Upgrades

DL Dwight Freeney, IND: It took him a while to warm up this year but Dwight Freeney has been playing incredibly of late. He's posted back-to-back three sack games. He's picked up four solo tackles in each of those two games, a forced fumble in each of the last three games, and has 11 sacks over the last eight games. His linemates, Raheem Brock and Robert Mathis, have also been playing well. Brock has picked up 3.5 sacks over three games, Mathis with 5.5 over the last four (10.5 on the year).

DL Marcellus Wiley, DAL: Wiley appeared to be a big-time free agent bust during the seasons first 10 games, picking up a total of 15 solo tackles without a sack. Over the last three games he's playing closer to what we expected with a combined total of 14 solos, two sacks and a forced fumble.

DL Kevin Williams, MIN: Impressive, there's not much else you can say. Williams has put together an outstanding sophomore campaign that has elevated him into the elite among the leagues defensive linemen. He now has 43 solos and 10 sacks on the year, 15 solos and four sacks over the last three weeks.

LB Jason Babin, HOU: Jason Babin came out in his first NFL game (week one) and picked up seven solo tackles, leaving us very excited about his prospect for the season. Unfortunately he never approached that total again, averaging just under 2.5 solo tackles over the next nine games, turning him into a fantasy afterthought. He's back on the scene with his performance over the last three weeks in which he's posted a total of 18 solo tackles with one sack, heating up just in time to help those who've either stashed him away this year or have him sitting on their waiver wire.

LB Lance Briggs, CHI: Lance Briggs has picked up 46 solo tackles over the last five games, 10 or more solos three times during that stretch. With Brian Urlacher possibly done for the year, the Bears will rely on Briggs heavily as their tackle machine and he seems more than ready to oblige. Urlacher's injury also brings Hunter Hillenmeyer back into the fantasy spotlight. Filling in for Urlacher this year, Hillenmeyer has proven to be a very solid 5-6 solo tackle performer.

LB Brian Simmons, CIN: Partying like it's 1999? Not often have we seen Brian Simmons play this well...well, not since the '99 season at least. Simmons has picked up 27 solo tackles over the last four weeks and, while the big plays haven't been there, his solos have brought him back into fantasy prominence.

LB Takeo Spikes, BUF: He doesn't post as many solo tackles as we'd like to see but Takeo Spikes has been filling up the boxscore during the last month. Over the last four games Spikes has picked up just 16 solo tackles, but he's added either a sack or a pick in each game with three forced fumbles and nine passes defended.

LB Donnie Edwards, SD: With 37 solo tackles, three interceptions and six passes defended over the last four weeks, there may not be a more valuable IDP in the league right now. He's a stud playing as such, and if you have him on your roster...feel fortunate.

LB Dan Morgan, CAR: Dare we? Is it possible than Dan Morgan can return and have the same impact that he had during the early portion of the season? At this point I'm willing to give him a shot, especially after posting six solo tackles with two interceptions during his first game back. Proceed with caution.

LB Derrick Pope, MIA: Zach Thomas' replacement in the middle of Miami's defense has been playing very well, picking up 19 solo tackles with two sacks over the last three weeks. Thomas' return for week 15 is still in question, leaving Derrick Pope's light still shining...for the meantime. Not many defensive players in the league are as valuable to their team as Thomas is to the Dolphins, and that's reflected in his league leading 16.8% of the teams total tackles (even though he's missed the last two games).

DB Dunta Robinson, HOU: The rookie continues to shine. Robinson picked up the first two sacks of his career this week to go along with four solo tackles, a pass defended and a forced fumble. Over the last four games he's picked up 27 solos, two sacks, two interceptions and eight passes defended.

DB Charles Tillman, CHI: Now two games back from a knee injury, Charles Tillman hasn't missed a beat. He's picked up 15 solo tackles over the last two weeks, 26 in his four games played this year, and he should be among the leading DB tacklers during the seasons final few weeks. Right on his heels is teammate Mike Green, who's also playing incredible football of late. Green has posted a very consistent 25 solo tackles over the last four weeks.

DB Jason Simmons, HOU: Marcus Coleman has been placed on the IR with a shoulder injury, officially ending his season and opening a starting free safety job for Jason Simmons. He wasn't anything special this week with just four solo tackles, but he's shown the ability to post 5+ solos in the past and should be a solid replacement down the stretch.

DB Lynn Scott, DAL: Scott has started the last four games as the Cowboys strong safety, taking the place once held by Tony Dixon, and posted his best stats of the year this past weekend. After picking up four solo tackles in each of his first three starts, Scott busted out this week with eight solos and a sack.

DB Terrence McGee, BUF: McGee didn't pick off a pass this week...slacker. He did post seven solo tackles, giving him 27 solos over the past four games, along with three interceptions, a sack and seven passes defended. He's definitely turned into one of this years surprise fantasy studs.

DB Ed Reed, BAL: Another game, another interception for Ed Reed. :yawn: Even though the Ravens defense isn't as feared as it has been in recent years, they are still good enough to produce a Defensive Player of the Year. That player right now is quite possibly Ed Reed, who now has 55 solo tackles with two sacks, eight interceptions and two TDs on the year. He's picked off a pass in six of the last eight games.

DB Stuart Schweigert, OAK: The starting strong safety in Oakland for the past three weeks, Schweigert is coming into his own. He's a rookie who looks bad at times, and very bad at others (v. Eddie Kennison during week 13), but he's posted seven solo tackles in each of the past two games as a glimpse of what he's capable of.

DB Michael Boulware, SEA: Boulware picked up seven solo tackles, one sack and one interception in his first NFL start, which makes you wonder...What took the Seahawks so long to get this guy into the starting lineup? He's actually seen quite a bit of playing time this year with some success, picking off a total of five passes with that lone sack. As a starter, he appears to have some serious fantasy value.

DB Troy Brown, NE: For those of you who are really desperate, Troy Brown has tied for the Patriots team lead in interceptions with three. He's been much more valuable as a defensive back this year than as a receiver, where he's posted just 15 receptions for 172 yards and one TD.

Downgrades

DL Alex Brown, CHI: Alex Brown was playing very well during the mid-portion of the year, picking up 19 solo tackles and four sacks during a four game stretch in October. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to sustain that level of play and he's been almost non-existent over the last four weeks, combining for a total of five solo tackles with a half sack.

DL Grant Wistrom, SEA: When on the field, Grant Wistrom remains as one of the leagues best all-around defensive linemen. Unfortunately, he's had trouble staying on the field during his first year with the Seahawks. A knee injury cost him five games early on and he'll now miss the remainder of the regular season with a torn MCL.

DL Marcus Stroud, JAC: One-half of the most imposing defensive tackle combo in the league, Stroud has been unable to keep up with his teammate in regards to on-field production. While John Henderson is playing his best football of the year, picking up 14 solo tackles and three sacks over the last three weeks, Stroud has struggled. He has posted just one solo tackle in five of the past six weeks and has just one sack over that span.

DL Justin Smith, CIN: Smith may never reach the sack numbers that we've expected ever since he got to the quarterback 8.5 times during his rookie season in 2001, but his solo tackle numbers usually remained good enough to keep him in fantasy consideration. That hasn't been the case over the last three weeks when he's combined for just two solo tackles.

LB David Thornton, IND: The decline of David Thornton continues. He posted five or more solo tackles four times during the seasons first six games. Over the last seven games he's picked up a total of 22 solos with a game high of four.

LB Al Wilson, DEN: Last year was considered an aberration to many as we looked to 2002 as a true gauge for Al Wilson's value. It looked like we may have tabbed to wrong year as a fluke. After picking up 100 solo tackles and five sacks in '00, Wilson fell to just 70 solos and one sack a year ago. This year, Wilson may have a tough time reaching the solo tackle numbers that he posted in 2003. On the plus side, he does have two interceptions in the past four weeks, giving him some fantasy value.

LB Brian Urlacher, CHI: The early word was that Urlacher had suffered a season ending hamstring injury although MRI results are pending. If nothing else, he should be out for week 15.

LB Ed Hartwell, BAL: What happened to this guy? Hartwell is scheduled to become a free agent when the season ends, but he certainly hasn't been playing that way. Over the last three games he's picked up a total of three solo tackles (12 assists) and is on pace for just 53 solos on the year.

DB R.W.McQuarters, CHI: McQuarters was tearing it up, posting 13 solo tackles with two interceptions combined during weeks 11 and 12. With Charles Tillman returning, McQuarters was moved to free safety and we all expected his numbers to shoot through the roof. Change isn't always good. McQuarters has just one solo tackle in each of the last two games.