Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

This NFL season has been a lot different as opposed to any other year. Yes, there have been bad teams before, but never like this. This year we have seen a lot of bad teams in the NFL, including the Rams, Chiefs, Raiders, Browns, Buccaneers, and Lions to name a few. That has led to some defensive plays every week you normally wouldn’t think you’d start. Last week is a good example of that, as the Jacksonville Jaguars are terrible on defense, yet they were a popular play against the Rams (which didn’t really work out too well). 

On the other hand, there have been a lot of offenses continually putting up points, leading you to stray away from starting the same defense week in week out. The waiver wire on defenses has never been hotter, making the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 7 Defensive Rankings a must read no matter what defense you have.

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.  (Indianapolis Colts) @ St. Louis Rams

The Colts come back from the bye with a fantastic matchup. Indianapolis is currently 7th in yards allowed per game (295.6) and 2nd in points allowed (14.2 per game). The Colts have also racked up 13 sacks and 8 turnovers on the year. With the struggles the St. Louis Rams have had on offense, and considering how defenses playing St. Louis have big days, you can consider the Colts defense a fantastic play this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

2. (New York Jets) @ Oakland Raiders

The Jets defense suffered a humongous loss this past week when nose tackle Kris Jenkins suffered a season ending ACL injury. The run defense will likely suffer the most, but without the pressure in the middle, the Jets blitz packages will also be affected. Even with this week being a risky play since it is their first game without Jenkins, the Jets couldn’t ask for a better opponent to play then the Oakland Raiders. Oakland’s passing game is a joke and will need their running game to produce to have a chance. The Jets have given up 303.3 yards and 17.3 points per game and have totaled 10 turnovers and a league worst 5 sacks. Even with the low sack totals, this matchup couldn’t get much better for the Jets.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

3. (Green Bay Packers) @ Cleveland Browns

After last week’s shutout against the Detroit Lions, you have to like the upcoming game for the Packers defense. Green Bay will focus on shutting down the Cleveland Browns running game, since there aren’t many Browns players who can catch a pass these days. The Packers defense has given up 298 yards and 18.6 points per game while adding 10 sacks and 13 turnovers. With the Browns recent struggles on offense, only 239.8 yards and 11.5 points per game, you have to believe the Packers will shut them down in Week 7.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

4. (New England Patriots) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another team with a shutout against a bad offense, and they also have a great matchup this week. The Patriots have done a good job this season, giving up 293.3 yards and 15.2 points with 10 sacks and 12 turnovers. Tampa Bay has had a lot of struggles on offense and with the young Josh Johnson starting at quarterback, this is a tough game to try and get things rolling. New England should create a lot of confusion and be a great start for your fantasy football team.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

5. (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Washington Redskins

Even with their loss against pitiful Oakland Raiders, it wasn’t the Eagles defense that really lost the game for its team. Philadelphia’s defense has done a nice job all season long of limiting its opponents, giving up 282.8 yards and 19.8 points per game with 15 sacks and 14 turnovers. Their Monday night foe, the Washington Redskins, have been terrible on offense and now will have offensive consultant Sherman Lewis calling the plays. Things are an absolute mess with Washington right now and the Eagles defense should have a big game this week.     
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

6. (Carolina Panthers) vs. Buffalo Bills

Carolina’s defense has been a matchup start at best this season, and last week they were a good play in fantasy football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now another week with a good matchup, as the panthers take on a Buffalo Bills team who is struggling on offense and may be without the starting quarterback, Trent Edwards, due to a concussion. Carolina doing a nice job of limiting teams in terms of yards (306 per game), but not points (25 per game). Their 13 sacks are middle of the pack but the turnovers they create are low at 7. With a good game last week and another struggling opponent, the Panthers defense should be a very good play for at least one more week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

7. (Chicago Bears) @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bears showed Sunday night their defense can play up to the competition, as they played very well against the high powered attack of the Atlanta Falcons. The Cincinnati Bengals can be compared to Atlanta, but seem to be less consistent. This gives the upper hand to the Bears defense, whose 14 sacks may help create more turnovers (8 on the year). Chicago has given up 306.2 yards and 19.8 points per game and can be trusted to do a good job almost every week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

8. (San Diego Chargers) @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers defense has been a big disappointment this season and has yet to get back to their strong play of two seasons ago. They give up 358.2 yards and 27.2 points per game, numbers not known for defenses falling in the top 5 in any week. On top of giving up loads of points, San Diego only has 7 sacks and 6 turnovers in their five games. Why the high ranking? The matchup against the Chiefs is very favorable. The Kansas City Chiefs average only 259.7 yards and 16.3 points per game. With the lack of any playmakers and any semblance of a productive running game, it’s hard to imagine the Chargers defense not having success in this game.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

9. (New Orleans Saints) @ Miami Dolphins

The one defense who continually does well despite never getting much recognition is the Saints. They have allowed only 301.2 yards and 18.6 points per game with 12 sacks and a whooping 15 turnovers (11 of those on interceptions). This week they will get another good test against the Miami Dolphins, who seem to be heating up and bring the Wildcat to the table. This could be the final test before the Saints defense becomes a must start almost every week and in fact, have confidence playing New Orleans this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

10. (New York Giants) vs. Arizona Cardinals

What happened to the Giants this past Sunday? The best defense in the NFL couldn’t hold down the best offense, lending to the point we made at the start about offense ruling defense this season. The Giants still have the league low in yards allowed per game (257.7) and have good numbers across the board (19.8 points per game, 15 sacks, 11 turnovers). The Arizona Cardinals will be another good test for this defense, which makes them an average play. Look for this unit to recover though, meaning New York should stay in your lineup this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

11. (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Minnesota Vikings

Brett Favre has been on fire of late and the fact that the Steelers will be missing one of their best run stoppers in Aaron Smith when facing the best running back in Adrian Peterson would make you think the Steelers defense may be a bad play. Pittsburgh leads the pack in average plays but they have a lot of upside in this game. They have Troy Polamalu back in their lineup, which makes their secondary a lot better, and the Steelers always find a way to stop the run. On the season, Pittsburgh has given up 275.2 yards and 18.7 points while adding 17 sacks and 8 turnovers. If you own the Steelers defense, you are probably debating on whether or not to bench them this week but unless you are an owner of a five star play in our rankings you need to go with your gut.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

12. (Buffalo Bills) @ Carolina Panthers

The riskiest play of the average defenses this week may turn out to be very rewarding. The Bills defense played very good against the New York Jets, with 6 interceptions (so they gave up 318 yards on the ground, but only 96 through the air!). This week they will play the Carolina Panthers, who also will try to run the ball like crazy but have an error prone quarterback in Jake Delhomme who likes throwing to the other team. Ignore the 352.5 yards and 21.5 points per game averages for Buffalo and know their defense has 14 sacks and 11 turnovers (10 on interceptions) which could help your fantasy football team this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

13. (Minnesota Vikings) @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This ranking could be a bit low for the Vikings defense and if you own them you should probably play them (for example don’t bench them for the Bills or Panthers defense). The Pittsburgh Steelers have simply looked really good on offense and with the way Minnesota allowed the Baltimore Ravens to get back in the game last week, you have to be concerned. In order to beat the Vikings defense you’re going to have to throw, and with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger playing red hot, the matchup may be a bad one for the Vikings. On the season, Minnesota’s defense has given up 341.8 yards and 20.2 points per game. On the good side, they are currently tied for the league lead in sacks at 21 and have created 12 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

14. (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Dallas Cowboys

Atlanta’s defense may give up yards in big chunks (359.2 per game) but tend to keep opponents out of the end zone (15.4 points per game). With the Dallas Cowboys and their inconsistent offense coming to town, you have to wonder what exactly the Cowboys will be able to do against an average defense. The Falcons have 10 sacks and 12 turnovers on the season and with the way Dallas makes mistakes, you can see those numbers going up. This may be a riskier play, but if your out of other options Atlanta should put up average fantasy football numbers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *