Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

16. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) @ Seattle **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Kevin Smith was having a solid game in Week 8 against the St. Louis Rams before leaving in the second half with a shoulder injury. Before the injury, he had 16 carries for 45 yards and added four receptions for 49 yards. The extent of his shoulder injury has not yet been reported. If he is healthy enough to play, he should be used as a No. 2 fantasy running back against the Seahawks this week. If he is unable to play, Maurice Morris will likely take his spot in the starting role, making him a high-end flex play.
Point Projection: 14 points

17. Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Houston

Joseph Addai had his best all-around performance of the season in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers when he had 20 carries for 64 yards, two receptions for four yards, and completed the first pass of his career for a 22-yard touchdown pass to the Reggie Wayne. Amazingly, he had more touchdown passes than Peyton Manning in the Colts’ victory over the 49ers. Addai should be considered a RB2 this week against a Houston defense that has given up 11 rushing touchdowns on the season, especially if rookie Donald Brown is once again out with a shoulder injury.
Point Projection: 13 points

18. Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) vs. Carolina

Pierre Thomas had a very good game on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons when he posted 14 carries for 91 yards with a touchdown. He also added two receptions for 9 yards and a touchdown that solidified the Saints victory with 3:03 to go in the game. Mike Bell actually had three more carries than Thomas in the game, but Thomas outshone him with the two touchdowns (Bell’s fumble late in the fourth quarter also didn’t help his case). Consider Thomas a No. 2 fantasy running back this week against the Panthers in another division battle.
Point Projection: 13 points

19. Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys) @ Philadelphia

With 14 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Marion Barber seems to be regaining his form after suffering a quad injury Week 2, and he has seemed to secure the No. 1 running back spot in Dallas. In six games this season, he has 86 carries for 397 yards with four touchdowns. This week he faces a Philadelphia Eagles team that he has faced seven times in the past and who he has averaged 33.6 yards per game with four total touchdowns. The Cowboys’ offense, though, has been clicking over the past few weeks, so Barber should be used as RB2 this week in a NFC East battle.
Point Projection: 13 points

20. Steve Slaton (Houston Texans) @ Indianapolis

After losing a fumble for the fifth time this season and in the third straight game, Steve Slaton was benched in favor of Chris Brown and Ryan Moats. He finished the game with just one yard on one carry and added two receptions for 10 yards. It is unclear whether or not head coach Gary Kubiak intended to bench Slaton for the entire game, but with Moats rushing for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, he never made it back into the line-up. It does not appear that Slaton has lost his job all together, but with Moats running so well against Buffalo last week, he has definitely earned some playing time. Consider Slaton a low-end RB2 at this point, as it appears that Houston could start using a running back by committee approach.
Point Projection: 12 points

21. Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals) @ Chicago

Tim Hightower continues to lose carries as Arizona finds ways to get rookie Chris “Beanie” Wells more involved in the offense. Hightower has 63 carries for 206 yards on the season for a dismal 3.3 yards per carry. His value comes as a pass catcher out of the backfield, though, as he has 39 receptions for 296 yards thus far this year. Hightower has posted double digit fantasy points five times through seven games, and he has scored five touchdowns this season. Even with Wells getting more involved in the offense, Hightower continues to be the more productive back and should be used as RB2 this week against the Chicago Bears.
Point Projection: 12 points

22. Jamaal Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) @ Jacksonville

With Larry Johnson serving the second week of a two week suspension, Jamaal Charles will assume the starting running back role for Kansas City this week. In limited action this season, Charles has 23 carries for 116 yards without a touchdown, and he has, also, added 14 receptions for 120 yards. He is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and has a decent match-up this week against a Jaguars defense that gave up 228 yards to the Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson with two touchdown runs of more than 50-yards in Week 8. Charles does not offer the resume of Chris Johnson, but he does make a nice sleeper RB2 or flex option this week against Jacksonville.
Point Projection: 11 points

23. Ricky Williams (Miami Dolphins) @ New England

Like running mate Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams had just 27 yards rushing last week against the New York Jets, but he did add two receptions for 41 yards in the game. He has seemed rejuvenated this season with 423 yards rushing and five total touchdowns. Williams has scored double digit fantasy points in five out of seven games this season and could be used as a low-end No. 2 fantasy running back or flex option this week against the Patriots.
Point Projection: 11 points

24. Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) @ New Orleans

After appearing on the injury report heading into the Panthers’ Week 8 outing with the Arizona Cardinals, Jonathan Stewart was able to carry the ball 17 times for 87 yards with two first half touchdowns. He is once again proving to be an excellent change of pace compliment to DeAngelo Williams. Stewart is a very good goal line running back, and he has four touchdowns over Carolina’s last four games. Stewart should be used as a RB2 or flex option this week against a New Orleans team that has given up nine rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 11 points

25. Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) vs. San Diego

Ahmad Bradshaw had nine carries for 21 yards with a touchdown in a victory last week over the Philadelphia Eagles. He now has rushed for 476 yards on 89 carries and has added four touchdowns this season as the No. 2 to Brandon Jacobs. He is an explosive runner who is averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and he could be in line for a solid outing against a San Diego defense that is allowing 132 yards per game this season. Use Bradshaw as a low-end No. 2 fantasy running back this week when the Chargers come to town.
Point Projection: 10 points

26. Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) vs. Pittsburgh

Rookie Knowshon Moreno had his lowest rushing output since Week 1 when he posted 39 yards on 10 carries last week against the Baltimore Ravens. He did manage to score a third quarter touchdown, but he also lost a fumble in the game. It doesn’t get any easier this week when the Broncos host a Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense that has limited opposing offenses to just 76.6 rushing yards per game. Moreno should be used as a RB3 of flex option this week in deeper leagues.
Point Projection: 8 points

27. Chris Wells (Arizona Cardinals) @ Chicago

After getting 26 carries over weeks 6 and 7, it appeared that Chris “Beanie” Wells was primed to take over the lead running back role in Arizona, but with the Cardinals getting behind early to the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, Wells was limited to just eight carries for 47 yards. Tim Hightower also had eight carries against the Panthers, but he did score a touchdown and added eight receptions. With Hightower being the better pass catcher, it appears that he is still the better fantasy option. Continue to monitor Beanie’s progress on a weekly basis, but it would be best to keep him relegated to a RB3 fantasy option.
Point Projection: 8 points

28. Laurence Maroney (New England Patriots) vs. Miami

Laurence Maroney followed up his 123 yards rushing performance in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans with just 43 yards rushing in Week 7 against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that is ranked No. 29 against the rush. He did manage to score a touchdown in each of the two outings. This week the Patriots face the Dolphins who boast the fourth best rush defense and there is a possibility that Sammy Morris will return from injury this week. Keep your expectation of Maroney limited this week as he shouldn’t be considered anything more then a RB3 against the Dolphins.
Point Projection: 8 points

29. Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) @ Philadelphia

In the Cowboys’ Week 8 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Felix Jones had eight carries for 39 yards and added one reception for 30 yards. Since returning from a knee injury that forced him to sit out a couple of games, Jones has had just 16 carries for 76 yards. Marion Barber has once again solidified the starting role in Dallas, but Jones is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He should be used as a low-end No. 3 fantasy running back this week against the Eagles.
Point Projection: 7 points

30. LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Dallas

With Brian Westbrook being a last minute scratch for the Eagles’ Week 8 outing with the New York Giants, rookie LeSean McCoy was thrust into the starting role. He had 82 yards on 11 carries, most of which came on a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. McCoy’s value is dependent upon whether or not Westbrook is active. Keep an eye on Westbrook’s status this week against the Cowboys, if he plays expect McCoy to be best suited as a Flex play. If Westbrook is out, McCoy could be used as a No. 2 fantasy running back if needed.
Point Projection: 7 points