Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

1. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) vs. Oakland

Nate Kaeding is second in the league with 14 field goals made and is kicking at a 82.4% clip. He faces an Oakland Raiders special teams that is tied for the league worst in field goal yield age with 14. San Diego always has nice weather by the way. So what do you get when you mix one of the best kickers with one of the worst special teams defenses and nice weather? The top kicking option for the Bruno Boys. That’s what.
Point Projection: 12 points

2. Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) vs. St. Louis

Old man Jason Hanson has been kicking for the Detroit Lions longer than the Model-T has been in existence. Ok, while that is an exaggeration, what isn’t is the fact that he is still kicking like he was in his mid-20’s. That should play in well this week as he faces a St. Louis Rams special teams that has allowed 1.5 field goals a game and plenty of extra points. While the Lions may not throw up a ton of touchdowns against the Rams, we expect Hanson to have a good handful of FG opportunities.
Point Projection: 11 points

3. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) @ Green Bay

The Minnesota Vikings offense is very explosive and a beneficiary of that is Ryan Longwell who always finds himself with plenty of scoring opportunities. In fact, Longwell has missed only 1 FG, connecting on 12 of them and as expected is second in the league with 24 XP’s. This week he faces division rival Green Bay Packers. Expect for a lot of emotion and scoring making Longwell a no-brainer in Week 8.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. Nick Folk (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Seattle

The Dallas Cowboys should be able to pass and run at will against the Seattle Seahawks defense which will create plenty of opportunity for Nick Folk and his big leg. While the Cowboys have gotten off to somewhat of a slow start for 2009, they definitely have picked it up as a offensive unit as of late. That should help translate Folk and his FG % of 84.6 into solid numbers making him a nice PK1 this week.
Point Projection: 10 points

5. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota

Mason Crosby has had a pretty successful season so far nailing 12 field goals and considering that his opposition, the Minnesota Vikings, have allowed double-digit field goals and allow a 90% plus clip makes one to tend to believe that Crosby should be able to capture at least 2 FG and a handful of extra points in this game. Consider Crosby a solid play that has an opportunity at double-digit fantasy points this week.
Point Projection: 10 points

6. Matt Prater (Denver Broncos) @ Baltimore

Entering the week Matt Prater is tied for fourth in the league in field goals with 12 but that is misleading some as he has been kicking at an average 75% clip. That shouldn’t matter much this week though as Prater faces a Baltimore Ravens special teams unit that have allowed 13 of the opposition’s 14 FG’s to get through the uprights. Play Prater with confidence as he will finish with enough points to qualify him as a PK1 in all formats.
Point Projection: 9 points

7. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) vs. Jacksonville

What a difference one year makes. In 2008 there were very few kickers that were hotter than Rob Bironas; fast forward a year and he is near the bottom of the league in production. What does that mean for you? Well, for one Bironas has stunk it up all season and is facing a Jacksonville Jaguars special teams unit that has allowed only 7 field goals all year, but there is a sneaking suspicion that he snaps out of his funk this week.
Point Projection: 9 points

8. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) vs. Cleveland

Robbie Gould has been on and off all season as the Chicago Bears have had some tough matchups, yet this week he gets to breathe a little. The Cleveland Browns rank seventh in the league with having allowed 11 field goals and have also allowed 20 XP’s. How can you go wrong here? While there is no science to kickers, Gould is one of those plays who has a shot at a fairly nice week. Plug him in if you have him with confidence.
Point Projection: 9 points

9. Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks) @ Dallas

Although Olindo Mare was sold out by his coaching staff earlier in the season, very few kickers have performed as efficiently. In fact, he has only missed two field goals all year. This week the Dallas Cowboys offer up a chance at a high-scoring game; one that should result in decent fantasy points for Mare. Considering that this will also be in good weather conditions, Mare should produce just fine.
Point Projection: 9 points

10. Matt Stover (Indianapolis Colts) vs. San Francisco

Filling in for Adam Vinatieri, the solid veteran kicker Matt Stover should fare very well against the San Francisco 49ers. Stover has the benefit of kicking for one of the better offensive clubs in the NFL allowing for more than average opportunity to obtain fantasy football points, which is all that we can really ask from a kicker, isn’t it? Stover is a solid waiver wire accusation this week and one that should be considered if you are suffering because of the bye-weeks.
Point Projection: 8 points

11. Jason Elam (Atlanta Falcons) @ New Orleans

Good kicker, good offense, high-scoring game opportunity, good weather conditions; it doesn’t get better than that. Despite his lack of kicking chances lately, Jason Elam belongs as a PK1 in all deeper-league formats and should have a fine week with the potential for an even better one if this game for some reason turns into a decent defensive showing by both teams.
Point Projection: 8 points

12. Kris Brown (Houston Texans) @ Buffalo

Kris Brown has not been needed much as a field goal kicker this year, primarily due to a significant offense that he plays behind. Normally that is a great thing, but for some reason it has worked against him this year. That is fine though as he faces a Buffalo Bills team that is fairly tough and should hold the Houston Texans out of the endzone some allowing for more field goal opportunities; especially if Andre Johnson misses the game. Brown is a decent play this week in deeper leagues.
Point Projection: 8 points

13. Jay Feely (New York Jets) vs. Miami

In a rematch of a great Monday Night game a few weeks ago, Jay Feely will be relied upon heavily by the New York Jets against the Miami Dolphins as his young quarterback Mark Sanchez has struggled against tougher defenses this year. Miami is tough making Feely a sneaky play with not much downside but plenty of upside at this point in the rankings.
Point Projection: 8 points