Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Cory Steger
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::WEEK 3 RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2010::

We’re entering the third week of the NFL regular season, and this is an important one for all fantasy football teams. Why? Because in Week 4 the bye weeks begin, meaning that Week 3 is the last time until Week 11 that a full schedule of games will be played. It is also important because in head-to-head leagues you now begin to see the strong fantasy football teams emerge and the weaker ones fall back in the pack.

As for quarterbacks, it’s equally important. New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had a disastrous performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, however, he responded with a three-touchdown game in a win over the New England Patriots last week. Which Sanchez are we going to see this week? We also have new starters in Carolina (Jimmy Clausen), Buffalo (Ryan Fitzpatrick), Pittsburgh (Charlie Batch or Byron Leftwich and potentially Oakland (Bruce Gradkowski for Jason Campbell). Also, Kevin Kolb returns at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles despite a big game from backup Michael Vick in a Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions. How will all these new starters do this week? Now it’s time to see how the new faces, along with the old ones, rank in our Fantasy Football Week 3 Quarterback Rankings.

**RANKINGS BASED ON STANDARD SCORING - 1 POINT PER 25 PASSING YARDS, 1 POINT PER 10 YARDS RUSHING, 4 POINTS ALL PASSING TOUCHDOWNS, -2 POINTS ALL TURNOVERS**

1. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) @ Seattle

It shouldn’t be much of a challenge this week for San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers when he faces the Seattle Seahawks. Not only do the Seahawks rank 26th in the league against the pass but they gave up over 300 yards and two touchdowns last week to Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton. Rivers has also played quite well thus far, accumulating 632 passing yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He is coming off a big win over the Jacksonville Jaguars where he had 334 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Who says he needs receiver Vincent Jackson to be successful? Rivers and the Chargers appear to be clicking on all cylinders in 2010.
Point Projection: 22 points

2. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) @ Denver

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has six touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two weeks of the season. This week he and the Colts are playing at the Denver Broncos, who rank in the lower half of the league in points allowed and will likely be without All-Pro defensive back Champ Bailey. Further than that, Manning absolutely owns the Broncos. In the last three meetings between the two teams, Manning has a combined 10 touchdowns with just three interceptions, leading Indianapolis to wins in all three games. When the teams met last year Manning threw for 220 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Expect him to approach four touchdowns while significantly cutting down on his interception totals this time around.
Point Projection: 21 points

3. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) vs. Buffalo

The defense was supposed to be a strength for the Buffalo Bills this season but so far that hasn’t been the case. After two games the Bills are 17th against the pass and 22nd in the league in points allowed. At the same time, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is looking like his old self with five touchdowns and just two picks in the first two games. Plus, the Patriots are at home this week and in the last three home games against Buffalo, Brady has thrown eight touchdowns with just two interceptions. He would be projected for more points in Week 3 if we didn’t think an early lead would cause the Patriots to run the ball more than Brady would like to.
Point Projection: 20 points

4. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) @ Chicago

In a weekend with few divisional matchups the meeting between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears looks to be the game of the week, and not just because it features two NFC North teams. Both the Packers and Bears currently sport very healthy passing games meaning this game could turn into a shootout, something fantasy football owners love unless of course they start one of the defenses. Win or lose, you know Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to produce. The question is how much? Normally projected for 20 or more points, Rodgers is at just 19 this week because the Bears defense has improved, limiting the Dallas Cowboys to just one offensive touchdown last week. Still, Rodgers will do enough to be one of the top fantasy football quarterbacks for the third straight week.
Point Projection: 20 points

5. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) vs. Atlanta

As good as the Atlanta Falcons defense looked last week in forcing three turnovers and limiting the Arizona Cardinals to one score - a rushing one at that - it is hard to say they’ll be able to hold the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees. Atlanta played well last week but that came against a Cardinals offense that is good at turning the ball, whereas the Saints are pretty good at holding onto the ball. Plus, Brees generally plays well against the Falcons. In two games last year against Atlanta, Brees threw for 604 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception. The play of cornerback Dunta’ Robinson and Falcons’ performance last week is enough to cause concern that Brees won’t eclipse 20 points, but he’s still going to have a good week.
Point Projection: 18 points

6. Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) vs. Dallas

So far the defense for the Dallas Cowboys has been a major disappointment. After two games Dallas ranks 19th in the league in passing yards allowed and points allowed. Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub did not play well in the season opening win over the Indianapolis Colts but that was mostly because running back Arian Foster was busy running for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Last week when Houston needed its quarterback to step up, Schaub threw for 497 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in leading the Texans to an overtime, come-from-behind win over the Washington Redskins. Potent offense meet underachieving defense. Advantage, Schaub.
Point Projection: 18 points

7. Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears) vs. Green Bay

One of the biggest turnaround stories in the early part of this season is that of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. As much as he was maligned for throwing 26 interceptions last year Cutler has responded in two games this year with a surprising amount of efficiency. It helps that he’s thrown for 649 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception, but he’s also completing 68.8 percent of his passes, is averaging a whopping 10.1 yards per attempt and has a 121.2 quarterback rating. Not only has he turned himself around but the Bears are 2-0 entering this game. Look for a shootout, which means both quarterbacks are going to score some fantasy football points.
Point Projection: 18 points

8. Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Jacksonville

What was supposed to be a one week spot start for injured Kevin Kolb (concussion) has developed into something much more significant. On Tuesday, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid named Vick the starter in Week 3 and beyond. Initial reports indicated that Kolb would reclaim his starting job in Week 3, however, after reviewing tape Reid believes that Vick gives the Eagles the best chance to win in 2010. In Week 2, Vick had 321 total yards and two touchdowns which was good for 22 points in standard scoring leagues. This week, the results should be similar as Philadelphia takes on a Jacksonville Jaguars secondary that has allowed opponents to average 300 passing yards per contest.
Point Projection: 17 points

9. Donovan McNabb (Washington Redskins) @ St. Louis

Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb did not look so good in the team’s season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys as he completed less than 50 percent of his passes and failed to throw a touchdown. Last week was a much better performance by McNabb as he went 28-for-38 for 426 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions. This week McNabb and the Redskins have the pleasure of playing the St. Louis Rams. The Rams have done a good job of not allowing many points to date, however, that’s partly because they’ve faced two bad offenses in the Arizona Cardinals and the Oakland Raiders. A more telling statistic is that St. Louis is allowing an average of 249 passing yards per game and over 390 total yards a game. Look for McNabb to make it two straight weeks with 15-plus fantasy points.
Point Projection: 16 points

10. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) @ Houston

This was supposed to be the year for quarterback Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas plays host to the Super Bowl this year, and many believed the Cowboys were a Super Bowl-caliber team. However, after two games they are 0-2 and Romo has as many touchdowns (2) as he does interceptions. As good as the Houston Texans have looked so far, their defense has not. Houston ranks 24th in points allowed and is last in passing yards allowed. In fact, they have allowed both Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb to eclipse the 400 yard pasing mark.That’s why even though the Cowboys may not come away with a win this week you can still expect a good performance from Romo.
Point Projection: 16 points

11. Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos) vs. Indianapolis

If there’s one thing you should know about Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton it’s that he typically does his best work in the beginning of the season. In September and October of last season he threw nine touchdowns and just one interception. After that is when things start to go downhill for him. Playing against the Colts should not be too much of a problem. Last year when Denver played at Indianapolis, Orton threw for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Don’t expect a Broncos win, but do expect Orton to play well enough to warrant a start.
Point Projection: 15 points

11. Eli Manning (New York Giants) vs. Tennessee

Though the New York Giants are off to a 1-1 start and quarterback Eli Manning appears to have regressed a bit. He’s thrown for five touchdowns but four interceptions, which is not the same Manning we’ve seen in the last couple years. However, other statistics point to Manning playing better than his touchdown-to-interception would suggest. He’s completing 61.1 percent of his passes and has an average yards per attempt of 7.9. In Week 3, Manning will be presented with a tough challenge as the Tennessee Titans are first in the league against the pass. Granted, they faced a subpar Oakland Raiders passing offense and a non-existent Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Look for Manning to hover in the 250 yard and two touchdown range, though an interception or two are likely.
Point Projection: 15 points