Tom Nadratowski - Blitz Package

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].

TOP watch

Jets -7 (but with McNair likely out this will be a little less), Raiders -4, Lions -3, Dolphins -3, Falcons -3, Chargers -3, Seahawks -3 (but I think Cleveland will wind up with the worse TOP).

Rookie Watch

CB Charles Tillman CHI
Tillman is one of the few bright spots on the Bears team this year. In him they have a definite playmaker. And since the offense is so bad, he's getting decent tackle totals as well.
SS Bryan Scott ATL
He was having a great day when he went down with an injury. So watch for updates before you are forced to start him. But he will continue to produce well, as long as he starts and can function with his injury - the offense is too bad for him not too.
CB Frank Walker NYG
I have never seen a year like this where so many CBs are producing. Walker, a 6th round pick, is starting and has 12-2-0 2 PDs 1 INT the past three weeks. Walker is helping my theory about fantasy DBs - that you need one bad enough to get thrown at, but good enough to stay on the team. Most of these guys are drafted rounds 3-5. So Walker fits that theory.

Blitz Packages

DE Andre Carter/49ers DL
The 49ers get a Baltimore offensive line that has been extremely accommodating lately. Carter should be good for 4-5 tackles and 1-2 sacks. This is one of the best, if not THE best, match that these guys will get down the playoff stretch.
DE Kenny Mixon/Vikings DL
The Rams are not going anywhere in the post season if they can't protect the QB better. They will give Mixon and his line mates enough opportunities to do some real damage this week.
DE Tyoka Jackson/Grant Wistrom/Rams DL
Sadly enough for the Vikes, their OL has been too obliging as well. 3-5 tackles and 1-2 sacks is about right for the DEs.
DE Courtney Brown/Browns DL
This week is tailor made for a Courtney Brown appearance. The Seahawks are giving up 3 sacks per game average. They aren't a solid play, but if you have him and some other iffy plays, I'd play Brown based on his chances.
DE Michael Strahan
Strahan had a decent Monday night, and he is poised to have a similar outing this week against the statuesque Drew Bledsoe. 4 tackles and a sack should be his numbers.

WLB Sam Cowart/MLB Marvin Jones NYJ
With the TOP so heavily against them, Jones and Cowart should post similar numbers like they had last week. 8-10 tackles should be about right.
Chris Draft/Keith Brooking ATL
I am going to quit mentioning them. The offense is horrible, and these guys have become must starts until it improves. Draft is an iron man - despite showing up on the injury report every week, he rubs some dirt on it and goes out and produces.
MLB Mike Barrow NYG
Barrow is a solid contributor who gets no love at all. Most of the season that was justified, as he wasn't doing much. But with the offensive woes, Barrow has been doing much better. He had 6 tackles last week and 12 this week. Until the O wakes up, start him.
MLB Dan Morgan CAR
He has always had the talent, but his glass jaw (and ankle, ribs and spleen) have kept him from realizing it. Congrats if you were patient enough to keep him and then start him. But like the swallows in Capistrano, Morgan could head south - any week.
WLB Barret Green DET
Finally, a LB on this dreadful team produces! Green has been racking up some solid numbers the past few weeks, and looks likely to continue. And remember, the Lions play KC and Priest Holmes week 15 for those of you in conference championships.
WLB Eric Barton OAK
Barton had been erratic, if not downright disappointing, much of the year. But as the team has begun a tighter death spiral, Barton's production increased. I don't see that changing, especially this week against Clinton Portis.
OLB Peter Boulware BAL
Oh you little minx. Boulware teases you with a series of good performances, and then disappears when you have finally started to believe he'll be good. Boulware is currently in a manic phase, with 13-4-3 the past three weeks. He's liable to be a gas can, but as a #3-borderline #2 LB, he's worth mentioning.

SS Vernon Fox SD
Fox stepped in when Wilson went down ahead of him, and did not disappoint with 8 solo's. Watch Wilson's status, otherwise Fox makes another good play and is likely still on your wire.
CB Mike McKenzie/FS Darren Sharper GB
Always play your DBs facing Detroit. This week, it's the Packers on turkey day. Watch Sharper's injury status.
CB Brian Williams/FS Brian Russell/Vikings DBs
Marc Bulger is still throwing too many picks. The Vikes secondary feasted on Harrington last week, now they get Bulger.
CB Ahmed Plummer/CB Mike Rumph/49er DBs
Rumph has been playing well of late. This week, Anthony Wright will be under a lot of pressure from the 49er DL. That should translate into 2-3 picks this week.
CB Jerametrius Butler/FS Aeneas Williams STL
If the Ram front four hit and sack C-pep like I think they will, he should throw 1-2 interceptions. Good news for Ram DBs this week.