Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

The grand finale - Week 17. For most leagues, everything is already said and done in terms of a league champion. But there were still some leagues that play through Week 17, and the owners in those leagues had to be careful of players on the top teams resting. I hope you enjoyed this week’s games because we’re going to see a bunch of rematches in the playoffs next week. In any event, it’s another fantasy year in the books. Time to start revisiting your mock drafts and your cheat sheets because we’re just a few months away from the 2010 draft.

Buffalo Bills 30 vs. Indianapolis Colts 7
I hope you kept your Indianapolis Colts on the bench this week because there was no need for them to play, and they were playing in terrible weather. Mike Hart scored the lone Colts’ touchdown, but I don’t think he was in too many lineups since Donald Brown was projected to have the big day for Indy. Brown literally didn’t score a single fantasy point. Dallas Clark, in his quick work on Sunday, totaled 52 yards for a decent fantasy game. Even when the team isn’t playing its starters, Clark still helped out his fantasy owners. As for the Buffalo Bills, Fred Jackson ends the 2009 season as the Bill’s top rusher. Who is Marshawn Lynch? Jackson had 212 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown. He wasn’t the only fantasy stud for Buffalo. Through the driving snowstorm, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for three touchdowns and 155 yards. Terrell Owens ended his dismal season with 65 yards and a touchdown. Unless he changes teams, I’d advise against drafting Owens next season. Lee Evans also hauled in a score to go with his 49 yards.

Cleveland Browns 23 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 17
The two studs in this game were the two featured running backs - Jerome Harrison and Maurice Jones-Drew. Harrison once again put together a stellar fantasy performance, totaling 147 total yards and a touchdown. Suddenly, the Cleveland Browns have prominent fantasy stud heading into 2010. As for MJD, the fantasy star didn’t reach the endzone in his season finale, but he still got 82 rushing yards. The wear and tear from the season clearly slowed down MJD in the final month of the season. Look for the Jacksonville Jaguars to try to find him a handcuff, but don’t take that the wrong way. MJD is still a top 5 RB in 2010, and a handcuff will only keep him fresh for 17 games next year. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you stayed far way from the Browns’ passing game, especially since Derek Anderson had just 86 yards passing and an interception. David Garrard very quietly was a pretty decent fantasy quarterback. On Sunday, he threw for 202 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Zach Miller hauled in both touchdowns and finished with 69 yards. There could be two standout tight ends named Zach Miller next season. With Tory Holt out of the lineup, Mike Thomas was able to catch seven passes for 65 yards. Mike Sims-Walker only had 28 yards receiving, a quiet finish to an otherwise stellar season for this sleeper.

Chicago Bears 37 @ Detroit Lions 23
Who would have thought Jay Cutler would put up huge fantasy numbers in the final two weeks of the season. Once again, he tossed four touchdowns, and he also threw for 276 yards. Cutler still is a shaky option for your team next year, but he has the capability to put up big numbers. Two of his TDs went to Devin Aromashodu, who is somebody to keep an eye on as a sleeper next year. However, Greg Olsen remains the top receiving option for the Bears. He finished with 94 yards and a score. Making his return to the lineup, Devin Hester had 75 yards, including a 48-yarder. The 2009 fantasy bust of the year Matt Forte at least went over the century mark in his final game of the year. Calvin Johnson ended 2009 with a strong game, 86 yards and a touchdown. He needs to remain consider a top WR1 next year, assuming Matthew Stafford continues to improve. Daunte Culpepper threw for 262 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Maurice Morris quieted down quickly after his one fluke game. Morris had just 65 yards rushing, but he also had 41 yards receiving. It should be interesting to see what Kevin Smith’s role will be next year.

San Francisco 49ers 28 @ St. Louis Rams 6
If you kept Steven Jackson on your team in the final week, you were disappointed. Facing the top fantasy defense of the week, Jackson mustered only 63 rushing yards on Sunday. Still, Jackson stayed healthy for most of the season and was a consistent fantasy stud. He should be considered a top RB1 next season. Stay far away from everybody in the St. Louis Rams’ passing attack. Like Jackson, Frank Gore was also a consistent fantasy star this season. Gore had two touchdowns and 107 rushing yards on Sunday to cap off his strong campaign. The All-Pro tight end, and one of this season’s biggest surprises, Vernon Davis had a 73-yard touchdown reception to put the exclamation mark on his season. He worked well all year with Alex Smith, and should continue to do so unless Smith loses his job. Michael Crabtree had 58 yards receiving, and he should make a strong WR3 in 2010.

Pittsburgh Steelers 30 @ Miami Dolphins 24
In a must-win game for both of these teams, you needed to play everybody you had playing in this game. Ben Roethlisberger tossed up 220 yards and three touchdowns, including a 54-yard bomb to Mike Wallace, another receiver that you need to keep an eye out for next year. The veteran Hines Ward, playing with a bad hamstring and all, still collected 61 yards receiving. It’s hard to say if he can still produce at a high level next year, though. Santonio Holmes was projected to have a big day, but he was an utter disappointment. Holmes was great inconsistent all year long, and it’s really hard to forecast what to predict from him next year. Heath Miller produced 56 yards and a touchdown. Miller was quietly a pretty solid tight end this season. While both Rashard Mendenhall and Willie Parker ran for over 90 yards, Mendenhall is the emerging star. Speaking of emerging stars, watch out for Davone Bess next year. In the season finale, Bess racked up 85 yards and a touchdown. He could make a strong WR3 next year. Both Ricky Williams and Chad Henne got injured in this game. Williams’ fantasy value will come back down to Earth next year when Ronnie Brown returns.

Minnesota Vikings 44 vs. New York Giants 7
In one of Sunday’s lopsided contests, the Minnesota Vikings put up a ton of points, making fantasy owners of most of those offensive players very happy. The ageless Brett Favre threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns. He didn’t have that collapse like he did last year, and he just may get that second Super Bowl ring. But, will he back next year. I’m sure that will once again be the talk of the summer. Sidney Rice is one receiver who emerged as a WR1. He caught two touchdowns on Sunday with 112 yards. Rice will be a top-10 receiver next year. Visanthe Shiancoe just missed 100 yards receiving and also hauled in a TD. Shiancoe is one of many strong tight ends in the league right now. Adrian Peterson has been really quiet in the final month of the season. While he scored again on Sunday, he only had 54 yards on the ground. He lost his place as the top overall fantasy player heading into next year, but he’s still an elite RB1. Danny Ware hit paydirt for the New York Giants’ only touchdown, but he only had 22 yards rushing. Steve Smith had 10 catches for 57 yards, and that was pretty much it for the Giants on offense.

Atlanta Falcons 20 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10
A battle of two non-playoff teams, but still some prominent fantasy players in this game. Matt Ryan had 223 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ryan had a pretty disappointing season, even when he was healthy. I think you can still consider him a QB1, but a very low-end QB1. Roddy White, who’s also had a pretty quiet season, had a nice final game on Sunday, hauling in a touchdown and 66 yards. White’s fantasy draft stock will take a hit next year, but not too far. He has too much upside. Filling in for Michael Turner once again, Jason Snelling didn’t find the endzone, but he still racked up 147 yards. Turner will be back next year, so you can forget about Snelling again. Too many disappointing players on the Atlanta Falcons this year. Kellen Winslow was one of the few bright spots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010, and he once again led them in receiving on Sunday, racking up 56 yards. Antonio Bryant scored a touchdown, but he still had a quiet game and an even quieter season. Cadillac Williams had 75 total yards, and could be a low-end RB2 next year. Josh Freeman had 174 yards passing with a touchdown and two interceptions. You could find better quarterbacks than Freeman next year.

Carolina Panthers 23 vs. New Orleans Saints 10
Jonathan Stewart may be the best backup running back in football right now. The second tier RB on the Carolina Panthers once again had a huge day, running for 125 yards and a touchdown. Even when DeAngelo Williams returns next year, Stewart remains a legit fantasy running back. Without Steve Smith, Mushin Muhammad filled in nicely, collecting 85 yards. Smith will come back next year as the top wideout, and I’m sure he’s hoping Matt Moore comes back with him because these two built up a pretty strong rapport. Moore had 162 yards and a touchdown to Dwayne Jarrett. It’s hard to say where Moore fits in among fantasy quarterbacks, but he could make a pretty solid backup. The New Orleans Saints benched all of their fantasy relevant players this week. Lynell Hamilton had 86 total yards, and that was your best fantasy performances from the Saints.