Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Ryan Boser
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF JANUARY 17, 2012::

No Drew Brees? No Aaron Rodgers? No Tim Tebow? No problem! We’re down to our final four signal callers, and collectively, this group is on fire. With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, we fan the flames in our Championship Week Playoff Rankings!

Standard Scoring

Pass TD: 4 points |  All Other TDs: 6 points
25 Passing Yards: 1 point |  All Turnovers: -2 points
10 Rushing Yards: 1 point |  10 Receiving Yards: 1 point

1. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

Prior to last week’s tilt with Denver, Tom Brady had cracked 300 passing yards and scored exactly three touchdowns in each of his last four contests. Apparently, that outstanding production was child’s play. Six touchdowns and 363 yards later, Brady had etched his name in the record books (again) and put the Patriots in their first AFC title game since their fateful 2007 finale. While Baltimore’s No. 2 fantasy pass defense hasn’t allowed multiple touchdown passes to an opposing quarterback all season, Brady transcends matchups, and will deliver again Sunday.
Point Projection: 23 points

2. Eli Manning (New York Giants) at San Francisco

The majority of the fantasy community has been waiting for Eli Manning to fall on his face all season, but outside of his Week 15 hiccup, it just hasn’t happened. In fact, he was the best quarterback on the field Sunday afternoon in Lambeau, completing 21-of-33 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and one interception as the Giants shell-shocked the 15-1 Packers. It was his third consecutive three-touchdown effort, and Manning’s pass-catching trio is a matchup nightmare for any secondary, including the hard-hitting 49ers.
Point Projection: 21 points

3. Alex Smith (San Francisco) vs. New York Giants

Alex Smith will forever be known as the quarterback the 49ers drafted instead of Aaron Rodgers, but Saturday afternoon he had a shining moment of epic proportions. Smith threw for a season-high 299 yards, matched a season-best with three touchdown passes, and added a 28-yard touchdown scamper for the ages. San Francisco is on an influential run, and while the Giants’ inspired pass defense has allowed just six touchdown passes in their last four games, Smith has earned a whole new level of respect.
Point Projection: 18 points

4. Joe Flacco (Baltimore) at New England

Joe Flacco has notched a pair of touchdown passes in four of his last five games, including Saturday’s victory over the Texans, but his yardage numbers have been atrocious for the better part of two months. Over his last seven games, he’s averaged a paltry 159 passing yards, with a high water mark of 227. If any team can give him an aerial boost, however, it’s the Patriots. New England ranked dead last against opposing quarterbacks this season, and with Tom Brady gunning at historic levels, Flacco will likely be asked to step up his production this week.
Point Projection: 17 points