Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

With the rapid approach of the new year, we are reminded that all things must come to an end, and that is the case with the 2009 regular season as Sunday’s match-up will draw to a close what has been an entertaining season. For many of you, though, the 2009 season will be even better if you are able to secure your league’s title. To help you accomplish that feat, we present the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 17 Wide Receiver Rankings!

1. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) vs. New England

Johnson didn’t go off the way he had in recent games last week, though it is hard to continually rack up 190+ receiving yards. Even in what was a down game for him, he did catch five passes for 71 yards and one touchdown. This contest should be a good one against the Patriots, with Johnson going toe-to-toe with Randy Moss. Truth be told, neither should be stopped.
Point Projection: 18 points

2. Randy Moss (New England Patriots) @ Houston **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

As we mentioned, Moss and Johnson will square off this Sunday in a game featuring two of the most explosive talents in the game. And, also as we mentioned, each should have very big games. Moss may have only hauled in four passes in Week 16, but he still managed to find the end zone three times. Houston and New England have respectable pass defenses, but that matters very little when going up against receivers of Moss and Johnson’s caliber.
Point Projection: 17 points

3. Miles Austin (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Philadelphia

Austin led the Cowboys with nine catches while accumulating 92 receiving yards last week in Dallas’ win over Washington. The last time the Cowboys and Eagles matched up, Austin only caught one pass, but it was for 49 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles’ secondary has been struggling a bit of late, giving up 14+ fantasy points to the wide receiver position in seven of their last eight games, and they remain vulnerable to Austin’s talent. Use him confidently as a WR1 in week 17.
Point Projection: 17 points

4. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Green Bay **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

Fitzgerald simply hasn’t been putting up big numbers recently, as he had only five catches for 48 yards against the Rams last week. Luckily, he also scored a touchdown, something he’s done in three of his past four games. And, guess what the Packers give up in boatloads? Receiving touchdowns – only two NFL teams have allowed more than the 28 the Packers have given up on the year.
Point Projection: 16 points

5. DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Dallas

Jackson didn’t put up his usual large numbers in receiving yards last week, but he did catch a touchdown pass in Philly’s win over the Broncos. It was the fifth straight game in which Jackson has caught a touchdown, and though the Cowboys effectively shut Jackson down the last time these two teams matched up, don’t expect a repeat of that this week.
Point Projection: 15 points

6. Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) @ Arizona **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

Jennings racked up 111 receiving yards on four catches last week against Seattle, marking his second straight game with at least 110 receiving yards. He should make it three games in a row against a soft Arizona secondary that allows 233.5 passing yards per game. However, he’ll only do so if head coach, Mike McCarthy, leaves him on the field. Continue to check back throughout the week to see Jennings’ projected playing time.
Point Projection: 14 points

7. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) vs. Chicago

Johnson caught seven passes for 96 yards last week against the 49ers. His season hasn’t been as productive as some fantasy owners thought it would be, but we like him to make a statement in his final opportunity to do so in 2009. Remember, he had eight catches for 133 yards against the Bears back in Week 4.
Point Projection: 14 points

8. Wes Welker (New England Patriots) @ Houston **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

After a terrible outing in Week 15, Welker redeemed himself to his fantasy owners by catching all 13 passes thrown to him for 138 yards last week against the Jaguars. He’s still not caught a touchdown since Week 7, but with all the yards he compiles week after week, scoring would essentially just be a cherry on top.
Point Projection: 13 points

9. Sidney Rice (Minnesota Vikings) vs. New York Giants

Rice scored his second touchdown in three games in Minnesota’s loss to the Bears on Monday night. The TD was part of a six-catch, 56-yard effort for the game. Rice should be in line for another score this week against a Giants team that is 27th in the NFL (tied) in passing scores allowed, with three coming via Matt Moore just last week.
Point Projection: 12 points

10. Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) @ Tampa Bay

White had a dominating day against a good pass defense last week, catching eight passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns as Atlanta wiped the floor with the Bills. He faces Tampa this week, a team that is 26th in the league in passing scores allowed, and one that White beat for five catches, 57 yards and one touchdown in Week 12. He’s regained his WR1 status!
Point Projection: 12 points

11. Santonio Holmes (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Miami

Holmes has been one of the most consistent players at the wide receiver position in the second half of the season. He had five receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown last week and has had 85 or more yards in six of his last eight games, with at least 74 yards in each of them. Miami, which ranks 23rd against the pass, shouldn’t impede his progress to end the season on a high note.
Point Projection: 11 points

12. Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Green Bay **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

Boldin hauled in eight passes for 116 yards against the Rams last week, his first 100-yard game since Week 11, when he also played the Rams. He hasn’t scored in three games, but that could be remedied this week against the Packers, who are 29th in the league in passing scores given up with 28 allowed on the year.
Point Projection: 11 points

13. Hines Ward (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Miami **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Ward had a stinker of a game last week against the Baltimore Ravens, with four catches for a less-than-robust 37 yards. But, Miami offers little in the way of pass defense, ranking 23rd in the NFL in that statistic, and Ward will have every opportunity to finish the regular season on a high note as long as his hammy allows him on the field.
Point Projection: 10 points

14. Steve Smith (New York Giants) @ Minnesota

Smith has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season in fantasy football, and he continued it last week with a seven-catch, 70-yard, one-touchdown performance. It was his second straight game with a touchdown, and the fifth time in his last six games that he’s reached at least 70 yards. The way to beat the Minnesota Vikings is through the air, so look for Smith to have another busy day on Sunday.
Point Projection: 10 points

15. Mike Sims-Walker (Jacksonville Jaguars) @ Cleveland

MSW had two catches for 19 yards last week, and we’re tiring a bit of his disappearing act in the second half of the season, but his match-up with the hideous Cleveland Browns should allow him to go out with a bang. After all, the Browns do allow 16.9 fantasy points per contest to the wide receiver position.
Point Projection: 10 points

16. Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints) @ Carolina **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

Colston has a difficult match-up this week with the Panthers, a team that held him to only once catch for 45 yards in Week 9. However, on the positive side of things, he did have eight receptions for 77 yards last week and has gained 75 or more yards in each of his last two games. Look for the Saints to try and get things going prior to the playoffs, which means even with the No. 1 seed locked in, their regulars should see a good deal of playing time.
Point Projection: 10 points

17. Donald Driver (Green Bay Packers) @ Arizona **CHECK ON PROJECTED PLAYING TIME**

Driver only hauled in three receptions for 33 yards last week and in fact, has not caught more than three passes in his last four games while going over 35 receiving yards in just one of them. But, Arizona and their 22nd-ranked pass defense offers him the opportunity to have one more big game on the 2009 season. He should be solid, but not spectacular.
Point Projection: 9 points

18. Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) @ St. Louis

It would have been nice to see Crabtree do a little more against a terrible pass defense like the one they employ in Detroit, but his 68 yards were at least respectable. Expect him to ratchet it up this week against a terrible Rams team. Over the past two weeks, the Rams have given up 72 fantasy points to the wide receiver position. That, for those who don’t know, is not very good.
Point Projection: 9 points

19. Robert Meachem (New Orleans Saints) @ Carolina

Meachem caught all five passes thrown to him by Drew Brees, and he wound up with 66 yards and one touchdown in New Orleans’ disappointing loss to the Buccaneers. He faces the Panthers this week, and though they’re generally tough on passing games, Meachem had one of his better games this season against them in Week 9, when he reeled in five passes for 98 yards and one touchdown.
Point Projection: 9 points

20. Derrick Mason (Baltimore Ravens) @ Oakland

Mason ruined many a fantasy seasons by dropping a sure-fire touchdown for the Ravens last week against the Steelers, and he didn’t do his team any favors either. That would have made a good day – seven catches, 77 yards – an outstanding one. Look for him to rebound in week 17 against a Raiders’ team that’s giving up 18.4 points per week to the wide receiver position.
Point Projection: 9 points