Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

QUARTERBACKS – SIT ‘EM

Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) @ Indianapolis

Matt Schaub has been undoubtedly one of the top-5 fantasy quarterbacks in 2009. But he is coming off a bad game in Week 8 in which he passed for 268 yard while tossing 2 INTs and zero touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. Despite suffering from injuries, the Indianapolis Colts are 7th in the league against the pass, allowing only 180 passing yards per game, and only 3 TDs to 7 INTs in seven games. They are also 5th in the NFL in sacks with 20, and their defensive ends can get after Schaub and put some heat on him. Throw in Schaub will be without he 2nd favorite target in tight end Owen Daniels (ACL injury) and you have to limit your expectations on the surging quarterback this week. 

Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Washington

Many would look at a this game as an easy win for the Atlanta Falcons and a game that Ryan to produce at a high level. Well yes, the Redskins are bad, but it’s not their defense that has allowed them to be beaten by teams like the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, it’s the offense’s inability to run or pass with any consistency. The Washington Redskins allow slightly fewer than 165 passing yards per game (2nd in the NFL), and have given up only 6 passing TDs in seven games this season. While running back Michael Turner looks to be a big part of the game-plan (Redskins are 22nd against the run), Matt Ryan’s prospects are not as promising. Plus, the icing on the cake has to do with the health of Roddy White. A knee injury has prevented him from practicing this week and if he doesn’t play Ryan will be without his go-to target.

RUNNING BACKS - SIT ’ EM

Knowshown Moreno (Denver Broncos) vs. Pittsburgh

It seems like we Moreno has been our whooping boy of late, but let’s be honest, as talented as he is, he hasn’t shown the consistency to prove he’s a must start. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a tough match-up, as they rank first in the NFL against the run, so odds are like Moreno will go another week struggling as a fantasy football starter. Pittsburgh should be refreshed coming off a bye, which means Moreno, and Correll Buckhalter for that matter, should be on your bench in week 9.

Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Houston

We are starting to believe that the Houston Texans run defense wasn’t as bad as advertised in the first few weeks.We know that the potential absence of running back Donald Brown could lead to Joseph Addai getting the touches to warrant fantasy success, but check out the Texans rush defense over the last five games.  After their porous defensive efforts versus Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson they have shut down some solid running backs: 38 total yards in Week 4 (Justin Fargas), 24 total yards in Week 5 (Beanie Wells), 45 total yards and a TD in Week 6 (Cedric Benson), 47 total yards in Week 7 (Frank Gore), and 49 total yards in Week 8 (Marshawn Lynch). Even Benson’s game with 10 points is nothing special, so look a little deeper into the Texans run game ranked 20th overall before you start thinking Addai is a top Week 9 play.

Brian Westbrook & LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Dallas

First of all, who knows who is going to start as of this article (Friday morning). Brian Westbrook is practicing but coming off a concussion, LeSean McCoy apparently has a flu that could limit him, and Leonard Weaver may once again see some touches out of the backfield this weekend. The Dallas Cowboys are 13th in the NFL against the rush, allowing 105 rushing yards per contest and less than .5 TDs per game (3 TDs in seven games), so it seems that any Eagles’ running back has their work cut out for them. If you can get some real tips on who is going to start, and control the workload in Philadelphia, they may be worth a flier, but we’re not so sure this isn’t going to be a platoon in Week 9. With that in mind it might be best to stay away from any running back wearing an Philadelphia uniform come Sunday.