Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

AFC RED FLAG WIDE RECEIVERS IN 2010

Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills)

There is no guarantee that Owens will return for a second season with Buffalo but regardless of what uniform he is wearing next year it’s best to proceed with caution. The flashy wide receiver was supposed to come to Buffalo and revolutionize a Bills passing attack that hasn’t had success since the Jim Kelly era but that hasn’t been the case. With two games remaining in the season Owens has just 47 receptions, 725 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His 51.8 yards per game average is the lowest since his rookie season and outside of two big games Owens’ has been failed to produce at a level that warrants any serious fantasy football consideration in 2010. Whether he stays in Buffalo or moves on to his fifth NFL team one things for certain; at the age of 36 Owens has lost a step or two and enters his 15th season as nothing more than a bench player at the wide receiver position.

Anthony Gonzalez (Indianapolis Colts)

No player at the wide receiver position had more hype than Gonzalez entering the 2009 season. With legendary Colts’ wide receiver Marvin Harrison out of town, Gonzalez was supposed to step up and see an expanded role as the starter opposite Reggie Wayne in a high powered Indianapolis passing attack. However, this never materialized into anything as Gonzalez’s season was cut short just minutes into it when he injured his knee in the season opener. Though not officially listed on the injured reserve list, Gonzalez isn’t expected back this season and there is no guarantee that his starting job is secure in 2010. In his absence, rookie wide out Austin Collie and second year speedster Pierre Garcon have emerged into reliable targets for quarterback Peyton Manning and should play a big role in the Colts future plans. Manning has been on record saying that Collie is the best route runner on the team and has exceptional hands and the big play ability of Garcon is tough to pass on. At some point Gonzalez will factor into the Colts plans but entering 2010 his fantasy outlook isn’t looking so bright.

AFC Wide Receivers to Avoid in 2010: Greg Camarillo (Miami Dolphins), Laveranues Coles (Cincinnati Bengals), Torry Holt (Jacksonville Jaguars), Chansi Stuckey (Cleveland Browns), Darrius Heyward-Bey (Oakland Raiders), Chaz Schilens (Oakland Raiders), Limas Sweed (Pittsburgh Steelers), Demetrius Williams (Baltimore Ravens), Kelley Washington (Baltimore Ravens), Bobby Wade (Kansas City Chiefs), Mark Bradley (Kansas City Chiefs), Eddie Royal (Denver Broncos), Jabar Gaffney (Denver Broncos), Brandon Stokley (Denver Broncos)

AFC RED FLAG TIGHT ENDS IN 2010

Benjamin Watson (New England Patriots)

After being an afterthought in the Patriots 2008 offense many fantasy football owners thought the return of quarterback Tom Brady would propel Watson into a low-end TE1. Not so much. Outside of a big Week 1, in which Watson torched the Buffalo Bills for 77 yards and two touchdowns, the tight end has been a non-factor. He does have three additional touchdowns on the season, but over the last 13 games Watson has compiled just 19 receptions and he’s failed to catch a pass in four different contests. On the season, wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker have combined for around 55-percent of the receptions in New England and despite the calendar changing to 2010 the way the Patriots distribute their workload will stay the same. Watson will enter next season with high hopes to play a bigger role in the offense only to see himself hover around his career averages of 25-30 receptions, 350 receiving yards and 3-5 touchdown receptions. Decent numbers, but not good enough to be considered anything more than a waiver wire pick-up as a bye week plug-n-play. 

AFC Tight Ends to Avoid in 2010: Tony Scheffler (Denver Broncos), Shawn Nelson (Buffalo Bills), Marcedes Lewis (Jacksonville Jaguars), Kansas City Chiefs TEs, Cleveland Browns TEs, Cincinnati Bengals TEs

AFC RED FLAG KICKERS IN 2010

Kris Brown (Houston Texans)

While it’s recommended to own a fantasy kicker in a high powered offense you still need to make sure the kicker is accurate enough to warrant his roster space and this hasn’t been the case for Brown in 2009. The fact that he plays in a high powered Texans’ offense and that at least nine of his games every year are indoors makes Brown an intriguing option but it’s tough to rely on a kicker that struggles with accuracy. Though 14 games in 2009 Brown is just 19-of-28 on his field goal chances and is converting on 40 to 49 yard field goals at just a 20-percent clip (1-of-5). Everyone can make the chip shots, but if you want to keep your job in the NFL, you need to be able to kick in the clutch and make the long ones. With Brown failing to do either of these, he enters 2010 on a short leash and despite your temptations to snag him on draft day next year, you are better off targeting a more reliable option in a similar offense.

AFC Kickers to Avoid in 2010: Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns), Josh Scobee (Jacksonville Jaguars), Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders), Ryan Succop (Kansas City Chiefs)

AFC RED FLAG TEAM DEFENSES IN 2010

Tennessee Titans D/ST

It just goes to show you what the loss of one of the best defensive players in the NFL can do to your defense. In 2008, the Titans road the coattails of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and became a top five fantasy football defense. Fast forward one year and a Haynesworth-less Tennessee defense entered Week 15 ranked 20th in standard scoring fantasy leagues at the D/ST position. As the season has progressed Tennessee has made adjustments on defense which has led to eight interceptions and a fumble recovery over the past two games but at the same time they are allowing too many points and not getting enough pressure on the quarterback. The Titans are allowing 24 points per game (10 points per game more than ‘08) and their 28 sacks through 14 games ranks in the bottom half of the league. Unless Tennessee finds themselves a true pass rusher in 2010, opposing teams should have no trouble moving the football on them. On top of that, playing in an offensive orientated division that features the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans will once again be no easy task for this reeling defense. 

AFC Team Defenses to Avoid in 2010: Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST, Kansas City Chiefs D/ST, Cleveland Browns D/ST, Oakland Raiders D/ST

Week 16 Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  | DEF    (click to read)

Week 16 Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM    (click to read)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Advice:  PICK THEM UP  |  CUT THEM LOOSE    (click to read)

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