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.

Keeper/Dynasty questions
With the season over for a lot of us, I am switching into dynasty/keeper mode. If you have any questions, comments or venting to do, please e-mail [email protected].

TOP watch

• Detroit +2 (the Chargers run game will do what the Pack failed to do, so this will be -2 or -3)
• Tennessee +2 (A steady diet of Edge should beat a banged up Titans team)
• Chicago even (Green Bay gets even for their Thanksgiving loss)
• Philly -4 (The Cowboys should beat them)
• Jets -3
• Cards -3
• Chiefs -3
• Atlanta -3
• Raiders -2

Blitz Packages

Defensive Lineman

• DE Leonard Little STL
  Wow, what a comeback! 5-1-4 in one week is astounding. Start this guy as long as he stays en Fuego.



• DE Darren Howard NO
  Speaking of hot players, Howard has been a force. Must be that coming in at mid-season with fresh legs gives you a HUGE advantage over all the other beat up players they face. Keep playing Howard as long as he keeps producing like this.



• DE Bruce Smith/Redskins DL
  Smith and his mates have a good opportunity against a weak Giants OL. While it has been playing better lately, it still has too many inexperienced players on it. They are giving up about 4 sacks per game. Smith is a risky play, but if you need to take one the opportunity is there.



• DE Chike Okeafor/Seahawk DL
  Okeafor is another risky play. However, like DL Smith WAS, the Viking OL is allowing nearly a whopping 5 sacks a game! That is a great opportunity, and if you can afford the risk on a Seattle DL in your #2 or #3 spot, this is a great spot to do it.



• DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila GB
  He draws a Lion OL that isn't allowing a lot of sacks right now. However, the Packers have been better bringing pressure on QBs, getting almost 3.5 sacks per game. That's not a fantastic match for him, but it is a calculated risk that might pay off.



• DE Shaun Ellis/Jets DL
  Drew Bledsoe has been a human target, being sacked 10 times the past three weeks. While Ellis has struggled without Abraham next to him, this match is very favorable.



• DE Duane Clemons/Justin Smith/Bengal DL
  They draw a good match against a Raven OL giving up over 3 sacks per game.



• DE Tyler Brayton/Lorenzo Bromell/Raider DL
  This is probably the biggest risk of the bunch. The Raider DL has been very ineffective. And if their coach's remarks this past week affect them negatively, they could really implode. But, the Raiders draw a Steeler OL that is allowing over 3 sacks per game. The Raiders D should be on the field a lot, which will give them plenty of chances for tackles and sacks.

Linebackers

• MLB Earl Holmes/WLB Barrett Green DET
  The TOP favors Detroit in this, but I think that Marty ball makes that stat weak. The Lions are going to get a force-feeding of LT2, and that is good news for Lion IDPs. The LBs should get 8-10 tackles.



• MLB Brian Urlacher/Bear LBs
  For another week Urlacher and Co. should do well. Ahman Green comes to town at the head of an angry Pack of, well, Packers. They should get 7-10 tackles.



• MLB Mark Simoneau/WLB Nate Wayne/Eagle LBs
  The TOP favors the Cowboys by 4 minutes, the biggest margin of the week. I think this is a game the 'Boys can win, and the RBBC Dallas uses should produce 9-12 tackles.



• MLB Brad Kassel TEN
  Kassel is replacing the injured Rocky Calmus. He then got 7-1-0 in less than a full start. He's a risk due to his lack of a past history, but it's a risk that might pay off for you.

Defensive Backs

• SS Terrance Kiel SD
  This rookie is playing very well right now since he has been put into the starting rotation. He remains a great start since the team is usually on the field more than their opposition.



• FS Ken Hamlin/CB Marcus Trufant/Seahawk DBs
  With C-Pep's turnovers lately, and with the amount of pressure his OL is allowing, the Seahawk DL should generate enough pressure to get them 1-2 picks.



• FS Earl Little/CB Daylon McCutcheon/Browns DBs
  Marc Bulger is still throwing over two picks per game. Turnovers are something the Rams have done a lot of since Martz took over the coaching. This week the Browns get him on Monday night.



• FS Brian Dawkins/CB Bobby Taylor/Eagle DBs
  Quincy Carter is making better decisions, but he isn't immune to attacks of brain gas. With Carter throwing 2.3 picks per game, and the TOP putting the Eagles on the field a lot this game, the DBs get a lot of chances for picks.



• CB Dre Bly/FS Brian Walker/Lion DBs
  No matter what the coaches say, Favre's thumb is bothering him. He has 7 picks the past three games. The Lions are already doing well in this category, and get a slight bump this week thanks to Favre's bum thumb.



• DS Marques Anderson GB
  Antuan Edwards is out this week, and Anderson replaces him. He got 6-0-0 playing last week, and should get that again this week.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!