Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

5. Rashard Mendenhall (Pit) vs. Ryan Grant (GB)

Bruno Boys Whooley: GRANT. Both running backs see their value take a hit this week due to the poor match-ups they have, but in looking at the Steelers and the Packers right now, it’s obvious to everyone that these two teams are moving in the exact opposite directions. The Steelers have been miserable of late, while the Packers are rolling on all cylinders. The momentum stays in the Packers’ favor during the game, which leads to a bigger day for Grant.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: GRANT. Tough call as both of these guys will get the touches but their match-ups don’t jump out at you. In my opinion Grant gets the edge because he’s been the more consistent of the two and the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been all that shutdown against the run of late. Over the last five games the Steelers are allowing 15.8 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Neither will produce at a high level but Grant is the safer choice to reach his points per game average.

6. Terrell Owens (Buf) vs. Lee Evans (Buf)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: OWENS. If I could pick neither I would but for the purpose of discussion give me T.O. He wasn’t great last week but he did score a touchdown and that makes three of four games with a score for Owens. In Week 1 the New England Patriots shutdown Owens so he seeks revenge but if he doesn’t score a TD don’t expect him to have enough yardage to salvage the afternoon.

Bruno Boys Whooley: OWENS. With T.O. notching three TDs over the Bills’ last four games, and Evans failing to find pay dirt at all over that span, a span that has seen him tally just 9 combined fantasy points to Owens’ 50, is this even really a question?

7. Chris “Beanie” Wells (Ari) vs. Tim Hightower (Ari)

Bruno Boys Whooley: WELLS. Despite Beanie Wells promising play throughout the season, Hightower was continually able to hold him off for the team’s featured back role. However, Hightower’s fumbling issues of late have changed that as Wells is now the back head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, trusts. A solid game of 70+ yards and a score seems reasonable for Wells this week against the woeful defense of the Detroit Lions.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: WELLS. The rookie has touched the ball 29 times over the last two games while starting running back Tim Hightower has just 11 touches. Wells was impressive in the Arizona Cardinals Week 14 loss and he should see a heavy workload against a Detroit Lions run defense that has allowed at least 15 fantasy points to the running back position in every game this year.

8. Jay Cutler (Chi) vs. Joe Flacco (Bal)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: FLACCO. If you are looking for one of these quarterbacks to win you a game it’s not going to happen; however, if you are looking for the guy who will take care of the football and post respectable numbers it’s Joe Flacco. With the Baltimore Ravens emphasizing the run game Flacco won’t be asked to do much, but if you are looking for 200-225 passing yards and a TD from your quarterback he’s the guy.

Bruno Boys Whooley: FLACCO. It’s no secret that Jay Cutler has a tendency to throw the ball to those guys in the wrong colored jerseys as he has 22 INTs on the year. That stat doesn’t bode well for Cutler as he heads to Baltimore to take on a Ravens’ defense that has 9 INTs in it’s last five games.

9. Ricky Williams (Mia) vs. Chris Johnson (Ten)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: JOHNSON. As much as I want to go with Ricky Williams here I’d be crazy to not roll with the NFL rushing leader. Johnson has ran for 110 yards or more in eight straight games and he’s scored 35+ fantasy points in four different games this year. Don’t expect Johnson to match the 35 point total from Week 14 but 150 total yards and a score is likely.

Bruno Boys Whooley: JOHNSON. I can’t make Johnson my No. 1 overall choice for 2010 and not go with him here. As good as Williams has been in this 2009 season, running like the back he was in his first year with Miami, Johnson has been better. As I stated before, the Titans’ back is averaging over 20 points a game this season. You just don’t bet against that type of production.

10. Donnie Avery (StL) vs. Kevin Walter (Hou)

Bruno Boys Whooley: AVERY. The Rams’ offense is horrendous. I am well aware of this. However, every now and then, Avery comes up with a solid fantasy outing, primarily due to a TD reception. That though is more than can be said for Walter, who has done nothing since his 16 fantasy points in his debut game this season back in week 3.

Bruno Boys Cavigs:  WALTER. In the battle of the borderline plays the edge goes to Walter because he plays in the better offense and has the better quarterback. Owners can’t be encouraged by his two reception for 17 receiving yards Week 14 performance, but the fact that Walter takes on a St. Louis Rams team that ranks 31st in the NFL in points allowed is tempting.

11. Knowshon Moreno (Den) vs. Brandon Marshall (Den)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: MORENO. Marshall is going to be hard pressed to match his 21 receptions from a week ago in this one. It’s not that I really trust the Raiders’ secondary to shut the wide receiver down, I just don’t think the Broncos will have much reason to throw the ball due to the success they should have on the ground with Moreno running against the 30th ranked rush defense in the NFL.

Bruno Boys Whooley: MORENO. The rookie ran for 90 yards and a touchdown earlier in the season against the Oakland Raiders and we don’t expect the gameplan to change much in Week 15. Expect head coach Josh McDaniels to get Moreno involved in the offense early and often and for Moreno to top 100 rushing yards for the first time in his young career.

12. Chad Ochocinco (Cin) vs. Vincent Jackson (SD)

Bruno Boys Whooley: JACKSON. Jackson’s seven catches for 120 yards in the Chargers’ week 14 win over the Cowboys is a sign to me that Philip Rivers has figured out once more how to get the ball to his big wide out. Meanwhile, I believe Ochocinco reverts back to Ochostinko against a hot San Diego Chargers’ team.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: OCHOCINCO. Due to recent struggles neither of these options are guys I’d heavily rely on but if I had to pick once it’s Chad Ochocinco. He’s scored a touchdown in two straight games and despite a tough match-up I think he has something special planned for his friends in sunny San Diego. Now…he just has to find pay dirt.

13. Justin Forsett (Sea) vs. Julius Jones (Sea) vs. Cadillac Williams (TB)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: FORSETT. If head Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora Jr. was smart he would ditch the RBBC approach and just hand the job over to Forsett. It’s obvious that Forsett, not Julius Jones, is the more dynamic player and his fantasy owners should expect him to produce as a flex option against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has allowed 140 or more rushing yards in five of their last six games.

Bruno Boys Whooley: FORSETT. The match-up in this one heavily favors the Seahawks’ backs as the Bucs rank 31st against the run, while Seattle comes in at No. 12. Thus, the choice is between Forsett and Jones. And, as I have preached all year long, just hoping Jim Mora would hear me, Forsett is the back with more talent.

14. Steve Smith (Car) vs. Sidney Rice (Min)

Bruno Boys Whooley: RICE. I do think the Vikings will come out and simply run the ball down the Panthers’ throat with Adrian Peterson as Carolina ranks 26th against the run; however, while the Vikings passing game won’t be asked to do much, I think it still does enough to outperform that of the Panthers, which is why I’m rolling Rice here.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: SMITH. The safe choice is Sidney Rice and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has the better game but Smith’s big play ability has been showing up more of late. He has three catches over 40 yards since Week 12 and despite having a great defense you can beat the Minnesota Vikings over the top.

15. Jason Campbell (Was) vs. Eli Manning (NYG)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: CAMPBELL. Both of these players have been tough to predict in 2009 but Campbell has been streaking of late. He has seven touchdown passes to just three interceptions over his last three games and at the rate the New York Giants have been surrendering passing touchdowns I like his chances to make it four straight games with double-digit touchdown passes.

Bruno Boys Whooley: CAMPBELL. With all of the injuries at the running back position that Washington has had this season, more and more of the load has fallen on Campbell, and he’s responded well with 18+ fantasy points in each of his last three games. As for the Giants’ defense, they’ve allowed 27 fantasy points to the QB position in each of the last two weeks.

Week 15 Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  | DEF    (click to read)

Week 15 Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM    (click to read)

Week 15 Waiver Wire Advice:  PICK THEM UP  |  CUT THEM LOOSE    (click to read)

————————

Don’t forget to head over to our Fantasy Football Message Board and sign-up for a FREE FORUM account. By doing so you will be able to talk fantasy football all season long.