Upgrades

DL Aaron Schobel, BUF: Aaron Schobel is officially on fire, picking up two sacks on Sunday, 5.5 over the last three games to go along with 14 solo tackles and three forced fumbles. He hasn't received much help along the line, but at this rate who needs it.

DL Simeon Rice, TB: Rice has taken a lot of well-deserved heat this year, brought on by his one sack during the seasons first five games, but it appears that he may be breaking out of the funk. He's picked up three sacks over the last two games, two this past weekend, and has to avoid cooling off over the Bucs week eight bye.

DL Tony Hargrove, STL: In our preseason team report, Bob Magaw talked in depth about Tony Hargrove and his potential as a rookie in St.Louis' defense. A raw defensive lineman with tremendous measurables, he was considered a great dynasty prospect that didn't have much for expectations this year. Even though he's not starting, yet, it looks like some of that potential may already be paying off. He picked up six solo tackles and a sack on Sunday, nine solos over the last two weeks after being limited to just four solo tackles (no sacks) during the seasons first five games.

DL Shaun Ellis, NYJ: We remember what he did last year, picking up all or part of a sack in each of the seasons first eight games (11.5 sacks through 11 games). He started of this year slow with just a half sack through the first four games, but looks like he might be back on a roll with 2.5 sacks over the last two weeks.

LB Cato June, IND: Well, this is what we were waiting for, and all of the preseason hype seems to be surfacing. June has posted 15 solo tackles over the last two Sundays, including an interception during week six, after picking up a total of 12 solos during the first four games. He's outproduced David Thornton over two games, lending credence to the belief that they may be finding their roles in the Colts defense as weak and strongside linebackers.

LB Earl Holmes, DET: They just couldn't keep the old man down. Holmes was able to hold off the competition this offseason, securing the Lions starting MLB job, and he's playing some of the best fantasy ball of his 8+ year career. Holmes has picked up six or more solo tackles in four of the last five games, 33 total over that span, and is on pace to set a career high with 99 solos.

LB Andra Davis, CLE: Andra Davis continues to perform well after scaring owners with just seven solo tackles in the seasons first two games. He's posted five or more solos in each of the last five games, 21 over the last two with an interception.

LB Dan Morgan, CAR: Through six games Morgan has tied his career high in solo tackles with 46. Need we say more? He's also picked up two sacks, another career high, and as long as he stays healthy he'll continue to produce tremendous numbers. A pseudo-stud through his first three seasons, Morgan has definitely paid off this year for those who took a chance.

LB Terrell Suggs, BAL: Last years Defensive Rookie of the Year has taken over the Peter Boulware role in Baltimore's defense and hasn't skipped a beat. He's picked up two sacks in three of the last four games, seven total for the year, and his 22 solo tackles through six games have been a nice surprise. He's on pace to match or better Boulware's best season totals.

LB Tracy White, SEA: The Seahawks defense was on the field A LOT this weekend (Seattle lost the T.O.P. battle with Arizona 40-20), giving their defenders plenty of opportunity to pad their stats. The guy who took the biggest advantage of this situation was rookie LB Tracy White, filling in for Anthony Simmons, who posted 10 solo tackles with a sack. White will have a hard time repeating these numbers, but he definitely deserves a watchful eye while Simmons is sidelined.

DB Mike Doss, IND: Doss has returned to the starting lineup after missing the past four games because of injury, ready to start fulfilling some of the lofty expectations that were set for him in the preseason. He's off to a good start with six tackles (five solo) in his first game back this past weekend.

DB Brian Dawkins, PHI: Brian Dawkins' is regarded as one of the leagues top safeties, an all-around threat who covers like a corner and hits like a truck, but his fantasy output is usually a step below elite. That hasn't been the case over the last month as he's picked up 23 solo tackles and three sacks in four games, setting a pace to blow away his career highs in both categories. Dawkins also picks up a downgrade vote this week for being run over at the goalline by Browns QB Jeff Garcia. Not one of his better moments.

DB Lawyer Milloy, BUF: Milloy saw his first action of the year on Sunday after sitting out the first five games with a broken arm. His four solo tackles were about what we can expect from this point on, with an occasional sack and pick thrown in. His days of being an IDP stud were left behind in New England years ago, but he could give you a nice boost down the stretch.

DB Gary Baxter, BAL: In six games this year, there has only been one in which Gary Baxter hasn't recorded either a sack or 7+ solo tackles. He's proving to be a very solid weekly fantasy starter who thrives with the attention that receives by playing across from Chris McAlister.

DB Todd Johnson, CHI: Todd Johnson has performed very well in place Mike Brown, actually producing better fantasy numbers than Brown had in four plus seasons. The Bears certainly miss Brown's leadership on the field, but they can't be disappointed in the 25 solo tackles that Johnson has compiled over the last four games.

DB Gibril Wilson, NYG: Wilson continues to perform well in place of Shaun Williams, posting 27 solo tackles over the last four games with two sacks and two picks on the year.

DB Mike McKenzie, NO: Mike McKenzie has three 50+ solo tackle seasons under his belt and has averaged 3.5 solos per game throughout his five year career. Very solid numbers for a cornerback. Now that he's found his way to New Orleans, that success should continue. He should approach the six solo tackles that he posted this weekend on a regular basis and be a solid contributor down the stretch.

DB Ray Buchanan, OAK: He's lost a step, sure, and he'll never be confused with Rod Woodson, but Ray Buchanan has performed very well over the last month. He's picked up 25 solo tackles over the last four games.

DB Lamont Thompson, TEN: The Bengals drafted Thompson in the second round of the 2002 draft and tried to hand him a starting job in their secondary. It didn't work as he was considered a bust in Cincinnati (ended up on the IR with a knee injury), released before the start of the 2003 season and picked up by the Titans. An incredible combination of size and speed, the Titans didn't know exactly what they had on their hands, but they are certainly reaping the benefits of the Bengals misfortune. With Lance Schulters out, Thompson has stepped in as the starting free safety and doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon. He's picked up 22 solo tackles over the last three weeks with three interceptions and a touchdown to his credit. Paired with teammate Tank Williams, they form a very formidable safety duo.

Downgrades

DL Kenard Lang, CLE: Kenard Lang has been consistent in his tackle numbers this year, averaging three solos per game, but his sack output has dried up. After posting four sacks in the seasons first three games, he's been held without over the last four.

DL Michael Strahan, NYG: With most of the other top tier defensive linemen under-performing this year, Michael Strahan didn't want to feel left out. His solo tackles are fine, on pace with what he's given us over the last few years, but he has just three sacks through six games and is in danger of posting less than ten sacks for the first time since the 2000 season.

DL Mike Rucker, CAR: Rucker left last weeks game suffering from an irregular heartbeat but was considered probable heading into Sundays matchup with San Diego. I'm not sure how much actual time he spent on the field, but the boxscore hasn't changed much. He was held without a solo tackle for the fourth time in six games and still has yet to pick up a sack on the year.

DL Patrick Kerney, ATL: While Patrick Kerney is still in the middle of a career year, having posted 29 solo tackles with seven sacks through seven games, he's hit a road bump. Over the last three games he's been held to just six solos without a sack and he faces a very tough SOS down the stretch. This wouldn't be a bad time to see what you can get for him while he's still among the league leading defensive linemen.

DL Tyler Brayton, OAK: The slide continues. Brayton picked up 14 solo tackles with 2.5 sacks during the seasons first three games, seven solo tackles and zero sacks over the last four.

LB Monty Beisel, KC: Is it time to throw Monty Beisel back into the scrap heap where he came from? Unfortunately it appears that way. A pleasant surprise, he opened the season with 20 solo tackles and an interception in the first three games, but he's picked up just eight solos over the last three games. Actually, the three game stretch hasn't been kind to the entire starting trio in Kansas City. Shawn Barber, Scott Fujita and Beisel have combined for just 27 solo tackles over that span (3 solos per player per game).

LB Ed Hartwell, BAL: We know that Ed Hartwell is not as productive with a healthy Ray Lewis in the lineup, but this is ridiculous. He's averaging three solo tackle per game and doesn't have a sack or interception on the year. Only once has he posted as many as five solos in a game.

LB Barrett Green, NYG: On top of being a fantasy disappointment to this point in the year, Barrett Green now appears to be in Tom Coughlin's dog house. He showed up late to meetings, was replaced in the starting lineup by Nick Greisen, and was held without a single tackle. He now has 18 solo tackles without a sack or interception through six games.

DB Rashean Mathis, JAC: If Rashean Mathis were playing safety, as he did during the early portion of his rookie season a year ago, we'd be talking about one of the games better playmakers. The Jaguars don't have that luxury, and with his size/speed combo and coverage ability, he's viewed as a potential shut-down cornerback in Jacksonville. That doesn't do much for the fantasy community, making Mathis a disappointment thus far. He's been unable to repeat the success that he found late last year (44 solo tackles during the final eight games), posting just seven solo tackles over the last three games, 23 through seven weeks.

DB Corey Chavous, MIN: In his seventh NFL season and coming off of a career year, his let down should come at no surprise, but it's still tough to swallow for many who had him ranked very high entering the year. He's on pace for 58 solo tackles, falling short of the 74 that he posted a year ago, and he's yet to pick off a pass after setting a career high with eight interceptions in 2003.

DB Aeneas Williams, STL: We knew that the future Hall of Famer couldn't maintain the incredible pace that he set during the seasons first month (26 solo tackles in the seasons first four games), but the downfall has been drastic. He's picked up just six solo tackles over the last three games, putting him on a much more realistic pace (even though it'd still be a career high in solo tackles). St.Louis has a very nice schedule from weeks 10-13, so don't be surprised to see him heat up again before the season is done.