Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Brad Berreman
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::WEEK 1 RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2010::

With the NFL season officially kicking off on Thursday night, fantasy football owners in leagues that use team defenses may be looking for that edge that can help them get a win in Week 1.

Defenses can be hard to project early in the season, with offseason comings and goings affecting many teams’ defenses positively or negatively.  It can be hard to tell how new members of a defense will mesh with new teammates, or how skill sets complement each other.

Before we start this week’s team defense rankings, let’s take a look at the “Bruno Boys Star System.”

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 Have To

1. (San Francisco 49ers) @ Seattle

The 49ers allowed 17.6 points per game, had 44 sacks and forced 33 turnovers last season, all good enough to rank in the top five in the league in those categories.  All the key personnel from that unit is back this season, and they get a matchup with Seattle this week to open the season.  The Seahawks have a shaky offensive line, a bevy of unproven talent at wide receiver and and an aging quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck.

The 49ers look likely to have a good week defensively, so much so they are featured in our “Start ‘Em” article for Week 1.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * * *

2. Dallas Cowboys (@ Washington)

The Cowboys have an excellent pass rush, led by LB DeMarcus Ware (11 sacks in 2009) and they ranked second in points allowed last season (15.6 per game).

The Redskins added quarterback Donovan McNabb this offseason, but he has been battling a left ankle injury and may quite be 100% even though he is slated to start on Sunday night. Washington still lacks playmakers offensively, so the fact the Cowboys have a questionable secondary (just 11 interceptions last season) they may not be able to take advantage.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

3. New York Jets (vs. Baltimore)

The recent signing of cornerback Darrelle Revis makes the return of last season’s #1 scoring (14.6 points per game) and pass defense complete.  The offseason additions of cornerback Antonio Cromartie and linebacker Jason Taylor should only help the Jets’ defense.

The Ravens stand to have a more productive offense this season, but they may have to wait a week to see the fruits of that.  If you own the Jets’ defense, you are obviously not benching them.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

4. Baltimore Ravens (@ New York Jets)

The Ravens allowed just 13.1 points per game over the final 10 games of 2009, and despite questions in their secondary (most notably the health of safety Ed Reed), they should be primed for another solid season in 2010.

Week 1 brings a matchup against a Jets’ offense that will be missing wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez threw 20 interceptions as a rookie last season despite limited attempts. Start the Ravens with absolute confidence, as it could be a very low-scoring game in the “new” Meadowlands next Monday night.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

5. Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis)

The Cardinals lost linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrelle Rolle to free agency this offseason, but the fact they face a lot of weak offenses this season stands to help them adjust.

Week 1 brings a matchup against the Rams and rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, who will obviously be making his first NFL start.  Add in a lack of proven receiving talent, and that sounds like a recipe for success for the Cardinals’ defense this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

6. Tennessee Titans (vs. Oakland)

The Titans struggled defensively in 2009, as their sack total dropped to 32 from 44 in 2008 and the unit allowed just over 25 points per game.  First round draft pick defensive end Derrick Morgan should help bolster Tennessee’s pass rush and add to an already deep defensive line.

The Titans face the Raiders in Week 1, so the odds of a solid start to the season is there despite some offensive improvements Oakland has made. If you didn’t manage to draft a top tier defense, Tennessee could be a solid start this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

7. Miami Dolphins (@ Buffalo)

The Dolphins ranked 25th in points allowed (just over 24 points per game) last season, which led to a new defensive coordinator (Mike Nolan) and a few new additions (most notably linebacker Karlos Dansby and first-round pick defensive end Jared Odrick) for 2010.

Miami heads to Buffalo to take on the Bills and an offense that will look to improve under new head coach Chan Gailey.  Expect some adjustment during Week 1, which bodes well for the Dolphins to see some success defensively this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

8. New York Giants (vs. Carolina)

The Giants’ defense was plagued by injuries last season, which led them allowing nearly 27 points per game (30th in the league).  They allowed 40 or more points five times over the last 11 games of the season.  New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and the offseason additions of safeties Antrelle Rolle and Deon Grant along with first-round draft pick defensive end Jean Pierre-Paul and linebacker Keith Bulluck could lead to a rebound in 2010.

The Panthers’ offense struggled in the preseason and QB Matt Moore is entering his first full season as a starter.  Expect the Giants to open the season with a nice defensive outing.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * * *

9. Chicago Bears (vs. Detroit)

The Bears’ defense underachieved in 2009, at least in part to the absence of linebacker Brian Urlacher being injured in the season opener.  The offseason signing of defensive end Julius Peppers brings an elite pass rusher to the Windy City.

The Bears get a favorable matchup against the Lions this week.  Detroit has a young offense, but quarterback Matt Stafford threw two or more interceptions in six of his 10 starts last season and the Lions’ offensive line struggled to protect him.  So Chicago should have opportunities for sacks and turnovers this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

10. Atlanta Falcons (@ Pittsburgh)

With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suspended for the season’s first four games, the Steelers will turn to Dennis Dixon under center in Week 1 against the Falcons.

The Falcons signed cornerback Dunta Robinson this offseason in an effort to improve their 28th ranked pass defense from last season, so the Steelers are almost certain to be conservative offensively with that and Dixon under center.

Expect the Falcons to have a solid defensive effort to open the season, and they could make for a solid one-week start.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

11. New Orleans Saints (vs. Minnesota)

The Saints’ defense scored a league-best eight touchdowns and had 26 interceptions (third in the league) last season, and may have been over-drafted in many fantasy leagues this year based on those lofty totals.

The NFL season kicks off with a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game against the Vikings, and Minnesota will be missing wide receiver Sidney Rice (hip), who was one of their main offensive weapons in 2009.  That should play into the Saints’ hands, especially if the Saints’ offense scores a lot and the Vikings’ offense becomes one-dimensional.  The Saints could be a solid starting fantasy defense this week.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

12. San Diego Chargers (@ Kansas City)

The Chargers allowed 16.7 points per game over the final 11 games of 2009, and despite the offseason trade of CB Antonio Cromartie are still a solid veteran-laden unit.

The Chiefs struggled to protect QB Matt Cassel last season, so linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips could put pressure on the passer and wreak some havoc in the Kansas City backfield in Week 1.  If the Chargers’ offense can put up some points early next Monday night, that stands to render the Chiefs’ offense one-dimensional and that should help San Diego’s defense to have a good outing to open the season.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Atlanta)

A return to health of safety Troy Polamalu, who played just five games in 2009 after suffering a knee injury in the season opener, should be a breath of fresh air for the Steelers’ defense.

The Steelers ranked third against the run last season, and Atlanta is likely to have a run-oriented offense this season and Week 1 should be no different. The pass rush of linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley may be able to harass Falcons’  quarterback Matt Ryan as well. This edition of the Steel Curtain is startable this week at home against the Falcons.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

14. Green Bay Packers (@ Philadelphia)

The Packers ranked in the top 10 of the league last season against the run (1st), the pass (5th) and in scoring defense (18.6 points per game-7th).  And that was in their first season playing a 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Dom Capers, so with a year in that defensive scheme under their belt the unit could show improvement in 2010.

In Week 1, the Packers will face the Eagles and new starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.  They are going to be missing cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby for the first few weeks of the season, which hurts them, but they should still have a solid defensive effort when they travel to the City of Brotherly Love this Sunday.
Bruno Boys Stars: * * *

15. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Green Bay)

The reason the Eagles are this far down this list has little do with their own deficiencies as a defense and more to do with the fact the Packers’ have a very prolific offense.

The Eagles will probably be a top 10 defense most weeks, but temper your expectations for this week.  One caveat for the Philadelphia defense is the fact Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked 50 times last year.
Bruno Boys Stars: * *