Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Each and every fantasy football contest from here on out has the make-up of a do-or-die outing. With that being the case, the Bruno Boys know you have questions. We address some of these in the Week 16 edition of the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Roundtable.

WEEK 16 BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Last week in this very article, the challenge was laid down to name next year’s top-10 fantasy options. This week, with the Bruno Boys already releasing some Red Flag Players from the AFC to be weary of in 2010, let’s turn the tables. Who are the five guys you are definitely staying away from in next year’s fantasy drafts?

Bruno Boys Jimbo: The first clear cut guy for me is this year’s biggest fantasy bust, Matt Forte. Secondly, I’m staying away from LaDainian Tomlinson, who clearly has his better days behind him. I’m also staying away from Michael Turner. As far as I’m concerned, he’s been a one-year wonder and even before he got hurt earlier this season, he was held quiet for the first month of the season. The wear and tear of last year has hindered Turner’s long-term success. I won’t be drafting Steve Smith from the Carolina Panthers until they get acquire a real quarterback. I’m not convinced that Matt Moore is the answer. I saved my best one for last, but next year, I will not be drafting Larry Fitzgerald. It has nothing to do with Fitz himself, but his current quarterback is one big sack away from his playing days coming to and end, and the backup quarterback isn’t that great. Once Kurt Warner goes down, and we got the warning this year with the concussion he suffered, Fitzgerald’s fantasy value will take a huge hit for how high he’ll be projected to get drafted. If Fitz wasn’t going to be projected as a top-three WR, then I would draft him, but the risk outweighs the reward here.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: Lots of options to choose from after seeing so many big name players fail to get the job done in 2009. In no particular order my top five to avoid in 2010 are; Matt Forte, Jason Witten, Kevin Smith, Steve Slaton and Brandon Jacobs. In all reality this list could go on and on but the five mentioned are players that had their chances to produce on numerous occasions but never found the groove that kept them consistent from start to finish.

WEEK 16 LIGHTNING ROUND  (Fantasy Football Questions in a Flash)

Real Deal or One-Week Wonder

1. Jerome Harrison, RB, Cleveland Browns (47 fantasy points in week 15)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: REAL DEAL. I’m going to make one thing clear right from the start. I’m giving Jerome Harrison the nod for Real Deal simply because of the teams he will be facing in the final two weeks. The Browns are at home for the final two weeks, facing the Raiders and the Jaguars. Those are two good matchups. I’m a little bit skeptical because Harrison plays on a terrible offense and who knows if whether or not Chris Jennings gets more carries than he did last week. Either way, there’s room for Harrison to do well in the final two weeks.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: REAL DEAL. Don’t expect Harrison to even come close to rivaling his Week 15 performance against the Kansas City Chiefs but with match-ups against the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars Harrison can be owned as a low-end RB2 or Flex play as we enter fantasy football championship week.

2. Matt Moore, QB, Carolina Panthers (23 fantasy points in week 15)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Moore did look like an All-Pro on Sunday Night Football and because of this many fantasy football owners are considering the use of him this week. His Week 16 opponent, the New York Giants, are vulnerable at defending the deep ball but outside of a hook up or two with wide out Steve Smith the Panthers don’t sport much offense.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Matt Moore took advantage of the Minnesota Vikings when they were at their worst this season. Any quarterback could have taken advantage of the condition that Minnesota was in last week. Moore faces a New York Giants team that’s trying to get into the playoffs. Let’s see how he does when he’s facing a team with its back up against the wall. I don’t think he’ll be as successful.

3. Maurice Morris, RB, Detroit Lions (21 fantasy points in week 15)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Maurice Morris had a solid game last week against Arizona, but the bulk of his rushing yards came on one play. I’m not sold on anybody playing on the Detroit Lions unless his name is Calvin Johnson. This week, Morris faces the San Francisco 49ers, who have been pretty tough against rushing attacks. I don’t like him to repeat last week’s success against the Niners.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Filling in for an injured Kevin Smith, Morris got the start and racked up over 120 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. On top of that, more than half of his 126 rushing yards came on one play. Despite the numbers to justify using him odds are you will like breakfast in bed that much better.

4. Michael Bush, RB, Oakland Raiders (20 fantasy points in week 15)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: ONE-WEEK WONDER. There are too many running backs in Oakland and not enough offense for them all to be involved in a productive fashion. Even if Justin Fargas misses this weeks game it’s still hard to rely on a Raiders’ offense that is unpredictable as to how they will handle the mixed backfield.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Similar to what I said about Maurice Morris, I don’t like anybody on the Oakland Raiders. While Michael Bush has a good matchup this week, I think we’ll see a lot more of Darren McFadden this week. He also put on a good showing last week, and I think the Raiders will try to get him plenty of handoffs.

5. Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (19 fantasy points in week 15)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: REAL DEAL. Last week, Mike Wallace proved that he can make the big plays when he’s needed. I think he’ll have to come in handy this week, as Santonio Holmes has been a bit of a disappointment and Hines Ward is still battling that hamstring injury. He should see a good amount of looks this week, and although he may only haul in about five catches, one of those very well may be a 50-yard touchdown.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: ONE-WEEK WONDER. Wallace is going to be a good player down the road and his two touchdown receptions played a big role in the Pittsburgh Steelers come from behind victory last week. Still, with your season on the line you’re better taking a more reliable wide receiver. 

WEEK 16 MATCH-UPS  (Who’ll Have the Better Week?)

1. Philip Rivers (SD) vs. Chris Johnson (Ten)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: RIVERS. I like both guys in this matchup, but I’m going to give the nod to Philip Rivers because Rivers very well may be the best quarterback in the league right now from the point of view of a manager on the field. Don’t get me wrong, Rivers has produced nicely from a fantasy end, but he’s been great at managing the game as well. I think he’ll keep the ball control with the San Diego Chargers for most of the night, and he’ll put up at least three scores.

2. Fred Jackson (Buf) vs. Jason Snelling (Atl)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: JACKSON. It’s too hard to tell what’s going on with the Atlanta Falcons’ backfield. A lot depends on whether or not Michael Turner will play or not and how much of a factor will Jerious Norwood be. One thing’s for sure, Marshawn Lynch hasn’t done much since coming back from suspension, and Fred Jackson has been impressive when he’s been in there. I like Jackson slightly more here.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: SNELLING. This decision will be determined by the status of Michael Turner. If he sits this game out it’s Snelling that should have a field day against the 32nd ranked Bills run defense. If for some strange reason Turner decided to grit it out and play go ahead and use Jackson. He had tons of yards last week and is a dual-threat out of the backfield.

3. Jamaal Charles (KC) vs. Cedric Benson (Cin)

Bruno Boys Cavigs: BENSON. After watching Jerome Harrison torch the Kansas City Chiefs last week there is no way I can’t roll with Benson in Week 16. Expect the bruising running back to see 25+ carries and go for over 130-140 total yards while finding pay dirt. And for those Charles lovers, expect him to produce as well, just not at the rate he’s been going.

Bruno Boys Jimbo: CHARLES. I’m simply picking the hot hand here. Cedric Benson by far has the better matchup, but you can’t bet against Jamaal Charles right now. Charles has become one of the hottest running backs in recent weeks, and even against a stiff defense, I don’t think you can sit him. Meanwhile, Benson hasn’t been at his best ever since he got hurt. I think the Cincinnati Bengals will win this game through the air attack.

4. Michael Bush (Oak) vs. Jerome Harrison (Cle)

Bruno Boys Jimbo: HARRISON. I like Jerome Harrison more here because I think Darren McFadden will get a lot of work this week and next week. What Michael Bush did last week was more or less a fluke. Bush has a good matchup on paper, but he plays on a terrible offense with its marquee player ahead of him on the depth chart. Given what Harrison did last week, I think you’d have to give him the nod over most matchups until we see Chris Jennings get back involved in the mix.

Bruno Boys Cavigs: HARRISON. Don’t expect a Barry Sanders like performance again in Week 16. In fact, I know I give the nod to Harrison here but in all reality he won’t be anything more than a low-end RB2 or Flex play this week. Trying to predict what Cleveland running back has value is like flipping a coin; however, I’d still roll with Harrison over Micahel Bush with all the money on the line.