Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Since we don’t believe in an offseason, we’ll be releasing our normal weekly position rankings to help you best decide which players to go with in our Fantasy Football Playoff Challenge. The first iteration will be the quarterbacks and there isn’t a whole lot of surprise in the rankings. To see where all eight of the players rank this week continue reading the Divisional Round edition of the Bruno Boys Weekly Wide Receiver Rankings.

1. Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) @ Atlanta

Jennings was highly disappointing against the Philadelphia Eagles with only one reception for eight yards in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  Aaron Rodgers was extremely efficient completing 18 of 27 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns, but both defenses didn’t allow the big play and Jennings wasn’t much of a factor.  Jennings has another great matchup this week against an Atlanta Falcons’ team that has allowed an average of 22 fantasy points per game and surrendered 15 touchdowns to the wide receiver position during the regular season.  Jennings also had five receptions for 119 yards against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12 of the regular season.  Start Jennings this week.
Point Projection: 16 points

2. Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Baltimore

Wallace had an outstanding sophmore season.  He finished the 2010 regular season with 60 receptions for 1257 yards and 10 touchdowns.  He didn’t slow down out at the end of the season either hauling in 14 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns over the last three games.  Wallace only managed seven receptions for 100 yards against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2010 season.  However, the Baltimore Ravens allowed nearly a touchdown per game average against wide receivers this season and Wallace has been consistent and reliable this year.  Expect Wallace to come up big this week.
Point Projection: 15 points

3. Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Green Bay

White had his best season as a professional in 2010.  He had career highs in receptions (115), receiving yards (1389) and scored 10 touchdowns.  The Green Bay Packers allowed the fourth least fantasy points per game (16) and surrendered only nine touchdowns to the wide receiver position during the 2010 regular season.  White also managed only five receptions for 49 yards against the Green Bay Packers in Week 12.  However, White had 11 receptions for 84 yards in his only playoff appearance in the Wild Card round of the 2008 playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals.  Look for White to have a better game against the Green Bay Packers this time around.
Point Projection: 15 points

4. Johnny Knox (Chicago Bears) vs. Seattle

Knox really turned it on towards the end of the 2010 regular season with six receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns over the last two regular season games.  He finished the 2010 regular season with 51 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns.  The Seattle Seahawks allowed the third most fantasy points per game (25) to the wide receiver position and Knox also had five receptions for a season-high 120 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 of the regular season.  Knox is a great choice for the Gridiron Playoff Selection Division Round this week.
Point Projection: 13 points

5. Wes Welker (New England Patriots) vs. New York

Welker had a solid season coming back from an MCL/ACL tear that effectively ended his 2009 season.  He finished the season with 86 receptions for 848 yards and seven touchdowns.  Welker has been productive against a tough New York Jets pass defense this season, hauling in 13 receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns.  Tom Brady will figure out ways to get Welker the ball, no matter what defensive scheme the New York Jets defense throws at him.  Welker, who has 27 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns in three playoffs games is a great start this week.
Point Projection: 12 points

6. Santonio Holmes (New York Jets) @ New England

Holmes had only four receptions for 46 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in an exciting victory in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  Mark Sanchez struggled with his accuracy and often overthrew Holmes and the rest of the New York Jets receivers.  Holmes was solid on the road against the New England Patriots hauling in a season high seven receptions for 72 yards.  He has also had some impressive performances in past playoff games including nine receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals that netted him a Super Bowl MVP trophy in 2008.  Expect a better game for Holmes this week assuming Mark Sanchez can get it together.
Point Projection: 12 points

7. Deion Branch (New England Patriots) vs. New York

Branch had his best season in three years after being traded to the New England Patriots.  He had 48 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns in 2010.  Branch, who has played in 10 post-season games, has been a force in the playoffs hauling in 49 receptions for 725 yards and two touchdowns.  He also had three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium in Week 13.  Branch is a solid start this week.
Point Projection: 11 points

8. Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens) @ Pittsburgh

Boldin came up big once again in the playoffs, hauling in five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in a dominating victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.  He was great against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the regular season hauling in 12 receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown.  The Pittsburgh Steelers were fantastic against the run during the regular season so Joe Flacco may attempt more passes this week and a fair amount of them are likely to go in Boldin’s direction.  Expect Joe Flacco to get his big playmaker involved often in this game.
Point Projection: 11 points

9. Mike Williams (Seattle Seahawks) @ Chicago

Williams once again was productive against the New Orleans Saints accumulating five receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown in one of the biggest wins in Seattle Seahawks franchise history.  Matt Hasslebeck had one of the biggest games of his career throwing for 272 yards and four touchdowns.  Not bad for a guy who needed fluid drained from his hip before the game.  The last time Williams played the Chicago Bears was Week 6 of the regular season and he had a great game hauling in 10 receptions for 123 yards.  However, the Chicago Bears defense likely wont underestimate Williams like they did in Week 6 and Matt Hasslebeck probably won’t throw four touchdowns again this week.  A great game may not be on the horizon for Williams, but a solid game is well within the realm of possibility.
Point Projection: 10 points

10. Braylon Edwards (New York Jets) @ New England

Edwards had four receptions for 62 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  It was a modest performance by Edwards, but he did lead the New York Jets in receiving yards.  Edwards wasn’t impressive against the New England Patriots during the regular season with only seven receptions for 84 yards.  The New England Patriots however, allowed an average of 22 fantasy points and surrendered 15 touchdowns to the wide receiver position.  Edwards has a chance at a decent game, but he isn’t the best choice for the Gridiron Challenge this week.
Point Projection: 10 points

11. James Jones (Green Bay Packers) @ Atlanta

Jones had only one reception for nine yards, but did score a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  The Green Bay Packers running game was impressive accumulating 138 rushing yards, which allowed Aaron Rodgers to pick a part the Philadelphia Eagles defense.  The Atlanta Falcons allowed 12 receptions per game to the wide receiver position during the regular season, which means Jones may be more involved in the passing game this week than he was against the Philadelphia Eagles.  Jones only had five receptions for 44 yards against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12 of the regular season.  However, he has three touchdowns in his last four games and has another solid chance to score this week, especially if Aaron Rodgers continues to play at a high level
Point Projection: 8 points

12. Hines Ward (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Baltimore

2010 was one of the worst seasons of Ward’s career.  He finished the 2010 regular season with 59 receptions for 755 yards and five touchdowns.  The Baltimore Ravens allowed 12 receptions per game to the wide receiver position, but Ward only had three receptions for 27 yards against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2010 regular season.  Ward has had some big playoff games during his career, but he doesn’t appear to be a great play this week.
Point Projection: 7 points