Falcons @ Steelers
Falcons: DL gets sacks in clumps. With the talent that Kerney has, you pretty much have to start him since he can go off at any time. He should get Maddox for one, and get 2-2-1. The Steelers run game should make LB Brooking a decent play at 6-2-0, but depending on the Steelers' game plan he could get more. No other Falcon LB should get more than 5 tackles. DBs Ambrose and Buchanan are you best plays. Since they have alternated good performances, give 4-3-0 1 PD to Buchanan and 3-2-0 to Ambrose. Steelers: Aaron Smith has been playing good lately, noteworthy since he's a DL in a 3-4, a scheme not noted for producing useful DL. He should wind up with 3-5 tackles and a sack. The Steeler LBs have, on the whole, disappointed their owners this season. Some of them are old (Gildon), and some have been hurt (Bell) and may not be recovered. Who else besides me was burned by Bell's lackluster game last week? Don't expect more than six tackles out of any of them this week. Porter could wind up with a sack as well. DB Chad Scott will get 3-2-0 1 PD and Washington 2-2-0. The rest will be in the 2-4 tackle range.

Saints @ Panthers
Saints: Losing DL Jackson will hurt their run defense some. But Grant and Howard should be good again this week. Give Grant 3-1-1 and Howard 4-2-0. The LBs have a decent, if unspectacular, match up this week. Clemons will be at 6-2-0, Smith at 4-3-0 and Hodge at 3-2-1. Sammy Knight should be a big benefactor of the DL's injuries, and wind up with 6-2-0. Bellamy will be more productive though at 3-3-0 2 PD 1 INT. Panthers: Julius Peppers has really been a different player the second half of the season, and remains a must start, along with Rucker. The DL is hurt by the loss of Buckner, but Jenkins should still get 2-4 tackles and a sack. The LBs have done a good job of covering for the loss of Morgan. Give Witherspoon 5-4-0 and Fields 3-4-0. DB Howard is back, and should get 6-8 tackles. The other DBs will get half that at best.

Chargers @ Rams
Chargers: DL Wiley had a quiet debut last week. He probably won't explode this week either. 2-0-1 seems about right. Johnon should be about there too. The LBs are a different story. LB Edwards has been the better play of he and Seau, and has been running around and blasting into everything that moves into his area. 10-3-0 for him and 3-4-0 for Seau. The Rams are going to pick on the pretty average Charger secondary. Give them all about 5-7 tackles and 2-3 PDs. One will break out, and my gut tells me it will be McNeil. Rams: The Chargers will do a good job protecting Brees, so their isn't much to recommend here. The best play is Wistrom - look for him to get 3-5 tackles and a sack. LB Polley will be a good #2 LB, and should post 6-4-0 1 PD. DB Archuleta is great as usual, and should get at least 8 tackles. The other DBs should post 4-6 tackles, with one outperforming that by 2-3 tackles. I think it will be DB Bly.

Giants @ Vikings
Giants: You always start your studs, and that is Strahan on this team. There isn't much to offer after him. The LBs have been sluggish, and now LB Griesen is doubtful and Barrow is questionable. The team doesn't have much depth so Barrow should play but only have about 4-2-0. LB Jones will get 3-4-0. The DBs will see some action since I expect the Vikes to have to pass a lot to beat the Giants (doubtful), so look for the corners and FS to get 3-5 and 1-2 PDs. Vikings: The whole team will spend a lot of time on the field as usual, so I think that Johnstone will get 3-5 and a sack while Mixon will get 4-6 tackles. LB Biekert has been playing better since the D has been out there forever. He'll wind up with 5-4-0 1 PD. The DBs have been fantasy backup material, so expect 2-4 tackles and 1-2 PDs at best from any of them in a given game.

Bengals @ Ravens
Bengals: The Paul Brown's Folly will come back to earth against a good Raven squad. The Ravens OL is still solid so the best CIN DL, Smith, will again be held in check at 1-1-0. The LBs will get good production, with Spikes netting 6-4-1 and Simmons 10-2-0. Artrell Hawkins will be busy with 6-2-0. The Other DBs will get you about 5-7 tackles. Ravens: The Raven DL isn't expected to generate sacks, just pressure the QB and tie up blockers, so look for DL Weaver to get 2-0-1 as the best play here. Hartwell is the best starter at LB at 8-10 tackles, with the others coming behind him at 6-8. DB Ed Reed will be at 5-1-0, Demps at 4-0-0 and Baxter at 5-1-0 1PD.

Colts @ Eagles
Colts: The Eagle OL has stabilized a bit as far as giving up a lot of sacks. However, I still think it looks shaky, so Bratzke (2-2-1) and Scioli (1-2-1) should be goods plays. LB Peterson will get at least 8 total tackles. With the Colts' putrid run D, even LB Morris is a good spot play this week with at least 4-3-0. The Colt DBs have been getting 2-4 tackles a game, and that should continue here. Eagles: DL Douglas has the best shot at a big game, and I think he'll get 2-2-2. Walker went flat last week but should get 1-2-1 here. The Eagle LBs have been solid as #2 LBs, and they should get 6-8 tackles this week. DB Walker is back, and should get 6-2-0 1 PD 1 INT.

Texans @ Titans
Texans: The Texan OL has been steady if unspectacular fantasy producers since the team practically lives on the field. DL Walker will be at 5-7 tackles and a sack, and DL Payne at 3-5. LB Foreman was featured in our upgrade feature, and he won't disappoint with 7-4-0. Sharper has been playing well too, and will get 8-1o tackles. He also a threat for a weekly sack. DB Coleman will have about 4-2-0 1 PD. Titans: As usual, start whatever DL you have from the team facing the Texans given their (non) ability to stop sackers. The Titan LB corps has been wracked by injuries. But Bulluck has been an animal, and should easily get 8-3-1. LB Sirmon was great last week, but let's see if he can do it again. Project a safe 6-3-0 and hope for more. DB Williams is living up to his "Tank" nickname - just remember he's questionable with a shoulder injury. Should he play, expect 5-2-0. DB Rolle rolled up a huge 8 tackles last week, but only plan on 5 here due to the anemic Texan running game.

Seahawks @ Cardinals
Seahawks: They still can't stop the run, and the Cardinals OL has been playing well, so don't expect much from any of the 'Hawks DL. LB Bell should get 6-8 tackles, and Kacyvenski 5-7. The team is platooning their LBs so much that it's killing all their value. Avoid unless you are desperate. Reggie Tongue has been the most productive DB, and will have about 7-1-0. Cardinals: Vanden Bosch will get at least 1-2-1 against a shoddy Seahawk OL and Tim Hasslesuck. Where the heck have the Cards LBs gone too? Man have they sucked this year. McKinnon has been the most consistent over the past month at 3-3-0. If you can live with those numbers, play these guys and you'll eventually get lucky when they have the odd huge day, otherwise avoid the whole sorry situation. DB Wilson has been good, and will be counted on to get at least 5-5-0 1PD and is always a threat to get a pick. Lassiter stands to have a good day against the terrible Seahawk QB situation, and should get a pick and 4-3-0.

Redskins @ Jaguars
Redskins: There still isn't much to recommend on the Skins DL, so I hope you aren't forced into starting any of them. The LBs however are another story. Arrington will get 5-3-1 and Armstead 6-3-0. The DBs will get 3-5 tackles. Jaguars: Too bad about DL Stroud. His injury will curtail what has been a fine season. Henderson will again get 5-7 tackles and should get a sack here. LB Rainer has been playing well for the past few weeks, so he should get 5-5-0. DB Darius has been solid and will have 7-4-1.

Patriots @ Bears
Patriots: This week there isn't much to favor the Patriot DL. The whole defensive team will struggle to give you a good fantasy outing since the Bears have been struggling on offense. DL Hamilton will get 3-5 tackles and a sack, and the others should get 2-4. LB Phifer will get maybe 3-5 tackles. DB law should get a pick, and DB Milloy will have 2-4 tackles. Bears: DL Brown is doing well, but is nothing special this week at 1-1-1. LB Urlacher should get at least 10 tackles. LB Colvin will have 7-9. DB Brown will get 6-3-0.

Chiefs @ 49ers
Chiefs: The DL has been inconsistent and played poorly fantasy wise, so expect them to get you at best 2-4 tackles. Anything after that is gravy. LB Maslowski will be a solid play at 5-5-0. LB Patton will have about 4. The DBs have been outstanding though. DB Bartee (when not bandaged up) will get you 6-8 tackles easily, and the others will come in just under that. 49ers: DL Carter remains a must start, and will have 2-3-1. LB Smith should have 5-2-0, Peterson 3-3-0 and Ulbrich 4-3-0. DB Parrish will have 5-7 tackles, and Plummer 3-5 and 1-2 PDs.

Dolphins @ Jets (SNF)
Dolphins: Other than DL Taylor, if you have a MIA DL, start them. The Jets OL has a lot of holes and are plumb out of Dutch boys to plug them. Zach Thomas remains the only viable weekly Dolphin LB starter. The others a re spot plays, and this week is not the spot to start them. DB Marion should get 5-7 tackles and a pick. Jets: All of the Jet IDPs would be better plays if the Fins could get a decent QB in there. DL Ferguson is the best play and will have 2-4 tackles. LB Cowart had a nice week last week but will fall off here and have an average 5-3-0. DB Abraham will get 4-1-0 and Beasley will be at 5-0-0.