Anyway, the best thing we've had was Jordan. Yes the Bears made the Super Bowl and won it, but McCaskey has managed to make that look more like a fluke by his subsequent behavior than anything else. Oh and Ditka - you are still not forgiven.

The next few weeks are critical. Between weeks 5-8, the NFL season acquires its own personality. Up to this point, the teams pretty much behave like they did the previous year. This time of year you really start to see which teams separate themselves from the pack. That is good news in Carolina and Indy.

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].

TOP watch

The TOP favors the Cowboys by 5, the Rams by 5 and the Chiefs by 4 . Miami is favored only by 2 this week over New England, but I think Miami's D matches up very well with the sputtering NE Offense. The Patriot IDPs could be very productive this week.

Blitz Packages

Bye Teams: Cards, Colts, Jags, Steelers.

Best INT matches

• Tebucky Jones/Fred Thomas/Saint DBs

  The Saints face new starting QB Kurt Kittner. He should be good for at least two turnovers.

• Troy Vincent/Bobby Taylor/Eagle DBs

  Kerry Collins has been throwing a lot of picks recently, and the Eagles face him this week. However, these guys are a risky play, since the Eagle DL has not been getting pressure on QBs.

Defensive Lineman

Best sack matches

• Bruce Smith/Redskin DL
  The Bills are allowing a lot of hits and sacks, and this week they draw the 'Skins. Smith should get at least 1 sack closer to the record against them.
• Charles Grant/Willie Whitehead/Saint DL
  As with the Redskins, the Saints have a favorable sack match this week.

Other favorable sack matches: Bills, Bucs, Seahawks, Giants.

• DT Warren Sapp TB
  Sapp has had a couple good weeks, but I am not willing to call it a trend yet. Do not overpay for a risk like him. However, this weeks he gets a good draw in the poor 49er OL.
• DE Courtney Brown CLE
  Ok, I'm on the bandwagon. After I drafted him high in a rookie/dynasty league I am in, he burned me for two years until I finally cut him. Who knows why he finally got religion, but he has 8-1-3 1PD 2FF 1FR in the past three weeks. He is still on the wire in some league (probably due to his erratic past), but as a cheap risk play he's great.
• DT Marcus Stroud JAX
  As long as the team stays bad, he'll be performing as well as he has. He's #4 on my list for the last three games.
• DE Tony Brackens JAX
  Brackens is doing well for the same reasons that Stroud is. He's not a stud any more, but he's a useful #2.

Linebackers

• WLB Joe Odom CHI
  Odom gets the start in place of the injured Warrick Holdman. Last week he got 8-1-0. He's likely on the wire this week, and is a nice temp play, much like LB Rocky Boiman.
• WLB Donnie Spragan DEN
  Ian Gold is on IR, and Spragan replaces him. In his first start replacing Ian Gold, Spragan got 5-2-0 1PD.
• MLB Jamie Duncan STL
  Duncan is subbing for the injured Robert Thomas.
• OLB Scott Fujita KC
  Fujita has now posted three solid weeks out of the past four. He's getting around 5-9 total tackles per week and could make a nice #2-3 LB.
• MLB Ron McKinnon ARI
  The Cards are not going anywhere again, making McKinnon a nice addition. He is currently averaging 8-1 per game. That's about what I want to see out of a #1 LB. He is available in a couple leagues I am in, and may be had in yours as well.
• SOLB Ray Thompson ARI
  Usually SLB's are not productive, but Thompson has been. For the reasons listed for McKinnon, I rate him a #3-2 LB right now.

Defensive Backs

• SS Tank Williams TEN
  It figures that as soon as I cut this guy he starts producing. I drafted him as a rookie, waited with him for over a year and finally decided to call him a fantasy bust, and then he produces at least 7-1-0 the past two weeks.
• FS Marlon McCree HOU
  He has been practicing with the 1st team and could unseat Matt Stevens as the starter soon.
• FS Eugene Wilson NE
  Wilson has been moderately productive the past few weeks. As a rookie starter, he is averaging 5-1-0 1 PD per week. Nothing major, but a nice #3-2 DB.
• FS Matt Bowen WAS
  Bowen is keeping Terrell on the bench by playing well. He's averaging just about 6-1-0 per game and is probably still on your waiver wire.
• SS Nick Ferguson DEN
  He's averaging a solid 7 tackles per game. I am keeping an eye on him to see if he keeps it up.