Upgrades

DL Kenard Lang, CLE: We've got a trend here folks, every other week Kenard Lang produces very well. Weeks one and three, he picked up a combined total of six solo tackles with four sacks. Weeks two and four, a total of two solo tackles without a sack. The tide is high for week five, just make sure to dump him after this weeks game.

DL John Abraham, NYJ: Was Abraham on a bye during week two, or week three? It's hard to tell by looking at the stats since he's absent from the boxscore during both weeks. He answered the popular question "What's wrong with John Abraham?" with a resounding two sack performance on Sunday and it looks to be clear sailing from this point on. The Jets face a very nice schedule in regards to defensive linemen for the next month and a half, making Abraham a very nice guy to have around (or a good target for trade).

LB Teddy Bruschi, NE: Teddy Bruschi is a streaker, up one month and down the next. It's apparent in his performance this year, sandwiching a one tackle performance in between two solid outings, but his game this past weekend just could be the spark that starts a run (a run made easier with Miami coming to town).

LB Jamie Sharper, HOU: One of the games hidden gems, Sharper is sometimes overlooked on draft day even though he's one of the few linebackers in the league capable of challenging Ray Lewis as king. He disappeared during week two, posting just one solo tackle against the Lions, but has otherwise been outstanding (25 solo tackles and one sack in three games). His success should continue into the week seven bye with two very nice matchups.

LB Derrick Rodgers, NO: During the first two games this year it was business as usual for Derrick Rodgers, an afterthought in fantasy circles. Since then he's been playing the best football of his career, picking up eight solo tackles in each of the last two games. Undoubtedly available on most waiver wires, the 33 year old is well on pace for a career year.

DB Troy Polamalu, PIT: Troy Polamalu isn't a fantasy stud, yet, but he's definitely headed in the right direction. He's posted just four solo tackles in each of the last two games, but he's also picked off a pass in each game, returning one this past weekend for a touchdown. Throw in the 13 solo tackles during the first two weeks of the year and he's putting together a fine campaign.

DB Nick Harper, IND: Most "in the know" were down on Nick Harper entering the year, figuring that there'd be no way he'd match last years performance (82 solos, four interceptions) from the bench. An injury to Joseph Jefferson has allowed Harper to remain in the Colts starting lineup, and he's continued to flourish with 23 solo tackles through four games , along with two picks.

DB Gibril Wilson, NYG: Is this kid for real? A knee injury to Shaun Williams has thrust Wilson (rookie 5th round pick) into the starting lineup at strong safety and he's been outstanding, picking up 17 solo tackles over the last two games with two interceptions and four passes defended on the year.

DB Sean Taylor, WAS: Speaking of rookie DBs. Sean Taylor received the first start of his career this past weekend and didn't disappoint, posting six solo tackles. From his preseason play and incredible career at the University of Miami, he looks like a great playmaker who just may be available as owners gave up during his early injury struggles.

DB Aeneas Williams, STL: He's 36 years old, playing in his 14th NFL season and has been shuffled between free safety and cornerback during the first month of the year. With 26 solo tackles through four games (no less than five in each) he's on pace to blow away his career high (65 in '96).

DBs Kevin Mathis and Jason Webster, ATL: The loss of DeAngelo Hall allowed Mathis to step into the starting lineup, teaming up with Jason Webster to form what's turned into an incredible tackling duo. They've combined for 42 solo tackles on the year, Webster with five or more in each game, Mathis with an interception TD this past weekend.

DB Jerry Wilson, SD: Jerry Wilson was a solid performer in 2003, posting five or more solo tackles in nine games, but he's stepped it up this year and is on pace for 104 solo with 26 through four games. If you're looking for a consistent producer, you don't need to look much further.

Downgrades

DL Alex Brown, CHI: So much for Alex Brown turning into the Leonard Little in Lovie Smith's defense. With five solo tackles through four games, he's pretty much useless at this point. It's not like Adewale Ogunleye is stealing all of the production, he's posted just one sack on the year (at least he's on pace for 40+ solos).

DL Aaron Schobel, BUF: The only thing saving Schobel from being worse than Alex Brown right now is the week three bye. He's also posted five solo tackles, in three games, and has yet to record his first sack of the year (averaging 10 sacks over the past two seasons). Buffalo as a team has posted just four sacks on the year, none from their defensive ends.

DL Bertrand Berry, ARI: Bert Berry was brought into Arizona this offseason for one reason...to get to the quarterback. A career high 11 sacks last year in Denver led to very high expectations, but so far he's disappointed with just one sack through four games.

DLs Carlos Hall and Antwan Odom, TEN: The Freak is gone, with Jevon Kearse taking his game to Philadelphia, and the new starting defensive end duo in Tennessee has combined for just 12 solo tackles and 1.5 sacks. Hall play is especially disturbing as he was expected to fill in the playmaking role. He's produced during the 2002 season, picking up eight sacks while filling in for Kearse, but just hasn't gotten the job done during the early stages.

LB Keith Bulluck, TEN: Keith Bulluck hasn't played horrible, with 20 solo tackles through four games, but so much more was expected. Many viewed him as the #2 linebacker heading into the season, posting back to back 100 solo tackle seasons with four sacks and three interceptions, but he's yet to flash his playmaking skills and is on pace to fall well short in the tackle department.

LB Al Wilson, DEN: It's starting to look like the Al Wilson who posted 100 solo tackles with five sacks in 2002 was just a mirage.With 15 solo tackles and zero sacks, including a complete shutout during week two, Wilson finds himself stashed at the end of the bench in the "Let's wait it out and hope that he come around" department.

LB Ronald McKinnon, ARI: Fork and toast come to mind. With seven solo tackles in four games, it's time to put this ex-stud out to graze.

LB Chris Draft, ATL: His week three performance (6 solo tackles) left us hoping that he was coming around, but it appears that the transition to the middle of the 4-3 just doesn't fit. He's picked up nine solo tackles in four games.

LB Clark Haggans, PIT: A great week one performance (5 solos, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) had us all praising Clark Haggans, but he's picked up just five solo tackles since and has yet to record another, well, anything. The Miami matchup last week looked like the perfect opportunity for him to break out of the funk, but it wasn't meant to be.

DB Fred Thomas, NO: Averaging 72 solo tackles, five interceptions and 18 passes defended over the past two seasons, Fred Thomas had worked his way into the upper tier of fantasy defensive backs. His tackles numebrs this year are a little low, 14 solos through four games, and he's yet to defend a single pass.

DB Matt Bowen, WAS: We all knew that Matt Bowen couldn't keep up the pace that he set with an eight solo tackle, two sack performance during week one, but we expected a little more than 10 solo tackles over the next three games.

DB Mike Rumph, SF: A broken forearm is expected to keep Rumph out of action for 6-12 weeks, leaving rookie CB Shawntae Spencer or Jimme Williams in line to enter the starting lineup.