Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Every week we try to give you the best plays based on projections, statistical information, and how the teams match up. While we don’t get every defense right, the Bruno Boys provide you with enough reasoning to help make sense of why we are projecting these defenses where they are at. Unlike other sites, we provide numbers and analysis that are unmatched by the others. That’s why you need to keep checking in and see why a defense is ranked where it is with many of you fighting for a fantasy football championship.

For most of you, this is it, championship week! Time to show off your football knowledge by starting that ho-hum defense and let it help you get over the top and win fantasy gold. No need to tell anyone you got that information from the Bruno Boys (although we do like the publicity), just make sure to come back after you’ve won the title and let us know on the MESSAGE BOARD. Now it’s time to see which defense can potentially take you to the promise land in our Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 16 Defense Rankings .

As we head into the article, I would like to explain the “Bruno Boys Star System”.

BRUNO BOYS DEFENSIVE STAR SYSTEM

5-Stars (* * * * *) - Bruno Boys Top Plays of the Week

4-Stars (* * * *) – Bruno Boys Very Solid Plays of the Week

3-Stars (* * *) – Bruno Boys Average Plays of the Week

2-Stars (* *) – Bruno Boys Try to Avoid Playing this Week

1-Star (*) – Bruno Boys Do Not Start Unless You COMPLETELY Have To

Key Abbreviations: YPG (Yards Per Game); PPG (Points Per Game)

1. (New Orleans Saints) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a disappointing showing in the fantasy football playoffs a week ago by all your New Orleans Saints players, it’s time for them to make up for it against the pitiful Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints know they need this win to take home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and for them to do that, it all starts with the defense. New Orleans will be very aggressive against Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman, throwing a lot of different looks his way. Look for the Saints to force numerous turnovers and rack up a good number of sacks en route to being a terrific play at a crucial time of the year. This season the Saints defense has allowed 354.1 yards and 21.3 points per game with 30 sacks and 37 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

2. (Arizona Cardinals) vs. St. Louis Rams 

It’s time for yet another recommendation of this defense. While Arizona didn’t blow up the stat sheet on defense the last time they played the St. Louis Rams, their unit did play well enough to be a strong fantasy play. Expect more of the same in the second go around. The Cardinals defense has been drastically underrated in 2009 and any time they play a weaker offensive opponent they absolutely need to be started. If you have been alternating your defenses all season, the Cardinals are the unit to snag if you didn’t do so a week ago. On the year Arizona has given up 354.3 yards and 20.1 points per game while adding 38 sacks and 24 turnovers. Hard to believe the Cardinals defense may be able to help you win a fantasy football title, but it’s the absolute truth this season.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

3. (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

While the Cincinnati Bengals defense has not looked particularly strong over the last two weeks by giving up 57 points and only forcing three turnovers, you must remember that came against superior offenses in the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers. Here is where the team gets to redeem itself, with a match up against a poor Kansas City Chiefs offense. Cincinnati should have no problem keeping running back Jamaal Charles in check while totaling a load of sacks. Add that the team will likely match its two week total of turnovers this week (3) and it has the makings of a great fantasy day. This season the Bengals have allowed 300.5 yards and 17.4 points per game while adding 33 sacks and 23 turnovers. Make sure to start Cincinnati’s defense this week and if an impatient owner dropped this unit, grab the Bengals immediately.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * * 

4. (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Detroit Lions 

This yo-yo of a defense is about to follow in the footsteps of their divisional foe (the Arizona Cardinals), playing the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams in back to back weeks. While San Francisco’s defense has won you some weeks and cost you in others, this is the time to actually feel confident in depending on them for a big fantasy point total.  In 2009, the 49ers have given up 344.6 yards and 19.2 points per game while totaling 34 sacks and 27 turnovers. One thing we know is San Francisco’s defense shows up against the bad teams and does so in a big way. Make sure to get the 49ers defense on your roster if you can, because they are in for a big two week run to end the year.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

5. (New England Patriots) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 

While the Jaguars showed they could score some points when they almost knocked off the Indianapolis Colts last week, it was mostly thanks to running back Maurice Jones-Drew having a big day. Well the one thing the Patriots can do as a defense is stop the run and force teams to beat them through the air, something Jacksonville may have trouble with in this game. As long as New England finds a way to limit Jones-Drew, and we think they will, it isn’t out of the question to see this defense for the Patriots match their 12 point fantasy total (in standard leagues) from a week ago. On the year New England has allowed 314.9 yards and 17.9 points per game while adding 28 sacks and 25 turnovers. If nothing else you will get at least an average score from the Patriots defense, but to us the upside here is tremendous.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

6. (Minnesota Vikings) @ Chicago Bears 

It was surprising to see Minnesota get torched on the ground by the Carolina Panthers a week ago considering the talent they have along the defensive line. The good thing is that they have a good chance to repair their run defense this week, with the Chicago Bears struggling all season to establish the run. Add that quarterback Jay Cutler loves throwing to the wrong team and the Vikings will probably pressure him into making some terrible throws and you can see this game spells for yet another big game for the defense facing Chicago. On the year Minnesota has given up 310.3 yards and 19.2 points per game with 43 sacks and 21 turnovers. Continue starting the Vikings defense no matter what you witnessed on Sunday Night Football.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

7. (Green Bay Packers) vs. Seattle Seahawks

This ranking may be based more so on how bad Seattle looked against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers then what the Green Bay defense did against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with the Packers giving up over 500 yards passing to Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, seeing the Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck throw four interceptions has to give the Green Bay defense confidence to make some big plays this week. This season the Packers have allowed 290.9 yards and 20.0 points per game while totaling 34 sacks and 33 turnovers. Look for the Green Bay defense to not only force Seattle into a few turnovers, but all the pressure the Packers will bring will result in huge sack totals in Week 16 as they continually attack the Seahawks patch work offensive line. 
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

8. (New York Giants) vs. Carolina Panthers

Now there is the game everyone was hoping for with the New York Giants defense in Week 15. The team shutdown the Washington Redskins, with three interceptions and scoring a touchdown en route to a 21 point fantasy football total (in standard leagues). The Giants opponent, the Carolina Panthers, stepped up their offensive game against a tough Minnesota Vikings defense that has been one of the best all season long. Which unit gets the better of one another here? Our bet would land on the Giants defense, who are fighting for their playoff lives. On the year New York has given up 306.8 yards and 24.4 points per game while adding 31 sacks and 24 turnovers. The way the Giants defense got after Washington’s quarterback Jason Campbell with all the pressure and sacking him five times, you have to think the defense gets the better of the offense that is extremely inconsistent and turns the ball over too much in this match up.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

9. (Oakland Raiders) @ Cleveland Browns 

This defense has been a surprisingly good play from time to time in 2009, but the problem has been that no one ever knows when those special games are coming for the Oakland defense. Even though running back Jerome Harrison had a killer day against the Kansas City Chiefs, you have to think the Raiders defense has the kind of guys who can make it a tough day for the Browns offense. Look for there to be some big yardage plays given up, but when it gets to the red zone, Oakland’s defense will tighten up. That should alone put them among the average fantasy football scorers and when you add a few sacks with a turnover or two (which will happen), the Raiders defense may actually be a good start for your championship this week. On the year Oakland has allowed 369.9 yards and 23.9 points per game with 31 sacks and 19 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

10. (Dallas Cowboys) @ Washington Redskins

What a game last week for the Dallas Cowboys and their defense! Not only did Dallas knock off an undefeated team in the New Orleans Saints, but they did it by playing better on defense than anyone else in the NFL could against the Saints potent offensive attack. Now they get to face a team where their defense had to shine in getting a win in the last meeting, with the Washington Redskins on the schedule. If you remember, back in Week 11 the Cowboys defense held Washington to six points in a tight 7-6 win. But the two teams have changed a bit since that last game, with both offenses opening things up and finding a rhythm. Expect this game to be a bit different, with more offense coming in the first half than all of the previous game. On the year Dallas has given up 329.9 yards and 17.9 points per game with 34 sacks and 19 turnovers. While the Cowboys should be a good play this week, their too inconsistent to think their defense can be trusted to post a big day, which is why we keep them in the average ranks for Week 16.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

11. (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Baltimore Ravens 

Ok, we apologize for thinking the Steelers defense would put up comparable numbers to the phenomenal ones of a year ago. Last weeks game against the Green Bay Packers was just plain ugly for the Pittsburgh defense, as they put up their first negative fantasy point total in standard leagues this season by scoring a –6. However, the Steelers defense did play well until overtime of their last game against the Baltimore Ravens and that was with backup quarterback Dennis Dixon struggling to move the offense down field. Pittsburgh matches up well with Baltimore’s offense as long as they can contain running back Ray Rice and get tight coverage on the Ravens ho-hum receivers. Although we have tempered down the expectations, you can expect the Steelers to step their play up a notch and have one of their better days all year in Week 16. This season Pittsburgh has allowed 304.2 yards and 20.0 points per game with 40 sacks and 16 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

12. (Baltimore Ravens) @ Pittsburgh Steelers 

You could say the Baltimore Ravens defense needs to be ranked higher after forcing six turnovers against the Chicago Bears in Week 15. But after losing cornerback Lardarius Webb to season ending torn ACL, Baltimore is struggling to simply have healthy bodies in their secondary, let alone talented ones. Basically the Ravens have no one that can cover all the Pittsburgh Steelers pass catchers and it should lead to big things from Pittsburgh, considering Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 503 yards against the Green Bay Packers. Even though they will likely bring the house on a lot of plays with various blitzes, Roethlisberger may be able to avoid the blitz enough to have another big game. This season the Ravens have allowed 299.8 yards and 16.1 points per game while adding 25 sacks and 28 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

13. (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Denver Broncos 

Three straight double digit fantasy days for the Eagles defense (in standard leagues) may have you scratching your head and wondering why Philadelphia’s unit could be ranked this low. Although Denver struggled to move the ball against the Oakland Raiders, one thing the Broncos and quarterback Kyle Orton do well is take care of the football, which limits how many fantasy points the Eagles can score. Add that Philadelphia’s defense has been fortunate to score three touchdowns in their last three games, and you see it’s only a matter of time before they put up an average week. Denver’s offense isn’t amazing, but it’s good enough to not allow Philadelphia to be a star in Week 16. On the year the Eagles have given up 315.9 yards and 20.4 points per game while totaling 39 sacks and 36 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

14. (Denver Broncos) @ Philadelphia Eagles 

The ranking of the Broncos defense here tells us that neither their unit nor the Philadelphia Eagles looks like a fantastic play. This game shouldn’t explode with offense, but both defenses will struggle to make the plays that gives you fantasy football points. The Broncos secondary should limit the Eagles passing game and considering how much Philadelphia has gone away from the run, Denver’s defense could have success in getting some stops. The thing is, those stops will result in three and outs and not turnovers. This match-up doesn’t look all that appealing in a fantasy sense no matter who is playing, so it may be best to just avoid any and all guys this week. Don’t surprised if one of the defenses or a particular explodes for a big day, but right now you can’t have a ton of confidence. This season the Broncos have allowed 294.4 yards and 17.9 points per game with 35 sacks and 25 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

15. (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Buffalo Bills 

The Falcons biggest weakness is their pass defense, which has been torched in recent weeks. But with another team coming in with a suspect passing game, could Atlanta’s defense be start material? In one word, absolutely! The Buffalo Bills offense has some talent, but all season long they have not been on the same page. Add that the quarterback situation for the Bills is in complete disarray and it’s hard seeing anyone behind center for Buffalo picking apart this secondary. On the year the Falcons defense has given up 371.3 yards and 22.3 points per game with 25 sacks and 23 turnovers. Atlanta should be able to at least put up an average day against the Bills and could be the one defense with the most upside to be a top five unit in Week 16. Consider them a sneaky play with your season on the line.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

16. (Indianapolis Colts) vs. New York Jets 

One thing fantasy football owners worried about with the Indianapolis Colts was whether the team might bench some of their guys halfway through the game and not be able to reap the rewards they have gotten all season from their star players. Well the good news is that the Colts offense did not bench anyone, but the defense sure did. The team rested all of its injured players, and considering both stud defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were banged up, Indianapolis decided to play them sparingly. When those two guys aren’t in the game, the Colts defense simply does not look the same. That’s why the Indianapolis defense goes from possibly being ranked in the top 10 as a great play to an average start that doesn’t look all that promising this week. If everyone plays, this defense can shutdown the so-so New York Jets offense. But no one really knows how much their best defensive stars will play, thus making this defense a risky play in Week 16. This season the Colts defense has given up 337.9 yards and 17.7 points per game with 32 sacks and 25 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *