For a little insight during the fantasy football playoffs (weeks 14-16), please check out my IDP Strength of Schedule report posted with the week 13 material. That should help us determine what to expect, who may help us win a title, and who should remain on our bench (or find their way to another roster).

WEEK 12, what happened...

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DE Darren Howard, NO: In the two games since he's returned from a wrist injury that forced him to miss much of the first half of the season, he's picked up seven solo tackles and 3.5 sacks.

DE Hugh Douglas, JAC: After being held without a sack for eight straight games, the longest sackless stretch of his career, he's come out and picked up 2.5 sacks during the past two weeks. Proceed with caution.

LB Keith Brooking, ATL: Now this is what we expect from an All-Pro linebacker. With 23 solo tackles over the past two games, Brooking has officially checked in for the '03 season. Hopefully it isn't too late as these were his first two games of the year with 10+ solos, but we'll take it either way. Teammate Chris Draft also continues to produce, now with seven or more solo tackle in seven consecutive games, and a sack in two of the last three.

LB Na'il Diggs, GB: Since sitting out week nine to nurse a knee injury, having recorded just five solo tackles during the previous three weeks combined, he's been on a roll. He's picked up seven solo tackles in each of the past three weeks along with a sack during this weekends game.

LB Dan Morgan, CAR: Morgan remains healthy and it's showing up in the boxscore. He's posted his best two games of the season during the past two weeks, both seven solo tackle preformances.

LB Donnie Edwards, SD: What a year for Donnie Edwards, and it keeps getting better. He's posted eight or more solo tackles in all but three games this year, including 24 over the past two, and picked up his first sack of the year this past weekend.

LB James Farrior, PIT: The unheralded linebacker in Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme, Farrior is the tackler of the group. Outside of tackles, he doesn't provide much to the boxscore, but it hasn't mattered lately as he's racked up 39 solo tackles over the last five weeks, 19 during the last two.

LB London Fletcher, BUF: Fletcher's lack of sacks and interceptions this year have left him a disappointment to many, but his 12 solo tackle performance on Sunday puts him right on pace with the 6.5 solo per game that he's averaged for the past three seasons. He's also picked up five or more solo tackles in each of the last six games, consistency which leads to less headaches for fantasy owners.

LB Jamie Sharper, HOU: Sharper has been on fire of late, picking up 44 total tackles (25 solo) over the last three games to go along with two sacks and two forced fumbles. After a ho-hum start to the season, he's finally justifying his top-10 preseason ranking. Teammate Jay Foreman deserves mention as well for his 14 solo tackle performance on Sunday. Unfortunately for Foreman, that total matches his output from the past three games combined, so he hasn't been playing all that well of late. Maybe this is a sign of things to come for the Texans LB duo.

CB Nick Harper, IND: Incredible production from a cornerback, Harper posted his eighth game this this season with five or more solo tackles, putting him on pace for 90 on the year. He's still not involved much in the passing game, without an interception and only four passes defended since week two, but his tackle numbers make him a solid starter on a weekly basis.

CB Antoine Winfield, BUF: Winfield leads the Bills in solo tackles, a remarkable feat considering that he lines up beside Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher, and he's added the big play to his repertoire with a sack and an interception during the past two games.

CB Charles Tillman, CHI: The rookie continues to impress as he continues to be a solid fantasy contributer. He has now posted either a sack or pick in four of the last five games while picking up 27 solo tackles during the stretch.

CB Tim Wansley, TB: Starting the last four games, Wansley has picked up 24 solo tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended. With Brian Kelly done for the year, Wansley should continue to be a very solid option at cornerback down the stretch.

S Ed Reed, BAL: Hey Ed, I hope you had a nice vacation. Just next time, please let us know when you're going to be gone for a month. After starting off the season very strongly, looking like the leagues top defensive back, he posted just seven solo tackles during weeks 7-10. He looks to be back on track with his performance over the last two weeks, which include 12 solo tackles, an interception, and a blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown.

S Bryan Scott, ATL: His piano playing ability aside, Scott has had a fine rookie season. Since being placed into the starting lineup, he's performed very well, posting seven solo tackles with a forced fumble in each of the last two games.

S Brian Russell, MIN: After picking off an interception in each of the seasons first six games, Russell was quiet for bit. He's back, but rather than making news with his picks, he's been posting great tackle numbers. He's recorded seven or more solo tackles in each of the last three games, the only three games of the year that he's accomplished this feat.

S Adrian Wilson, ARI: Shhh, I don't want to say this too loud, but Adrian Wilson hasn't looked half bad lately. He posted 10 solo tackles with three passes defended on Sunday, easily his best game of the year, making it 16 solos for him over the past two weeks. Cautious optimism has me firing up the "Wilson as a top 3 defensive back" bandwagon again.

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DE Greg Ellis, DAL: Coming off of a stretch in which Ellis had picked up a sack in three of four games, he's been playing well, but the sacks have covered up the fact that he has just five solo tackles during the past month.

DE Shaun Ellis, NYJ: Ellis continues to produce sacks, being held without during a game only once this year, but his tackles have drastically fallen from his early season numbers. After averaging 4.5 solo tackles over the seasons first four games, he's averaged just 2.2 over the last five. It's hard to take him out of the ineup, but he's become a much riskier option at defensive line.

DE Bertrand Berry, DEN: Berry's seven sacks on the year have been a nice surprise, but, like with a lot of defensive linemen, he's proven to be worthless when he can't get to the quarterback. He's posted just three solo tackles over the last five games, being held sackless for the past three.

LB Nick Barnett, GB: This comes with a grain of salt, but the likely Defensive Rookie of the Year has hit a stretch of inconsistency that's concerning. He's picked up three or less solo tackles in two of the past three games, a total of 12 solos during those games, making it his worst stretch of the season.

LB Joey Porter, PIT: With just once solo tackle TOTAL over the last two weks, Porter is officially in a slump. He's not a huge tackler anyhow, with a career average of around 3.5 solo tackles per game, so when he's not getting to the quarterback (which he hasn't) he becomes pretty much useless.

LB Chris Claiborne, MIN: While it looked like Claiborne had turned the corner when he joined the Vikings, consistency has always been a major issue with his game. He started off the season with three sacks during the first six games, averaging 6.8 solo tackles per game, but he's fallen well off during the last five games with just 17 solos total without a sack.

LB Jeff Posey, BUF: With one solo tackle on Sunday, that makes it four straight games for Posey in which he's posted under three solos and nine straight in which he's posted three or fewer. Last year, during a season in which he picked up eight sacks, he had under three solo tackles in only two of nine starts.

LB Tommy Polley, STL: Polley missed weeks 8-9 nursing an elbow injury, but looked like he was on his way to solid finish with 10 solo tackles (total) and a pick in each of his first two games back. That optimism turned sour with his single solo tackle performance on Sunday. With only one game over five solos this year Polley has been a huge disappointment who has come nowhere close to his fulfilling his potential.

LB LeVar Fisher, ARI: One of this year poster-boys for lost potential, Fisher was a very solid sleeper pick coming into the season. Two games lost because of injury and only three with as many as five solo tackles has left him as just another defensive disappointment from Arizona.

S Reggie Tongue, SEA: Tongue started off the year nicely and looked like he would give us a repeat of the career year that he posted in '02. He's slowing down as the season wears on, posting just 14 solo tackles over the last five games with one pick since week three.

S Eugene Wilson, NE: Since taking over as the Patriots starting free safety, Wilson has had some good games this year, but overall the rookies' inconsistency has shown. He's picked up three or fewer solo tackles in all but three games and has just four over the past two games. Playing along that stat-hog Rodney Harrison has its downside.