Tony Romo could finally come up big in December
With everything on the line this weekend, some fantasy owners may be faced with some painful choices. Do you dare start someone who has a history of self-destructing when the season is on the line? The Bruno Boys are here with their picks on some of championship week's toughest calls and you can get more of their fantasy advice at BrunoBoys.net.
VALUE METER: Complete Week 16 fantasy rankings
START
QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New Orleans)
There aren't many quarterbacks playing better than Romo right now, which we find strange to say, sitting in the middle of December. Romo has his team controlling its destiny once again -- and in the last six weeks, he's thrown 12 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.
The Saints are more than capable of keeping him on this hot streak since they've already given up 4,200 yards through the air. What's even better for Romo is that Dez Bryant looks like he can be more than just a big decoy with the broken finger. He can and is playing through the pain and that makes the Cowboys more likely to keep up with whatever the Saints throw at them. In other words, get ready for some points on Sunday.
QB QUANDARY: Could Rams' Bradford put up a title-clinching week?
RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons (at Detroit)
Motown has been anything but a lockdown for opposing offenses this season. Since Week 7 running backs have run amok on the Lions for 770 yards and nine touchdowns. And while Turner has been losing snaps, he's found the end zone in five straight games. With the Falcons passing game in high gear, Turner should have no troubles finding open lanes to extend his streak against the toothless Lions.
WR Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens (vs. New York Giants)
Last week was another disaster for the Giants' secondary and while the Ravens don't offer as big a threat as the Falcons, we would be shocked if Joe Flacco didn't try to push the ball downfield with Boldin. Since Week 11, Boldin has been targeted 41 times and remains the one receiver who's good for substantial stats. He's as consistent as the Ravens receivers are going to get, but that doesn't mean owners can't cash in on what he does bring, which is a red zone presence and moderately deep threat.
TE Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (vs. Tennessee)
Tight ends have been hit and miss all season but the Bruno Boys continue finding the right ones each week to exploit the mismatch. Last week it was Dennis Pitta and this week we think it will be Finley.
The fifth-year pro has been a major disappointment in three of his five seasons, but every Packer has his day in this offense. Finley is getting targeted more (21 in the last four weeks) as defenses are devoting so much attention to covering Green Bay's wideouts. The Titans are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends and we think Finley is a solid PPR play and could get in on the touchdown parade despite only netting just two all season.
SIT
QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (at Pittsburgh)
We've seen a mixed bag from Dalton this season. He had multiple touchdowns for three consecutive weeks in Weeks 10-12, then followed that up with single-score performances in each of the last three weeks. One thing you can guarantee from Dalton is poor production against the Steelers. He has a career completion percentage of 48.8% and averages 136.7 yards a game against Pittsburgh. The production recently has been mediocre from Dalton, it's going to get worse this week.
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati)
Though he has two rushing touchdowns in the last three weeks, Dwyer is not a good option in fantasy leagues. Dwyer's totaled just 34.3 rushing yards a game over the last three weeks, and in his last two games he's had less than 10 carries in each game. The Bengals have a solid rushing defense. They've given up just one rushing touchdown in their last five games, and just two total since Week 8.
WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers (at Seattle)
In the last three weeks Crabtree has been on file, with at least seven catches in each game, and a pair of touchdowns against the New England Patriots last week. Don't expect Crabtree's amazing play to continue this week against Seattle. When these two teams met in Week 7, Crabtree was held to four catches for 31 yards. Yes, there has been a change at quarterback for the 49ers since then but it doesn't change how bad the matchup is.
Seattle is giving up a league-low 15.4 fantasy points per game (standard scoring) to opposing wide receiver corps. The Seahawks also have allowed just two touchdowns to receivers at home all season.
TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (at New York Jets)
In scoring a touchdown last week Gates broke a four-game scoreless streak. It's good to see Gates get back into his touchdown-scoring ways but with what we've seen from him this season it's unlikely that will continue this week against the Jets. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been all over the place, and the matchup with the Jets isn't a favorable one for Gates either. The Jets haven't allowed a touchdown to a tight end since Week 8.
With everything on the line this weekend, some fantasy owners may be faced with some painful choices. Do you dare start someone who has a history of self-destructing when the season is on the line? The Bruno Boys are here with their picks on some of championship week's toughest calls and you can get more of their fantasy advice at BrunoBoys.net.
VALUE METER: Complete Week 16 fantasy rankings
START
QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New Orleans)
There aren't many quarterbacks playing better than Romo right now, which we find strange to say, sitting in the middle of December. Romo has his team controlling its destiny once again -- and in the last six weeks, he's thrown 12 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.
The Saints are more than capable of keeping him on this hot streak since they've already given up 4,200 yards through the air. What's even better for Romo is that Dez Bryant looks like he can be more than just a big decoy with the broken finger. He can and is playing through the pain and that makes the Cowboys more likely to keep up with whatever the Saints throw at them. In other words, get ready for some points on Sunday.
QB QUANDARY: Could Rams' Bradford put up a title-clinching week?
RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons (at Detroit)
Motown has been anything but a lockdown for opposing offenses this season. Since Week 7 running backs have run amok on the Lions for 770 yards and nine touchdowns. And while Turner has been losing snaps, he's found the end zone in five straight games. With the Falcons passing game in high gear, Turner should have no troubles finding open lanes to extend his streak against the toothless Lions.
WR Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens (vs. New York Giants)
Last week was another disaster for the Giants' secondary and while the Ravens don't offer as big a threat as the Falcons, we would be shocked if Joe Flacco didn't try to push the ball downfield with Boldin. Since Week 11, Boldin has been targeted 41 times and remains the one receiver who's good for substantial stats. He's as consistent as the Ravens receivers are going to get, but that doesn't mean owners can't cash in on what he does bring, which is a red zone presence and moderately deep threat.
TE Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (vs. Tennessee)
Tight ends have been hit and miss all season but the Bruno Boys continue finding the right ones each week to exploit the mismatch. Last week it was Dennis Pitta and this week we think it will be Finley.
The fifth-year pro has been a major disappointment in three of his five seasons, but every Packer has his day in this offense. Finley is getting targeted more (21 in the last four weeks) as defenses are devoting so much attention to covering Green Bay's wideouts. The Titans are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends and we think Finley is a solid PPR play and could get in on the touchdown parade despite only netting just two all season.
SIT
QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (at Pittsburgh)
We've seen a mixed bag from Dalton this season. He had multiple touchdowns for three consecutive weeks in Weeks 10-12, then followed that up with single-score performances in each of the last three weeks. One thing you can guarantee from Dalton is poor production against the Steelers. He has a career completion percentage of 48.8% and averages 136.7 yards a game against Pittsburgh. The production recently has been mediocre from Dalton, it's going to get worse this week.
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Cincinnati)
Though he has two rushing touchdowns in the last three weeks, Dwyer is not a good option in fantasy leagues. Dwyer's totaled just 34.3 rushing yards a game over the last three weeks, and in his last two games he's had less than 10 carries in each game. The Bengals have a solid rushing defense. They've given up just one rushing touchdown in their last five games, and just two total since Week 8.
WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers (at Seattle)
In the last three weeks Crabtree has been on file, with at least seven catches in each game, and a pair of touchdowns against the New England Patriots last week. Don't expect Crabtree's amazing play to continue this week against Seattle. When these two teams met in Week 7, Crabtree was held to four catches for 31 yards. Yes, there has been a change at quarterback for the 49ers since then but it doesn't change how bad the matchup is.
Seattle is giving up a league-low 15.4 fantasy points per game (standard scoring) to opposing wide receiver corps. The Seahawks also have allowed just two touchdowns to receivers at home all season.
TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (at New York Jets)
In scoring a touchdown last week Gates broke a four-game scoreless streak. It's good to see Gates get back into his touchdown-scoring ways but with what we've seen from him this season it's unlikely that will continue this week against the Jets. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been all over the place, and the matchup with the Jets isn't a favorable one for Gates either. The Jets haven't allowed a touchdown to a tight end since Week 8.
