Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

The NFL is an ever changing landscape, from year to year, week to week, and even day to day. Hence, the Bruno Boys bring to you our Week 15 Edition of the Fantasy Risers and Fallers. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept behind the article, it’s rather simple. Risers and Fallers highlights those players who have seen their fantasy football value for the weekend’s upcoming games either rise (increase) or fall (decrease).

WEEK 15 RISERS

QB Matt Moore (Carolina Panthers) - Moore hasn’t been outstanding as the Carolina Panthers’ starting QB, but he has been better than the man he’s filling in for, Jake Delhomme. After all, Moore has a TD to INT ratio of 1:2, which is much better than Delhomme’s 8:18. Still, he’s not yet fantasy worthy and should be avoided at all costs.

QB Daunte Culpepper (Detroit Lions) - The Lion’s finally seem to get it as they continue to play it cautious with rookie QB Matthew Stafford, who is dealing with a sore shoulder, a wise move considering how these games are meaningless for Detroit. Stafford is listed as doubtful, which indicates that Culpepper will get the start for Detroit yet again. A start for Detroit, though, doesn’t he starts on any fantasy team this weekend. Heck, Culpepper probably has himself benched in his leagues.

QB Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - Brady’s owners can rest easy this week as the QB despite all his ailments is sporting simply a probable tag this weekend. With just 9 fantasy points in week 14, Brady will look to bounce back against a Bills team that he threw for 378 yards and 2 TDs against back in week 1.

QB Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) - After practicing for three straight days and being medically cleared to play, the Jets have announced that rookie Mark Sanchez will start for the team on Sunday. Don’t, though, expect Sanchez to do all that much as the Jets figure to pound the ball on the ground all game long against the 23rd ranked rush defense of the Atlanta Falcons.

QB Vince Young (Tennessee Titans) - Young continues to be dogged by a questionable listing as we get set for Sunday’s games, but the good news is the QB practiced in full on Friday. Young has said he’ll be on the field, and with the Titans matching up against the Miami Dolphins in what is a huge game for both teams playoff wise, we expect that to be the case.

RB Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) - Following his 18-point outing in week 13 against the Bucs, we told you to stay away from Stewart last week due to a tough match-up and the return of DeAngelo Williams from injury. That advice proved to be right on as Stewart had just 7 carries for 28 yards against the New England Patriots. While Stewart will play for the Panthers’ this Sunday, we once urge that he not play for your fantasy squad.

RB Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) - As the season has gone on, there’s no denying that Moreno’s running has gotten better. Fantasy owners of the Broncos’ rookie will be happy to hear that Moreno could easily notch his best game of the year this weekend. Going up against the 30th ranked rush defense of the Oakland Raiders, Moreno will be seeing quite a heavy workload with Correll Buckhalter likely to miss the contest. Use Moreno as a strong RB1.

RBs Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, & Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints) - All three of the Saints backs are set to play on Saturday as the Saints look to go 14-0. While the fact that they’ll all be getting on the field does make them “Risers,” it, also, makes them “Fallers” in a sense as each will take carries and opportunities away from the other two.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) - Fantasy owners looking to use Bradshaw as a flex play should not be discouraged by the fact that the Giants’ back missed practice on Friday. Dealing with a foot injury, the Giants have played it cautious with Bradshaw during the week to keep him as healthy as possible for Sunday’s, or in this week’s case Monday’s, romps.

RB LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) - Good news for McCoy’s owner. While the back is dealing with carries going to Leonard Weaver and Eldra Buckley, it will be at least one more week until veteran running back, Brian Westbrook, is thrown into the mix as Westbrook has been ruled out for week 15.

RB Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) - The toe injury that has landed Gore on the team’s injury report should not be of concern to Gore’s fantasy owners as the Niners’ back has been designated as probable for this weekend’s contest with the Philadelphia Eagles. While the Eagles poise a tough match-up, Gore’s owners need to plug him into their line-ups as the back look rejuvenated this past Monday Night against the Cardinals when he went for 167 rushing yards and a score on 25 carries.

WR Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals) - While Breaston appears in our “Risers” section, there is a big IF involved. Breaston, who has just four fantasy points total over his last four games, is worth using, only IF Larry Fitzgerald cannot go. If Leapin’ Larry’s not leaping on Sunday, then Breaston is a decent WR2 play.

WR Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) - The good news, White’s knee appears to be on the mend as the Falcons’ wide receiver is listed as probable, a step in the right direction following weeks of having a “Q” next to his name. The bad news as we’ve been stressing all week is that he’ll be matched-up with Jets’ cornerback Darrelle Revis on Sunday. If you know fantasy football, you know Revis has been shutting down stud WRs all year long.

WR Derrick Mason (Baltimore Ravens) - As of right now, Mason, who has three games of 12+ fantasy points in his last four contests, looks like a safe start as he’s listed as probable for the team’s battle with the Bears this Sunday. However, this could easily be negated if the weather is actually as bad as predicted for Baltimore for Sunday. Check the Doppler reports prior to using Mason in your line-up.

WRs Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, & Devin Aromashodu (Chicago Bears) - With Devin Hester listed as doubtful, more opportunities will be there for these Bears’ wide receivers. However, picking which one will take advantage is anyone’s guess. I mean, which of you out there in Bruno Boys Nation saw Aromashodu’s 13 point game coming last week? If you did, let us know because we might just have to sign you on.

WR Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs) - While we’re weary of Bowe in his return game this weekend against the Cleveland Browns, you’ll be happy to know if you’re taking a gamble on him that the wide out is listed as the team’s starting wide receiver on their depth chart and practiced with the first team all through the week.

WR Jerricho Cotchery (New York Jets) - Cotchery’s owners will be happy to hear that the Jets’ wide receiver will have Mark Sanchez throwing him the ball this weekend instead of Kellen Clemens. Look for Cotchery to return to his consistent 70 yards against the Falcons.

WR Hines Ward (Pittsburgh Steelers) - After gutting it out last Thursday and receiving some extra rest, Ward is set to go this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers as he is listed as probable despite the hamstring injury. The Packers do limit opposing wide receivers’ yardage totals, but do allow them to haul in scores as they’ve given up 15 TDs to wide receivers on the year. That plays right into Ward’s strength.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) - The Vikings’ tight end was limited in both the team’s Wednesday and Thursday practices; however, he practiced in full on Friday and is listed as probable for the team’s match-up with the Carolina Panthers, a team that has been struggling of late when it comes to defending the tight end. Deploy Shiancoe as you normally would this weekend.

TE Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) - While questionable, Shockey practiced on Thursday and Friday, usually a sign that a player will play. The good news is that with the Saints playing on Saturday, fantasy owners will know if they need to go with a plan B well in advance of Sunday’s early kick-offs.

K Mike Nugent (Arizona Cardinals) - During this week’s podcast, I labeled Nugent, “Whooley’s Super Stud Sleeper Kicker of the Week.” Granted I know the title needs some work, but the fact of the matter is that Nugent, who was signed earlier in the week by the Cardinals, will be kicking for a high scoring offense going against a weak opponent in a game played in a dome. That my friends spells success.

K Garrett Hartley (New Orleans Saints) - Like Nugent above, Hartley is a kicker on a high-powered offense kicking in a dome this weekend. He has 22 points in his two games kicking for New Orleans and should continue the solid play on Saturday against the Cowboys as he is listed as probable for the contest.