Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

If you didn’t have success in your fantasy football season you just need to relax. Websites everywhere are trying to keep fantasy football alive with postseason play. In fact, the Bruno Boys would like to invite you and your friends to join our league on Fantasy Football Playoff Challenge, where you can try knocking off the experts. It’s free and easy to play, so why not keep the magic alive for a few more weeks?

Normal fantasy football leagues have come to an end and what a great season it was. We hope that you did well in your league, or leagues, but if you’re still looking for some fantasy football action while the playoffs go on, and you’re looking for some help then look no further because the Bruno Boys will be here throughout the postseason. As such we’ll be releasing our normal weekly position rankings to help you best decide which players to go with in our Fantasy Football Playoff Challenge. To see where this round’s tight ends rank continue reading the Wild Card Round edition of the Bruno Boys Weekly Tight End Rankings.

1. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Philadelphia

A good part of the Cowboys strong play over the last seven weeks can be attributed to the play of Witten. Over the last seven games the Cowboys finished 5-2 to win the NFC East and Witten had 45 receptions for 592 receiving yards and one touchdown. With Tony Romo keening in on his superstar tight end it forced defenses to focus on Witten and allowed the Cowboys’ offense to find some balance and not rely so much on the big play down the field. During the regular season the Philadelphia Eagles allowed the most receiving yards in the NFL to tight ends and last week Witten torched Philly for 76 yards and a touchdown. He’s scored double-digit fantasy points in four of his last six games and we like his chances of doing it for the second straight week against the Eagles.
Point Projection: 13 points

2. Brent Celek (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Dallas

After a stellar postseason last year Celek was in line for a break out 2009 campaign and he didn’t disappoint. Celek finished fourth amongst tight ends in fantasy points with 137 and he had a career high in receptions (76), yardage (971) and touchdowns (8). In two losses to the Dallas Cowboys Celek was heavily targeted by quarterback Donovan McNabb and he combined for 10 receptions, 135 yards and a TD. Expect Dallas to try and shutdown DeSean Jackson down the field and leave the middle open for Celek to do damage against a Cowboys defense that has allowed 5,5 receptions and 67.25 yards per game to opposing tight ends over the last month. 
Point Projection: 12 points

3. Jermichael Finley (Green Bay Packers) @  Arizona

In just his second year Finley has developed into one of the premier tight ends in the NFL. Over the Packers final four games the athletic tight end hauled in 21 receptions, 258 receiving yards with two touchdowns and on the season he was third on the team in receptions (55), third in yardage (676) and second in touchdowns (5). In Week 17 against this very same Arizona Cardinals team Finley played sparingly but was able to find the end zone and go for 34 receiving yards as Green Bay blew out Arizona. Only five teams give up more fantasy football points to the tight end position than Arizona and only three have allowed more touchdowns. Start Finley with confidence in your Playoff Challenge.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. Benjamin Watson (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

With Wes Welker and Randy Moss combining for 53 percent of the Patriots receptions in 2009 there wasn’t much opportunity for Watson to excel in New England. Despite having just 29 catches, Watson was able to be on the receiving end of five Tom Brady touchdown passes and that was good for second on the team. With Welker tearing his ACL in Week 17, the Patriots will need their veterans to step up and we wouldn’t be surprised if Brady looks the way of his tight end who he’s found three times for touchdowns during the playoffs.
Point Projection: 6 points

5. Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) @ New England

Plugging Heap into your lineup on the right week has been a tough task for fantasy football owners. Two touchdowns over the first two games made believers out of those who invested a late round draft pick in Heap but after a good start he forgot what it felt like to visit the end zone. The ninth year tight end proceeded to go 11 straight games without finding pay-dirt and it wasn’t until a two TD performance in Week 15 that he got back on track. Heap does have 133 receiving yards and four touchdowns over his last three games but outside of a Week 17 meltdown (81 yards, TD to TE) the New England Patriots have put the clamps on opponents tight ends. He rapport with Joe Flacco in the red zone makes him worth a look at as a cheap TE option but his success relies on a touchdown.
Point Projection: 4 points

6. Dustin Keller (New York Jets) @ Cincinnati

As the season has progressed Keller has continued to see his role in the conservative Jets offense decrease. With head coach Rex Ryan using the ground game to win football games it has led to a limited amount of targets and receptions for the second year tight end. Since Week 12 Keller has just nine receptions for 69 receiving yards while the Jets as a team have thrown the ball just 108 times over that span. Keller had just one reception for nine yards in a Week 17 match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals and outside of a slight spike in receptions you can’t expect anything more from him in the Wild Card Round.
Point Projection: 3 points

7. J.P. Foschi (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. New York Jets  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Foschi has battled a neck injury that has forced him to miss the Bengals last two games but he is expected to take on the New York Jets at full speed this weekend. Though the Bengals don’t feature the tight end position on a regular basis, Foschi had a career high seven receptions for 82 yards in Week 15 and could play a big role in the Bengals game-plan. With the Jets likely to once again pressure Carson Palmer  don’t be surprised if he uses big tight end as a scapegoat. If you are strapped for cash in your Salary Cap Playoff Challenge take a look at Foschi.
Point Projection: 2 points

8. Ben Patrick (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Green Bay  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

If the Cardinals used their tight end on a regular basis Patrick would make a good play because the Green Bay Packers struggle at defending the position. However, a Cardinals tight end was on the receiving end of just 23 quarterback passes this year. As for Patrick, he finished with 12 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Even against a Green Bay defense that allowed eight touchdown receptions to tight ends, you can’t expect Patrick to be anything more than a TD or bust play.
Point Projection: 2 points

9. Chris Baker (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

If Wes Welker wasn’t out for the playoffs guys like Baker and Benjamin Watson would have little value but with New England likely attacking the Baltimore Ravens through the air you never know who will step up. Baker has just three catches over the last two games, and the Ravens’ have been stubborn against the tight end, but a potential increase in targets combined with Tom Bradytargeting him in the red zone makes him worthy of mentioning. 
Point Projection: 2 points

10. Donald Lee (Green Bay Packers) @ Arizona

The emergence of Jermichael Finley has made Lee a non-factor in the Packers high powered offense. Lee has just seven catches over his last fives games and a whopping 39 yards to show for it. He did have two receptions in Green Bay’s Week 17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals but Lee doesn’t see the targets or playing time to produce for you on a regular basis.
Point Projection: 1 point

11. Martellus Bennett (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Philadelphia

Do not think about starting Bennett in any Playoff Challenge. There used to be a time when quarterback Tony Romo would use his size around the end zone but Bennett is clearly not part of the Cowboys’ plans on offense and he shouldn’t be in your lineup. Unless you want a bagel (zero) in the score column at the tight end position.
Point Projection: 0 points

Wild Card Round Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  | DEF  (click to read)

Wild Card Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM  (click to read)

————————

Don’t forget to head over to our Fantasy Football Message Board and sign-up for a FREE FORUM account. By doing so you will be able to talk fantasy football all season long.