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 Shaun Rogers - DETROIT (Nadratowski) - It appears that Rogers is finally recovering from his season-long bout with an assortment of injuries. He has 8-9-1 2 FR in the past four weeks. This upgrade is for you in keeper and dynasty leagues, since it looks like Rogers can still play at a level that made him a fantasy star last year. The one big question is his injury history. Is this year an aberration or a trend? He's worth a roster spot to find out if you are on the bubble about him or another player. Darren Howard - NEW ORLEANS (Roberson) - Howard has five sacks in his last six games. He's getting to the QB in outstanding fashion. He started slowly this year so he may be a free agent in your league. If so...grab him now. Simeon Rice - TAMPA BAY (Roberson) - This goes without saying, I know, but Rice is just on fire. He is an immediate pickup if for some reason he's available in your league. If your linebackers are weak, I'd suggest picking up Rice and starting him in place of one of them. Aberrations N.D. Kalu - PHILADELPHIA (Nadratowski) - Kalu had done nearly nothing this season previous to this week. But against an obliging and patchwork Ram OL, he went atomic. He should fade off again next week. Downgrades John Henderson JACKSONVILLE (Nadratowski) - Henderson was a stud between weeks 5-8. But after than month, he has tailed off, with only a big week 11 teasing his owners. Henderson burned everyone who started him this week (including myself!). Once is an aberration, but twice is a trend, and for his two sour weeks he gets a downgrade. Pat Williams BUFFALO (Roberson) - Williams was putting up high tackle numbers in the middle of the season. Lately, he's riding the stat roller coaster and more often than not, is not producing. Stay away from him. Instead go looking for a younger linebacker that can get to the QB from time to time. LINEBACKERS Upgrades Bernardo Harris - BALTIMORE (Roberson) - Harris is now back on the radar screen because of the loss of Ray Lewis for the season. Harris will not be putting up 10 solo tackles each game but he should be worth five or six per game for the remainder of the year. Kevin Mitchell - WASHINGTON (Roberson) - Another player that gets the starting nod from here on out due to injury (J.Trotter) Mitchell is one of the most capable backup middle linebackers in the game. Ed Hartwell - BALTIMORE (Nadratowski) - With the loss of Ray Lewis for the season, Hartwell gets an upgrade as well as LB Harris. Hartwell responded by notching an excellent 10-3-0 1 PD outing. Kendrell Bell - PITTSBURGH (Roberson) - Could Bell finally be awakening? After registering two sacks on Sunday, we could be seeing a rise in production but I wouldn't go holding your breath for it. After all, Bell still only tallied three solo tackles. Aberrations Tedy Bruschi NEW ENGLAND (Nadratowski) - Tedy has been tackling well lately, but his numbers this week are bloated with a score. That is twice in the past three weeks he's scored off an interception. The odds of that continuing are mighty low. Downgrades Joey Porter - PITTSBURGH (Roberson) - Porter isn't doing anything consistently so he doesn't warrant a spot on your roster as you head to the playoffs. Immediate downgrade is recommended. Michael Barrow - NEW YORK (Roberson) - Barrow was injured in Sunday's game. Keep your eyes on the injury news in the next two days to see how serious this is. At this time, Barrow was already worthy of a small downgrade, but if he's out obviously that cements it. Ray Lewis - BALTIMORE (Nadratowski) - In case you have been in orbit this week, Lewis had season-ending shoulder surgery. See LBs Hartwell and Harris under upgrades, above. Mike Caldwell - CHICAGO (Nadratowski) - As much as it pains me to do this to a Bear, I have to downgrade Caldwell. He has been frustratingly inconsistent the past month. He has not put together two straght, solid games in that time span. Three assists this week just isn't going to cut it. Jeremiah Trotter - WASHINGTON (Roberson) - Trotter has suffered a season ending knee injury and is lost for the season. His replacement, Kevin Mitchell is definitely worth a look from you as he's even better against the run than Trotter was. DEFENSIVE BACKS Upgrades Derek Ross DALLAS (Nadratowski) - Since the week 10 bye, rookie Ross has been playing at a consistently high level. He has 17-3-0 3 PDs since then. Ross is a guy to keep around as a keeper or a mid draft pick for you to sneak in next year that should play at a solid starting level for you. Aberrations Bobby Taylor PHILADELPHIA (Nadratowski) - Taylor had a solid tackle total, but his numbers are inflated by his TD. Congrats if you played him this week. He will go back to netting 3-5 tackles a game after this. Jason Sehorn NEW YORK GIANTS (Nadratowski) - All of the starting Giant DBs put up nice tackle numbers. But Sehorn led them all with 9-2-0. Can you say "picked on"? That shouldn't happen again. Downgrades None