Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

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

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF DECEMBER 17, 2011::

Week 15 is obviously a big week in fantasy football, as it is either the second week of the playoffs in leagues where the playoffs started last week or the first week of the postseason in leagues that use Week 17. Now is not the time to get creative with a starting defense, and many of the top options from the entire season are usable this week. Among the notable defenses with favorable matchups include the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. Some others that have upped their performance lately are startable this week as well, like the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.

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. Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City

Green Bay allowed 14 offensive points to the Oakland Raiders in Week 14, as they forced a season-high five turnovers in the game and scored a defensive touchdown for the second straight week. Week brings a very favorable matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 31st in the league in scoring offense (13.3 points per game) and have not scored more than 10 points in six straight games. The Packers’ defense should be able to put pressure on Chiefs’ quarterback Tyler Palko and create plenty of sacks and turnovers. This unit has surrendered a lot of yardage at times this season, but this looks like a week to consider them a top tier No.1 fantasy defense with a fair amount of upside.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

2. Cincinnati Bengals @ St. Louis

The Bengals forced four turnovers and had five sacks against the Houston Texans in Week 14, as they easily had had their best defensive performance in recent weeks. Week 15 brings a very favorable matchup against the St. Louis Rams, who have the league’s worst-scoring offense (11.8 points per game) and may start recently signed Kellen Clemens under center this Sunday. Cincinnati should thus have very little trouble keeping the Rams’ offense under wraps despite some key injuries to their defense, most notably cornerback Leon Hall (Achilles). Fantasy owners can absolutely expect a stellar performance from thus unit this week, and they make for a top tier No. 1 option.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

3. Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco

The Steelers are second in the NFL in total defense (276.1 yards per game), and have been basically equally good against the run (sixth in the league) and the pass (second). They have allowed a total of 19 points over their past three games and should have little trouble finding success against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15. The 49ers rank just 26th in the league in total offense (309 yards per game) and quarterback Alex Smith has thrown for 200 yards or less eight times this season. The absence of linebacker James Harrison this week due to a one-game suspension hurts the Pittsburgh defense some, but there is still an ample amount of talent here to effectively shut down the San Francisco offense. This unit is a top tier fantasy option for Week 15, and there is no reason for owners to even consider another option.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

4. Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis

The Titans’ held the New Orleans Saints to 22 points last week, despite allowing 437 yards of offense and not forcing a turnover in the game. Week 15 brings a much easier matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, who are 31st in the NFL in total offense (283.4 yards per game) as well as 29th in scoring offense (14.2 points per game). When the two teams played back in Week 8, Tennessee allowed just 10 points while forcing two turnovers and registering two sacks in the game. Fantasy football owners have rightly been frustrated by this unit’s inconsistency all season, but this is a week to consider the Tennessee defense a top tier fantasy option.
Bruno Boys Stars:*****

5. Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville

Atlanta has not had a great fantasy defense this season, posting double-digit points just twice all season and forcing multiple turnovers just twice over their past seven games. Week 15 brings a chance for their best performance of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are last in the league in total offense (256.3 yards per game) and 28th in scoring offense (14.8 points per game). The Jaguars just do not have enough talent at the skill positions outside of running back Maurice Jones-Drew, but the Falcons have the league’s fifth-best run defense (96.6 yards per game) to counter him. All things considered, it’s hard to find a reason not to regard the Falcons’ defense as a top tier fantasy unit for Week 15.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

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6. San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh

San Francisco has the league’s top-ranked run defense (70.5 yards per game) and they still have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. Week 15 brings what looks to be a favorable matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who may be without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) after he was injured last week. Roethlisberger looks to be headed for a game-time decision for Monday night, and if he can’t go Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon would start under center for the Steelers. That would clearly favor the 49ers’ defense, and they may be able to put together a good performance against a hobbled Roethlisberger as well. Fantasy football owners that have employed the San Francisco defense all season can confidently consider them a top tier choice for Week 15.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

7. Chicago Bears vs. Seattle

Chicago allowed 13 points to the Denver Broncos last week, as they also sacked quarterback Tim Tebow five times to give them 11 sacks over their past three games. Week 15 brings a good matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, who are 20th or worse in the league across the board offensively despite the fact their running game as been rolling lately. The Bears are 10th in the NFL against the run (101.7 yards per game), so they may be able to contain Seahawks’ running back Marshawn Lynch and force the passing game to beat them. That is a recipe for success with Tarvaris Jackson under center, so fantasy owners can consider the Chicago defense a top tier starting option once again for Week 15.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

8. Baltimore Ravens @ San Diego

The Ravens’ defense has lived up to its reputation over the last three games, allowing a total of 26 points with 46 fantasy points over that span. They will get a tough matchup this week against the San Diego Chargers, who are eighth in the NFL in total offense (388.1 yards per game) and also sit in the top 10 in pass offense (seventh) and scoring offense (tied for seventh). Some of the key offensive players for the Chargers have gotten healthier in recent weeks, which has led to increased performance lately. That said, the Baltimore defense is just too good to bench and they are expected to get linebacker Ray Lewis (foot) back for Sunday night’s game after a four game absence. Fantasy owners should not stray from this unit at all this week.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

9. Arizona Cardinals vs. Cleveland

The Cardinals are no better than 18th in the NFL in any statistical category defensively, and have not forced a turnover in each of their past two games. However they get a favorable matchup this week against the Cleveland Browns, who are 29th in the league in total offense (291.7 yards per game) and 30th in scoring offense (13.7 points per game). The Browns are also likely to turn to Seneca Wallace under center with Colt McCoy (concussion) banged up, so things are looking even better for the Arizona defense this Sunday. Cleveland may be even more conservative offensively than usual with Wallace at the helm, which stands to limit opportunities for turnovers in the game. Fantasy football owners who are looking for a good one-week play for their starting defense this week may not find a better choice than the Arizona defense.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

10. Houston Texans vs. Carolina

Houston has the NFL’s number one defense (274.9 yards per game) this season, and they also rank fourth in scoring defense (16 points per game) heading into what could be a difficult matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 15. Carolina is in the top 10 of the league in total offense (fifth), passing offense (eighth) and rushing offense (fifth) as well as 12th in scoring offense (24.1 points per game). Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton has struggled with turnovers at times this season, so there could be some opportunities there for the Texans’ defense if they can rattle him a little. This unit has become virtually matchup-proof as the fourth-highest scoring fantasy defense (ESPN scoring) this season, but owners who use them just need to be aware of the potential downside this week.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

11. Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago

The Seahawks’ defense has performed very well lately, with 13 turnovers forced over their past five games and 58 fantasy points (ESPN scoring) over their past four games. Another favorable matchup is coming this week against the Chicago Bears, who have struggled offensively without quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte with just 13 points over the last two games. Hanie did not throw an interception last week for the first time in his three starts, but he also only managed 115 yards through the air in the game. If Seattle doesn’t force turnovers, their fantasy upside would be limited to keeping Chicago off the scoreboard for the most part. That is enough to make the Seahawks’ defense a solid choice as a No. 1 defense for Week 15.
Bruno Boys Stars:****

12. Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay

Dallas allowed 35 offensive points and 510 offensive yards to the New York Giants in Week 14, as they failed to sack Eli Manning and forced just one turnover in the game. Week 15 brings a much more favorable matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who turned the ball over seven times last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and have turned the ball over 31 times (tied for most in the NFL) this season. Buccaneers’ quarterback Josh Freeman has thrown a league-high 18 interceptions this season and he continues to be bothered by a shoulder injury. So the Cowboys should be able to create some turnovers, and that is enough to make them a solid choice as a starting fantasy defense this week despite any potential downside.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

13. Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo

The Dolphins allowed 24 offensive points to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14, but they allowed just 239 yards of offense while registering four sacks and forcing two turnovers in the game. A more favorable matchup is now coming against a slumping Buffalo Bills’ offense this week, so a performance similar to Week 11 against the Bills could be coming. In that game, Miami held Buffalo to six offensive points and 247 yards of offense along with two turnovers forced in the game. Another performance on that level should not necessarily be expected in Week 15, but the Dolphins’ defense can be regarded as a low-end No. 1 fantasy defense this week.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

14. New York Jets @ Philadelphia

As could have been expected, the Jets allowed just 10 points and 221 yards of offense to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14 along with five sacks in the game. Things get a lot tougher in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have the league’s fourth-ranked offense (399.2 yards per game) and are in the top half of the league across the board offensively. The Eagles have turned the ball over a tied for league-high 31 times this season, which has to be music to the ears of the Jets’ defense. That said, given the firepower Philadelphia has, there is a lot of downside for fantasy football owners who have relied on this unit all season. The Jets’ defense is only a low-end starting option for this week.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

15. Detroit Lions @ Oakland

The Lions forced six turnovers, including two defensive touchdowns, against the Minnesota Vikings last week in what was their best fantasy performance of the season. That said, they did allow 425 yards of offense and 28 points in the game as Vikings’ backup quarterback Joe Webb led a comeback in the second half. The Lions will get defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh back this week against the Oakland Raiders after a two-game suspension, so another good performance could be coming. Raiders’ quarterback Carson Palmer threw four interceptions against the Green Bay Packers last week and has thrown 13 interceptions since coming to the Raiders. They may allow a lot of yardage again this Sunday, but the chance for turnovers and sacks makes the Detroit defense worth considering as a low-end No. 1 option for Week 15.
Bruno Boys Stars:***

16. New York Giants vs. Washington

The Giants are 29th in the league against the pass (263.7 yards per game) this season, and they have allowed at least 31 offensive points in three straight games. A more favorable matchup is coming in Week 15 against the Washington Redskins, who have shown improvement since Rex Grossman took back over under center but still sit 27th in the league in scoring offense (17.6 points per game). Grossman has thrown seven interceptions in his five starts since getting the job back, and is definitely erratic enough to give the Giants’ secondary some opportunities. That said, there is a lot of downside here and if the Giants do not force turnovers any upside they have will be gone. They make for a fringe starting option for Week 15, and nothing more than that.
Bruno Boys Stars:***