Defensive Linemen
A 3-4 scheme doesn't promote production for its down linemen but every now and then and end manages to overcome the scheme. Marques Douglas has put up some pretty good tackle numbers so far. He has just 1 sack on the year to date but there is nothing like a matchup with the Bills (who are tied for worst in the league at 20 sacks allowed) to help boost a guys sack totals. 

Miami is one of the teams tied with Buffalo for the most sacks allowed through week 6 so things are looking up for Leonard Little owners this week. He's been very inconsistent but if ever there were a time to take a chance on him this would be it. It doesn't hurt that Dolphins starting left Tackle John St. Clair is questionable and probably won't play. Bryce Fisher is starting opposite Little and might make a decent long shot starter if your in a real big league or are simply desperate.

You would think that with Michael Vick's speed and escape ability he would be tough to sack but the reality of it is no one (not even Bledsoe) has been sacked more this season. Eric Hicks stock is on the rise anyway with his having come on of late and this looks to be a golden opportunity for him to continue that trend. Vonnie Holliday is finally healthy (at least for a while) and could also benefit from this excellent matchup. Also consider that both Hicks and Holliday generally put up decent tackle numbers. Atlanta has 187 rushing attempts on the season which is 4th highest in the league. All things considered, either of the KC ends would make a good spot starter this week.

With the ankle injury to Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown and Michael Haynes become full time players for the next couple of weeks. Both have plenty of potential and this weeks match up make them an even more inviting play. The Bucks have had a hard time keeping their QB's clean allowing an average of 3 sacks per game thus far. Brown is particularly strong in run support and should be good for 4-6 tackles even if he doesn't land a sack. 

It comes as no surprise that the oft injured Darren Howard is once again out of action with a knee injury. Now all those critics who were on them for drafting Will Smith when they already had Howard and Charles Grant can understand the purpose. The coaching staff has been very pleased with Smith's play and the rookie has been productive whenever given the chance. Kerry Colling isn't the most mobile of QB's and the Raiders are in the bottom half of the league in terms of sacks allowed. This points to Smith being a very good sleeper pick for this week.

The Colts may have found an answer to their pass rush woes in converted LB Robert Mathis who has come on like gang busters with 4 sacks in the teams last 3 games and excellent tackle production as well in the past 2. Jacksonville is middle of the road when it comes to sacks allowed so the match up is just average but the fact that hes been so hot and that Dwight Freeney will continue to draw all the double teams is certainy a positive for Mathis. 

Linebackers
The Cincinnati run defense is reeling and in come the Broncos with their latest stud RB Ruben Droughns. Brian Simmons is having an excellent fantasy season to date and could even top his season high 9 solo's in this one. Caleb Miller stepped in for Landon Johnson last week when Johnson got his bell rung and did a nice job posting a 7-1-0 mark. The Bengals haven't named a starter at MLB for this weeks game so turning to either of these guys would be a risk but one of them is going to have a big game. Miller played fairly well against Cleveland other than his stupid late hit out of bounds so an educated guess would be that he will start and play the majority of the snaps.   

Dat Nguyen has been rather quiet thus far into the season and is due for a breakout game. His match up this week with the Packers running game could be just what the doctor ordered to break him out of the slump. The Packers average better than 27 attempts per game and Nguyen's speed make him a good match for Ahman Green.

Despite their inconsistent offensive output the Browns have continued to pound away on the ground even when it isn't working. Philly added Jeremiah Trotter late in the pre-season to be their part time short yardage and running down MLB. With starter Mark Simoneau gimpy and possibly out of action this week, Trotter may be in line to make his first start of the year and could be surprisingly productive.

Dan Morgan is the man to have among the Panthers LB's but Will Witherspoon is also a very good player who contributes some strong production from time to time. The Panthers aren't playing well and San Diego boasts one of the best running games in the league. Between LT and Antonio Gates, Witherspoon could have a real solid day. At worst he should be a solid contributor

Ray Thompson isn't the biggest or most physical of players but he is generally a pretty consistent producer when healthy. He returned to the starting lineup in week 5 and led the club in tackles for the game. This weeks match up with the Seahawks could make Thompson a very good sleeper play. Seattle runs the ball exceptionally well and very often. James Darling has been in and out of the lineup with injuries over the past 4 games and the bye week will have help him to get healthy. He should be the starter at MLB this week but then he was supposed to start in week 4 and sat out all together. He will be solid if he indeed gets the start but there is a big risk and you would have to be pretty desperate to reach that far. 

Jamie Duncan is the official replacement to Chris Draft at MLB but the fact of the matter is that he isn't very good. Demorrio Williams replaced him last week and saw the majority of the action. The coaching staff loves what they have seen from Williams thus far and will be looking to get him more playing time. He could have a good day chasing Priest around.

Raonall Smith and Dontarrious Thomas are set to start at weak and middle backer again this week as Chris Claiborne re-injured his calf last week and E.J. Henderson is at least a week away from returning. Tennessee is neat the top of the league in rushing attempts at just under 30 per game and will use the running game to keep the Vikings offense off the field. Chris Brown is a little gimpy but expected to play.

Defensive Backs

 Even without Randy Moss the Vikings are going to throw the ball all over the field with Burleson, Robinson and the rest of their crew. Lamont Thompson has taken the bull by the horns since moving into the starting FS role and has put up quality number of late. With all the injuries in the front 7 both he and Tank Williams look to be very busy guys in this one.

Sometimes you have to look at every angle to find sleepers so how about this one. Last year Mike Shanahan was so down on Deltha O'Neal that he demoted him all the way to backup WR. On Monday night O'Neal will be the starting corner for Cincy against Denver. Now if Shanahan really felt O'Neal was that bad a player he will certainly look to pick on him right? And even if he doesn't you can bet the fire within O'Neal will be burning a little hotter this week.

The Packers have promoted rookie Ahmed Carroll to the starting lineup in place of Hawthorn just in time the pass happy Cowboys. The rookie corner rule applies here as you can bet Parcells and his resurrection project Testeverde will be looking for the rook early and very often. 

Ifeanyi Ohalete was promoted to starting FS just before the Cardinals week 6 bye. Now that he has had time to get more comfortable in the scheme he is sure to be more effective. Arizona faces the strong Seahawks offense this week including "newcomer" Jerry Rice. The Cards are improved this year but but should be no match for a Seattle club that's in the Super Bowl hunt. The Arizona secondary should be a busy place on Sunday. 

A lot of US got burnt last week when the Bengals benched Madieu Williams out of the blue in favor of former backup corner Kevin Kaesviharn. So far there is no reason to believe that they plan to return Williams to the lineup which leaves Kaesveharn and Kim Herring to handle the safety positions. With the Cincy run D being so lousy and facing a Denver club that has discovered yet another stud RB (yes it IS the system), The Bengals safeties could easily account for 15+ tackles between them again this week just like they did last. Heck Marques Anderson went for 14 all by himself against Denver last week.

I had to shake my head last week when Bob Henry picked up his "cousin" Anthony Henry and played him against me in one of our leagues. Wouldn't you know that despite positing just 1 assist he would manage to wrest an interception from Pepto-man Chad Johnson and end up scoring fairly well. Henry would have put up some tackles if Chad hadn't soaked his hands in the slippery pink stuff before the game. This week Henry will be called upon to cover T.O. and you can bet T.O. won't drop 4 passes. 

Brian Dawkins tends to be very inconsistent but makes a lot of big plays and breaks out with a few huge games every year. This weeks match up with the Browns has hints of being one of those blow up games for him. Jeff Garcia has struggled to get the ball to the right colored jerseys throwing 6 picks already. Factor in the ferocious pass rush of the Eagles and the struggling pass protection by the Browns who have allowed 14 sacks and a ton of pressure, and you have a Cleveland QB who is likely to make a lot of mistakes.  

That's going to do it for me this week. Best of luck to everyone this weekend,

John