The cliché's are starting to mount. I can't tell you how many times I have heard some in-game announcer state that "If you hit QB X enough, he will make a bad decision". Well, DUH. None of these guys are superhuman. If an adrenalin crazed 300lb gorilla smacks you around enough, you WILL make a bad throw, no matter if you are Peyton Manning or Jake Plummer. These guys apparently don't have enough to talk about, or aren't as smart as we think - take your pick.

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? Email [email protected] .

Rookie Tip - Sack/INT symbiosis

This week is a good example of what I call the "sacks to INTs symbiosis". If you look at the teams that have a lot of interceptions thrown, you will also likely see a lot of sacks allowed. QB pressure causes a lot of bad throws resulting in INTs. When you need an edge, look for sacks allowed, and start the DL facing those porous OL and the DBs behind them, for INTs. Or read this column! :D

Rookie Watch

• Rashean Mathis JAX
  Mathis again notched 5 total tackles.

TOP Watch

• Falcons/Rams (Rams +7)
• Raiders/Browns (Browns +6)
• 49ers/Seahawks (49ers +6)
• Cowboys/Eagles (Cowboys +5)
• Miami/Jacksonville (Miami +4)

Blitz Packages

• Bye teams: Bengals, Chargers, Lions, Vikings

Best interception matches

• Ram DBs
  The Rams face the Falcons, which means that Doug Johnson the interception machine is coming to town. Aeneas Williams, Jason Sehorn and Travis fisher make good spot plays.
• Other good matches: Seahawks, Broncos, Browns, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Jets.

Defensive Lineman

• Shaun Ellis/Jets DL
  The Bills are surrendering an average in excess of three sacks per game. This makes a great match for the already productive Jet DL.
• Courtney Brown/Kenard Lang/Brown DL
  The Browns also draw a great match in the sack department this week against the Raiders.
• Michael Strahan/Giant DL
  As with the two above, the Patriot OL facing the Giants this week has resembled a turnstile lately.
• DE Dwight Freeney IND
  Freeney has not delivered on his promising rookie campaign. Similar to Kearse, he's going through a sophomore slump. His problem is that his main tactic is a speed rush, and teams have figured him out - they just go with his rush and let him run past the pocket and out of the play. I can't tell you how many times I saw this happen the past two weeks on TV. I think he has potential for teams in dynasty leagues, but this year he is going to continue to struggle until he dedicates himself to the game more.
• DE Jevon Kearse TEN
  The Freak is finally starting to perform to his rookie campaign level. He is making good decisions and is finally fully healthy. He may even still be available (he is in a couple leagues I am in). He has 7-2-3 1 FF the past 3 weeks.

Other good sack potential matches: Rams, Seahawks, Bucs, Broncos.

Linebacker

• MLB Brian Urlacher CHI
  I feel for you Urlacher owners, as he is not performing up to expectations. As bad as that team is, he should be an absolute stud. But that's exactly the problem - the team is bad. While watching Chicago, I noticed two big problems for him. One is that the DL in front of him is bad. Opposing OL are finally able to penetrate to his level, and block him out. This obviously is not his fault. What is his fault is that he is both pressing a bit to try and make plays for his team and is also making bad judgements and taking poor chase angles. Right now, he's a #2 LB in a #1 LBs body. Hopefully the team will right the ship soon and Urlacher will continue to be the stud he was.
• WLB Brian Simmons CIN
  Simmons has come on strong the past three weeks. He has tallied 25-7-0 3 PDs in that span. On the chance he's still on the waiver wire he should be a nice addition if your LBs need help.
• MLB Ron McKinnon ARI
  The Cards are spending A LOT of time on the field, making McKinnon an attractive waiver option. He has 17-5-0 the past three weeks, which makes him a #2 LB right now. However, this team is not getting any better so his value should increase.
• SLB Travian Smith OAK
  For a player in a position that is usually a fantasy wasteland, Smith has had two nice weeks. Since taking over for the injured Romanowski, he has 15-1-0. That could make him a nice #2-3 LB if you need him.
• WLB T.J. Slaughter JAX
  Slaughter gets his first legitimate starting shot due to injuries, and has done well. He has 8-2-2 in the two weeks he's been a starter, and is available in a lot of leagues.

Defensive Back

• CB Tony Beckham TEN
  Beckham is taking over for the injured Samari Rolle. He is going to get thrown at a lot, and should get 5-7 tackles and 2-4 PDs a week.
• CB Otis Smith DET
  Smith gets a chance to start as well due to the depleted secondary. He's ancient by NFL standards, but he's a vet, which the Lions' secondary desperately needs. He's popping Geritol but also popping opposing players. He has 11-1-0 the past two weeks and should still be out there.
• SS John Lynch TB
  Lynch has finally been a useful fantasy player this year, since he's usually an anomaly, in that he's a SS that has been unproductive fantasy wise. But still, the past three weeks (including his bye) he has 7-6-0 1 PD 1 INT.