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DL Cornelius Griffin, WAS: Cornelius Griffin was an enigma in New York, possessing a great combination of speed and strength but never able to live up to the potential that he showed a rookie in 2000. Over the last three weeks he's playing like the stud we had envisioned and then some, picking up a total of 15 solo tackles and four sacks.

LB Anthony Simmons, SEA: All in all, Simmons didn't have a great day with just five solo tackles, but the interception that he returned for a touchdown is hopefully a glimpse of what's to come. One of the games fastest linebackers and best playmakers from the position, we've been waiting for him and Chad Brown to get back in the lineup together. Brown will help solidify the pass rush and keep teams from avoiding Simmons on the other side, helping them both to increase their production from what they've given us thus far.

LB Jamie Winborn, SF: Talking about playmakers, Jamie Winborn is fun to watch. He's always around the ball, playing full-throttle until the final whistle, filling up the boxscore along the way. He's picked up for the loss of Julian Peterson by posting 22 solo tackles and three sacks over the last three weeks.

LB Derek Smith, SF: It's unfortunate that Derek Smith was forced to sit out two games with an ankle injury because he's putting together a great season. He's averaging 7.5 solo tackles in the six games that he has played to go along with a half sack that he picked up this past weekend.

LB Derrick Rodgers, NO: Rodgers picked up seven solo tackles on Sunday, making it four of the last five games that he's posted at least six solos. He now has 37 solos at the midway point of the season, very nice production from a guys whose career high is 56.

LB Jon Vilma, NYJ: The rookie has produced 24 tackles (17 solo) over the last two weeks, 10 solos this past Sunday against Buffalo, and looks to have placed himself in the starting lineup with or without Sam Cowart. Vilma did get a chance to pad his stats this weekend as the Jets defense was on the field for over 37 minutes of the game, and with the Cowart situation uncertain there is reason to be leery, but take advantage of his superb play while it's available.

LB Derrick Brooks, TB: Well, Derrick Brooks has proven me wrong. The former Defensive Player of the Year is having an incredible year, posting no less than six solo tackles in any game this year, on pace to match the career high that he set back in 2000 (123). His stock had dropped some entering the year because he'd averaged just 80 solo tackles over the last three seasons, but he's certainly proven to be a great value for those that took a chance on him.

LB Earl Holmes, DET: Holmes continues to perform on a weekly basis, producing numbers that make him a solid fantasy starter when we thought he was washed up. He's in the middle of an incredible stretch, posting 38 solo tackles over the last four games, no less than five in each game.

LB Will Witherspoon, CAR: Previously when Dan Morgan was taken from the lineup because of injury, Will Witherspoon would slide inside to middle linebacker and perform very well. I didn't happen this weekend with Morgan out, Vinny Ciurciu filled in at MLB, but Witherspoon still had a big game (seven solo tackles, one interception). He's actually picked up his play with 11 solos and that one pick over the last three games, putting together a fine season.

DB Brian Dawkins, PHI: I mentioned last week that Dawkins' production was finally living up to his name recognition, and that continued this week with nine solo tackles and an interception. He's now picked up 38 solo tackles over the last five weeks with two sacks and one pick.

DB Ryan Clark, WAS: Question- Who is the Redskins starting strong safety? Answer- Ryan Clark. The third year vet has taken over with Matt Bowen gone for the year, posting great numbers on a weekly basis. Clark has picked up no less than six solo tackles in each of the last four games, 28 total over that span.

DB Madieu Williams, CIN: Here is our official FBG plea to the Cincinnati Bengals: Please let Madieu Williams remain in the starting lineup for the remainder of the year. Pretty please? Whether that happens or not, it appears that we've got a current and future playmaker on our hands. When he starts a game, he's good for at least six solo tackles. He's also picked off a pass in each of the last two games, returning one for a touchdown during week eight. Kim Herring was inactive this past weekend, nursing a knee injury, but they've got to find a way to get the kid into the lineup whether from injury or otherwise.

DB Champ Bailey, DEN: Shutdown corners aren't supposed to find themselves among the upper-tier fantasy performers, but Champ Bailey isn't your ordinary shutdown corner. He's arguably the best. With four 60 solo tackle seasons already under his belt, we know what he's capable of, and he's been flashing some of that potential over the last three weeks with a combined total of 19 solo tackles.

DB Ed Reed, BAL: Ed Reed makes plays, possibly better than anyone else in the league right now, and he has that "U" flair which makes him very fun to watch. 106 yard interception return for a touchdown during the games most critical moment? What else can you say about this guy? We want to see more solo tackles, and that may develop at some point down the line, but for now we'll just have to get by with the sacks, interceptions and touchdowns that he seems to produce on a regular basis.

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DLs LaRoi Glover, Greg Ellis and Marcellus Wiley, DAL: These are the guys whose job it is to put pressure on the quarterback in Dallas, but the pass-rush trio of Glover, Ellis and Wiley has not been getting the job done of late. Over the last three games they've combined for 12 solo tackles and zero sacks.

DL Tyler Brayton, OAK: No I will not leave him alone. Brayton has now gone six weeks without being worth a roster spot. 14 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks through the seasons first three games, nine solos and zero sacks since. He will make this list every week until his production picks back up, then we'll once again fire up the bandwagon.

DL Eric Hicks, KC: Eric Hicks had started to heat up a bit, wrapping seven solo tackles and a couple of sacks around his week five bye, leading us to believe that there may be something about the preseason hype (rejuvenated with the return of Gunther Cunningham). He's regressed since then, as has the entire defense unit in Kansas City, picking up just two solo tackles without a sack during the last three weeks.

LB Scott Fujita, KC: Fujita picked up a sack this week, but that doesn't make up for his lack of tackles. The one solo tackle on Sunday gives him 12 over the last five weeks, not a great follow-up to his breakout season from a year ago (98 solos, 4 sacks in his first year as a starter).

LB Mark Simoneau, PHI: Last year, his first as a full-time starter, Mark Simoneau was held to under five solo tackles in just four of 16 games (one in the first 12 weeks). This year he's been held under five solos in four of the seven games that he's played.

LB Landon Johnson, CIN: Johnson has started the last two games at middle linebacker for the Bengals, picking up a total of three solo tackles. Caleb Miller has shown that he's a much stronger fantasy force when in the lineup, but he's nursing an ankle injury and, though he was active on Sunday, he did not play.

LB Ray Thompson, ARI: Thompson started in the middle this past weekend in place of Ronald McKinnon, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the boxscore. After posting 11 solo tackles combined in his first two games since returning from injury (weeks five and six) it looked like he was on his way to becoming a solid contributor. He's been shut out over the last three weeks (total of one solo tackle), likely turning this year into a wash.

DB Terrence McGee, BUF: Filling in for the injured Troy Vincent, McGee went through a stretch of superb play picking up a total of 22 solo tackles from weeks four through six. Since then, he's posted just six solos over the last three games, resembling the cornerback that he is.

DB Tony Parrish, SF: His role in the 49ers defense has certainly changed. During his first two years in San Francisco, Parrish averaged eight interceptions and 18 passes defended. This year, he's still looking for his first pick and has just two passes defended through eight games. His tackles have been steady and he's actually on pace to better his numbers from the past two seasons, so your scoring system will dictate whether he has been a mild surprise or a flat out bust.