Here is a tip to help you get a tiny edge over your competitors - use waivers for kickers. Yes, this may seem one of those "too obvious to mention" points, but kickers can be abandoned after draft time, unless yours is so bad that you need to make a move. But upgrading your kicker can give you a tiny edge, and that can turn into 1-2 extra wins this time of year.

In one very competitive league I am in, the difference between the top team and the bottom one is 41 points. That works out to 4.56/ppg. One more FG and EP a game. And often in a league, good kickers are left out there because people don't see the bother in changing kickers (Kickers are all the same). Go check your waivers and I think you'll be surprised at who is still out there.

Another tip I use when constructing my defenses is what I call my "journeyman LB" strategy. In the same league I mentioned above, we get 2/tackle, 1/assist, ½ sack/2. We also get points for PDs, and some other categories but I am going to stick to these few for now since they are the main point generators. The top LB right now is Ray Lewis, with 167 points on the year (offensive scoring is close to this as well, so they are all even). He is averaging a studly 16/ppg. However, that's all well and good if you have a stud like that on your squad, but most teams in your league will not have his services.

What I like to do is look lower down in our rankings, to the guys that are getting 10-12/ppg. This is where one of the truisms of fantasy football comes in - "Know your league rules". We are required to start 1 LB, and have 2 flex positions. These usually wind up being LBs as well, so each team is starting 3. Your team winds up being better ahead by starting three of these guys than if you have 1 stud and 2 other average LBs. And like kickers, these 10-14/ppg LBs are usually drifting around out there like ghost ships on your waivers. In this league, I have used this strategy for years and have never had a team finish with less than the #3 defense in the league.

Please look at Shawn Culcasi's IDP strength of schedule, and Clayton Gray's strength of schedule, if you have some tough lineup choices to make. I like to look at the offense SOS's, and play LBs on teams that face strong running teams, and DBs/DLs on teams that face strong passing ones.

If you have a tie between your #2 and #3 LB or #2 LB and #2 DB, I highly recommend that you go and read our Rushing and Passing matchups. When in doubt, start your LBs/SSs/DBs that are playing against RBs we say that have good or great matchups, and DBs that are playing against WRs that have good or great matchups. They will be on the field a long time, increasing your odds for high tackle/PD/INT numbers. Questions, comments, venting? Email [email protected] .

Rookie Watch

• DL Kevin Williams MIN
  Williams may still be under the radar in your league. He has 10-6-2.5 the last three weeks.



• LB Victor Hobson NYJ
  Thanks to the injury to Mo Lewis he is now starting. In his first start he posted 7-4-0. Not bad for a rookie!



• LB Lance Briggs CHI
  The last three weeks Briggs has posted no less than 6 total tackles. Last week he notched 9-1-0. He is starting due to Warrick Holdman's injury.



• LB Boss Bailey DET
  Champ's little bro is now starting, and he's tearing it up. The Lions finally have a LB STARTING, who has speed. He won't be around much longer on waivers for you.



• LB Pisa Tinoisamoa SD
  Tinny had a great performance last week, but he has had spurts of performance like that this year only to disappear. Start him at your own risk, due to his inconsistency.

TOP watch

• Baltimore -5, Atlanta -3.5, Miami -3, SD -3, BUF -3, KC -2 (but you have to believe, given how many yards on the ground CLE is yielding, that that will swing in KC's favor), JAX -2 (but that will probably be closer to -3 once the game is played), Jets/Raiders (this is nearly dead even in TOP but with Penington back, and with Mirer at the helm in OAK, it should be -2 or -3 for Oak).

Blitz Packages

• Bye teams: 49ers, Broncos, Patriots, Saints

Defensive Lineman

• DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila GB
  KGB has been a bust so far this year. Projected by many (myself included) to be a top 10 DL, he has been a non-factor. But he gets the Philly OL, who has surrendered the most sacks (10) over the past few weeks. Start your Packers as this is as good as it gets, match up wise, this week.



• DE Bruce Smith/Redskin DL
  The Redskins get a Seahawks line that is allowing a bunch of pressure on Hasselbeck. If they haven't quit on Spurrier, they could be a nice surprise start.



• DE Marcellus Wiley/Charger DL
  The Vikings are giving up a bit over 2 sacks per game. Given also the Chargers woeful offense, Wiley will be on the field a lot, giving you excellent chances for both tackles and sacks.



• DE Willie Whitehead NO
  The switch back to DE has done great for him. He is on fire, and could still be on your waiver.



• DE Anthony Weaver/Ravens DL
  This is a risk play. But if you need to take a risk, these guys could hit for you based on their match against a forgiving Ram OL.



• DE Dwight Freeney IND
  Freeney has had a great second half of the season. He was invisible early on, but has rebounded to 8-0-4 the last four weeks.

Linebackers

• Ray Lewis/Ed Hartwell/Terrell Suggs BAL
  Start your Raven LBs this week. Given the huge TOP margin (see above) against them, they will be on the field a lot. Also, the Bucs are giving up a lot of sacks, so Suggs could get 1-2 of them. Boulware stands a good chance to do so as well.



• SLB Victor Hobson NYJ
  The rookie got a studly 7-4-0 his first outing last week. You have to start him based on those numbers, but beware that he is still a risk since he is such an unknown.



• ILB Chris Draft/Falcons LBs
  Atlanta is down 3 minutes in the TOP watch this week. Good news for Falcon LBs this week, so start 'em if you got 'em.



• MLB Zach Thomas MIA
  Thomas should have another super week with around 10+ tackles. The TOP is against Miami this week, and if that holds true Thomas will perform well.

Defensive Backs

• SS Ed Reed BAL
  Reed has been ice cold the past few weeks. But with the TOP so against the Ravens this week, Reed should bounce back and be at 8+ tackles.



• FS Brian Russell/Viking DBs
  Drew Brees has been throwing a lot of picks as he tries to make something happen in their dormant passing game. So Russell stands a good chance of hauling in some of Brees' largesse.



• FS Deon Grant/Panther DBs
  Following in Brees' footsteps for charity to opposing DBs is Mr. Brad Johnson. Given that Johnson will be under immense pressure all day from the Panther front four, Johnson should throw a couple picks.



• Aeneas Williams/Rams DBs
  The Rams draw the Ravens this week. Whlie Boller's stats aren't heavily trended towards him throwing a lot of INT's, I think the Rams D will force him into 2-3. So if you need a risk start, this is mine this week.

Good luck!