Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

16. Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles) @ San Diego  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

After suffering a concussion early into the Eagles Week 7 contest with the Washington Redskins, Brian Westbrook has missed two straight games. He practiced Wednesday and Thursday of last week and it appeared that he would be able to play in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, but was inactive for the game and rookie LeSean McCoy got the start. Westbrook will once again be questionable heading into Philadelphia’s Week 10 contest with the San Diego Chargers. If he is healthy enough to play this week, he should be used as a RB2 in a match-up against a Chargers rush defense that is giving up 130.25 yards per game this season and has allowed seven rushing touchdowns. If Westbrook is unable to play this week, McCoy will again get the start and should be used as a RB2 option.
Point Projection:  13 points

17. Ricky Williams (Miami Dolphins) vs. Tampa Bay

Scoring his sixth rushing touchdown of the season in a loss last week to the New England Patriots, Ricky Williams continues to exceed expectations. Even with Ronnie Brown being the focal point of the Dolphins offense, Williams has rushed for 456 yards on 85 carries this season while adding 16 receptions for 188 yards with another touchdown. Consider him a RB2 this week against a Buccaneers rush defense that is amongst the worst in the league allowing more then 163 rushing yards per game and has given up 11 rushing touchdowns.
Point Projection:  13 points

18. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) vs. Philadelphia

Against the New York Giants in Week 9, LaDainian Tomlinson had one of his lowest yardage totals of the season when managed just 22 yards on 12 carries, while adding two catches for eight yards. Heading into the contest against the Giants he had rushed for 56 yards or more in each of his last three games and he has rushed for 289 yards in six starts this year. Though it might take a touchdown to propel him into double digit fantasy points, Tomlinson should be used as a No. 2 fantasy football running back this week against an Eagles defense that is ranked No. 10 against the run this season.
Point Projection:  13 points

19. Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) vs. New England

For the third week in a row Joseph Addai had 60 or more yards rushing. He also added two total touchdowns and he has scored in four of the Colts last five games. He may not be the elite running back many thought he would be at this point in his career, but he has been a serviceable starting fantasy football running back this season. With 608 total yards and seven touchdowns, he has scored double digit fantasy points seven times this season. Even if rookie Donald Brown returns from injury this week, Addai should be used as a RB2 this week against a New England Patriots defense that has given up just two rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection:  12 points

20. Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Seattle

In a Week 9 victory over the Chicago Bears, Tim Hightower had 15 carries for 77 yards and he added one catch for 11 yards. He did not score a touchdown in the game, which ended his streak of four straight games getting into the end zone. He doesn’t post gaudy numbers on a weekly basis, but he has 40 receptions this season for 307 yards and has turned into a nice dual-threat running back. In a Week 6 match-up against the Seahawks in Seattle, Hightower posted 11 fantasy football points. Look for another 10+ fantasy point performance at home this week, making HIghtower a solid No. 2 fantasy running back.
Point Projection:  12 points

21. Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills) @ Tennessee

Marshawn Lynch has carried the ball 70 times for 217 yards with one touchdown, while adding 17 receptions for 123 yards in five games since returning from an early season three game suspension. He has barely been a blip on the fantasy football radar so far this season, as he has not reached 70 rushing yards in a single game. Coming off the Bills bye week, Lynch has a decent match-up against a Tennessee Titans defense that is allowing 111.9 yards per game and has given up eight rushing touchdowns. Look for Lynch to have his best performance of the season and is worth starting as a No. 2 running back or flex option this week.
Point Projection:  11 points

22. Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys) @ Green Bay

In the Cowboys victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, Marion Barber had 12 carries for 50 yards and he added three catches for 20 yards. He did not score a touchdown and he failed to score double digit fantasy points for the third time is four games. Since returning from a quad injury in Week 4, he has not had more then 15 carries nor has he topped 53 rushing yards in a game. Barber has been slowed by injuries this season, but he is a solid back and a strong runner. In two career games against the Packers he is averaging 111.5 yard per game and has scored one touchdown. He should be used as a low-end RB2 option in a match-up that should be high scoring.
Point Projection:  10 points

23. Laurence Maroney (New England Patriots) @ Indianapolis

Since Laurence Maroney has been New England’s starting running back due to injuries to Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris, he has not disappointed. Over the Patriots last three games he has carried the ball 49 times for 248 yards and has scored a touchdown in each of the three games. He has posted double digit fantasy points in all three games and has been a nice pick-up for fantasy football owners. This week he faces an Indianapolis Colts defense that has been solid against the run, but has been devastated by injuries of late. Maroney will make a useful low-end No. 2 running back or flex option this week. If Sammy Morris returns from injury, Maroney will lose a little of his fantasy value, but based on his current play he should remain the Patriots’ starting running back.
Point Projection:  10 points

24. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) @ Minnesota

Kevin Smith rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries and added two catches for nine yards in Detroit’s Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He now has 138 carries for 460 yards with three touchdowns this season to go with 26 receptions for 207 yards. He is the Lions’ No. 1 running back option, but he has played more like a No. 2 or Flex fantasy football running back. The last time he faced the Vikings Smith had 24 rushes for 83 yards, plus two catches for 10 yards in a Week 2 loss. Expect a similar output from him this week, making him a low-end starting option at the running back position.
Point Projection:  9 points

25. Justin Fargas (Oakland Raiders) vs. Kansas City  **RANKING BASED ON MCFADDEN NOT PLAYING**

In six games this season Justin Fargas has 72 carries for 263 yards with a touchdown and he is averaging 71 rushing yards over his last three games. He has also added 11 receptions for 73 yards, but unfortunately the inept Oakland offense does not afford him a lot of opportunity to score. Use Fargas as a RB3 this week against a poor Kansas City Chiefs rush defense that is allowing 136.2 yards per game, but if Darren McFadden returns from injury, which is a possibility, his value will decrease some.
Point Projection:  9 points

26. Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) vs. Atlanta

Coming off a game in which he rushed for 87 yards with two touchdowns in Week 8, Jonathan Stewart managed just 24 yards on 13 carries in the Panthers’ in a Week 9 loss to the New Orleans Saints. His carries were limited after he lost an early fumble, which was his second lost fumble in four weeks. Stewart’s numbers have been a bit sporadic this season as he continues to play second fiddle to DeAngelo Williams. He has 87 carries for 384 yards with four touchdowns this season as Carolina’s No. 2 ball carrier. He has not had more than 17 carries in a game this season and in a Week 2 match-up with the Atlanta Falcons he had 9 carries for 65 yards. Stewart is best suited as a No. 3 fantasy running back this week, and most weeks, at home against Atlanta.
Point Projection:  8 points

27. Cadillac Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Miami

Cadillac Williams tied a season high with 16 carries and had 56 rushing yards in a surprising Week 9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. He got a good majority of the team’s carries last week, although on limited touches backup Derrick Ward did score a touchdown. It does appear that Williams has secured the top running back spot in Tampa Bay over Ward. This week the Buccaneers face the Miami Dolphins whose rush defense is allowing just 94.5 yards per game, but have given up nine rushing touchdowns. Continue to use Williams as a RB3 or flex option.
Point Projection:  8 points

28. Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) @ Washington

Rookie Knowshon Moreno had his worst outing of his rookie campaign on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers who boast the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense. He managed just three yards on five carries in the game without a touchdown. Heading into the game he had rushed 109 times for 420 yards with three total touchdowns. Give a lot of credit to the Steelers defense for Moreno’s lack of production, but the Broncos have not been rushing the ball well of late. He should be used as a No. 3 fantasy running back this week against the Washington Redskins that you beat on the ground.
Point Projection:  7 points

29. Jamaal Charles (Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland

Starting in place of the suspended (and now released) Larry Johnson, Jamaal Charles had just six carries for 36 yards in a Week 9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did add three catches for 19 yards and a two-point conversion, but fantasy football owners were hoping for more of a breakout from Charles in the starting role. The good news for fantasy owners is it looks like he will get a few more starts this season as the Chiefs have released the aforementioned Johnson. Keep your expectations of Charles to a minimum as his role is undefined, but he will likely start and share carries with Kolby Smith. A favorable match-up against a soft Oakland Raiders rush defense makes Charles a sneaky play but until we know his actual role it’s tough to start him over your studs with bad match-ups. Unless he scores a touchdown, don’t expect anything more then RB3 numbers from Charles this week.
Point Projection:  7 points

30. Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns) vs. Baltimore

Before the Browns’ bye last week, Jamal Lewis announced that he planned on retiring at the end of the season. The 10-year veteran is 30 years old and a former Pro-Bowler who just recently moved to 21st place on the all-time rushing list. He has 98 carries for 349 rushing yards this season without a touchdown. Lewis who played seven seasons in Baltimore should be motivated to play against his former team, especially after announcing his retirement. He still should not be used as more then a low-end RB3 this week.
Point Projection:  6 points