Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Carolina
Nic Harris will play WLB this week, with Jon Beason shifting inside for Dan Connor. Harris has the attractive WLB spot in a defense that plays a lot of Tampa-2, but he won’t play in the nickel packages and his upside is more limited and risky than Connor’s. Consider him a LB4+ this week. Beason’s value moves back into the mid-LB1 tier or better.
Tampa Bay
Kyle Moore is out with a shoulder injury. Quincy Black tweaked an ankle mid-week, but practiced fully and looks likely to play though he’s listed questionable.
Black is INACTIVE today. Dakoda Watson starts at SLB.
Cincinnati
Chris Crocker didn’t practice all week and isn’t likely to play. Chinedum Ndukwe is likely his replacement. The Bengals’ secondary will also be without nickel corner Morgan Trent. Both Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga are probable after missing practice earlier in the week. Neither are great plays this week, as the Colts are likely to keep the Bengals in nickel situations to take advantage of the secondary issues.
Crocker is inactive. Ndukwe starts for him.
Indianapolis
Gary Brackett and Clint Session did not practice this week. Both are listed questionable, but both look unlikely to play. With both out, Pat Angerer moves to MLB, with Tyjuan Hagler playing WLB and Phillip Wheeler back at SLB. The Colts may get ahead early, but Angerer should still have a nice day. Jerraud Powers is expected to return to the lineup.
Brackett and Session are inactive. Expecting Angerer in the middle, with Hagler and Wheeler outside.
Dallas
Nothing major to note here.
New York Giants
Nothing major to note here. Michael Boley remains the only every-down linebacker.
Detroit
DeAndre Levy looked nearly 100% last week. His lateral movement and range were impressive, though he was still inconsistent at the point of attack. Cliff Avril is questionable, but looks unlikely to play after missing practice Friday following a limited practice Thursday. Chris Houston, CC Brown and Alphonso Smith are also questionable after being limited all week. Amari Spievey played every down for Brown last week and was better than he’d been in previous weeks.
Avril is inactive and Spievey starts for Brown.
Buffalo
The Bills switched fronts again last week, using more 44 than any other front and some 46 as well. Paul Posluszny was moved around in those formations but generally looked and produced like the best player in the box. He should remain a safe LB1. Akin Ayodele played inside and Arthur Moats got lots of snaps as the 4th linebacker. Chris Kelsay took more snaps at end than OLB.
Houston
The Texans are planning to use Brian Cushing at OLB more often this week. it’s not 100% clear how the rotation with Kevin Bentley will work, but I’d guess that Cushing sees most of his base defensive snaps outside in the 4-3 or in the 46, which the Texans used often last week. Glover Quin is listed questionable, but practiced fully on Friday.
Jacksonville
The Jaguars lost Aaron Kampman to a torn ACL this week. Derrick Harvey could move over to RDE, but the bulk of the snaps will likely be a rotation among Jeremy Mincey, Austen Lane and Harvey. Mincey is slightly more polished than Lane, but Lane has made the most of his rotational snaps as a pass rusher. None are likely to prove themselves as 50-60 snap players with statistical value.
Mincey and Lane starting at DE today.
Kansas City
The Chiefs may be without both Kendrick Lewis and Jon McGraw this week. Donald Washington saw time at safety last week. He’s more of a corner turned free safety, so Eric Berry should stay in his usual role.
Denver
The Broncos announced that DJ Williams wouldn’t start and most speculation has him missing the first quarter. There’s nothing official from the team on how much time he’ll miss. Consider him a very risky play. Joe Mays will probably see the snaps Williams misses, but I’d expect that Mario Haggan gets ILB snaps in subpackages, with the Broncos using dime personnel if Darcel McBath can go.
Minnesota
Chris Cook will start for Asher Allen at CB. The Vikings went back to their 2007 and 2008 roots last week, using lots more linebacker blitzes than they had earlier in the season. That helped spring Jared Allen and Ray Edwards, especially late in the game, and could do the same against the Bears, who have been the best pass rushing matchup in the league.
Chicago
Zack Bowman was again limited all week with his foot problem, while Tim Jennings is off the injury report. Expect Jennings to play every down opposite Charles Tillman again.
New York Jets
Nothing major to note here. Vernon Gholston is seeing more time in rotation with Shaun Ellis, but Ellis is still getting 60-70% or more of the Jets’ snaps.
Cleveland
Nothing major to note here. Shaun Rogers has been limited with an ankle injury and is questionable but expected to play.
Seattle
Nothing major to note here. David Hawthorne had a big game last week, but was still leaving the field in nickel situations when the game was close. Kam Chancellor played very well during the second half after the game got out of hand and could start to see time in rotation with Lawyer Milloy.
Arizona
Darnell Dockett, Clark Haggans and Paris Lenon are all questionable. Beat writers are expecting all three to play this week. Lenon played every down, with Gerald Hayes playing every base defensive down ahead of Daryl Washington. Washington took one snap after Lenon limped off the field late last week and will see snaps only if Lenon is inactive. Hayes is probably ahead of Washington on the subpackage depth chart if Lenon can’t go. Kerry Rhodes was limited all week, but is probable.
St. Louis
Craig Dahl will play for the injured James Butler, but we could see some snaps go to Michael Lewis in dime situations.
San Francisco
Reggie Smith will see time in rotation with Taylor Mays, whose inconsistent play has drawn the ire of the Niners’ coaches.
Tennessee
Nothing major of note here. Tony Brown will return to play this week. It’s possible that Will Witherspoon could lose snaps this week if the Titans elect to use dime personnel in passing situations as they did at times in Week 8.
Miami
The Dolphins cut Jason Allen, who was picked up by Houston, last week. Al Harris was signed, but Sean Smith will start and see full time duty again this week.
New England
Patrick Chung was limited all week and is listed questionable again. He was talking to reporters this week, however, which is a good sign that he’ll return this week. It’s a late game, however, so have a backup plan if you can swap players out before their game time.
Pittsburgh
James Harrison was added to the injury report Saturday with back spasms and is questionable. There’s been no other information released. Lawrence Timmons is likely the backup at OLB, with Larry Foote moving inside if Harrison cannot go.
Philadelphia
Nate Allen and Ellis Hobbs are out. Dmitri Patterson makes a fine fantasy replacement for Hobbs. Kurt Coleman starts at FS.
Washington
LaRon Landry and Brian Orakpo were both limited this week. Landry is questionable and Orakpo is probable. Both should play.
Nic Harris will play WLB this week, with Jon Beason shifting inside for Dan Connor. Harris has the attractive WLB spot in a defense that plays a lot of Tampa-2, but he won’t play in the nickel packages and his upside is more limited and risky than Connor’s. Consider him a LB4+ this week. Beason’s value moves back into the mid-LB1 tier or better.
Tampa Bay
Kyle Moore is out with a shoulder injury. Quincy Black tweaked an ankle mid-week, but practiced fully and looks likely to play though he’s listed questionable.
Black is INACTIVE today. Dakoda Watson starts at SLB.
Cincinnati
Chris Crocker didn’t practice all week and isn’t likely to play. Chinedum Ndukwe is likely his replacement. The Bengals’ secondary will also be without nickel corner Morgan Trent. Both Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga are probable after missing practice earlier in the week. Neither are great plays this week, as the Colts are likely to keep the Bengals in nickel situations to take advantage of the secondary issues.
Crocker is inactive. Ndukwe starts for him.
Indianapolis
Gary Brackett and Clint Session did not practice this week. Both are listed questionable, but both look unlikely to play. With both out, Pat Angerer moves to MLB, with Tyjuan Hagler playing WLB and Phillip Wheeler back at SLB. The Colts may get ahead early, but Angerer should still have a nice day. Jerraud Powers is expected to return to the lineup.
Brackett and Session are inactive. Expecting Angerer in the middle, with Hagler and Wheeler outside.
Dallas
Nothing major to note here.
New York Giants
Nothing major to note here. Michael Boley remains the only every-down linebacker.
Detroit
DeAndre Levy looked nearly 100% last week. His lateral movement and range were impressive, though he was still inconsistent at the point of attack. Cliff Avril is questionable, but looks unlikely to play after missing practice Friday following a limited practice Thursday. Chris Houston, CC Brown and Alphonso Smith are also questionable after being limited all week. Amari Spievey played every down for Brown last week and was better than he’d been in previous weeks.
Avril is inactive and Spievey starts for Brown.
Buffalo
The Bills switched fronts again last week, using more 44 than any other front and some 46 as well. Paul Posluszny was moved around in those formations but generally looked and produced like the best player in the box. He should remain a safe LB1. Akin Ayodele played inside and Arthur Moats got lots of snaps as the 4th linebacker. Chris Kelsay took more snaps at end than OLB.
Houston
The Texans are planning to use Brian Cushing at OLB more often this week. it’s not 100% clear how the rotation with Kevin Bentley will work, but I’d guess that Cushing sees most of his base defensive snaps outside in the 4-3 or in the 46, which the Texans used often last week. Glover Quin is listed questionable, but practiced fully on Friday.
Jacksonville
The Jaguars lost Aaron Kampman to a torn ACL this week. Derrick Harvey could move over to RDE, but the bulk of the snaps will likely be a rotation among Jeremy Mincey, Austen Lane and Harvey. Mincey is slightly more polished than Lane, but Lane has made the most of his rotational snaps as a pass rusher. None are likely to prove themselves as 50-60 snap players with statistical value.
Mincey and Lane starting at DE today.
Kansas City
The Chiefs may be without both Kendrick Lewis and Jon McGraw this week. Donald Washington saw time at safety last week. He’s more of a corner turned free safety, so Eric Berry should stay in his usual role.
Denver
The Broncos announced that DJ Williams wouldn’t start and most speculation has him missing the first quarter. There’s nothing official from the team on how much time he’ll miss. Consider him a very risky play. Joe Mays will probably see the snaps Williams misses, but I’d expect that Mario Haggan gets ILB snaps in subpackages, with the Broncos using dime personnel if Darcel McBath can go.
Minnesota
Chris Cook will start for Asher Allen at CB. The Vikings went back to their 2007 and 2008 roots last week, using lots more linebacker blitzes than they had earlier in the season. That helped spring Jared Allen and Ray Edwards, especially late in the game, and could do the same against the Bears, who have been the best pass rushing matchup in the league.
Chicago
Zack Bowman was again limited all week with his foot problem, while Tim Jennings is off the injury report. Expect Jennings to play every down opposite Charles Tillman again.
New York Jets
Nothing major to note here. Vernon Gholston is seeing more time in rotation with Shaun Ellis, but Ellis is still getting 60-70% or more of the Jets’ snaps.
Cleveland
Nothing major to note here. Shaun Rogers has been limited with an ankle injury and is questionable but expected to play.
Seattle
Nothing major to note here. David Hawthorne had a big game last week, but was still leaving the field in nickel situations when the game was close. Kam Chancellor played very well during the second half after the game got out of hand and could start to see time in rotation with Lawyer Milloy.
Arizona
Darnell Dockett, Clark Haggans and Paris Lenon are all questionable. Beat writers are expecting all three to play this week. Lenon played every down, with Gerald Hayes playing every base defensive down ahead of Daryl Washington. Washington took one snap after Lenon limped off the field late last week and will see snaps only if Lenon is inactive. Hayes is probably ahead of Washington on the subpackage depth chart if Lenon can’t go. Kerry Rhodes was limited all week, but is probable.
St. Louis
Craig Dahl will play for the injured James Butler, but we could see some snaps go to Michael Lewis in dime situations.
San Francisco
Reggie Smith will see time in rotation with Taylor Mays, whose inconsistent play has drawn the ire of the Niners’ coaches.
Tennessee
Nothing major of note here. Tony Brown will return to play this week. It’s possible that Will Witherspoon could lose snaps this week if the Titans elect to use dime personnel in passing situations as they did at times in Week 8.
Miami
The Dolphins cut Jason Allen, who was picked up by Houston, last week. Al Harris was signed, but Sean Smith will start and see full time duty again this week.
New England
Patrick Chung was limited all week and is listed questionable again. He was talking to reporters this week, however, which is a good sign that he’ll return this week. It’s a late game, however, so have a backup plan if you can swap players out before their game time.
Pittsburgh
James Harrison was added to the injury report Saturday with back spasms and is questionable. There’s been no other information released. Lawrence Timmons is likely the backup at OLB, with Larry Foote moving inside if Harrison cannot go.
Philadelphia
Nate Allen and Ellis Hobbs are out. Dmitri Patterson makes a fine fantasy replacement for Hobbs. Kurt Coleman starts at FS.
Washington
LaRon Landry and Brian Orakpo were both limited this week. Landry is questionable and Orakpo is probable. Both should play.
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Landry fully participated today in practice. Good sign for us since he's playing on monday night.
