0-16 season in NFL history in 2008.

It does appear that Smith is ready to do whatever he can to help make the Lions competitive once again. He recently blogged on his official website, smith34.com, that he is going to work hard over the next five weeks or so to be in tip-top shape heading into training camp. He, also, stated that he wants to be a workhorse runner for the Lions. He said he is heading down to Miami and his training camp starts as soon as he gets off the plane in Miami. Smith added that he is in pretty good shape now, but he is going to train and get on the right diet, so he can get his legs strong and condition himself to perform at a high level at training camp.

Smith had a solid rookie campaign for the Lions in 2008 when he had 238 carries for 976 yards with eight touchdowns, while starting 12 games. Look for improved production for Smith across the board in 2009, especially if the Lions can show any signs of improvement. Consider Smith a RB2, likely drafted by the end of the third round in most drafts.

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Ronnie Brown looking good in Miami

Reports out of Miami are that running back Ronnie Brown looked fit and faster then ever in recent organized team activities. The Palm Beach Post has also reported that running back Ricky Williams looked “mostly invisible” and rookie second round pick Pat White “looked small” alongside other NFL players. White, who is a former college quarterback from West Virginia University, is expected to develop into a role similar to that of Reggie Bush in New Orleans.

These reports out of Miami are good for owners planning on targeting Brown in upcoming fantasy drafts. In 2008 he returned from a torn ACL in 2007 and had 214 carries for 916 yards with a career high 10 rushing touchdowns. Look for Brown to improve on last seasons totals in 2009. He should be targeted as a RB2, likely drafted by the end of round four in most drafts this summer.

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Mixed reports on Favre to Minnesota

Brett Favre’s agent Bus Cook has denied reports that surfaced over the weekend that Favre has already agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Monday that Favre will not report to the Vikings until at least next week because Vikings head coach Brad Childress will spend this week on a fishing trip in Alaska.

Regardless of the conflicting reports, it appears to be just a matter of time before Favre and the Vikings reach an agreement. The Bruno Boys will be here to keep you posted with any changes in this situation. Favre would be an immediate improvement for the Vikings at quarterback, but the Vikings will still run a heavy run oriented offense, making Favre no more then a QB2 as a spot starter. Stay tuned for more on this situation in the days and weeks to come.

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Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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Fantasy Football Crystal Ball: Roy Williams

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:49:00 GMT

Two years ago at this time, the talk surrounding the Dallas Cowboys had been about how this team had so much talent they were bound to become the next Super Bowl Champion. Then last year, they had multiple guys on their team with character issues, but the thought was if they could stay out of trouble no one was stopping this team. The Cowboys have a new look in 2009, ridding themselves of all the trouble makers, including former WR1 and chief drama king Terrell Owens. Owens replacement will be the guy who came in mid season and did not have much success in a Cowboys uniform, Roy Williams.

Williams came over mid-season in 2008 after the Cowboys and his previous team the Detroit Lions agreed to terms. Dallas was able to sign him to an extension when he arrived but thats about the only thing that went right for Williams the rest of the season. He totaled 19 catches for 198 yards and 1 touchdown in nine games. Although his numbers were down extremely from his career averages of 56.2 catches for 816.4 yards and 6 touchdowns per season, to Williams defense he played his first 2 games without Tony Romo at quarterback, never got in sync with the offense, and played behind the shadow of Owens.

With Owens now a member of the Buffalo Bills it will be Williams who will take on the role as being the WR1 in Dallas. After a dismal showing last season, the burning question in Cowboys land is,What can you ultimately expect from Williams this year? The Cowboys will likely lean on their running game this season, with solid options like Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice carrying the rock. The number one receiver will likely be the tight end, Jason Witten, with Williams getting the 2nd most targets through the air. The receiver position in Dallas lacks a lot of depth, with Patrick Crayton starting alongside Williams and Sam Hurd and Miles Austin being their primary backups.

The important thing you want to hear is of course, Williams’ fantasy football impact. His numbers will likely compare to his career averages from above. He won’t put up the statistics Owens did in Dallas because the offense will likely shift towards a more balanced approach and plus he isn’t the kind of big time player T.O. is. In a pecking order, Williams should be ranked as low-end WR2 heading into 2009. Others may take him as a WR1 like it's the 2007 season all over again, which would be a reach due to his lack of consistency and unknown status as a big time factor in the Cowboys’ offense. If someone takes him as their WR1, laugh hysterically and rip him all season long when he lacks a true WR1. Still, Williams has the value to be a solid role player on your fantasy football squad and should contribute enough to give you 15+ points when the match-up is right.

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GET YOUR COMMISH KIT DRAFT BOARD NOW

The Bruno Boys have once again teamed up with Commish Kit to sell their fantasy football draft boards. In fact, the 2009 draft boards are available for purchase and you can pick one up by clicking here… http://brunoboys.commishkitstore.com.

Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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Not-So-Nice Tips for your 2009 Fantasy Football Draft

Bruno Boys Cavigs — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:50:00 GMT

Let’s get this straight. I don’t condone bad sportsmanship or lowly deeds. If you asked anyone who knew me, they’d probably say, I’m a pretty nice guy. But if you’re evil, immoral, twisted, jaded or just really want to have an edge in your fantasy football draft here are some not-so-nice tips - some more dastardly than others. Enjoy!

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Tip No. 1: The Fake Cheat Sheet

Create fake cheat sheets weeks before the draft, complete with false rankings. You can even get creative and circle guys you have no interest in with a huge “SLEEPER” tag beneath it. It shouldn’t be totally illogical though, keep it somewhat believable. Make excuses to visit other team owners and cleverly leave the false sheet in their house or car, as if it slipped from your magazine. It always helps when someone thinks they know what you’re thinking.

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Tip No. 2: The Bartender

Insist on taking team owners in your league out the night before the draft. Show your “generosity” by buying ample rounds, while you nurse your own drink. Not only will you find out some useful information as lips loosen and people start to talk, but a rough next day for the other teams, is an advantage for you.

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Tip No. 3: The Wing Dinger

Find the hottest, messiest, tastiest wings around and bring loads of them to your draft. You’ll also be bringing several cases of ice-cold beer. If done right, this combination will have teams drafting their deep sleepers in the middle rounds. The best part, you look like the nice guy who brought food.

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Tip No. 4: The New Guy

Quickly befriend the new guy in your league who doesn’t know a lot about fantasy football. Offer to help him with his drafting and then proceed to help yourself by guiding him in a direction that will benefit your team, not his.

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Tip No. 5: The Magazine Moocher

There’s always one team that shows up late carrying only a pen, a piece of paper and an eye for one of your magazines. Before your draft, take the cover off one of last season’s fantasy football magazines (I hope you kept them) and crazy glue the cover of this year’s publication. When they ask to borrow one of your magazines, smile and hand it over.

WARNING – if you use this trick, make sure the team owners are not bigger than you.

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Tip No. 6: The Backup Artist

Instead of spending middle picks on mediocre talent, use them to grab everyone else’s handcuff players. Not only can these players break out if injuries occur but you’ll be weakening other teams significantly should their starting player get hurt. Plus, you could be holding several bargaining chips come mid season.

Remember to spread the word to everyone you know and get your draft kit today!

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::The above article was written by Bruno Boys newest staff writer Dominic Brown. If you have any questions or comments contact Dominic at dbrown@brunoboys.net::