Upgrades

DT Kelly Gregg, BAL: If you're looking for consistency from a defensive lineman (especially a defensive tackle), Gregg may be your guy. Over the last month, he's averaged four solo tackles a game while adding in a couple of sacks. He's not flashy, and he has a low risk/reward factor, but he's been giving us solid points on a weekly basis.

DE Julius Peppers, CAR: After struggling through the first five games of the season with just eight solo tackles and a sack, Peppers busted out this week. We all know what he's capable of when he heats up, and his five solo tackle/one sack performance on Sunday may just be the ignitor that we've been waiting for.

DE Leonard Little, STL: After picking up a sack in each of the first five games (six total), he was held without for the first time this weekend. So what's he do to make up for it? How about four solo tackles and an interception, meaning that he has been a productive starter in all six games this year.

DE Michael Strahan, NYG: It's official folks, Michael Strahan is on fire. With 16 solo tackles and five sacks over the last three games, he's definitely looking to make up for lost time. Riding along Strahan has been Kenny Holmes, who's put together an impressive stretch of his own with 4.5 sacks over the last five games.

DE Jason Taylor, MIA: What are we going to do with this guy? He follows up what was supposed to be his breakout game (seven solo tackles, one sack during week six) with a stinker (one tackle, albeit a sack). Because it was a sack, and his second in two games, he finds himself on the upgrade list, but it doesn't take away from the fact that he's been a huge disappointment this year.

DE Courtney Brown, CLE: The days of being our favorite IDP whoopin' boy are over. Courtney Brown has shown up this year to change the perception that he was a top overall pick bust, and he's gone a long way in doing so with six sacks during the seasons first seven games.

DE Shaun Ellis, NYJ: Like with Brown, we had pretty much given up on Shaun Ellis for fantasy purposes. Big mistake. He's picked up eight sacks in six games, 0.5 away from his career high, and doesn't look to be slowing down. Consistent, he's recorded at least one sack in each game and finds himself in uncharted territory among the likes of Simeon Rice and Michael Strahan for the title of leagues top performing defensive end.

LB Peter Sirmon, TEN: Sirmon returned to the starting lineup this week after missing the past two games with the ever-popular transverse fracture in his back. He performed well with six solo tackles and looks to be back to his pre-injury form. Unfortunately, this means that Sirmon's replacement, Rocky Boiman, receives a downgrade as he returns to spot duty. Boiman did chip in four solo tackles on Sunday after performing very well during his time as a starter.

LB Chris Claiborne, MIN: Claiborne hasn't been able to maintain consistent tackle numbers, but he has performed well even when the tackles are absent. With two sacks and an interception on the season, he's mixed in three games with eight or more solo tackles, leaving just one of six games where he hasn't posted respectable numbers (even then he had four solo tackles).

LB Chris Draft, ATL: While Draft doesn't have the name recognition that his teammate Keith Brooking has, he does give us solid tackle numbers on a weekly basis, actually outperforming Brooking in solo tackles on the year (42-40). With 22 solo tackles over the last three weeks, he's in the middle of a very nice stretch that should be taken advantage of.

LB Mark Simoneau, PHI: Over the last three games Simoneau has posted 27 tackles (21 solo) and two sacks, displaying the playmaking skills that the Eagles had hoped for when they signed him over the offseason and handed him their middle 'backer job. Two other Eagles who may have turned the corner are LB Carlos Emmons and DT Corey Simon. Both posted their best game of the season this past weekend and will now look to make it a trend.

LB Shelton Quarles, TB: Quarles returned to the starting lineup (MLB) on Sunday and picked up four solo tackles. He had missed the first five games of the year with a broken arm.

LB Jesse Armstead, WAS: With 17 solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble over the last two games, father time has yet to catch up wiith this 32 year old. Through seven games he's leading the Redskins in both tackles (47) and sacks (3.5).

LBs Shawn Barber & Scott Fujita, KC: Over the last two weeks, these guys have been playing out of their mind. Barber has picked up 17 solo tackles and three sacks while Fujita has 20 solos and three sacks.

LB Travian Smith, OAK: Another solid effort on Monday night by Smith, who's replacing Bill Romanowski. Now with four starts under his belt, he's picked up 35 tackles (30 solo) with a sack.

S Darren Sharper, GB: After suffering through early season injury concerns, Sharper has turned up the heat. The undoubted leader of Green Bay's defense, he's averaged over six tackles per game during the last five games while picking up two sacks and an interception, an all-around game that reminds us why he's one of the top safeties in the game.

S Brian Russell, MIN: It's hard to imagine Russell keeping up this pace, but he's picked up six interceptions in six games and has been a huge surprise to fantasy owners. If/when the picks dry up, his value will take a big hit. His tackle numbers haven't been all that impressive (averaging 3.5 solos per game). He should probably be on the downgrade side here because the law of averages has to catch up...doesn't it?

S Rodney Harrison, NE: Coming over from San Diego, he had supposedly lost a step in coverage and become nothing more than a glorified head hunter. With the numbers that he's been putting up recently, who cares. He's posted 32 tackles (24 solo) over the last three games with two interceptions and a forced fumble, production similar to when he was the top fantasy defender in the game. He's also taken on a leadership role in New England, garnering the respect of his new teammates.

S Marlon McCree, HOU: Signed by the Texans after he was released by Jacksonville, McCree has found his way into the starting lineup (replacing Matt Stevens at free safety). He only posted two solo tackles on Sunday, but there will be better days ahead.

S Terrence Kiel, SD: Kiel saw his first extensive action of the season this past weekend and posted six solo tackles and his first career interception. If you remember, Kiel is the rookie that was involved in a car jacking incident during the preseason who's been rehabbing from gunshot wounds. He was initially slated as a starter for the Chargers, and with this performance it looks like he may push Jerry Wilson out before long.

CB Andre Dyson, TEN: Dyson tied a season high this past weekend with eight solo tackles, making it four straight weeks that he's provided solid output from the cornerback position (a spot in which consistency is usually hard to come by). Over the last month he's averaged five solo tackles a game while picking up one interception that he returned for a touchdown.

CB Dre Bly, DET: You know you're having a good season when you can go without a single solo tackle and get mentioned on the upgrade list. That's what happens when you return a fumble for a touchdown and, through seven weeks, haven't had one unproductive game. This is the second time that he's been held without a tackle, the other being during week two when he recorded an interception, and he's still on pace for a career high 59 solos. Overpaid in the real world, he's been a steal across the fantasy landscape.

Downgrades

DT Kris Jenkins, CAR: One of the most talented interior linemen in the league, it has not translated into the boxscore this year. He's posted six solo tackles over the last three games including just one this week.

DE Grant Wistrom, STL: I'm not sure, but I think he may have touched Brett Favre this weekend...maybe. We're still waiting for Wistrom to pick up his first sack of the season, to go along with his 13 tackles in six games.

DE Greg Ellis, DAL: So far, it's been a tale of two seasons for Ellis. Unfortunately for him, the first "productive" season lasted only two games (10 solo tackles, 0.5 sack). Currently, he's in a four game funk where he's totaled just four solo tackles with a sack. This is especially concerning considering that he's known as much for his run-support as he is for his pass rush.

DE Robert Porcher, DET: For lack of a better term, Porcher is toast. He's picked up 12 solo tackles with a half sack on the year, making it obvious that he's nowhere near the player that dominated from 96-01.

DE Marcellus Wiley, SD: This was supposed to be Wiley's year to remain healthy and return to Pro Bowl form. Well, at least he's been healthy. He's picked up just one sack through six games to go along with 14 solo tackles, making the first half of 03 a wash.

DE Vonnie Holliday, KC: Ugh. Five solo tackles and three sacks in week one, four solo tackles (one over the last two games) and one sack (zero over the last four games) since.

LB Dan Morgan, CAR: While many of you have already given up hope, I have held on to the promise of a healthy Dan Morgan. That will end soon. He's been fighting a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss two games this season, and suffered a concussion on Sunday which forced him out of the game with just one tackle. We'll know more about this a bit later, but any injury news with Morgan has to be concerning. He has now missed 15 games during his 2+ years in the league.

LB Keith Brooking, ATL: Brooking should be out for a while after "breaking bones in his back" on Sunday. It's currently listed as a 1-6 week injury. If the extent is similar to the back injury suffered by the Titans Peter Sirmon, he'll likely be out a couple of weeks.

LB Tommy Polley, STL: Polley is expected to miss four weeks after dislocating his elbow on Sunday.

LB Andra Davis, CLE: After a smokin' start in which he posted 32 tackles (27 solo) over the first three games, Davis has fallen to earth. He's been pedestrian over the last four games with a total of just 18 solo tackles. The fact is that the three youngsters at LB in Cleveland (David, Ben Taylor, Kevin Bentley) have taken turns at stardom, and it changes on a weekly basis. Until that changes, all three will remain risky starts this year.

LB Na'il Diggs, GB: Diggs is definitely in a slump, possibly brought on by a lingering knee injury, but he's posted just eight tackles (five solo) over the three games following his Monday night explosion against the Bears (nine solos, two interceptions).

LB Junior Seau, MIA: A week five 11 solo tackle performance had us all proclaiming that Junior Seau was back, but a missed game because of a hamstring injury and a one solo tackle performance on Sunday has us ready to throw him back. Outside of that week five game, he's combined for 10 solo tackles and a sack (four games).

LB Zack Thomas, MIA: Thomas is on pace for 171 tackles this year. Pretty impressive, until you realize that only 83 of those will be solo. Over his career, Thomas is known for posting a high number of assists, but this is ridiculous. His average this year of a little more than five solo tackles per game would set a career low (career average of near 6.5 solo tackles per game).

LBs Marvin Jones & Mo Lewis, NYJ: The veteran duo is due to lose playing time to a couple of youngsters (Victor Hobson & Kenyatta Wright). After combining for 35 solo tackles in six games, they don't seem too concerned.

LB Jeremiah Trotter, WAS: Over the last three seasons, Trotter had posted three or less solo tackles in just 10 of 44 games (23%). In 03, he's already done it three times in seven games (43%).

LB Eric Barton, OAK: Barton is in a slump and he looks nothing like last years breakout star that picked up 97 solo tackles, six sacks and two interceptions. Through seven games this year, he's posted just 38 solo tackles without a sack or pick.

S Roy Williams, DAL: After an outstanding rookie campaign, Roy Williams was supposed to use his blend of run support and coverage ability to revolutionize the safety position. It looks like we got ahead of ourselves a bit as he'll likely fall short of last years production across the board. Not only is he not the top overall IDP as many of us expected, he's not even in the top 20 for defensive backs. Parcellsified.

LB Ray Lewis, BAL: Any dogs in the house? I tried to dig up something negative on Ray Lewis and his three solo tackle performance on Sunday, but I couldn't. He's having a fine season, on pace for 112 solo tackles which is right around what he picked up during his last two full seasons. He has been held without a sack or an interception this year. The Ravens switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme has affected his big play ability as he's been held sackless during his 11 games in the new system. Keith Brooking, whose Atlanta Falcons also switched to a 3-4 last year, has also been held without a sack during the 02-03 seasons.

S Sammy Knight, MIA: As the top safety in the game over the last three years, Knight had some lofty expectations to live up to with his trasition into a more talented Miami Dolphins defense. So far, he's been a disappointment, lacking his trademark playmaking skills with only one interception and zero sacks, and posting over four solo tackles in just two of six games.

S Tank Williams, TEN: It looks like consistency is going to be a big issue with this second year player, and it showed on Sunday with his one assisted tackle after combining for 16 solo tackles during the previous two games. His talent is undoubted, but until he puts it together on the field he will remain a risky start.

S Tebucky Jones, NO: Jones may have returned to the starting lineup in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean he's anymore worthy of a roster spot than when he was sidelined with a groin injury. In six games this year he's picked up 17 tackles, only eight of which have been solo.

CB Jeff Burris, CIN: One of the top cornerbacks during the first month of the season, Burris had picked up 23 solo tackles over the first four games. A scary week five neck injury saw him leave that game with just one tackle and his return in doubt. Well he was back in the starting lineup, their first game after the bye, but he posted his second consecutive one solo tackle performance.