Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

The final countdown! In a pinch for a skill player that will produce at a high level during your fantasy football playoff challenge, but not sure what route to go? Well, no need to fret the small stuff because the Bruno Boys will help make your lineup decision easier. From Quarterbacks to Defenses, we have you covered on who you should feel comfortable about plugging into your Wild Card lineup. Now, it’s time to cut to the chase and read our Fantasy Football Wild Card Start Ems advice.

QUARTERBACKS – START ‘EM

Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) @ Arizona

With this year’s NFC playoffs being touted as having the best quarterback competition, Aaron Rodgers should set himself apart during Wild Card weekend. In what should be an explosive offensive game, Rodgers will lead the way against the Arizona Cardinals in a repeat of their week 17 match-up. Rodgers bested the Cardinals in that game by throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown, while adding another TD via the rush. While most of the QBs going this weekend should have good performances, Rodgers will best them all this weekend. Wide receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, along with tight end Jermichael Finley present match-up problems all over the field for the Cardinals pass defense, match-up problems that Rodgers will exploit.

RUNNING BACKS – START ‘EM

Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Philadelphia

It’s astonishing how good the rushing defenses in this Wild Card weekend are. The Packers rank 2nd, the Ravens 3rd, the Cowboys 5th, the Jets 6th, the Patriots 7th, and the Bengals 8th. The only two squads that aren’t in the top-10 are the Philadelphia Eagles (Barber’s opponent) and the Arizona Cardinals (running back Ryan Grant’s foe). While Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice has been the best overall RB playing in this weekend’s contests, Barber should post at least 14 fantasy points against the Eagles defense. Look for Rice and Grant to round out the top 3 in overall RB performances this weekend.

Kevin Faulk (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

If you’re in a bind and don’t have much money left to spend (i.e. you’ve sprung for all the top names this weekend at the other slots), Faulk could be a valuable provider for you. With a brilliant understanding of the Patriots’ offense, and one of the holdovers from their three Super Bowl championship teams, Faulk should bring 10-12 touches at a relatively cheap price. 6-7 rushes and 4-5 catches seem inevitable for Faulk at this point, especially with the loss of wide receiver Wes Welker.

WIDE RECEIVERS – START ‘EM

Julian Edelman (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

With the unfortunate loss of wide receiver Wes Welker comes the rookie, Edelman, out of Kent State. A man who boasts many of the same skills that makes Welker so valuable, Edelman should be in for a solid afternoon running underneath routes in the Patriots’ offense. Finishing the 2009 season strong with 10 catches for 103 yards in Welker’s place in the team’s Week 17 go with the Houston Texans, Edelman should provide value outside of the top-10 WRs playing this weekend.

Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Green Bay

With the expected absence of wide receiver Anquan Boldin comes the re-emergence of fantasy “afterthought” Steve Breaston. Perhaps 712 yards and 3 touchdowns isn’t an afterthought, but he doesn’t boast the same level of success as teammates Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Breaston has filled in admirably when either of the Cardinals’ dynamic duo has been absence since the 2008 season, so Warner should be using both his targets in this match-up against the Green Bay Packers…especially if the Packers get out to an early lead.

TIGHT ENDS – START ‘EM

Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Philadelphia

With all the hype that has surrounded tight end Jermichael Finley (not that it is not deserved), fantasy playoff players are forgetting about stud TE Jason Witten. In Witten’s “down-year”, he caught 94 passes for 1,030 yards and 2 touchdowns. Witten averaged 8.5 fantasy points this season against the Philadelphia Eagles and 8 fantasy points against them in 2008 (2 games each season), so this NFC East rival should allow Witten to play well this weekend. To make things even better, the Eagles were the 2nd worst team in 2009 defending the TE allowing 1,090 yards and 9 TDs.

KICKERS – START ‘EM

Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) @ Arizona

Crosby had one of the best seasons in 2009, making 27 field goals and 48 extra points. In a game that should be a shoot out, the Packers will allow Crosby to get his usual 7-9 points without much effort.

David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Dallas

Much like Crosby, Akers has a match-up in a game that should allow plenty of points and thus opportunities for the kicker position.

DEFENSES – START ‘EM

New York Jets D/ST @ Cincinnati

The New York Jets have been the best defensive team throughout 2009, and they get to face what is probably the 2nd least explosive offense in the NFL playoffs this season (their own team is probably #1). The Jets shut out the Cincinnati Bengals in week 17 (although without starting RB Cedric Benson, QB Carson Palmer [at least being mentally there…He went 1 for 11; thus completing as many passes to his team as he did the Jets], and WR Chad Ochocinco). In what should be the lowest scoring game of the weekend, the Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals are the two best bets for defensive fantasy points during Wild Card weekend.

Wild Card Round Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  | DEF  (click to read)

Wild Card Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM  (click to read)

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