Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

NFC RED FLAG WIDE RECEIVERS IN 2010

Roy E. Williams (Dallas Cowboys)

With T.O. out of the picture, everything was in place for Williams to become the Dallas Cowboys No. 1 wide receiver in 2009. The wide out, though, has been unable to showcase the explosiveness that took him to a 1,310 yard and 7 TD season back in 2006 with the Detroit Lions. As such, Williams was passed on the depth chart by the up-and-coming Miles Austin, who has hauled in 65 catches to Williams’ 37 on the year. Williams has notched more than five receptions just once this season prior to week 16’s action, clearly showing that while he may wish to believe he is still Romo’s go-to-guy, that is not the case. With Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd on his heels, just looking for a shot to prove themselves, Williams may not even be Dallas’ No. 2 next season.

Lance Moore (New Orleans Saints)

One of the bigger surprises in the 2008 season with 928 receiving yards and 10 scores, Lance Moore couldn’t carry that momentum into 2009. Hampered by injuries, the Saints wide receiver has played in just seven games, catching 14 passes for 153 yards and two TDs. Still dealing with an ankle injury, an injury that kept him inactive in week 16, the bigger concern surrounding Moore as we go into 2010 is his place on the Saints’ depth chart. Yes, Drew Brees does spread the ball around, meaning any Saints’ wide receiver can hold fantasy value any given week, but it will be much more difficult for Moore to be that guy if he’s only on the field in four wide out sets, which could be the case with Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem’s growth this past year.

Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

No stranger to this list, Bryant was one of the Bruno Boys’ Red Flag wide receivers for 2009. Still, many fantasy owners failed to heed our warning, taking the wide out as a WR2 in fantasy drafts. Their reward? 585 receiving yards and three TDs in twelve games played. As a result, we’re guessing more of you out there will be listening to the Bruno Boys this go around. While Bryant’s QB situation has improved since this off-season thanks to the emergence of rookie Josh Freeman, it’s still not up to par with other wide receivers of similar talent around the league. When you add in the slew of injuries that Bryant has suffered from this season, leading to a question mark regarding his durability, it just makes sense to look elsewhere for your WR3 play in 2010.

NFC Wide Receivers to Avoid in 2010: Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals), Chicago Bears’ WRs, Bernard Berrian (Minnesota Vikings), Mario Manningham (New York Giants), Domenik Hixon (New York Giants), TJ Houshmandzadeh (Seattle Seahawks), Donnie Avery (St. Louis Rams), Santana Moss (Washington Redskins)

NFC RED FLAG TIGHT ENDS IN 2010

Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints)

Shockey’s second season with the Saints went better than his first, as he did actually find pay dirt (3 TDs on the season) this go around. Yet, despite that fact, Shockey’s status in fantasy circles continues to fade. Once seen as an elite tight end option, Shockey’s inability to stay on the field (he has yet to play 16 games in any of his eight seasons in the league) continues to frustrate fantasy owners. Further irking owners is Shockey’s inability to hold off lesser talents (i.e. Billy Miller in 2008 and David Thomas this season) from stealing his targets. Shockey may continue to hold some value as a bye week play, but he’s not a tight end you want to rely on on a week in and week out basis.

NFC Tight Ends to Avoid in 2010: Greg Olsen (Chicago Bears), Donald Lee (Green Bay Packers), Randy McMichael (St. Louis Rams)

NFC RED FLAG KICKERS IN 2010

Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions)

Were Jason Hanson’s shortcomings as a fantasy kicker due simply to a lack of opportunities, we may have been a bit more forgiving. But, what really has hurt the Lions’ kicker this season has been his inability to take advantage of the opportunities that have come his way. On the year, Hanson has connected on just 72% of his field goal chances, making a mere 18 of 25 attempts. Playing his home games in a dome, Hanson can’t blame his inaccuracies on the weather, and, we won’t blame you for avoiding him in 2010. In fact, we recommend it.

NFC Kickers to Avoid in 2010: Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals), Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons), Joe Nedney (San Francisco 49ers), Josh Brown (St. Louis Rams)

NFC RED FLAG TEAM DEFENSES IN 2010

Washington Redskins D/ST

Redskins’ owner Daniel Snyder is not one who is afraid to spend money, and last off-season was no different. Opening up his wallet, Snyder brought DT Albert Haynesworth to town in the hopes of upping the pressure the Redskins’ front line placed on opposing QBs. After all, the unit had just 24 sacks in 2008, the 28th worst total in the league. The addition did pay off some as Haynesworth has helped increase the Redskins’ sack totals, which sat at 38 for the year prior to Sunday Night’s kick off, but overall the defense is still struggling. As a fantasy unit, they have only accounted for 68 points on the year and have only reached the double digit plateau twice, once against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and once against the Oakland Raiders. It’s going to take a whole lot more spending to make this unit one to own in fantasy leagues.

NFC Team Defenses to Avoid in 2010: Atlanta Falcons D/ST, Chicago Bears D/ST, Detroit Lions D/ST, New York Giants D/ST, St. Louis Rams D/ST, Seattle Seahawks D/ST, Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST

Week 17 Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  | DEF    (click to read)

Week 17 Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM    (click to read)

Week 17 Waiver Wire Advice:  PICK THEM UP  |  CUT THEM LOOSE    (click to read)

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