Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

—Written by Brad Berreman
—Edited by Allie Fontana
—Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2011::

Week 14 is a critical week in fantasy football, as the playoffs are ready to roll in most leagues and it is the final week of the regular season in those leagues that use Week 17. The defenses owners have relied upon all season can be thought of highly once again this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers all find favorable circumstances this week. Those who are in search of a starting defense other than those “names” can find suitable options as well. The Seattle Seahawks in particular have a matchup to exploit in Week 14, and the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots could be worth taking a chance on in what could be beneficial situations. .

Here’s a quick reminder of how to use the Bruno Boys Team Defense Star System to help you select a team defense for the critical week ahead.

BRUNO BOYS DEFENSIVE STAR SYSTEM

5-Stars (*****)- Bruno Boys Top Plays of the Week
4-Stars (****)- Bruno Boys Very Solid Plays of the Week
3-Stars (*** - Bruno Boys Average Plays of the Week
2-Stars (**)- Bruno Boys Try To Avoid Playing This Week
1-Star (*)- Bruno Boys Do Not Start Unless You Have To

1.Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cleveland)

Pittsburgh’s defense held the Cincinnati Bengals to seven points and 232 offensive yards in Week 13, as they also had three sacks and forced two turnovers in the game. Week 14 brings another favorable matchup against the Cleveland Browns, who have the league’s 30th-ranked offense (290.7 yards per game) as well as the NFL’s 28th-ranked scoring offense (14.6 points per game). Browns’ quarterback Colt McCoy is dealing with a knee injury togo along with a previous right elbow issue, so an already limited passing game stands to even be more close to the vest.Running back Peyton Hillis (hip) is expected to play this week, but the Steelers should have absolutely no issues keep the Cleveland offense under wraps. The Steelers’ defense has returned to an elite level over the last two weeks, and that is almost certain to continue in Week 14 at a critical time for fantasy football owners.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

2. Baltimore Ravens (vs. Indianapolis)

The Ravens are third in the NFL in total defense (287.3 yards per game), second in run defense (88.8 yards per game) and are currently the highest scoring fantasy defense in ESPN standard leagues. Yet another favorable matchup is coming in Week 14 against the Indianapolis Colts, who are still 29th in the league in total offense (293.1 yards per game) and scoring offense (14.5 points per game) despite their best offensive performance of the season last week against the New England Patriots. Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis (toe) is considered questionable to return for Sunday’s game, but they are unlikely to need him to contain the Colts’ offense effectively. There is no reason for any fantasy owner to consider any other option this week if they have been relying on this unit all season.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

3. New York Jets (vs. Kansas City)

The Jets allowed 19 points and 304 yards of offensive to the Washington Redskins in Week 13, and they forced three turnovers and sacked quarterback Rex Grossman twice in the game. They had forced just one total turnover in their previous three games, and now a very favorable matchup is coming in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are 27th in the league in total offense (299.8 yards per game) as well as 30th in scoring offense (13.6 points per game), and if that is not enough they have turned the ball over a tied for AFC-high 24 times this season. Chiefs’ quarterback Tyler Palko is unlikely to pose a challenge to the Jets’ seventh-ranked pass defense (204.6 yards per game), and the possibility for multiple sacks and turnovers is certainly here. This unit can be regarded as an upper tierNo.1 fantasy defense for Week 14.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

4. San Francisco 49ers (@ Arizona)

The 49ers’ defense was flat-out dominant in Week 13, as they shut out the St. Louis Rams while allowing just 157 yards of offense in the game. They had four sacks in the game and forced two turnovers in the game as well, and another favorable matchup is on the slate for this week against the Arizona Cardinals. In the previous matchup of the two teams in Week 11, San Francisco forced a season-high five turnovers and had two sacks as they held Arizona to just seven points. Cardinals’ quarterback Kevin Kolb was inactive for that game and will play this week, but he is unlikely to make a major difference in how this defense plays. San Francisco may be without star linebacker Patrick Willis (hamstring) for Sunday’s game, but there is no reason for fantasy owners to not employ them as one of the top starting options for Week 14.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

5. Seattle Seahawks (vs. St. Louis)

Seattle put together one of their best defensive performances of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, as they allowed only 14 points while intercepting quarterback Vince Young four times, returning one for a touchdown. This week brings an extremely favorable matchup against the St. Louis Rams, who have the league’s worst scoring offense (11.7 points per game) and also sit 31st in total offense (284 yards per game). The Rams may be down to third-string quarterback Tom Brandstater on Monday night, since Sam Bradford (ankle) and A.J. Feeley (thumb) are both banged up. An extra day ahead of Monday night’s game may help Bradford or Feeley be ready to go, but the Rams’ offense has been bad regardless of who is under center. In the previous game between the two teams in Week 11, the Seahawkssacked Bradford five times while allowing just seven points and forcing three turnovers in the game. Seattle has forced multiple turnovers in each of their last four games, and they do tend to play better at home. Fantasy football owners would be hard-pressed to find a more favorable matchup for Week 14, so this unit can be considered a nice starting option with some upside as well..
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

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6. Denver Broncos (vs. Chicago)

Denver allowed 32 points and 489 offensive yards to the Minnesota Vikings last week, but they did have three sacks and force three turnovers in the game as well as score a defensive touchdown. They have performed very well lately, posting nine or more fantasy points in six of their last eight games, and will now get a very favorable matchup at home against the Chicago Bears in Week 14. The Bears were already without quarterback Jay Cutler (thumb), and will now be without running back Matt Forte (right knee) after he was injured in last week’s game. Caleb Hanie has thrown six interceptions in two starts in place of Cutler, so Marion Barber stands to see plenty of work as the Bears’ new lead running back. The Broncos may get linebacker VonMiller (thumb surgery) back this week and that only serves to strengthen this unit even more. Fantasy owners who have added the Broncos’ defense in recent weeks can consider them a top tier No.1 option for this week in a very favorable matchup.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

7. Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota)

The Lions allowed 31 points and 438 yards of offense to the New Orleans Saints in Week 13, and they have allowed 27 or more points in four straight games. They will again be without defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (suspension) this week against the Minnesota Vikings, though they do get a much more favorable matchup. The Vikings may get running back Adrian Peterson (left ankle) back this week, but quarterback Christian Ponder (hip) was held out of practice on Thursday and his status for Sunday is up in the air. If Ponder can’t go, second-year man Joe Webb would start under center and that would obviously favor the Detroit defense. If the Lions can focus solely on stopping the running game, the Vikings are unlikely to find a lot of success moving the ball this week if Ponder has to sit out. Fantasy owners can again rely on this unit in Week 14, and they can be considered a very solid No. 1 option. The status of Peterson andPonder, one way or the other, leaves a few spots of flexibility in this ranking.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

8. Houston Texans (@ Cincinnati)

The Texans were able to hold the Atlanta Falcons to 10 points as they intercepted quarterback Matt Ryan twice and held running back Michael Turner to 44 rushing yards on 14 carries in the game. They will take on the Cincinnati Bengals, who have a decidedly mediocre offense, in Week 14 so another strong defensive effort looks to be coming. Even if the Bengals had a big-play threat outside of wide receiver A.J. Green, the Houston defense is fast becoming matchup-proof as one of the top fantasy football defenses of the season. Owners who have relied upon the Texans’ defense all season can do so once again this week with little regard for any downside.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

9. Green Bay Packers (vs. Oakland)

The Packers allowed 35 points and 447 offensive yards to the New York Giants last week, but they were able to score a defensive touchdown as linebacker Clay Matthews returned an interceptionfor a touchdown. A more favorable matchup is coming in Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders, who will again be without running back Darren McFadden (foot) and most likely wide receivers Jacoby Ford (foot) and Denarius Moore (foot) as well. Green Bay leads the NFL in takeaways with 27, which has been their saving grace to fantasy owners despite the fact they’ve allowed a lot of yardage and points at times. Cornerback Charles Woodson (concussion) has been cleared to play on Sunday, and he may be motivated playing against his former team. In any case, the Green Bay defense can be regarded as a No. 1 fantasy defense for Week 14.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

10. Chicago Bears (@ Denver)

If not for a long touchdown pass as the first half expired, the Bears would have held the Kansas City Chiefs without a touchdown last week. Week 14 brings a tougher matchup against the Denver Broncos on the road, as they will look to contain quarterback Tim Tebow and the top-ranked run offense (158.9 yards per game). Broncos’ running back Willis McGahee was held out of practice with a knee injury on Wednesday and Thursday, so his availability for Sunday’s game is in doubt at this point.Chicago has the league’s eighth-best run defense (99.8 yards per game), so they may have a chance to keep Denver’s running game under wraps and force Tebow to beat them through the air. That looks to be a recipe for success for the Bears’ defense, and they should be considered a solid starting option with very little downside this week.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

11. New England Patriots (@ Washington)

The Patriots allowed 24 points and 437 yards of offense to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13, as their 32-ranked pass defense (310 yards per game) made a star out of quarterback Dan Orlovsky (353 passing yards). Another potentially favorable matchup is on the slate this week against the Washington Redskins, who are 27thin the league in scoring offense (16.8 points per game) and will have turnover-prone Rex Grossman under center. New England has intercepted nine passes in their past six games, so there issome hope there for multiple opportunities for turnovers even if they surrender a lot of yardage through the air. Fantasy owners should not think of this unit as an upper echelon defense for Week 14, but those looking for a low-end starting option with some upside can do worse.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

12. Miami Dolphins (vs. Philadelphia)

The Miami shut out the Oakland Raiders for three quarters in Week 13, and ultimately allowed 14 points while also scoring a defensive touchdown in the game. They have now posted double-digit fantasy points (ESPN scoring) in three of their last four games and allowed 14 or less points in four of their last five games. Their Week 14 opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, may get quarterback Michael Vick (ribs) back this week, but how effective he will be after missing three games is definitely a question. Philadelphia does rank third in the NFL in total offense (412.6 yards per game), but they are just 16thin scoring offense (22.6 points per game). The Dolphins may surrender a fair amount of yardage on Sunday, but otherwise they are worth consideration as a solid fantasy start for Week 14 since they have played so well in recent weeks.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

13. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Houston)

The Bengals allowed 28 offensive points to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, but they allowed only 295 yards of offense and were able to get three sacks in the game as well. A more favorable situation looks to be coming this week against the Houston Texans, who will again have T.J. Yates starting under center again and may also be without wide receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring) yet again after he suffered another hamstring injury last week. Despite their poor recent performance, Cincinnati still ranks as the sixth-highest scoring fantasy defense in ESPN standard leagues. There is a good chance for a rebound performance here, even without the upside of multiple turnovers as the Texans will almost certainly rely heavily on their running game. Fantasy owners can consider the Bengals to be a low-end No.1 fantasy defense for this week.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

14. New Orleans Saints (@ Tennessee)

New Orleans allowed 466 yards of offense to the Detroit Lions in Week 13, but they were able to limit the Lions to 17 points and sack quarterback Matt Stafford three times in the game. A more favorable matchup is coming in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, who are in the bottom half of the league in most notable offensive categories. However, Titans’ running back Chris Johnson has at least 130 rushing yards in three of his last four games as he has looked more like his old self after a slow start to the season. If the Saints can build a lead and force the Titans to throw the ball a lot, Johnson may be taken out of the equation and that will clearly benefit this unit. There are options with more upside for Week 14, but fantasy owners can find a solid starting option here if they have a need.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

15. Philadelphia Eagles (@ Miami)

Philadelphia allowed 24 offensive points and 347 yards of offense to a fairly dismal Seattle Seahawks’ offense in Week 13, as they have now not forced a turnover in two straight games. Week 14 brings a matchup with the Miami Dolphins, who are just 21st in the league in total offense (320.2 yards per game) butthey have scored over 30 points twice in their past three games along with just one turnover in that span. Eagles’ cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha suffered a concussion in last week’s game, but he was able to practice on Wednesday and may be able to play on Sunday. Even if Asomugha is able to play, fantasy football owners need to find a more reliable option during this critical week if at all possible.
Bruno Boys Stars:**

**BEAT THE BRUNO BOYS $350 WEEK 14 FREE CONTEST - TOP 20 PAID** 

We’ve partnered with DraftStreet.com to provide our fans an opportunity to play WEEKLY salary cap fantasy football against the Bruno Boys Staff.  Through the first nine weeks of the NFL season we have given away over $5,600 in cash prizes. This week, we are offering a $350 free roll in which the TOP 20 win prize money. Make sure to sign-up now for a chance to win money and take on the Bruno Boys… IT’S FREE!!

Please use this link to enter:  Week 14 $350 Contest  (click to register)

16. Atlanta Falcons (@ Carolina)

The Falcons held the Houston Texans to 17 points along with 337 yards of offense in Week 13, as they also allowed over 100 yards rushing to Texans’ tailback Arian Foster in the game. Week 14 brings a more difficult matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who are fifth in the league in total offense (397.6 yards per game) and also rank in the top 10 in passing offense (eighth),rushing offense (fifth) and scoring offense (24.2 points per game). In the previous matchup of the two teams in Week 6, Atlanta intercepted Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton three times and held Carolina to 17 points , but Newton has only thrown two interceptions in his last four games. All signs point to a difficult situation for the Falcons’ defense, so they should not be regarded as a top tier fantasy defense for Week 14 and there is a lot of downside to boot.
Bruno Boys Stars:**