Upgrades

DL Shaun Ellis, NYJ: So is this what they expected when the Jets drafted Ellis 12th overall in the 2000 draft? With one of the best games of his career (6 tackles and a career high tying 2 sacks), Ellis just may be ready to break out. Playing across from John Abraham will give him every opportunity for success, and he looks well on his way to double digit sacks.

DL Chike Okeafor, SEA: Signed as free-agent this offseason, the Seahawks knew they were getting a pass rusher with potential, but they had no idea Okeafor would fill up the boxscore as he did on Sunday with a sack, pick, 2 passes defended and a forced fumble. Add in 3 tackles and Okeafor looks to have the ability to be the force that the Seahawks need along the defensive line.

DL Bertrand Berry, DEN: A career reserve, Berry beat out Reggie Hayward for the starting job at right defensive end during training camp and showed why with a 2 sack performance against the Bengals. Berry has shown nice pass rush ability, picking up 6.5 sacks last year, and could post very nice numbers this year with the benefit of playing across from Trevor Pryce.

DL Tony Brackens, JAC: A former super-stud, Brackens is coming off of microfracture knee surgery which left not only this season but his career in doubt. He was recently deemed healthy enough to start and will be relied on heavily to provide a pass rush across from newcomer Hugh Douglas. He didn't have a great game against Carolina (3 tackles, 1/2 sack), but if he's able to remain healthy he will undoubtedly be a force. Just seeing him on the field is a plus.

DL Adrian Dingle, SD: Rumored to have taken over the starting job from RayLee Johnson, that didn't materialize this weekend, but he did take over as the leader in productivity with 6 tackles and 2 sacks. Look for Dingle to eventually find himself in the starting lineup to form a nice pass rush duo with Marcellus Wiley.

DL Vonnie Holliday, KC: For a guy that's considered to have better ability against the run than as a pass rusher, he sure has racked up the sacks lately. If you remember, during week 16 of last year, he picked up 5 sacks against Buffalo. Now, with 3 sacks this past weekend, he's looking like a dominating pass rusher who will only be held back by injuries. He's missed 10 games over the past three seasons, so health is a huge key with Holliday.

LB Akinola Ayodele, JAC: A hybrid linebacker/defensive end, Ayodele is known for his pass rush skills. He's had big games in the past but consistency and playing time have been an issue. That shouldn't be a problem with him beating out T.J.Slaughter and Eric Westmoreland for the starting weakside job, and we could be in store for more performances like the one he gave us on Sunday with 10 tackles (8 solo), a sack, pick, and pass defended.

LB Jeremiah Trotter, WAS: Trotter's game against the Jets was a good and bad sign wrapped into one. On one hand, he showed no ill-effects from last years knee injury and picked up 21% of the teams total solo tackles. On the other, we're still waiting for the playmaking ability to show up in Washington. During his last 16 games with the Eagles, he posted 5.5 sacks + interceptions. Through his first 13 with the Redskins we've seen 1.

LB Ben Taylor, CLE: With Andra Davis and Kevin Bentley receiving most of the hype among this young group of linebackers, Ben Taylor has quietly turned into the one with possibly the most fantasy potential. As the starting weakside linebacker, he should be given every opportunity to produce as he did this past week with 11 tackles (6 solo), an interception and a pass defended.

LB Warrick Holdman, CHI: On Sunday, Holdman looked the player we saw in 01 with 11 solo tackles, a pass defended and a forced fumble. A knee injury forced him to miss all but 4 games last year, so he came into drafts this year flying under the radar. The Bears defense was on the field for 38:01 against San Francisco, meaning that their stats will likely be padded a bit, but what's to say they're going to be any better next week and beyond?

LBs Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons, SEA: This linebacker duo suffered through injuries last year and played together for a total of about half a game. Healthy again, they showed what they're capable of with a combined total of 14 solo tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery while holding the Saints dynamic offense to only 10 points.

LB Sam Cowart, NYJ: Now 2 years removed from an Achilles' injury and in his second year with Herman Edwards, Cowart is prime. While 8 solo tackles are nice, his problem last year was consistency. A week 2 performance similar to this weeks will have me very excited about Cowarts prospect in 03.

LB Clark Haggans, PIT: As a reserve linebacker, Haggans showed nice playmaking skills in 02 with 6.5 sacks and 8 passes defended. He'll be filling in for Joey Porter, who could be out anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 games, and started off the season very nicely with 9 tackles (5 solo), a sack, a pass defended and a forced fumble. Once Porter returns, he'll likely be relegated back to reserve duty, but he should be a force in the meantime.

LB Robert Thomas, STL: During his rookie season last year, Thomas started 11 games on the strongside and posted 37 tackles. Now in the middle, it was questionable as to whether or not he'd even play with an abdominal strain, but he picked up 7 tackles and should reach last years totals by early October.

CB Antoine Winfield, BUF: Buffalo's defensive additions over the offseason should leave them stout up the middle, meaning that opposing offenses will be forced to take their game outside. That bodes well for cornerbacks Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield who, while solid in run support, could see a boost in tackles. It showed this past weekend for Winfield who posted 8 tackles (5 solo) and looks to approach his 01 numbers of 74 solo tackles.

More Overacheivers

DE Alex Brown, CHI: 7 tackles (5 solo)
DE Charles Grant, NO: 6 solo tackles, 2 sacks, pass defended
LB Andra Davis, CLE: 8 solo tackles. Named the starter in the middle, he should continue to post nice tackle numbers.
LB James Farrior, PIT: 13 tackles (6 solo). A starter in the middle, he'll take Porter's spot in the dime defense.
Rookie LB Pisa Tinoisamoa, STL: 5 solo tackles, 2 passes defended, forced fumble. More productive than Thomas was last year in the same position.
LB Chris Claiborne, MIN: 9 tackles (8 solo), sack, fumble recovered. We knew he had it in him.
S Jay Bellamy, NO: 8 tackles (7 solo). Now a starter with Mel Mitchell lost for the year.
Rookie S Mike Doss, IND: 10 tackles (7 solo)
S Pierson Prioleau, BUF: 4 tackles (3 solo). Started at free safety.
S Mike Green, CHI: 8 tackles (7 solo), pass defended. Rumors of him losing his job were over-exaggerated.

Downgrades

DLs Dwight Freeney, Chad Bratzke and Brad Scioli, IND: This pass rush trio combined for 141 tackles and 25 sacks last year. Sunday they totaled 4 tackles. That's it. The four leading tacklers for the Colts against Cleveland came from their secondary. There will be better days for the line, but it's certainly not the way you want to start the season.

DEs Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye, MIA: If you asked me before Sunday what the most favorable IDP matchup of the weekend was, it had to be Miami's defensive ends (who combined for 28 sacks last year) against Houston (76 sacks allowed). What happened? They combined for 1 assisted tackle. They will not have a better opportunity all year to pad their stats.

LB Mike Maslowski, KC: Last year, during Maslowski's breakout season as the starting weakside linebacker, he picked up less than five tackles only once (3). His first game in the middle saw him post 2. The Chiefs defense was only credited with a total of 41 tackles, benefiting from a large edge in time of possession, but the other two starting linebackers were able to tally decent totals (Shawn Barber 6, Scott Fujita 5). The switch of position is concerning, but I expected lower playmaking numbers while he maintained his tackles. It looks like that may not be the case.

LB Kevin Hardy, CIN: Hardy certainly didn't remind anyone of Ray Lewis during his first game as the Bengals middle linebacker under Marvin Lewis. Cincinnati allowed the Broncos to rush for 184 yards at 4.6 yards per carry while Hardy could only muster up 3 tackles (1 solo). I am concerned.

LB Jason Gildon, PIT: We were ready to write off Gildon last year when he started with 31 tackles and 1 sack through the first 8 games. He finished strong with 35 tackles and 7.5 sacks during the final 8 games, earning another shot with us. Well, it looks like he's up to his old tricks with just 2 tackles in Sundays victory over Baltimore. Whether he can kick it up a gear like he did last year is left to be seen.

LB Charlie Clemons, HOU: All the right things were said during the offseason... how Clemons' skills are taylor made for Houston's 3-4 defense and how he'll return to his form of 01 where he posted 13.5 sacks. One solo tackle isn't going to cut it. If he struggles through the early part of the season, don't be surprised to see the Texans fall on rookie prospect Antwan Peek.

S Coy Wire, BUF: Has the arrival of Lawyer Milloy signified the end for Coy Wire? On the surface, it looks so, as Wire was not in the starting lineup and actually picked up more tackles on special teams (2) than he did on defense (1).

S Ifeanyi Ohalete, WAS: The Redskins, as a team, were only credited with 34 solo tackles, so it's tough to expect any one player to bust out. But, Ohalete has been on everyone's sleeper list all offseason and will be relied on for more than 2 solo's per game. Not good when your highlight is a late hit penalty early in the game.

More Underachievers

DE Grant Wistrom, STL: no tackles
DLs Aaron Schobel and Pat Williams, BUF: neither recorded a tackle
LB Kendrell Bell, PIT: 2 tackles (1 solo). He did fill up the boxscore (int, ff), but his tackles were disappointing.
S Troy Polamalu, PIT: shut out
S Adrian Wilson, ARI: 3 tackles (2 solo). Hopefully it was just one of those games.

Week 1 Injury Downgrades

DL Darren Howard, NO: Dislocated Wrist, expected to miss 3 months
LB Mike Caldwell, CAR: Knee, out at least 1 month