Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

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

::WEEK 7 RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 23, 2010::

At one point during the preseason it was reported that the Cleveland Browns were thinking of cutting rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy, who was taken in the third round of the draft, had not impressed during the preseason and had dealt with a hand injury. The team ultimately decided against that, and with injuries to Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, McCoy earned his first start last week playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He went 23-for-33 for 281 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and was praised after the game by teammates for having the “it” factor. Though it remains to be seen what type of quarterback McCoy will develop into, he at least got off to a solid start. Unfortunately his luck won’t continue this week when the Browns play at the New Orleans Saints.

Check out our Fantasy Football Week 7 Quarterback Rankings to find out where McCoy, as well as the rest of the quarterbacks, rank this week.

**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. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) vs. Cleveland

Finally, the Drew Brees we’ve come to expect has made an appearance. The New Orleans Saints quarterback went 21-for-32 for 263 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in a blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Remember Brees also had slow starts in 2007 and 2008, so it’s like this was uncharted territory. This week’s game at home against the Cleveland Browns represents a great opportunity for Brees to continue playing well. The Browns are giving up an average of 229 passing yards and almost two touchdowns a game.
Point Projection: 20 points

2. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) @ San Diego

So it doesn’t appear that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is going to miss receiver Randy Moss, who was traded to the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago, that much. The Patriots acquired Deion Branch from the Seattle Seahawks, and Branch’s best years of his career came when he was a Patriot. In last week’s overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens, Brady and Branch hooked up nine times for 98 yards and a touchdown. That’s why even without Moss, Brady is going to continue being a top fantasy quarterback, including this week against the San Diego Chargers.
Point Projection: 19 points

3. Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos) vs. Oakland

Last week’s game against the New York Jets was the worst yet this season for Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, yet that was sort of expected. Orton still managed 209 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, so he didn’t play poorly either. This week’s game against the Oakland Raiders will allow Orton to get back on track. The Raiders have given up an average of 302 passing yards over their last three games and have forced just two interceptions all season. Plus, now that running back Knowshon Moreno is back and healthy opposing defenses will be forced to respect the run, something they didn’t with Laurence Maroney in the lineup, which should help open up the field for Orton and the passing game. One potential downside could be the emergence of Tim Tebow in the Wildcat formation. He scored on a rushing touchdown in Week 6 and rumor has it the Broncos will continue to use him in similar situations. This week it doesn’t make a difference against a Raiders defense that has allowed two passing touchdowns in each of their first six games this year.
Point Projection: 19 points

4. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota

Dealing with concussion symptoms must not have affected Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers too much in the team’s overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins last week. Though the offense does not appear to be playing up to its potential, Rodgers statistically played well against the Dolphins, throwing for 313 yards with one touchdown and one interception. This week features an intriguing matchup against the visiting Minnesota Vikings. In two games against the Vikings last year Rodgers had five touchdowns and just one interception. We expect a similarly good performance this week. However, one area that might be cause for concern is the Green Bay offense line. That unit allowed Rodgers to be sacked a season-high five times last week, and will need to protect Rodgers from Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen if they hope to win the game.
Point Projection: 19 points

5. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) vs. New England

Last week was the first time this season San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers didn’t throw two or more touchdowns in a game this season. He still had an OK day in the loss to the St. Louis Rams, throwing for 249 yards with one touchdown and one interception but it wasn’t quite was owners of Rivers had come to expect. Consider that during the game receiver Malcom Floyd and tight end Antonio Gates left with injuries, and Rivers was sacked seven times. Gates (toe) is expected to be back for this week’s game against the New England Patriots, but Floyd (hamstring) likely will not be. Rivers will be fine this week against a New England secondary that’s allowing almost two touchdown passes a game.
Point Projection: 18 points

6. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) vs. New York Giants

Who cares that the Dallas Cowboys are just 1-4 right now? Owners of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo are plenty happy with his 10 touchdown passes and 313 yards-per-game average. This week the Cowboys play at home against the New York Giants and though they probably won’t come away with a win, Romo will have another good game. He typically plays well against the Giants, having thrown 13 touchdowns against just six interceptions in the last five games between the two teams. Don’t worry about the poor play of the Cowboys right now because Romo is a guaranteed start each week and a good bet to get you a good amount of points, as he will against the Giants.
Point Projection: 18 points

7. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Miami

Sure he was a little rusty at times but Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finished last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns with some good stats, throwing for 257 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Praised by coach Mike Tomlin after the game for his workouts and practices during the preseason, Roethlisberger looks like he’s ready to pick up where he left off from last season when he had 26 touchdown passes. Though this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins provides a tougher matchup that the Cleveland Browns did last week, Roethlisberger will still do well. Just we’d be surprised if he repeated his three touchdown performance in Week 7.
Point Projection: 17 points

8. Kevin Kolb (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Tennessee

Kolb will get the start again in Week 7, as Michael Vick recovers from a rib injury. Even when Vick guarantees, head coach Andy Reid will likely have a tough decision to make regarding his starting quarterback. Kolb played well against the Falcons last week, throwing for 326 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The one thing that couldhurt the Eagles this week is the absence of receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson suffered a severe concussion following a brutal hit from Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson, and though there is no timetable for his return, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him held out until Week 9. Still, the Titans secondary has been picked apart three of the last four weeks and as hot as Kolb is, he should have no problem finding Jeremy Maclin on the outside and Brent Celek over the middle.  **KOLB WILL START AT QUARTERBACK IN WEEK 7**
Point Projection: 17 points

9. Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Dallas

Last week’s win over the Detroit Lions was just the second time this season New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning went an entire game without throwing an interception. With 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season, Manning, up to this point, has played similar to his counterpart in this week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, though Tony Romo does have one less interception. Expect another solid game from Manning, who’s played well against the Cowboys recently. In two games against Dallas last year he combined for four touchdowns and one interception, and that’s the kind of performance you can expect from him this week.
Point Projection: 17 points

10. Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Buffalo

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco’s stats this season don’t indicate he’s having the breakout season many thought he would, yet in the last four weeks he’s thrown six touchdowns against just one interception. Against weak defenses Flacco is money, evidenced by him throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Cleveland Browns in a Week 2 win, and two touchdowns and no picks in a loss to the New England Patriots last week. The Buffalo Bills are another team with a weak defense that’s giving up a league-worst 32.3 points per game. The only reason we’re not projecting Flacco for more points is the expected huge game out of running back Ray Rice, as well as the fact that the Ravens will probably take an early lead and not need to throw that often.
Point Projection: 16 points

11. Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings) @ Green Bay

So here’s a word we’ll not often associate with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre; efficient. In last week’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, Favre went 14-for-18 for 118 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The Green Bay Packers have not been as good defensively as expected, and that’s in part because of all the injuries they’ve sustained. The biggest impact has been the loss of linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring). Favre should do OK against the Packers, but if Matthews, who has nine sacks and a forced fumble already this season, doesn’t play then Favre could end up with some good stats.
Point Projection: 16 points

12. Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. Jacksonville

Though the Kansas City Chiefs lost a close game to the Houston Texans last week it can’t be blamed on quarterback Matt Cassel. In that game he went 20-for-29 for 201 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. It’s not realistic to expect three touchdowns out of Cassel every week because of the inconsistency of the rest of the offense and the lack of a No. 1 receiver, however Cassel should do well again this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars rank 29th in the league in both passing yards allowed and points allowed.
Point Projection: 16 points