Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

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6. Fred Jackson (Buffalo Bills) @ Cincinnati

Jackson cemented his status as the lead back in Buffalo with 74 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries (6.2 YPC) and 87 yards on five catches against the New England Patriots last week.  He now has 418 total yards and three scores in three games and has become a front end RB2 option in all formats with RB1 potential. CJ Spiller had just one carry and word out of Buffalo is that he will play more as a wide receiver, showing the commitment the Bills now have to Jackson. The Cincinnati Bengals have done well against the run so far this season (2.9 YPC) but that doesn’t mean you should bench Jackson. Play him with confidence as he looks to continue to make plays in a red hot Bills offense.
Point Projection:  17 points

7. Ryan Mathews (San Diego Chargers) vs. Miami   **PROBABLE - EXPECTED TO PLAY IN WEEK 4**

The evident transition to Mathews as the featured back in San Diego developed even quicker than expected as Mathews ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries Sunday while Mike Tolbert had just four carries. Mathews added 51 yards on four catches and if this trend continues (as long as Mathews stays healthy it likely will) we could finally be seeing the running back that many fantasy owners drafted in the first round as a rookie last year. He now has 292 total yards and three scores through three games despite splitting carries with Tolbert the first two games. The Dolphins are a run-of-the-mill run defense and the way Mathews is running right now, he’s a front-line RB2 option in standard leagues has RB1 potential this week.
Point Projection:  16 points

8. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) vs. Carolina

You know things are bad when Jay Cutler is your leading rusher with 11 yards on three carries. Forte was completely stuffed on the ground by the Green Bay Packers and held to two yards on nine carries. Once again, however, he was the leading receiver with seven catches for 80 yards to salvage his game. Through three games Forte has 168 more receiving yards than rushing yards. The Bears running game has been pretty non-existent. Fortunately Forte is such an important part of the passing game he retains his value. Something Forte’s owners can get excited about is that he had his best rushing game of the 2010 against his Week 4 opponent, the Carolina Panthers. In that game Forte had 166 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, something owners would love to see him duplicate. Because of his strong presence in the passing game you can still consider him a low-end RB1, and when the matchup is right (like this one) you can rely on him for a big afternoon.
Point Projection:  16 points

9. Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) @ Arizona

Bradshaw took the lead for the Giants Sunday with 139 total yards and a score on 20 touches in his best game of the year thus far.  Bradshaw now has 189 yards on the ground and 108 yards through the air with two scores and is one of the better RB2 options out there. He has two games with five receptions and is giving his PPR owners a nice boost so far as well. Brandon Jacobs was held to 19 yards on seven carries and Bradshaw continues to take the lead as a runner this season. He needs to remain in your lineup each week and that’s no different against an average Arizona Cardinals run defense.
Point Projection:  15 points

10. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) @ Cleveland

Wow. CJ2K continued to fail on the ground with just 21 yards on 13 carries (1.6 YPC) and he now has a putrid 98 yards on 46 carries (2.1 YPC) in three games. He managed to gain 54 yards on four catches but the concern around CJ is very real here as this came against what has been an awful run defense for a year and a half now in Denver. Four weeks in and there’s really no excuse anymore; it’s time for Johnson to get it together. Johnson faces the Cleveland Browns who are allowing 128.7 YPG on the ground so far. This would be a great matchup if Johnson was at his best—unfortunately that’s not the case.  It’s not time to bench him quite yet. If he struggles again this week though, it’s officially time to worry.
Point Projection:  15 points

11. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) @ Seattle

Turner had, by far, his worst game of the year against Tampa Bay as he was held to 20 yards on 11 carries (1.8 YPC). Turner had at least 100 rushing yards in the first two games so this was a bit of a surprise, especially with the Bucs struggling against the run the first two weeks. Owners will have to hope he can get back on track in Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have allowed 299 rushing yards in three games so they are no brick wall. Turner had 82 yards on 25 carries against Seattle last season and should be in every owner’s lineup this week.
Point Projection: 14 points

12. Peyton Hillis (Cleveland Browns) vs. Tennessee  **PROBABLE - EXPECTED TO PLAY IN WEEK 4**

No people it’s not the Madden Curse, its just strep throat…for now. Hillis missed Week 3 with the illness and is back with the team and ready to play in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans. Hardesty ran reasonably well in place of Hillis in Week 3 but hasn’t done enough to over take him yet. Hillis has 204 total yards and two scores in two games and is a good RB2 option against what has been a surprisingly impressive Titans run defense. The Titans have allowed just 267 rushing yards so far this season (eighth best in the league). Hillis’ skills as both a receiver and runner still make him an RB2 basically every week, no matter the defense.
Point Projection: 14 points

13. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Houston

Mendenhall was shockingly shut down by a bad Indianapolis Colts run defense Sunday night. He was held to just 37 yards on 18 carries and nine yards on three catches. He has struggled to get it going so far this season with just 148 yards and a touchdown on 49 carries (3.0 YPC). It has to be a bit troubling for fantasy owners when he struggles this badly against such a weak defense and his highest rushing total of the season so far is 66 yards in Week 2.  The Houston Texans are so-so against the run and worse against the pass so don’t be surprised if the Steelers stick with the passing attack in this one, hurting Mendy’s value. Don’t push the panic button yet…wait and see what he does this week. If he struggles again, it’s time to be concerned.
Point Projection: 14 points

14. Jahvid Best (Detroit Lions) @ Dallas

Best could find absolutely no room on the ground Sunday against Minnesota with just 14 yards on 12 carries. Fortunately, he managed 74 yards on five catches to salvage the day. He’s still favored in the backfield as no other runner had more than two carries and he’s an important part of this offense as a receiver, so don’t be worried just yet and chalk this up to the Vikings run defense playing well. The Dallas Cowboys under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have allowed just 184 rushing yards in three games so this could be a similar result from Best. Still, his combination of rushing and receiving yards will always be respectable at the very least and he always has a good chance of scoring in this impressive offense. Consider him a low-end RB2 in standard leagues.
Point Projection:  14 points

15. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) vs. Washington   **PROBABLE - EXPECTED TO PLAY IN WEEK 4**

SJax had 23 yards on just four carries Sunday in a game where he clearly wasn’t 100 percent and with the Rams down big, there was no use in trotting him out there. It’s expected that Jackson will be ready to go in Week 4 against the Washington Redskins. He’s still an enticing option and when starting should be in all lineups. Jackson had 58 yards and a score on just 10 carries against the Redskins last year, and while the Skins have fared well stopping the run this year, expect the Rams to lean on Jackson as they look for their first win of the 2011 season.
Point Projection:  13 points

16. Tim Hightower (Washington Redskins)  @ St. Louis

While Hightower had just 41 yards on 14 carries (2.9 YPC), he made a big impact in the passing game with 39 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Hightower has been good for the Redskins so far this season with 283 total yards and two touchdowns in three games and his fantasy owners can rejoice that rookie Roy Helu’s role was diminished in Week 3. Head coach Mike Shanahan is very unpredictable so there are no guarantees with either back, which is unfortunate for fantasy owners. At this point, though, Hightower is clearly the featured back and in Week 4 as he faces a St. Louis Rams team that he had 180 total yards and a touchdown against in two games last season. The Rams have also struggled mightily against the run this year allowing a league high 523 rushing yards (174.3 YPG). Get Hightower in your lineups this week.
Point Projection: 13 points

17. LeGarrette Blount (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Indianapolis

Blount had 81 yards on 24 carries (3.4 YPC) along with a 13-yard reception in Week 3.  Blount has been up and down so far this season but he is one of the few unquestioned starting running backs in the league, which increases his value immensely. The Indianapolis Colts have had a reputation for being dreadful against the run since last season, yet they had no issues slowing Rashard Mendenhall (37 yards on 18 carries) Sunday night. Owners should chalk that up as an anomaly and it would be a surprise to see Blount struggle that much. He a good RB2 option this week.
Point Projection: 13 points

18. Arian Foster (Houston Texans) vs. Pittsburgh   **PROBABLE - EXPECTED TO PLAY IN WEEK 4**

Foster missed Week 3 and now has just 33 yards on 10 carries after three games as early concerns about Foster’s hamstring have come to fruition. However, if you own him you got good news in the middle of the week when he hit the practice field and was thought to give it a go in Week 4. You got even better news on Friday when he practiced and was told by the coaching staff that they will let him loose on Sunday. The matchup is tough against a stout Steelers run defense, however Foster will make plays as a receiver and is always a threat to find paydirt. If you own Foster get him into your lineup, unless you have two proven studs in front of him.
Point Projection:12 points

19. Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Buffalo

Benson struggled against what has been an impressive San Francisco 49ers defense Sunday, gaining 64 yards on 17 carries (3.8 YPC).  After a great Week 1, Benson has just 123 yards on 33 carries with no touchdowns and since he doesn’t catch any passes, he has disappointed owners the past two games. Now the big issue with Benson is his upcoming suspension for incidents during the lockout. The NFL handed down a three-game suspension and Benson is currently appealing. There is no decision yet but whether it’s this week or next, a suspension of some length is likely so owners should grab Bernard Scott if he is available. If Benson plays, he gets a weak Buffalo Bills defense that he could do some damage against. In one game versus the Bills last season Benson ran for 124 yards and a touchdown with 22 receiving yards, so if his suspension is held off for another week consider him a low-end RB2.
Point Projection:12 points

20. James Starks (Green Bay Packers) vs. Denver

Just when everyone was ready to anoint Starks as the stud in the Packers backfield he struggled mightily with just five yards on 11 carries while he watched Ryan Grant run for 92 yards on 17 carries. What does this mean? It’s going to be a fluid situation in the Packers back field as they will likely go with the hot hand week by week – not a fun situation for fantasy owners. The Denver Broncos had one of the worst run defenses in the league last year but haven’t been terrible this year averaging 100 YPG against on the ground so far. If you need to start him in your flex spot go ahead and cross your fingers he looks more like the runner we saw in the first two weeks.
Point Projection: 12 points