Upgrades

DL Alex Brown, CHI: Close but no cigar, that's how you could explain the first seven games of the year for Alex Brown. He was putting good pressure on the quarterback but it wasn't showing in the boxscore. His fortune seems to be turning around with five sacks over the last two games, and he continues to post very good tackle numbers. He's posted four or more solo tackles in each of the last five games, including three forced fumbles and six passes defended over that stretch.

DL Darren Howard, NO: Charles Grant has received most of the fanfare this year with his great start, leaving Howard to quietly put together his own impressive campaign. He's missed three games with neck/knee injuries, but in the six games that he has played he's picked up at least a partial sack in each, 5.5 total. His six solo tackles this week were a season high, to go along with a forced fumble/recovery.

DL Bertrand Berry, ARI: There were skeptics when Arizona signed Berry this offseason to anchor their pass rush, myself included, but his play thus far has been nothing short of spectacular. With four sacks on Sunday he sits with a total of nine through nine games. His tackling was the main issue and whether or not he could hold up, but he's already surpassed last years total of solo tackles (28-23).

DLs Patrick Kerney and Rod Coleman, ATL: Patrick Kerney was on a tear this year, picking up 23 solo tackles and seven sacks through the seasons first four games. His production fell off dramatically over the next four weeks, a decline which coincided with a knee injury to Rod Coleman. With Coleman back on the field this week, Kerney picked up where he left off with seven solo tackles and a sack (his first sack since week four). Coleman picked up two sacks of his own, giving him six on the year in six games played.

DL Greg Spires, TB: He goes unnoticed quite often, playing alongside Simeon Rice, but Greg Spires has put together a nice season to this point. He's not a huge pass-rusher, but he has the ability to get to the quarterback and he's posted five or more solo tackles in three of the past four games. He's already set a seven year career high with 34 solo tackles and is halfway to his career high of six sacks.

LB Lance Briggs, CHI: During the offseason there were rumblings that Lance Briggs just may end up being the most productive linebacker in Chicago this year. Lining up next to Brian Urlacher, there were many non-believers, but Briggs has been outstanding through the seasons first nine games. He had his best outing of the year this past weekend, picking up 12 solo tackles, giving him 30 solos over the last four games and 57 on the year (pace of 100+).

LB Cato June, IND: With the Colts beating the Texans 49-14 this past weekend, you would expect them to lose the Time of Possession battle as they did 35-25. Because of that, not only did the Colts offensive players get to rack up the numbers, but their defenders benefited as well. Cato June took full advantage of this, posting 11 solo tackles with two passes defended, his most productive game of the year. After a slow start (11 solo tackles through the first four games), June has been on fire picking up 39 solos over the last five games (pace of 125).

LB Matt Stewart, ATL: What do we do with this guy? An upgrade seems appropriate after he posted nine solo tackles and two sacks on Sunday, his third game out of the last four that he's posted seven or more solos, but that one game out of the four was a shut-out (zero solos tackles). Proceed with caution, but he's been playing very well over the last month.

LB Will Witherspoon, CAR: Witherspoon had a rocky start to the year, posting under four solo tackles in three of the first five games, but he's been playing light out of late. Over the last three games he's picked up no less than six solo tackles (23 total), a sack, two interceptions and six passes defended.

LB Anthony Simmons, SEA: Simmons missed two games with a shoulder injury and the time off has seemed to re-light that studly fire (the return of Chad Brown from injury also had something to do with it). In the two games since his return, Simmons has picked up 13 solo tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

DB Jerry Azumah, CHI: Azumah started the season a little late, missing the first month with a neck injury, but he appears to be back at full strength. Over the last three games he's posted 15 solo tackles with a sack, interception and two forced fumbles.

DB Chris Crocker, CLE: He supposedly has replaced Earl Little as the Browns starting free safety but Little actually started the game against Pittsburgh. That didn't stop Crocker from picking up five solo tackles and a sack (compared to Little's one solo), his second game in the last three that he's posted five or more solos.

DB DeAngelo Hall, ATL: The rookie is back on the field after missing the first six games of the year with a hip injury. He's replaced Jason Webster in the starting lineup, picking up four solo tackles in each of his two starts. He's yet to officially defend a pass, but that will come, and his tackle numbers should remain solid.

DB Bhawoh Jue, GB: Jue has picked up 20 solo tackles over the last three games, starting the last two at free safety in place of Darren Sharper. Sharper played this week and may return as a starter next week, sending Jue back into a reserve role, but he's proven to be a very capable fantasy option should Sharper be once again forced out of action.

DB Jerametrius Butler, STL: Butler has put together an impressive campaign, averaging over five solo tackles per game through the first nine and picking off the Rams only three interceptions. He's been fairly consistent as well, posting under five solos in just three games. Very nice production for any defensive back, especially a cornerback.

DB Ed Reed, BAL: Is Ed Reed the best playmaker in the game? If not, he's certainly on a very short list. Over the last five games he's either picked off a pass (three) or sacked the quarterback (two). He has five interceptions on the year (12 during his first two NFL seasons), 40 solo tackles, two sacks and two touchdowns.

DB Tory James, CIN: Tory James is in a zone right now and fantasy owners hope that he doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon. He hasn't been a tackle machine, although his seven solos on Sunday were a nice surprise and he is on pace for a career high. His mark has been made with interceptions. James has picked off five passes over the last four games and has already set a career high with six picks on the year.

DB Ryan Clark, WAS: Where did this guy come from? An unexpected surprise in Washington, Clark has come in as an injury replacement for Matt Bowen and he's picked up 39 solo tackles in five games (no less than six solos in each).

Downgrades

DL Gary Walker, HOU: You hear stories about the dominance of Gary Walker and expect that to transfer over into the boxscore, but it doesn't happen. In fact, Walker has been little more than invisible through 10 weeks, posting one solo tackle in each of the last five games and only 0.5 sack on the year.

DL Gerard Warren, CLE: After coming out during the week and proclaiming the evil intentions that you and your teammates have for the opposing quarterback, it must be quite embarrassing to get nearly shut out. It's actually nothing new for Warren, a huge bust since being drafted #3 overall in 2001, who's missed 3+ games with a chest injury and has just four solo tackles on the year.

LB Chris Draft, ATL: It's time to give up if you're still holding out hope that Chris Draft of this year will resemble the Chris Draft of 2003. With two solo tackles on Sunday he's raised his season total to 20.

LB Nick Barnett, GB: After starting out the season on fire, averaging almost seven solo tackles per game through the first six weeks, Nick Barnett has cooled off quite a bit. Over the last three weeks he's picked up a total of just 11 solo tackles.

LB Orlando Huff, SEA: From the Chris Draft school of middle linebacking, Huff has started nine games at MLB this year, posting over three solo tackles just once (week two).

LB Pisa Tinoisamoa, STL: Tinoisamoa came out this year playing up to his label as the Samoan Derrick Brooks. Through four games he had posted 25 solo tackles with 1.5 sacks. Since then he's looked more like a Samoan Dhani Jones, picking up 17 solo tackles over five games without a sack.

LB Brian Simmons, CIN: Brian Simmons is a frustrating player. He's proven in the past to be a decent fantasy linebacker, but he seems to be cruising around the four solo tackle range. He does offer the occasional sack/interception. as he did this week, but overall his production has to be considered disappointing.

LB Terrell Suggs, BAL: Suggs was on his way to an All-Pro type season with 22 solo tackles and seven sacks through the first six games, but he's cooled off of late to the point where he didn't even show up in this weeks boxscore. Over the last three games he's picked up a total of just three solo tackles with 0.5 sack.

DB Colin Branch, CAR: He may be a year or so away from making a true impact, but we were hoping that it would come together for Branch in 2004. He's been inconsistent as the Panthers free safety, looking good at times but contributing just six solo tackles over the last three games.

DB Brent Alexander, NYG: Brent Alexander came over from Pittsburgh as a proven playmaker, but it's safe to assume that the super rookie, Gibril Wilson, has eaten into much of his opportunity. While Wilson continues to shine, averaging about seven solo tackles per game, Alexander is left to pick up scraps (seven solos over the last three).