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 Wild Card 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).

WILD CARD RISERS

QB Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) - The Ravens’ sophomore quarterback, who became the first rookie to lead his team to two playoff wins in the same season in 2009, is currently dealing with a hip injury as he gets set to square off with the New England Patriots on Sunday. The injury is said to be minor with Flacco listed as probable for the game. He is fully expected to be on the field for Sunday’s affair, but that still doesn’t mean we’re putting our trust in him for Wild Card weekend as it is our belief that the Ravens will rely on the legs of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee in this one.

RB Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys) - Fantasy owners will be pleased to hear that Marion Barber returned to practice in full on Friday and is set to go against the Philadelphia Eagles barring any setbacks with his knee. Barber makes for an intriguing option in the Wild Card round of fantasy as he has tallied double digits in three straight weeks now, including a 10 point effort in Week 17 against the very Eagles he faces on Saturday.

RB Tashard Choice (Dallas Cowboys) - Choice has passed all neurological tests and has been cleared to play this weekend against the Eagles, giving the Cowboys their full compilation of running backs to work with against Philly. Don’t look for Choice to have too big an impact though as the Cowboys will lean on Marion Barber and Felix Jones before giving Choice the ball.

WR Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals) - With the Arizona Cardinals establishing the run during the second half of the season, Breaston’s value took a big hit as the team limited its use of three wide receiver sets. In fact, the wide out, who notched over 1,000 receiving yards in 2009, managed just 12 total fantasy points over the Cardinals last seven games. Nonetheless, Breaston has proven that when given the opportunity he can be fantasy gold, and he may very well get a nice opportunity here in Wild Card weekend with teammate Anquan Boldin nursing an ankle and knee injury. Keep an eye on Boldin’s status, but if he is ruled inactive, Breaston makes for a very solid value pick in this round of games.

WR Randy Moss (New England Patriots) - According to head coach Bill Belichick, Randy Moss’ absence from practice on Friday was not injury related. With Wes Welker already down and out for the Patriots, not having Moss on Sunday would be disastrous. The Patriots’ wide receiver is expected to go and should see plenty of work against a Ravens’ defense that allowed 17 passing scores on the year.

WR Julian Edelman, TE Benjamin Watson, & RB Kevin Faulk (New England Patriots) - While Edelman’s uptick in value due to Welker’s injury has been well-documented as the rookie seems to be a clone of Welker - something made more evident by his 10 catches for 103 yards in Week 17 after Welker left the contest, little has been made of the increased targets veteran tight end, Benjamin Watson, and veteran running back, Kevin Faulk, should see this weekend. They aren’t quite worthy plays in any playoff challenge at the moment, but fantasy owners will want to see how their roles have been effected in order to gauge their value for the Divisional Round should the Patriots advance.

WR Jerricho Cotchery (New York Jets) - A hip injury will not sideline Cotchery for this weekend’s meeting with the Bengals, meaning he will be available in fantasy playoff challenges. Just because he’s available, though, doesn’t mean owners should employ him. Cotchery has just one TD over his last six games (a rushing score in Week 17 against Cincy) and has had less than 70 yards receiving in each of those last six contests.

K Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals) - It may be difficult for fantasy owners to trust Rackers this Wild Card weekend as the Cardinals’ kicker failed to attempt a field goal during his return from a groin injury last Sunday. Rackers, though, did partake in practice this week and is currently the only kicker on the Cardinals’ roster thanks to the release of Mike Nugent last week. If you are tempted to roll with Rackers on Sunday, feel free to do so.

WILD CARD FALLERS

RB Larry Johnson (Cincinnati Bengals) - Johnson did see nine carries that he took for 38 yards in the Bengals’ week 17 match-up with the very New York Jets team they’ll see this weekend, but don’t expect his workload to be anywhere near that this go around. Not only is Cedric Benson going to return for this game, carrying a full workload, but Johnson, himself, is dealing with tendinitis. Stay away at all costs!

WR Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) - In playoff games, players try to play through the pain. And, based on his quick return from a fractured face last season, no one will ever question Boldin’s toughness, so you know he will give it a go this Wild Card weekend against the Green Bay Packers. However, with the wide out unable to practice for three straight days this week, we’re weary of using him this round of playoff action. Do yourself a favor and invest your money elsewhere.

WR Chad Ochocinco (Cincinnati Bengals) - The fact that Ochocinco is dealing with a knee issue is not what has us down on the receiver as we get set for the playoffs to kickoff. What has us down on the receiver is that he’ll be less than 100% while going against Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets. Revis shut down some of the biggest names in football this season, while they were completely healthy, so he should have no problem keeping a less-that-full capacity Ochocinco contained.

WR Wes Welker (New England Patriots) - Just a reminder to all of you partaking in fantasy playoff challenges, Wes Welker tore both his ACL and MCL ligaments while playing in the team’s Week 17 game. The injury drew head coach Bill Belichick some heat as the game held very little meaning for the Patriots. Welker is indeed done for this season, no matter how far the Patriots go in the playoffs, and his status for the start of the 2010 season is also in jeopardy.

Wild Card Round Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  | DEF  (click to read)

Wild Card Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM  (click to read)

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