Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Whether you won, lost or tied in Week 1 many of you are looking for start and sit fantasy football advice. And, don’t you worry, we’re here to make sure you get the needed advice to win your weekly match-up. So, check out our Fantasy Football Week 2 Start Ems for players to start with the utmost confidence, helping you to steal a victory from lesser-informed competitors.

QUARTERBACKS – START ‘EM

Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Chicago

Roethlisberger had a field day in Week 1 (363 yds, TD, 2 INT), and with what looked like a declining run game (36 rushing yards), expect Roethlisberger to drop back at least 30 times. The Bears defense looked good against up-and-coming stud Aaron Rodgers, but it seemed like Rodgers was out of sync for the majority of the football game. However, the Steelers passing offense was clicking on all cylinders in the opener and it would come of no surprise to get 250 yards and 2 TDs out of the big QB from the Steel City.

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) @ San Diego

Another QB who had a stellar Week 1 performance, Joe Flacco posted 307 yds, 3 TD and 1 INT. Granted, Flacco was playing against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, but the Chargers didn’t exactly look like they could stop anyone either. San Diego’s defense gave up 225 passing yards to JaMarcus Russell (and Bruce Gradkowski) and the Chargers were having trouble getting off the field on third down where it matters most. Flacco is much better than the QBs in Oakland, and we expect him to continue where he left off in Week 2. Look for him to get Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton to play a role on the outside but for Todd Heap to play the biggest role in the passing game, as San Diego has trouble defending the tight end.

Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills) vs. Tampa Bay

Edwards didn’t exactly look like a world-beater in Week 1 vs. the New England Patriots, but he was everything they needed him to be. In the primetime spotlight he posted a respectable 212 yards and 2:0 TD:Int ratio. What is great about his success that it wasn’t until late in the game that he got Terrell Owens involved and neither of his TD passes went Owens way. As his rapport with Owens continues to gel it will only make Edwards numbers increase. The Tampa Bay defense gave up a catastrophic 353 yards and 3 long TDs to the Dallas Cowboys, so the Buccaneers obviously have some work to do. Edwards should have a nice game against the defensively hapless Buccaneers.

RUNNING BACKS - START ‘EM

Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) @ Dallas

While almost splitting carries between Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw (16 to 12), the New York Giants were unhappy with their overall run performance in the season opener. Fortunately for Jacobs, he is going up against the Cowboys this weekend, who had trouble stopping the run and gave up 174 rushing yards and 2 TDs a week ago to Carnell Williams, Derrick Ward and Co. If Jacobs could see half of those stats, he is a worthy start this week in Dallas, a team he torched for 117 rushing yards and a TD in his lone meeting a year ago.

Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) vs. Indianapolis

Brown had a disappointing Week 1 against Atlanta with only 53 total yards, but he is going up against a Colts defense that allowed 123 total yards and a TD to Maurice Jones-Drew last weekend. On Monday Night Football, you can expect the Dolphins to play with a sense of urgency as they don’t want to fall to the dreaded 0-2. Plus, we feel Miami will lean on the ground game and might have some trick plays up their sleeves after a pretty ordinary first game, so start Brown with the confidence that he can shatter his frustrating Week 1 statistics. 

Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders) @ Kansas City

Run DMC looked quite impressive on opening night against what used to be a stout San Diego Chargers run defense. Perhaps their defense is declining slightly, but McFadden put up 93 total yards on them. While he didn’t have outstanding numbers, the MNF game was an offensive struggle throughout. The Chiefs on the other hand, did allow unbelievable statistics (Baltimore had 198 rushing yards and 2 TDs against them in Week 1) last week and you know the Raiders will attack on the ground. If the Raiders win this week 2 match-up, McFadden will have a lot to do with their success. Finally, in Week 2 of the ‘08 season, McFadden torched this very same Chiefs defense for 164 rushing yards and found pay dirt.

WIDE RECEIVERS – START ‘EM

Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings) @ Detroit

Harvin had a nice debut with 57 total yards and a TD, and it seems like each week he will become more involved in the Vikings offense. Going up against the Lions porous pass defense (358 pass yards and 6 TDs to Drew Brees in Week 1) can only increase Harvin’s value in week 2. While he isn’t the top receiver on this team, neither was Devery Henderson (103 receiving yards, 1 TD against Detriot in Week 1). Harvin should have another solid performance in this match-up in MoTown and you should feel comfortable using him as a WR3 with upside.

Donnie Avery (St. Louis Rams) @ Washington

While Donnie Avery’s Week 1 was less than an encouraging start (46 receiving yards, 8 rushing yards), expect him to rebound in Week 2 against Washington. The Redskins gave up 256 passing yards to Eli Manning in the opener, and they figure to put eight in the box to stop the Rams best offensive weapon, Steven Jackson. If they can do that, the Rams will be forced to pass most of the 2nd half, which could lead to nice stats from Avery and opposite wide-out Laurent Robinson.

Josh Morgan (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Seattle

Morgan did not have the great start that many fantasy football owners were hoping for when they drafted him in the mid-to-late rounds this season. Morgan only posted 38 yards against the Arizona Cardinals last week, but he had a 20 yard TD reception knocked out of his hands in the 2nd quarter. While that might not be the biggest vote of confidence, it is nice to hear that the 49ers targeted Morgan in the Red Zone. Morgan should see enough targets to haul in 60 receiving yards and pay-dirt this week against the ‘Hawks.

TIGHT ENDS – START ‘EM

Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis

Cooley had a nice Week 1 versus the New York Giants (which was supposedly a tough match-up) with 7 catches, 68 yards and a TD. Considering he has already matched his 2008 TD output, he can only do better than he did in the previous year. St. Louis does not look good defensively and even better for Cooley, they gave up 95 yards and 2 TD’s to Seattle TE John Carlson. While 21 fantasy football points may be a lot to ask for, 16 isn’t impossible. 

KICKERS – START ‘EM

Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals) @ Jacksonville

There’s no reason to think that Rackers can’t have another upper-echelon season as he did in 2005 (40 FGs, six from 50+), and he started on the right track with 3 FGs in Week 1. He obviously has the leg, and if the Cardinals are unable to punch the ball in the end zone (as they were unable to do last weekend), then Rackers should be in for an 8-10 point week once again vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

DEFENSES – START ‘EM

Washington Redskins D/ST vs. St. Louis

The Seattle Seahawks pitched a shutout versus the Rams in Week 1. That should mean that the Redskins have a somewhat favorable match-up against the Rams in Week 2. While the Seahawks were unable to force many turnovers (1 FL by STL), they gave up ZERO points and had 3 sacks. The Redskins weren’t great on opening day (23 points allowed, 1 sack, 2 turnovers), but that just means they have room to improve against a Rams offensive unit that totaled just 247 yards of offense. Bottom Line, start anyone facing the Rams until proven otherwise.

Week 2 Rankings:  QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF  (click to read)

Week 2 Start & Sit:  Start ‘Em | Sit ‘Em  (click to read)

Week 2 Waiver Wire Advice:  Pick Them Up  | Cut Them Loose

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