Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

15. (Oakland Raiders) vs. New York Jets

This ranking is clearly due to the pitiful performance the New York Jets had Sunday and the outstanding job done by the Oakland Raiders defense on the Philadelphia Eagles. Oakland has been bad on defense (365.5 yards and 23.2 points per game), with only the good games against the Eagles, Chargers, and Chiefs. Their 15 sacks show a nice job up front, but their 8 turnovers show the rest of the unit isn’t getting it done. While the Jets may once again turn to the run, this will be a big game for quarterback Mark Sanchez to prove his five interception game in Week 6 was a fluke. If you pick the Oakland defense up you may be holding your breath, but it could lead to you looking like a genius if it pays off.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * 

16. (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Chicago Bears

After doing a good job of limiting the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, the Bengals defense struggling in Week 6 against the Houston Texans, which thus leaves us wondering how good this defense really is. This week they will take on the Chicago Bears, who have the capabilities to do some damage on offense. On the season Cincinnati has given up 351.7 yards and 19.7 points per game while adding 16 sacks and 8 turnovers. Not only has this defense been up and down, but the loss of their stout pass rushing defensive end Antwan Odom to a season ending Achilles injury (he had 8 of their 16 sacks) could be the shot in the foot they didn’t need. Hold off this week on the Bengals defense and see if they can bounce back and how they handle not having Odom in the lineup. 
Bruno Boys Stars: * *

17. (San Francisco 49ers) @ Houston Texans

The 49ers had an interesting couple weeks before their bye week, putting up incredible numbers against the St. Louis Rams then getting trounced on by the Atlanta Falcons. With a week off to get on his defense, head coach Mike Singletary will have his group ready to go. San Francisco may be worth owning, but it’s tough to justify them starting in this matchup. You should likely give them a week and see if they can hold their own against an explosive offense like the Houston Texans. On the season San Francisco has given up 322.6 yards and 19.6 points per game with 11 sacks and 9 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *

18. (Washington Redskins) vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The string of bad offenses for the Washington defense finally ends, thus making them a questionable play moving forward. The Philadelphia Eagles struggled mightily last week in Oakland and will be looking to rebound quickly. Philadelphia is known for coming back from a bad week and putting up enormous numbers, thus making them a viable candidate to break out on Washington. It will be interesting to see how the Redskins handle playing against a good offense for a change. On the year, Washington has allowed 287 yards and 16 points per game with 15 sacks and 7 turnovers. Those numbers are great, but remember they came against the likes of the Rams, Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Chiefs.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *

19. (Houston Texans) vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Texans defense has not done much all season, except for their lone game against the Oakland Raiders. Although the San Francisco 49ers do have a stagnant offense, it’s hard imaging Houston putting up quality numbers to be worth a fantasy football start this week. Houston has given up 351.8 yards and 22.8 points per game with 7 sacks and 11 turnovers. With as much talent as the Texans have along the defensive line, they should be getting more pressure, making them at least average in the fantasy department. Until they can produce against even an average team, keep Houston on the waiver wire.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *

20. (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Atlanta Falcons

Dallas is another team who has yet to really play up to their potential this season on both sides of the ball, but in particular on defense. They aren’t getting to the quarterback like they have in years past and continually give up too many yards down field. With a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, who can score in bunches, you have to be concerned about how the defense will fare. This season, Dallas has allowed 357.8 yards and 19.6 points while totaling a terrible 10 sacks and 4 turnovers. If Wade Phillips, the head coach and supposed defensive guru, is the one leading the Dallas defense then there will likely not be a turnaround for the unit.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *

21. (Arizona Cardinals) @ New York Giants

Arizona’s defense has been up and down all season, being one of the most inconsistent units in the NFL. Their strong game last week against the Seattle Seahawks may lead you to think they are worth owning but not for this week. The New York Giants are still one of the top offenses in the NFL and are more talented than Seattle all over the field, mainly on the offensive line. Don’t looks for another great performance from the Cardinals this week. For the season Arizona’s defense has been average, giving up 324.8 yards and 18.4 points per game while adding 13 sacks and 8 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *

22. (Miami Dolphins) vs. New Orleans Saints

It’s not that Miami’s defense is terrible, but the New Orleans Saints offense is simply that good! Playing against the best defense in the NFL, the Saints put up a monster game with 40+ points on 493 yards. The reason Miami’s defense hasn’t had a lot of success is their poor secondary, which quarterback Drew Brees will likely pick apart. This year Miami has allowed 301.4 yards and 21.2 points per game with 12 sacks but a terrible 4 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: *

23. (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs are very young on defense and it is showing this season, as they are giving up 379.8 yards and 24 points per game while adding 9 sacks and 8 turnovers. The San Diego Chargers are one of the best offenses in the NFL and will likely rack up yards in a hurry. The Chiefs should continue to stay on your leagues waiver wire.
Bruno Boys Stars: *

24. (Cleveland Browns) vs. Green Bay Packers

The Browns are atrocious on defense and with their offense continually putting them in bad positions, it’s hard to ever envision a turnaround in 2009.  Cleveland is allowing a league worst 407.3 yards and 24.7 points per game with 12 sacks and 11 turnovers. The Browns struggles on defense will continue all season long and with a high powered Green Bay Packers offense coming to town, it could get ugly this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: *

25. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. New England Patriots

New England’s offense seemed to rebound against a putrid Tennessee Titans defense. That isn’t good news for the Buccaneers, who are just as bad, if not worse than the Titans. Tampa Bay has given up 370.2 yards and 28 points per game with 10 sacks and 9 turnovers. With quarterback Tom Brady dialed in with the likes of Randy Moss and Wes Welker, plus the running game getting going last week, this will be another tough game for Tampa Bay’s defense.
Bruno Boys Stars: *

26. (St. Louis Rams) vs. Indianapolis Colts

The struggles of the Rams offense may be a part of the reason why St. Louis can’t get anything going on defense. The team traded their starting linebacker Will Weatherspoon, which now takes away one of their better players off an already bad unit. With quarterback Peyton Manning and his high flying Indianapolis Colts offense coming to town, the Rams defense will once again be in trouble. On the season, St. Louis has allowed 384.5 yards and 28.2 points while totaling 12 sacks and 8 turnovers.
Bruno Boys Stars: *

WEEK 7 BYE WEEK DEFENSES

Denver Broncos - There may not be a bigger surprise in fantasy football this season then the Denver Broncos defense. They have allowed the 2nd least amount of yards per game (262.5), the least points per game (11), the most sacks (21), and 4th in turnovers (12). Moving forward, this defense is becoming close to a must play no matter their matchup. The Broncos best matchups moving forward are against the Washington Redskins (Week 10), Kansas City Chiefs (Weeks 13 & 17), and Oakland Raiders (Week 15).

Detroit Lions - As expected, the Lions have been bad on defense. Their Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints may be the reason their numbers are so high, but they continually struggle to stop teams. Detroit has allowed 370.8 yards and 31.3 points per game with 15 sacks and 8 turnovers. If you are desperate and need to use the Lions defense, the best times to do so will be against the St. Louis Rams (Week 8), Cleveland Browns (Week 11), and San Francisco 49ers (Week 16).

Tennessee Titans - If the Broncos are the biggest surprise of the defense in 2009, the Tennessee Titans have to be one of the biggest disappointments. They have given up a terrible 405.7 yards (2nd worst in NFL) and 33 points (worst in the NFL) per game. The unit has only 11 sacks and 8 total turnovers on the season. Tennessee’s problems can be partially due to injuries, but poor play all across the field has let this defense be a major disappointment. They went from being a top 10 preseason defense to a keep on the waiver wire and never pick up. If you need to add the Titans defense, their matchups against the San Francisco 49ers (Week 9), Buffalo Bills (Week 10), and St. Louis Rams (Week 14) could lead to solid fantasy football showings. 

Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks defense has been mediocre at this point, with good and bad games mixed together this season. On the year, the unit has allowed 319.7 yards and 18.2 points per game while totaling 16 sacks and 8 turnovers. Seattle’s defense is definitely spot start worthy if not more. Their best matchups the rest of the season will be against the Detroit Lions (Week 9), St. Louis Rams (Week 12), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 15), and Tennessee Titans (Week 17).

Jacksonville Jaguars - After seeing the Jaguars defense struggle against a very bad St. Louis Rams team, you have to wonder if this unit will ever be fantasy worthy in 2009. Jacksonville has allowed 360.8 yards and 24.5 points per game with a league low 5 sacks and 10 turnovers. The best time to play the Jaguars if necessary will be against the Tennessee Titans (Week 8), Kansas City Chiefs (Week 9), Buffalo Bills (Week 11), and Cleveland Browns (Week 17).

Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore’s defense this year has been rather mediocre, allowing 332.7 yards and 21.7 points per game while adding 14 sacks and 9 turnovers. It’s clear the unit misses defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and need their secondary to shape up if they want to be a contender and a fantasy football contributor. Baltimore’s best games moving forward will be against the Cleveland Browns (Week 10), Detroit Lions (Week 14), and Oakland Raiders (Week 17). 

Week 7 Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  |  DEF  (click to read)

Week 7 Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM    (click to read)

Week 7 Waiver Wire Advice:  PICK THEM UP  |  CUT THEM LOOSE    (click to read)

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