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

• SS Bryan Scott ATL
  The rookie gets the start due to injuries and poor play, and he has responded. 16-5-0 1FF 1 FR 1 INT and 3 PDs are pretty decent work for three games.
• CB Charles Tillman CHI
  Rookies get picked on a lot, and Tillman is no exception. And, with the team being so bad, he's on the field a lot. He has 13-2-0 2 INT and 6 PDs the past three weeks.
• CB Sammy Davis SD
  Davis has been a mean candy man, getting 10-6-0 2 INTs and 3 PDs.
• CB Rashean Mathis JAX
  Hot on Davis' heels is Mathis. He has been playing good, getting 17 tackles 1 INT and 3 PDs. What a weird year, to see not only so many rookies, but veteran CBs doing fantasy-well.

TOP watch

• Dallas +1 (Dallas is favored, but I think they match poorly with Carolina and could wind up about 2-3 minutes in the hole), Falcons -7, Chargers -4, Jets -3, Bears -3, Cards -3, Lions -3, Philly -3 (but their resurgent offense makes this weak).

Blitz Packages

Defensive Lineman

• DE Calvin Pace ARI
  This week the turnstile known as the Rams OL gets a visit from the Cards. Good news for Pace and his DL mates, since they will be on the field a lot and have a lot of opportunities for sacks.
• Cedric Woodward/John Randle SEA
  The Seahawks draw the Ravens, who have been giving up an average of over three sacks per game. This isn't an especially strong trait since the Seahawk pass rush is still pathetic, but the opportunity is there for them to have a decent day.
• DE Alex Brown CHI
  Brown has been a solid contributor for all but a couple weeks this year. This week, with the TOP against the Bears by at least 3 minutes, he will be a solid play. Figure 4-6 tackles and a sack.
• DE Michael Strahan/DT Kenny Holmes NYG
  The Bucs' OL has not been doing their job, and are giving up better than three sacks per game. Strahan is always a must play, but his teammates on the DL should have better than average days due to the favorable match they draw.
• DE Bruce Smith WAS
  Smith and his Redskins draw the human turnover machine known as Brian Griese. He hangs on to the ball too long, and coupled with the sub-par play of his OL, means that they are giving up a lot of sacks. Smith is always a spotty play, but in their rotation he should be able to get a sack.
• DE Bryan Young/Grant Wistrom STL
  These two have been tearing it up lately, and this week they draw a forgiving Cardinal OL. They each have the possibility of 2 sacks and 3-5 tackles. Young could easily double that tackle total.

Linebackers

• MLB Mark Simoneau PHI
  Hello, Deuce McAlister. This is a weekly match too good to pass on. Deuce is rushing for a ton of yards lately, and the Eagles are giving up a lot on the ground. Figure Simoneau for 9+ tackles.
• ILBs Chris Draft/Keith Brooking ATL
  With Atlanta's offense handicapped to the tune of 7 minutes, the defense should spend a lot of time on the field. All of the Falcon IDPs should be good starts, but these two should be great, with 9+ tackles.
• Zeke Moreno/Donnie Edwards SD
  These two had monster weeks last week. They should be good again this week with their team floundering like a mastodon in a tar pit. Give them 7-9 tackles.
• MLB Earl Holmes DET
  With so many guys in the Lion defense down, out or just dinged, Holmes has been playing a much larger role than the team figured. I guess he is one of those guys you send in off the bench, because the past three weeks he leads all Lions in tackles. Stay with the hot hand and use Holmes like a #2 LB.
• Browns LBs
  Sorry guys, but Andra Davis and Ben Taylor draw a poor hand this week. The Steelers running game is lying on the table with barely a pulse. They Brown LBs are unlikely to muster more than 6 tackles each.

Defensive Backs

• CB Renaldo Hill/Cards DBs
  When you allow a lot of sacks (as the Rams have), your QB usually throws more picks. Bulger is no exception, and has 3 scores but 6 picks the last three weeks. If the Cards can mount an effective pass rush, Bulger will throw at least one.
• CB Will Allen/FS Omar Stoutmire/Giants DBs
  As with the Cardinals, the Giants should get a lot of pressure on Brad Johnson and force him into some bad decisions. This should get 2-3 total turnovers.
• Terence Newman/Darren Woodson/Cowboys DBs
  QB Jake Delhomme has 5 interceptions as opposed to 3 scores. Good news for the Cowboys secondary.
• CB Reggie Howard/FS Deon Grant CAR
  Quincy Carter hosts the Panthers this week. He has been especially hospitable lately, to the tune of five picks. Good info to have if you own any Panther DBs.
• SS Matt Bowen WAS
  Bowen has been En Fuego the past three weeks. He even got a defensive TD last week. You can't sit a guy this hot.