Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

16. Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) vs. Dallas

In the Saints Week 14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons Pierre Thomas had a team-high 13 carries for 47 yards and he added six receptions for 53 yards. The 13 carries were the most he has had since he also had 13 carries in Week 9. With Mike Bell out with a knee injury Thomas was expected to get additional carries, but in New Orleans a high-powered passing attack the running game usually takes a back seat; especially in close games. Use Thomas as a No. 2 fantasy running back this week against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is allowing just over 100 rushing yards per game and has given up just six rushing touchdowns through 13 games. He does have added value in point per reception leagues and he has 14 total receptions over his last two games. With this game being an expected shootout you should take the gamble on Thomas playing a big role in the Saints success and plug him into your lineup as a RB2. 
Point Projection: 14 points

17. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Green Bay

Rashard Mendenhall had 16 carries for 53 yards in the Steelers surprising Week 14 loss to the Cleveland Browns. It was his second worst rushing performance since taking over the starting running back role in Pittsburgh 10 games ago. He has been very good in a starting role for the Steelers and he has posted 10+ fantasy football points in seven of his last 10 games. Mendenhall has a tough match-up this week against a Green Bay Packers defense that is ranked No. 4 in rushing yards allowed and has yielded just four rushing touchdowns in 13 games. Mendenhall should be used as a RB2 this week in what has become a win or pack your bags game for the defending Super Bowl Champions. 
Point Projection: 13 points

18. Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) @ Pittsburgh

In a Week 14 victory over the Chicago Bears, Ryan Grant had 20 carries for 137 yards with two touchdowns. His best fantasy football output of the season couldn’t have come at a better time for fantasy owners who were either in the playoffs or fighting for a playoff spot. He scored on a 62-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and added a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter which gave the Packers the lead for good. Grant has traditionally been very good in December games throughout his career, but will find things much tougher this week when he faces a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that in ranked No. 1 against the rush. Consider him a RB2 this week as he looks to score double figure fantasy points for the 10th time this season.
Point Projection: 12 points

19. Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys) @ New Orleans

In the Cowboys’ Week 14 loss to the San Diego Chargers, Marion Barber had 14 carries for 47 yards and he added two catches for 22 yards. He was held without a touchdown for the sixth consecutive game and he has not topped 100-yards rushing since Week 2. Barber is having a down year with 716 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played. The bruising running back has scored in double digit fantasy points in five games, but in his other seven games he has not scored more than seven fantasy points. Barber has a solid match-up this week against a New Orleans Saints defense that is allowing 112 rushing yards per game and has given up 15 rushing touchdowns in 13 games. Use him as a No. 2 running back or flex option this week against the Saints as we like his chances of ending his touchdown drought.
Point Projection: 12 points

20. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) vs. Cincinnati

LaDainian Tomlinson had 21 carries for 50 yards with a touchdown in the Chargers Week 14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. It was the fifth straight game in which he has found the end zone and he has seven touchdowns during that span. He has not had a 100-yard rushing game yet this season, but with 10 touchdowns he has been a very effective fantasy football running back. Tomlinson has rebounded from a slow start this season and he should continue to be used as a No. 2 fantasy running back this week, even in a tough match-up against a Bengals defense that is allowing less than 90 rushing yards per game this season. He isn’t likely to pile up the yards but at the rate LT has been finding pay dirt you have to like his chances to as to his touchdown total.   
Point Projection: 12 points

21. Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) @ Detroit

With Cardinals starting running back Tim Hightower fumbling early in Arizona’s Week 14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, rookie Beanie Wells received the most of the carries in the game. He finished the game with 15 carries for 79 yards with a touchdown and added one catch for 24 yards. He did lose a fumble himself late in the game and it was his second lost fumble of the season. Despite the fumble, Wells was explosive and is clearly the better running back in Arizona. Expect him to see a similar workload to that of Week 14 and consider Wells a low-end RB2 against a struggling Detroit Lions defense.
Point Projection: 12 points

22. Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) @ Washington 

In a Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Jacobs had 15 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. It was his third touchdown in four games and fantasy owners are happy to see him getting into the end zone after he only managed two touchdowns over his first nine games this season. He has yet to rush for more then 92 yards in a game this season, but the fact that he is starting to score touchdowns helps his fantasy value. Use Jacobs as a low-end No. 2 fantasy running back this week against a Redskins defense that is allowing more then 117 rushing yards per game and has given up seven rushing touchdowns this season. 
Point Projection: 12 points

23. Quinton Ganther (Washington Redskins) vs. New York Giants 

After being named the Redskins starting running back, Quinton Ganther was started by just 11 percent of owners in CBSSports leagues in Week 14. Owners who took a chance on Ganther last week were rewarded with 21 fantasy points as he finished the game with 14 carries for 50 yards with two touchdowns and he added three receptions for 43 yards. He was clearly better than Rock Cartwright who had just two touches in the game and Ganther will remain Washington’s starting running back this week. With Ganther once again projected to get a full workload you can fee confident using him as a low-end RB2 or flex option this week against the New York Giants who have allowed 17 rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 12 points

24. Arian Foster (Houston Texans) @ St. Louis

In what has been a revolving door at the running back position in Houston, rookie Arian Foster is expected to be the lead back when the Texans take on the St. Louis Rams in Week 15. After a Ryan Moats fumble head coach Gary Kubiak had seen enough and he turned to little known Foster to handle the bulk of the workload in the second half of a Week 14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Foster had 11 second half touches and on Tuesday Kubiak stated they will use Foster more moving forward. On the season only two teams have allowed more fantasy football points to opposing running backs then St. Louis and if given the opportunity Foster could be the biggest surprise play at the running back position. Use him as a low-end RB2 or a flex play and make sure to monitor Kubiak’s comments after practice regarding the Texans running backs.
Point Projection: 10 points

25. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) @ Baltimore 

For the third time is four games Matt Forte was held under 10 fantasy points in the Bears Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He finished the game with 12 carries for 51 yards and added four receptions for 17 yards. After a very good rookie season in 2008 Forte has put together a season that can be classified as a “sophomore slump.” He has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry this season and has another tough this week when Chicago faces the sixth ranked Baltimore Ravens rush defense. Forte should be used as a RB3 or flex option against a Ravens defense that is allowing an average of 3.5 rushing yards per carry against this season. 
Point Projection: 10 points

26. Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals) @ Detroit

After fumbling early in the first quarter of the Cardinals Week 14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Tim Hightower finished the game with just two carries for three yards and two receptions for 13 yards. It was his fourth lost fumble of the season and second over his past two games and head coach Ken Whisenhunt appeared to be making a point with his limited touches. Hightower should have a good chance to redeem himself against a Detroit Lions defense that Ray Rice and Willis McGahee had a field day against in Week 14. He will continue to split carries with rookie Beanie Wells, but Hightower could be used as a low-end RB2 or flex play in this match-up. 
Point Projection: 10 points

27. Chris Jennings (Cleveland Browns) @ Kansas City

Too the surprise of many fantasy football owners rookie Chris Jennings, not Jerome Harrison, led the Browns in touches in a Week 14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jennings had 20 carries for 73 yards and he scored the Browns’ first rushing touchdown of the season (from a running back) on a 10-yard run in the second quarter. After a big game against the Steelers, who lead the NFL in rush defense, it appears that Jennings has done enough to earn legitimate playing time as the season finishes up. If Jennings is named the starter this week he is worth taking a chance on against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that is allowing 148.1 rushing yards per contest. One thing we’d like to point out is that wide receiver Joshua Cribbs is expected to get carries out of the backfield in Week 15 so as a Jennings owner you are going to want to monitor this situation when the Browns conduct practice this week..
Point Projection: 9 points

28. Jason Snelling (Atlanta Falcons) @ New York Jets  **CHECK INJURY STATUS OF M.TURNER**

With Michael Turner inactive once again with an ankle injury, Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood shared the running back duties for the Falcons. Snelling had 10 carries for 37 yards with a touchdown and added four receptions for 65 yards. He once again outperformed Norwood who rushed for 33 yards in the Week 14 loss to the undefeated New Orleans Saints. Snelling is worth using as a RB3 or flex option this week against a solid New York Jets defense, if Turner is unable to play. If Turner is active for the game, Snelling is better off spending some time riding pine. 
Point Projection: 9 points

29. Fred Jackson (Buffalo Bills) vs. New England

In the Bills Week 14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Fred Jackson led Buffalo in rushing and receiving. He had 20 carries for 99 yards and three receptions for 23 yards in the game, all while sharing carries with Marshawn Lynch. He has scored double digit fantasy points in three of his last five games and this week he faces a New England Patriots defense that he torched for 19 fantasy points (standard scoring leagues) against in Week 1. Jackson did carry the full load in his last match-up with the Patriots, as Lynch was serving a suspension, so don’t expect another 19 points, though you can plug him in as a RB3 or flex play in Week 15.
Point Projection: 9 points

30. Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) @ Washington 

Ahmad Bradshaw had 14 carries for 55 yards with a touchdown and four receptions for 46 yards in the Giants loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week. It was his first touchdown since Week 8 and the first time since Week 5 against the Oakland Raiders that he totaled more than 100 yards. Even though he put up solid numbers in Week 14, Bradshaw should not be relied on to win your fantasy match-up this week against a Washington Redskins defense he had 12 carries for 60 yards against in Week 1. 
Point Projection: 8 points