Upgrades

DE Simeon Rice, TB: We already knew that Rice was possibly THE top pass rushing end in the league, but he's proven to be much more than that over the first two weeks with 9 tackles (6 solo), 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 2 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. The tackle numbers have opoened my eyes as they are very impressive for a defensive lineman.

DEs John Abraham and Shaun Ellis, NYJ: The Jets defensive end combo has been outstanding thus far. Abraham has posted very nice tackle numbers for a defensive lineman (15 total, 11 solo) while the tandem has combined for 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Ellis looks well on his way to the breakout season we've been waiting for.

DE Willie Whitehead, NO: With Darren Howard out for up to 3 months, the starting job across from Charles Grant belongs to Willie Whitehead, and he's taken full advantage of the opportunity with 11 tackles (9 solo) and 3 sacks through two games.

DE Kenard Lang, CLE: The Jekyll & Hyde that is Kenard Lang. He's posted big games before, but nothing like his week two performance of 8 tackles (7 solo), 2 sacks and a forced fumble. This followed up a week one in which he picked up just 1 tackle.

DE Alex Brown, CHI: Brown is looking very much like the player who ended last year with 34 tackles and 4 sacks during his nine starts. Solid tackle numbers (13 total, 9 solo), a sack and a forced fumble should leave him as a hot item if he's not already on a roster.

LB Warrick Holdman, CHI: WOW. Holdman has had two incredible games to begin his comeback from last years knee injury. He won't get you many sacks or interceptions, but he' been a tackling machine with 23 total (19 solo). Even during his breakout year of 01, he didn't post back to back games like this. Until the Bears become a better offensive team (which seems unlikely at this point), Holdman and the rest of Chicago's defensive unit will continue to thrive.

LB David Thornton, IND: High preseason expectations made Thornton a week one disappointment when he recorded just 4 tackles (2 solo). Hopefully that didn't discourage you from starting starting him this week, when he more than made up for it with 13 tackles (10 solo) and a pass defended. As a young player, you can expect ups & downs like this, but he'll settle down at some point and become a very solid fantasy producer.

LB Nick Barnett, GB: Like Thornton, Barnett had a quiet first week, but he exploded during week two with 14 tackles (12 solo) and an interception. Also like Thornton, he'll be inconsistent as he's already shown, but he has tremendous upside and should not be left on the wire. How often do you see a player with over 25% of the teams total tackles? Not very. Barnett's week two performance was 27%. Compare that to the 23 tackles put up by Brian Urlacher and Warrick Holdman during week two, combining for 31% of the Bears total.

LB Teddy Bruschi, NE: With Ted Johnson gone for most of the season, the Patriots will rely heavily on Bruschi for production. He's a quality all-around linebacker who fills out a boxscore without posting huge tackle numbers, and he did just that this past weekend with 5 solo tackles, a sack, a pick, and 4 passes defended.

LB Andra Davis, CLE: Davis has taken the starting middle 'backer job by the horns and run with it. Through two games, he's been outstanding with 22 tackles (19 solo), and should continue to be so. He probably isn't available on your waiver wire, but grab him if he is.

CB DeWayne Washington, PIT: The old man never gets any respect and he's likely available on the waiver wire in most leagues, but he's delivered so far this year 17 tackles (16 solo) and 2 passes defended. With teams throwing so much against the Steelers, Washington should continue to produce and will eventually add in a few interceptions.

CB Antoine Winfield, BUF: Winfield has certainly seen the benefits of an improved Bills defense. Although he's only picked up 1 pass defended without an interception, he has racked up 15 tackles (12 solo) through the first two games. As teams try to avoid the middle of Buffalo's defense (Sam Adams, Pat Williams, London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes), they will allow Winfield to continue to pad his tackle stats.

CB Nick Harper, IND: Harper beat out David Macklin during preseason for the starting cornerback job with the Colts and has made that decision look very good through the first two games. He's picked off 3 balls, returning one for a touchdown, to go along with 10 solo tackles and 5 passes defended.

CB Dre Bly, DET: This IS Dre Bly, giving up big plays but making enough of his own to stay among the elite fantasy cornerbacks. His tackles were down (6 during week one), but he still picked up an interception for the second straight week. 7 tackles (6 solo), 2 interceptions and 4 passes defended through two weeks.

S Jay Bellamy, NO: Bellamy has been posting linebacker tackle numbers since taking over for Mel Mitchell, who's out for the year. Through two games, he's picked up 19 tackles (18 solo) while leading the team both weeks.

CB Phillip Buchanon, OAK: This kid is a playmaker, no doubt about it. Four career starts, 3 touchdowns. He's also posted surprising tackle numbers with 25 solos over those four games. With Rod Woodson bursing a knee injury, Buchanon will start across Charles Woodson. They may not be able to get him out.

More Two-week Upgrades

Downgrades

DT Chris Hovan, MIN: The heart and soul of Minnesota's defense has not been a factor in the boxscore with only 1 solo tackle through two weeks.

DT Pat Williams, BUF: Williams has been one of the most productive defensive tackles in the league over the last three seasons, averaging 66 tackles per year, but he's yet to show up this year with only 3 tackles (2 solo). He has not benefited from playing alongside Sam Adams.

DE Justin Smith, CIN: Smith must not have gotten the memo, but this was supposed to be his breakout season. It's early, but he's only posted 6 tackles (4 solo) with nothing else.

DE N.D.Kalu, PHI: Kalu added weight over the offseason and was supposed to convert his game from being a dominating pass rush specialist to a dominating everydown defensive end. Can we have our specialist back? Kalu has been absent with just 3 tackles (2 solo) through two games.

DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, GB: KGB was MIA last week (0 tackles) after posting 4 tackles and a sack during week 1.

DEs Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye, MIA: UGH. What's going on here? Through two games, the Dolphins defensive end combo, which recorded 28 sacks a year ago, has combined for just 5 tackles (2 solo) with a half sack. Taylor is especially concerning, ranked by most during preseason as the #1 defensive lineman. Now would be a good time to trade for him as there's no way this struggle lasts through the year.

LB Mike Maslowski, KC: Maslowski is seriously looking like a one year wonder and his owners should be concerned. During his breakout season a year ago, he did not go through a 2-game stretch where he posted only 6 tackles, which is what he's produced during the first two games this year.

LB Kendrell Bell, PIT: OK, either stay at linebacker and become a tackling machine or give us some sacks as a rush end on third downs. Doing neither was not an option, but that's what he's given us. With 5 tackles (4 solo) through two games, he deserves a rest on your bench.

LB Rosevelt Colvin, NE: The "LB" in front of "Rosevelt" means that he's suppose to produce at least a decent amount of tackles. 5 tackles (3 solo) through two games is far from decent. A leg/hip injury may keep him out of action for a while, meaning you are safe to take him out of your starting lineup.

LB Kevin Hardy, CIN: Hardy has played middle linebacker for the Bengals like a strongside 'backer...unpoductive. His two game stats of 10 tackles (5 solo) are what we expected from him on a game by game basis. New defense, new position. It may take him half the season or so to adjust, so don't give up hope just yet.

S Rod Woodson, OAK: The future Hall of Famer missed this past weeks game after undergoing knee surgey to repair torn meniscus. It's uncertain how long he may be out, but he'll likely miss this weeks Monday night game against the Broncos.

More Two-Week Downgrades