With only one week down, it's hard to determine whether a performance should be considered a flash in the pan or the start of a trend, so we'll try not to get too excited...or upset. That being said, here are some performances that stood out, possibly helping us to answer a few of the lingering preseason questions.

Upgrades

DL Kenard Lang, CLE: The matchup during week one placed him with top 10 expectations. He didn't start the game (Ebenezer Ekuban started at left end across from Courtney Brown), but with three sacks and a forced fumble he's off to a great start. Currently day to day with an elbow injury, look for Lang to continue flying under the radar as the Browns top fantasy defensive lineman.

DL James Hall, DET: With the Kalimba Edwards experiment on hold, James Hall slides over to right end making way for Cory Redding on the left side. The move suits Hall just fine as he was able to post five solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. He suffered a fractured thumb during week one but played through it and shouldn't miss any time.

DL Bryce Fisher, STL: With five tackles (3 solo) and a sack in the season opener, Fisher will likely reep the benefits of lining up across from Leonard Little. He should easily set career highs across the board by mid-season.

DL Tyler Brayton, OAK: Four solo tackles, a sack and two passes defended. Whether he plays on the line or as a 3-4 outside linebacker, it won't matter as long he continues to post this well.

LB Dan Morgan, CAR: There are a couple of players that I'm always high on even though I continually get burnt. Dan Morgan leads the list. His well-documented history of inuries likely scared off many during the draft, letting him fall farther than a player of his ability should land. His 13 tackle (nine solo) performance during week one is a sign of what we can expect if he were to remain healthy for an entire season. He's picked up 44 total tackles in his last three games played (NFC Championship, Super Bowl and week one).

LB Travian Smith, OAK: We've been high on Travian Smith all off-season, touting him as the Raiders top fantasy linebacker. He played well last year, posting 50 solo tackles in 10 games, and should flourish in Oakland's scheme that will highlight his ability as a playmaker.

LB Nick Barnett, GB: A ankle injury likely cost Nick Barnett the Defensive Rookie of the Year award a year ago, losing out to Ravens sackmaster Terrell Suggs, but he showed during week one that there will be no sophomore slump. One of the leagues great young linebackers, Barnett was all over the field on Monday night on his way to five solo tackles, a sack, pick and a pass defended.

LB Terrell Suggs, BAL: Speaking of Terrell Suggs, he showed this week that he's not a sack or bust type player. His ability to become an all-around linebacker was questioned, but five solo tackles will go a long way in quieting his critics (myself included).

LB Akin Ayodele, JAC: Akinola Ayodele's ability to produce top fantasy numbers was never in question until word came out that he'd be used primarilly as a rush defensive end. That plan seems to have been scrapped. Ayodele started week one at outside linebacker and led the Jaguars with eight solo tackles (with a forced fumble and pass defended to boot).

LB Clark Haggans, PIT: This is an obvious upgrade, I know, but I really like this guy. He's produced whenever he's been given the opportunity. This year he takes over for the Steelers all-time sack leader, Jason Gildon, and came through with five solo tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defended. That's pretty similar to last years opener, filling in for Joey Porter, when he posted nine tackles (5 solo), a sack, a pass defended and a forced fumble, although this year he will not be headed to the bench.

LB Sam Cowart, NYJ: 14 tackles (12 solo) and a forced fumble. It looks like the battle with Jon Vilma has brought out the best in the seven year vet. If you remeber last year he came out on fire but fell off late in the year (44 solo tackles through five games, 52 through the final 10), so that's something to keep an eye on with Cowart.

LB Monty Beisel, KC: Not exceptional numbers this week, but five solo tackles and an interception likely solidifies his spot as the Chiefs starting middle linebacker, with or without Kawika Mitchell.

DB Matt Bowen, WAS: Are you kidding me? Eight solo tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Obviously this is a career game for the second year starter (five year vet) and it'll be interesting to see if he can continue producing once the Super Rookie makes it onto the field.

DB Colin Branch, CAR: A preseason position battle with Travares Tillman had Branch on-again/off-again listed as the starter. Replacing Deon Grant as the Panthers starting free-safety, he picked up a respectable six solo tackles and looks like the man to have.

DB Kelly Herndon, DEN: Herndon started week one, and with Lenny Walls out for a month he'll likely remain the starter. We've already seen the benefits of lining up across from Champ Bailey with his five solo tackle, four passes defended performance.

Downgrades

DL Courtney Brown, CLE: As with Kenard Land, the matchup led me to include Courtney Brown as a top 10 defensive lineman for week one. Like Dan Morgan, Brown is a player that I can't seem to get away from and I will likely get burnt until the day that he retires. One solo tackle...that's it. I won't get fooled again (yeah right).

DL Kevin Williams, MIN: With the move inside, Williams is supposed to produce like Warren Sapp. Unfortunately, we were hoping for the young Warren Sapp and his double digit sacks, not Sapp of today (they both posted a single solo tackle, without a sack). Chris Hovan gets a mention here also with his week one shutout (no tackles). This is supposed to be possibly the top tackle tandem in the league.

DL Ryan Denney/Chris Kelsay, BUF: Who's starting? Who cares. The duo combined for one solo tackle (Kelsay started BTW).

DL Grant Wistrom, SEA: The one solo tackle picked up by Chris Kelsay is one more than what Grant Wistrom was able to produce in his first game as a Seahawk. He remains one of the top all-around defensive ends in the game, but we'd have liked to have seen a better debut.

DL Osi Umenyiora, NYG: Umenyiora played on Sunday, I think. Somebody needs to wake up our sleeper. He's relinquished the starting job in New York to Keith Washington.

DL Shaun Ellis, NYJ: Be carefull here. Shaun Ellis is coming a career year, production that made him a terrible value this year. He's failed as a 3-4 defensive end before and, depending on how much the Jets run the formation, he'll fail again. Zero solo tackles this weekend is not a good sign. Last year he picked up at least a partial sack in each of the first eight games, along with 29 solo tackles over that span.

Indianapolis LB's- David Thornton, Cato June and Rob Morris: It looks like we may have gone way overboard with the Cato June hype (two solo tackles), but the fact is that the trio as a whole wasn't very productive (10 solos combined).

LB's Orlando Huff & Isaiah Kacyvenski, SEA: Huff won the preseason battle for the middle linebacker job and Kacyvenski replaces the injured Chad Brown. Two solo tackles combined. Ouch.

LB Chris Draft, ATL: Chris Draft is coming off of a career year in which he posted 102 solo tackles as Keith Brooking's fellow middle linebacker in Atlanta's 3-4 defense. A move back to a 4-3 base left Draft as the lone middle linebacker, and he picked up a lone solo tackle.

Injuries to Watch

DL Kelly Gregg, BAL: A knee injury will keep Gregg out of action for two weeks. He'll likely be replaced by Ma'ake Kemoeatu at nose tackle.

DL Grady Jackson, GB: Grady Jackson dislocated his kneecap and will miss four to six weeks. James Lee is in line to replace him as the Packers nose tackle.

LB Pisa Tinoisamoa, STL: Tinoisamoa worked through a separated shoulder last week and it was thought that the injury would keep him out for a couple of weeks. Now it looks like he may be available for this weekends game.

DB Kim Herring, CIN: Nine solo tackles will make Herring a popular waiver target, but a foot injury makes him doubtful for week two. Rookie Madieu Williams has been moved back to safety after starting in place of the injured Deltha O'Neal at cornerback and he'll likely start if Herring can't go.

DB Mike Doss, IND: A hamstring injury will keep Doss off of the field and rookie Bob Sanders isn't ready to start. The Colts could move Donald Strickland to safety (again). He started at cornerback during week one and posted a team high seven solo tackles.

DB Jon McGraw, NYJ: McGraw was inactive week one with an abdomen injury but is listed as probable heading into week two. He will not start, which has opened a spot for Reggie Tongue/rookie Erik Coleman. Coleman seems to have beaten out Tongue for the starting strong safety job, but he started at free safety during week one and picked up four solo tackles with an interception.

DB Dre Bly, DET: A knee injury (MCL sprain) will force Bly to miss the next two games. Andre Goodman picked up five solo tackles with an interception during week one and will likely start until Bly returns.

DB Mike Rumph, SF: Rumph pulled a groin on Sunday and will miss one to three weeks.