Fantasy Football Wild-Card Weekend Rundown

Fantasy Football 2008 may be over, but it does not signify the end of the football season. For many of us our love for fantasy football stems from our love of football, especially the NFL. If you love the NFL as I do you will likely agree that there is nothing better then the NFL playoffs.

Sure, the NFL has the best regular season in all of professional sports. Playing a 16-game season gives each game much more meaning then in other sports, but the playoffs mean even more. In the NFL only a small percentage of teams make the playoffs, not like in basketball and hockey where it seems half the league makes the playoffs.

The NFL playoffs are also a one-game elimination, not a best of seven series. Simply put, if you win you move on and if you lose you pull out the golf clubs.

Now, just because the fantasy football season is over, it doesn’t mean that the NFL playoffs do not offer reason to watch the games from a fantasy football perspective. As has been stated many times this season by the Bruno Boys, it’s never to soon to start thinking about next season.

You should always scout players and take notes for your next fantasy football draft, even if it is seven or eight months away. Also, you have all been invited into the BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CONTEST where you have a chance to win PRIZES and face off head to head with the Bruno Boys staff.

So whether you are scouting for your next fantasy football draft or trying to put together your lineup for the BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CONTEST, please enjoy the Wild-Card Weekend edition of the Bruno Boys Weekly Rundown.

As a Detroit Lions fan, I have nothing better to do then breakdown the NFL playoffs from a fantasy football perspective.

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Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals

The first game of weekend will be the Atlanta Falcons at the Arizona Cardinals and this may just be the best game of the weekend. Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that these two teams would meet in the playoffs?

The Falcons were supposed to be rebuilding this season and the Cardinals have been perennial underachievers, but these teams have been two of the more exciting teams during the NFL regular season. Both of these teams offer a ton of players to keep an eye on from a fantasy football standpoint.

Key fantasy football contributors: Atlanta Falcons – QB Matt Ryan has had an excellent rookie season and rewarded many owners who took a flier on him. Consider Ryan as a low-end QB1 this week as he should have a solid game. RB Michael Turner should continue his big season this week and is a must start RB1.

Jerious Norwood has been a nice complimentary back all season and is a sleeper RB2 this week. WR Roddy White and Michael Jenkins have been nice targets for Ryan all season. Consider White a WR1 and Jenkins is a sleeper WR2 this week as he looks to continue the hot streak he was on at the end of the regular season.

Kicker Jason Elam has been solid all season and is a must start.

Arizona Cardinals – QB Kurt Warner has been a top option at QB all season and that should continue in this match-up. Warner is a must start QB1 and should have an excellent game. The Cardinals running game has been up and down this season. Look for both Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower to get some carries this week, but neither should be considered any higher then a low-end RB2 or a RB3. 

Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are as good as it gets at WR and they are both WR1 options in this match-up, but keep an eye on Boldin’s health heading into the game. WR Steve Breaston received plenty of playing time this season as an injury replacement and has turned into another nice option for Warner. Consider Breaston as a low-end WR2 this week.

Kicker Neil Rackers had a good season and should be considered a low-end starting option in this matchup.

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Indianapolis Colts @ San Diego Chargers

When the season started both of these teams were considered favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year, but injuries to key players on both teams left fans wondering if either team would even make the playoffs. After starting the season 3-4 the Colts rolled off nine straight wins to finish the season at 12-4.

The Chargers, on the other hand, were 4-8 after 12 games, but after four straight wins finished the season at 8-8 and overtook the Denver Broncos for first place after Week 17. Both of these teams have explosive offenses and have many nice fantasy football options.

Key fantasy football contributors: Indianapolis Colts – QB Peyton Manning may not have had his best statistical season of his career after having off-season knee surgery, but he has gotten better each week and should be consider a QB1 option this week. RB Joseph Addai has been hampered by injuries this season and was a bit of a fantasy bust, but after a big game Week 17 he should be used as a low-end RB1 this week.

WR Reggie Wayne struggled some down the stretch this season, but should still be considered as a WR1. Both Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez are nice complimentary receivers, but neither should be considered as more then low-end WR2 options this week.

TE Dallas Clark has had a real nice season and was great down the stretch, he is a must start TE1 this week. Kicker Adam Vinatieri did not have a great year, but he is a proven playoff kicker and should be used as a low-end starting option this week.

San Diego Chargers – QB Phillip Rivers has emerged into one of the bright young stars in football and he should be considered a solid QB1 this week. RB LaDainian Tomlinson struggled at times with injuries this season, but came on strong at the end when it counted and is a must start RB1 this week.

RB Darren Sproles is a nice change-of-pace back with great speed and excellent hands and is a sleeper RB2. WR Vincent Jackson has emerged, as a top option in the passing game and after a solid season should be considered a high-end WR2.

TE Antonio Gates is still one of the best in the game and is a must start TE1. Kicker Nate Kaeding is a solid kicker and will enjoy the comforts of home and is a solid starting option.

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Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins

This is another surprise game this weekend. If you put money on these two teams to make the playoffs this season you were likely rewarded handsomely. Both of these teams changed coaches and quarterbacks and went from worst to first in one season.

This will not be the most exciting game of the weekend from an offensive standpoint, but if you like the sweet science of defensive football, you will love this game. This game will not offer the same fantasy football value as some of the other games this weekend, but there are some players to watch.
 
Key fantasy football contributors: Baltimore Ravens – QB Joe Flacco was giving a chance to start at the beginning of the season due to injuries, but it is a job that he never relinquished. Flacco however does not put up huge numbers on a weekly basis and is no more then a QB2 option this week.

The Ravens' running game has been a bit inconsistent this season, but both Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain have some value as low-end RB2 options. Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason have both put together solid seasons and both should be considered WR2 options against the Dolphins. TE Todd Heap has battled the injury bug once again and has not built a solid rapport with Flacco; consider him no more then a TE2 this week.

After a slow start to the season, kicker Matt Stover has finished the season strong and is a solid kicking option this week. The Ravens have one of the best defenses in the league and are a must start D/ST on a weekly basis.

Miami Dolphins – QB Chad Pennington has had a career revival this season, after being cut by the New York Jets he came to Miami and led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record and a playoff birth. Pennington did get the toughest draw in the first round and should be considered a QB2 option against the Ravens.

RB Ronnie Brown had a solid season after an injury plagued 2007, but a tough matchup with the Ravens leaves Brown as a RB2 option this week. The receiving game will be led by WR Ted Ginn Jr. who has showed signs of being a solid NFL receiver, but he should be considered no more then a WR3 in this matchup.

TE Anthony Fasano has put together a solid year and is a nice outlet for Pennington. Consider Fasano a low-end TE1 this week. Kicker Dan Carpenter has had a solid rookie campaign, but the Dolphins don’t offer him enough field goal attempts to have much fantasy value.

The Dolphins defense has been much improved, consider the D/ST a sleeper starting option this week in what could be a low scoring game.

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Philadelphia Eagles @ Minnesota Vikings

Both of these teams had roller coaster seasons and had to win Week 17 just to make it into the playoffs. This is almost like the second round of the playoffs for both the Eagles and Vikings with Week 17 having been win or go home.

They both have solid defenses and inconsistent offenses, so this should make for an interesting game. There are many fantasy studs in this game and the fact that this is being played in the Metrodome should increase their respective fantasy value.

Key fantasy football contributors: Philadelphia Eagles – QB Donavan McNabb’s season was filled with many highs and lows. He played like the best QB in the game at times, but played so bad other times he was even benched for a half. McNabb ended the season playing very well and should be considered a must start QB1 against a suspect Vikings pass defense.

RB Brian Westbrook was plagued bye injuries most of the season and struggled at times, but he has finished the season strong and relatively healthy. Minnesota has a very good rush defense, but Westbrook is a dual threat back and should be considered a low-end RB1.

McNabb will likely get many receivers involved in this game, including Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, DeSean Jackson and Jason Avant, but none of them should be considered as starting options this week as a clear cut go to guy has not emerged from this group this season.

Kicker David Akers has had a solid season and should have a big game, consider him a must start option this week. The Eagles have a solid defense and the D/ST should be considered a starting option in this game.

Minnesota Vikings – QB Tarvaris Jackson appears likely to remain the starter after having played solid during the stretch run, he has been very inconsistent this season and is no more then a QB2 option this week.

RB Adrian Peterson led the league in rushing this season and even with a tough match-up he is a must start RB1 option. Back-up RB Chester Taylor has also played well this season and could be used as a low-end RB2 option.

WR Bernard Berrian has proved to be a solid threat this season and is a threat to break a big play anytime he touches the ball. Consider Berrian as a WR2 this week.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe has proved to be a very solid option in the receiving game and has been Jackson’s favorite target of late. Consider Shiancoe a TE1 option this week. Ryan Longwell is a solid kicker who is very comfortable at home in a dome and should be considered a solid stating option.

The Vikings have a very good run defense with a questionable pass defense so the D/ST should not be considered more then a low-end starting option this week.

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