Upgrades

• DT John Henderson, JAC: High expectations (possible top 15 defensive lineman) left Henderson a bust during the early part of the season, but he's come on very strong of late with a sack in each of the past two games to go along with 13 solo tackles. His value gets a big boost in leagues that split defensive linemen.



• DT Gerard Warren, CLE: In attempt to possibly justify the outrageous salary that he's due to be paid next year, Warren is playing the best football of his young career. He's picked up five sacks with 11 solo tackles over the last four games, with at least one sack in each game. He was benched for the first series of this past weekends game after missing a team meeting on Saturday night.



• DE Grant Wistrom, STL: Eight solo tackles and 3.5 sacks over the last two games leave Wistrom on top right now in what's been a very up & down year. An overall disappointment, if he's able to help lead us to a victory at this time of the year, all will be forgiven.



• DE Julius Peppers, CAR: It took a while, but Peppers is finally living up to the standard that he set as last years Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's picked up a sack in each of the last three games, and one in four of the past five games. He only needs six during the seasons final week to match what he did in 12 games last year.



• DE Greg Ellis, DAL: Ellis has picked up 3.5 sacks over the last three games, at least a partial in each game, to go along with nine solo tackles. With 7.5 sacks on the year, he hasn't done as well as we expected when Bill Parcells showed up, but he's heating up at just the right time.



• DE Michael Strahan, NYG: Three sacks on Sunday moved Strahan into the league lead with 17 on the year. After a relatively slow start (one sack through week three), he's been held without a sack only twice in the last 12 games. Strahan is also four solo tackles away from tying his career high of 60, which he set during his 22.5 sack campaign of '01.



• DE Jason Taylor, MIA: The cream has risen, with Strahan and Taylor both playing at the top of their respective games. A slow start had owners concerned, but he's taken advantage of the schedule on his way to 8.5 sacks over the past five games, raising his season total to 11.5. He and teammate Adewale Ogunleye (14.5 sacks) have certainly formed an imposing 1-2 punch.



• DE Aaron Schobel, BUF: Schobel has recorded 14 solo tackles and seven sacks over the last four games on his way to a career high 38/11.5.



• LB Jeremiah Trotter, WAS: Trotter keeps on rolling in what has turned into an impressive campaign. He's recorded at least five solo tackles in each of the last six games (42 total) with two sacks and a forced fumble during the past three.



• LB Boss Bailey, DET: Has this kid got potential or what. He waited until the end to post his best game of the year (11 solo tackle, fumble returned for a touchdown), but it's a great sign for the future.



• LB Terrell Suggs, BAL: Suggs got shut out last week in what was supposed to be his first career start, but he made up for it on Sunday with two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Cornell Brown still started the game, but Suggs showed that he's the man when it comes to rushing the passer and making plays. With 12 sacks now on the year, and JeVon Kearse's rookie record of 14.5 in sight, Suggs should show up to play next week against the Steelers.



• LB Keith Brooking, ATL: Brooking has posted 11 solo tackles during each of the last two games and has a total of 61 over the last six. He's really picked up his game, probably feeling the effects of the ever-popular "broken bones in his back" when he tallied just 51 solo tackles during the seasons first nine games.



• LB Shelton Quarles, TB: Quarles is playing his best football at just the right time. He missed the first five games this year with a broken arm and struggled to find his game for the next six weeks. Over the last month, he's posted six or more solo tackles in three of four games.



• LB Dhani Jones, NYG: Like most of the Giants' defenders, Jones has had some big games this year but has been plagued by inconsistency. He's turned that around over the last month by picking up at least six solo tackles in each of the last four games with a total of 32 over the stretch. Teammate Michael Barrow has also been hot of late with 43 solo tackles over the last five games (at least seven in each).



• LB Willie McGinest, NE: Every once in a while, McGinest tempts us with his all-around game. Unfortunately those games too few and far between, but his performance on Saturday against the Jets will undoubtedly have owners looking his way during week 17. Seven solo tackles, a sack, an interception (returned for a touchdown), one pass defended and a forced fumble. That's his third sack in four games, so it's possible that he helped some of you, but his five solos over the previous three games more than likely had him on the bench.



• LB Teddi Bruschi, NE: The man with the non-stop motor, Bruschi is on a roll. He's picked up seven solo tackles in three of the past four games, along with two interceptions (retuning one for a touchdown). Bruschi is especially valuable in leagues that credit assists equal to solo tackles as he's posted 11 assists during the four game stretch.



• LB Mike Vrabel, NE: What has gotten into Mike Vrabel? He's done his best this year to pick up for the loss of Rosevelt Colvin, posting a career high 9.5 sacks (with a game to go) including five over the last four games, along with three forced fumbles. His tackle numbers have been nothing to write home about (14 solos over the last six games), but he's been incredible in leagues which reward heavily for big plays.



• S Bryan Scott, ATL: Had he started the entire season, Scott would have been a very strong candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. As it stands, he's just a very nice prospect heading into next year who has been a fantasy savior down the stretch. His six solo tackle performance on Saturday made it four of the last five games in which he's posted at least six solos, and the interception was just icing.



• S Greg Wesley, KC: It was questionable as to whether or not Wesley would even suit up on Saturday, but he came out and posted his best game of the year (possibly the best overall IDP performance of the year, although Ray Lewis had an OK game during week 13). 11 solo tackles, a sack, an interception, two passes defended and a forced fumble...all with a quad contusion. Kansas City got blown out by Minnesota, something that should not happen next week when Chicago comes to town, so let's hope that he rides the wave of this weeks performance rather than slipping back into his normal 4-5 solo tackle mode. Wesley's teammate Jerome Woods has also been playing well with 25 solo tackles over the last four games, his best stretch of the year.



• S Ifeanyi Ohalete, WAS: After regressing with just 14 solo tackles during weeks 11-14, he's come back with two solid performances in a row. Eight solo tackles in each of the last two games are a good sign, but the fact that he hasn't picked off a pass during the seasons second half is not.



• S Adam Archuleta, STL: Well, it's about time that Archuleta starts performing like the top three defensive back that he was drafted to be. With 28 solo tackles, three sacks and an interception over the last four games, he's definitely playing at the top of his game right now.



• S Mike Minter, CAR: Minter has an interception in each of the last two games, returning one for a touchdown, and has posted five or more solo tackles in five straight games, his best stretch since the 2000 season.



• S Tony Parrish, SF: Last year Parrish posted career highs in both interceptions (7) and passes defended (17), numbers that he never approached in four seasons with the Bears. With two picks on Sunday, he's bettered the the interceptions (9) and sits with 16 passes defended entering the final game. He is being used differently than he was in Chicago, much more active in pass coverage, but who can blame the 49ers with 16 picks in two years. Unfortunately, his pace of 47 solo tackles will set a career low.



• CB Rashean Mathis, JAC: Mathis hasn't been much for big plays, and he's not a factor in the passing game, but his tackle numbers are nice for a cornerback and he's been very productive in leagues which split defensive backs. He's posted five or more solo tackles in each of the last four games and in six of the past eight.



• CB David Barrett, ARI: If you're looking for production from the cornerback position, Barrett just may be your guy. Not a big producer of interceptions, he makes his mark with solo tackles, and he's posted five or more in each of the last four games (25 total).

Downgrades

• DT Ellis Johnson, ATL: After being shut out during week 15, Johnson followed up this week with a one solo tackle performance against the Vikings. This comes after picking up four sacks during weeks 11-14.



• DE Anthony Weaver, BAL: Weaver suffered a shoulder stinger during week 11 and never recovered. Before the injury, he had picked up five sacks in four games with 14 solo tackles. He's been held sackless in the four games since with just nine solo tackles.



• DE Simeon Rice, TB: For only the second time this year, Rice has gone two consecutive games without a sack (total of five solo tackles). Let's hope he doesn't make it three in a row next week when Tampa visits Tennessee.



• DE Eric Hicks, KC: Wasn't he supposed to benefit from the signing of Vonnie Holliday? Hicks hasn't picked up a sack since week 10 and is on pace for his worst all-around year since 1999. Speaking of Holliday...maybe we shouldn't go there.



• DE Shaun Ellis, NYJ: The slide continues as Ellis has picked up just nine solo tackles without a sack over the past four games. Unless John Abraham make a miraculous return for week 17 (which will be hard from the IR), Ellis' season should pretty much be over fantasy wise.



• DE James Hall, DET: Hall started off the year well and looked like he was possibly on his way to double digit sacks. Unfortunately, the season has two halves. He's been held without a sack since nine, picking up just 17 solo tackles over the last seven games.



• LB Scott Fujita, KC: Fujita once looked like a lock for 100 solo tackles when he posted a total of 60 from weeks 6-13. With only 13 over the last three weeks (3, 7, 3), he's got some work to do (96 now on the year). He also hasn't recorded a sack since week seven.



• LB Jamie Duncan, STL: Hopefully you weren't expecting much from Robert Thomas' replacement. After all, he's just a starting middle linebacker. Duncan has posted just four solo tackles over the last three games.



• LB Will Witherspoon, CAR: Witherspoon has suffered two of his worst performances of the year during the past three games with one and two solo tackles during weeks 16 & 14, repsectively. Not a good time for him to fall into a funk and it certainly puts a damper on what has been a very nice season for the second year player.



• LBs Henri Crockett & Nick Rogers, MIN: With Chris Claiborne out, Crockett and Rogers have made up two-thirds of the Vikings starting linebacker crew for the last two games. They've combined for a total of six solo tackles.



• LB Nick Barnett, GB: Limping to the finish line, Barnett has recorded just 16 solo tackles during the last four games after looking like the runaway Defensive Rookie of the Year at the seasons mid-point. He's picked up over three solo tackles twice in the last six games.



• LB Napoleon Harris, OAK: They say he has taken the move to the strongside well, allowing him to showcase his speed, but it certainly hasn't shown up in the boxscore.



• LB Chris Draft, ATL: Don't get me wrong. Draft has had a great season and he's still performing well, but he's dropped off a bit over the last four games. After picking up at least seven solo tackles during each game from weeks 5-12, he's done it only once during the last four. Keith Brooking has been outstanding, and Draft is definitely feeling the affects.



• LB Mark Simoneau, PHI: Simoneau is struggling after performing at a Pro Bowl level for three months. After averaging 6.5 solo tackles from weeks 5-13, he's picked up nine total over the last three.



• S Donovin Darius, JAC: For a guy that's supposedly having his best season, Darius' numbers sure haven't shown. He's posted five or more solo tackles just once in the past five games and but four times during the year. He has not made up for it with big plays as he's been held to one interception without a sack.



• S Tank Williams, TEN: With talent to spare, Williams' lack of production continues to baffle. Since week six, he's posted as many as five solo tackles just once while offering nothing else to the boxscore (one sack this year, no picks, no forced fumbles).



• S Omar Stoutmire, NYG: Stoutmire has posted some impressive numbers this year, but much of it has come in large chunks. Unfortunately, he hasn't posted a "chunk" since his eight solo tackle performance during week 14. The last two games (both with two solo tackles) have been his only two outings of the year in which he's posted under three solos.



• CB Nate Clements, BUF: Clements has muddled all year long, not bring much to the table for us fantasy owners. He's picked up over four solo tackles just twice this year and hasn't picked off a pass since week three. His passes defended are also way down as he's posted just one so far in the second half.