Defensive Upgrades/Downgrades by Brian Roberson and Tom Nadratowski Every week, FootballGuys.com's resident Individual Defensive Player (IDP) Gurus - Brian Roberson and Tom Nadratowski- will be providing you with immediate opinions on what players are stepping up their play, which ones are falling down on the job and which players just happened to have a horseshoe in their pocket for one game. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Upgrades Dwight Freeney - IND (Nadratowski) - Two weeks in a row now Freeney has produced big. He got an huge 5-0-2 1PD week 11. This is the same guy that sacked Vick four times in one game in college. I felt that this rookie was the best pure pass rusher to come out in the draft and it looks like he's caught on finally. A great pickup or keeper for you dynasty/keeper owners. Aberrations Adewale Ogunleye - MIA (Nadratowski) - Ogunleye's great game this week is only his second in the last four. Congrats if you started him. His inconsistency marks him as an aberration though. Downgrades Mike Rucker - CAR (Nadratowski) - Rucker has one sack in the last three games. He's also averaging a mere 4 tackles per game. I think his injury is still nagging him. The sack drought has to end soon, but for now I give him a small downgrade. Justin Smith - CIN (Roberson) - Smith is playing so lackluster right now, he's not drawing double teams from his opponents. Sunday he registered just one assist and was close to being shut out. Downgrade him as it is becoming more and more clear that you just cannot count on defensive linemen each week. LINEBACKERS Upgrades Ray Lewis - BAL (Roberson) - Gee, ya think?? He's back and even at 80% he tallied six solo tackles. Not bad for a guy who could've been out for the year just a few weeks back. Get him off your IR and into the lineup now. He's as good as it gets in fantasy football. The man never disappoints as long as he's on the field. Dat Nguyen - DAL (Roberson) - Quietly, Nguyen snuck back into the lineup this week. He turned in a 5-2-0 with a pass defensed. Looks like he's ready to give you a boost. If he's available, you HAVE to go get him. He's on the field enough in that Cowboys' defense to really make a difference for your team. T.J. Slaughter - JAC (Nadratowski) - Slaughter has shown a steady upward trend the last three weeks. His 7-2-0 1 PD game this week gets him an upgrade. He may still be around if you need help at this late date. Jamie Sharper - HOU (Nadratowski) - His 7-3-2 game this week gets him a small upgrade. Another good outing next week and I'll put him back in my good graces. Orlando Huff - SEA (Roberson) - Huff is the new starter in the middle in Seattle. He should hold that job for at least 5 more weeks while Isaiah Kacyvenski recovers from his injury. Huff will get more comfortable as the games progress. One alarm of note�Watch out for Anthony Simmons' return and see how that affects Huff's playing time. Marcus Bell has been subbing for Simmons. When Simmons comes back (perhaps two weeks) Bell could be moved into the middle. Aberrations Jason Gildon - PIT (Nadratowski) - Gildon was due to have a big game, but it is likely his last. Porter and Farrior have played more consistently than he so far. However, this is two weeks in a row that Gildon has done well, so this is an aberration on the bubble for being an upgrade. One more and I'll upgrade him for good. Greg Biekert - MIN (Roberson) - Two interceptions for the old guy. Let's not count on that to happen again for about oh�forever? Biekert is still a spot starter but doesn't put up the consistency you need. Downgrades Bernardo Harris - BAL (Roberson) - Harris was filling in for Ray Lewis. Stress WAS. Now Harris will be relegated to the bench while the greatest LB in the game is on the field. If you have deep rosters, keep Harris in case Lewis has a relapse. Otherwise, cut him loose. Ed Hartwell - BAL (Nadratowski) - As with Harris, Hartwell's production will be limited by Ray Lewis' reappearance. The numbers you see this week are likely what he will put up from here on out as long as Lewis stays healthy. DEFENSIVE BACKS Upgrades Quentin Jammer - SD (Nadratowski) - Jammer has had two good games in a row, and three out of the last four. He looks to be a rare commodity - an extremely gifted NFL player who translates that into fantasy stats. A great candidate to trade for if you are looking to build for next year. Derek Ross - DAL (Roberson) - Ross' numbers have been superb of late. He put up 10 solo tackles against the Colts this past week and should continue with more of the same as the guy all quarterbacks throw on each week. Hey, tackles are tackles! Todd Lyght - DET (Nadratowski) - Lyght is averaging six tackles and a PD per game. For that, he gets an upgrade. There is a slight chance that he may still be around for those who could use a good spot play/backup. Aberrations Champ Bailey - WAS (Nadratowski) - Bailey managed 7-0-0 6 PDs. The tackle numbers are ok (5/game so far), but 6 of his last 8 PDs obviously came this week, which caused the aberration. Downgrades Reggie Howard - CAR (Nadratowski) - Howard has been a regular dud the last month. This week he managed a paltry 2-0-0. He last had a big game week 8, and before that his last decent outing was week 5-2-0 week 4. He's just not getting it done, so move him if you haven't already. Brock Marion - MIA (Roberson) - Marion used to be top notch as far as point producing safeties. He's clearly lost a step. No longer someone to depend on, he's not even the best safety on his own team. To make matters worse, he is not collecting special teams' tackles anymore either.