Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Adrian Wilson and Patrick Peterson are listed questionable, but there are no indications that they'll miss today's game. Be very careful before trusting Paris Lenon in your lineup today. Lenon did not play in many subpackages last week and the Cardinals are likely to be in a nickel package (and likely dime) for the majority of the game against New England today.
Despite rampant reports that DeMeco Ryans would sit in subpackages last week, he played every down. There's been no indication that things will change this week against Baltimore and I'd not sit Ryans. But I'll be watching for another curveball today. I'm also not panicking on Trent Cole or Jason Babin, but the Eagles are again trying to limit their snaps in rotation. That's a bigger deal for Babin than Cole, especially in balanced or tackle-heavy scoring systems.
The Browns look likely to get Scott Fujita back this week. Expect him to start over L.J. Fort at OLB, but I think Craig Robertson sticks in subpackages for now. Dmitri Patterson starts for Joe Haden; if you're looking for an upside corner, Patterson fits the profile and had a run of CB1 value with Philadelphia two seasons ago.
Thomas Howard is out with a torn ACL. I expect to see Dan Skuta on base downs for now, with Vincent Rey and Manny Lawson splitting subpackage duty. But the reports that Vontaze Burfict may take over long term are very believable. And I'll go one step further. If Rey Maualuga continues to play like he did last week, Burfict may move inside at some point. At either position, Burfict could have LB3+ upside when (not if, BTW) he moves into an every-down role. There hasn't been any indication yet that Taylor Mays won't start, but he's on a very short leash. Carlos Dunlap might be active today, but it'll be at least Week 3 before we see him move back into his preseason role as a 40+ snap per week player.
Daryl Smith is out again this week. Russell Allen again assumes his nickel snaps.
Brandon Flowers is questionable. He was inactive last week under similar circumstances, but practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and looks more likely to play than not. Tamba Hali is also back.
Pat Angerer and Dwight Freeney are out this week. Jerrell Freeman was the lone every-down linebacker last week; Moise Fokou replaced Kavell Conner. It seems clear that the Colts don't believe Conner is good enough in coverage to play every-down. He's around the ball enough to consider a high risk LB3 against Minnesota, but start preparing for other options if you haven't already.
Jabari Greer is questionable but seems a lock to return to the lineup after practicing fully all week. David Hawthorne came out in subpackages for Jonathan Casillas. That was the case early in the preseason as well, so I expect it to continue for now.
Greg Hardy was hit by a flu bug that went through the Carolina locker room this week, but will play. The Panthers used a variety of base and subpackages last week, but Jon Beason played every down. James Anderson nearly played every-down, with Thomas Davis a part-time sub player. Keep Luke Kuechly on your bench until he settles down and begins getting subpackage looks. That, unfortunately, may make him a bye week filler only for the remainder of 2012.
Darrelle Revis is out with a concussion today.
James Harrison and Troy Polamalu are likely out today. Polamalu's calf injury could be a longer term concern. I don't have any specific information, but it's odd for Polamalu to be ruled out so early in the week (without a concussion related problem anyway). Ryan Clark is always a quietly sure DB2 and should have a very good day today. John Norton noted some changes in usage for Larry Foote last week that might make him a stronger than expected every-week play. Regardless, he's a good option against the Jets.
Rolando McClain was limited by an ankle injury this week but will play. Ron Bartell went on IR (w/ return possible) after breaking his shoulder blade last week.
I still think Mason Foster can be used as a LB3 this week, but watch his movement and the Tampa Bay subpackages. Foster was limping and couldn't get to full speed outside the tackles last week and the Bucs used Dakoda Watson as a coverage linebacker in dime packages rather than a rush defensive end.
Keith Rivers is likely out this week. With Michael Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka getting healthy, we may see less rotation this week. I wouldn't trust Boley yet as more than a LB4 starter, but he's worth watching closely this week.
Colin McCarthy is out this week with what I believe to be a high ankle sprain. He could miss another 1-3 weeks. Will Witherspoon moves into the middle and an every-down role. He'll have LB2 upside today, but won't don't expect McCarthy numbers every week. Akeem Ayers should continue to have LB3 value. Zach Brown will play WLB in the base defense. Robert Johnson and Michael Griffin played every down last week, with Jordan Babineaux a very part time player. Babineaux's ability to get to the ball was the primary fantasy draw; Johnson isn't nearly as good in that regard and Griffin misses as many tackles as he makes. With McCarthy out, however, there's some DB3/flex upside in both Johnson and Griffin if you're feeling lucky.
There were no Shanahanigans with the Washington safeties last week as DeJon Gomes and Madieu Williams played every down against New Orleans. They didn't play that well, however, and Reed Doughty is lurking.
Michael Brockers is still out for St. Louis. Darian Stewart wasn't on the injury report last week, but was inactive and may still be struggling with his hamstring. Expect Craig Dahl to continue to start at safety and Jo-Lonn Dunbar to play an every-down role at OLB.
Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman rotated out of the Niners' preferred dime package last week. That was almost certainly a one-week game plan exception against Green Bay. But it worked. I don't think we see either Willis or Bowman drop off the every-down linebacker list, but we'll see how the Niners defend a similar Detroit offense this week.
Despite rampant reports that DeMeco Ryans would sit in subpackages last week, he played every down. There's been no indication that things will change this week against Baltimore and I'd not sit Ryans. But I'll be watching for another curveball today. I'm also not panicking on Trent Cole or Jason Babin, but the Eagles are again trying to limit their snaps in rotation. That's a bigger deal for Babin than Cole, especially in balanced or tackle-heavy scoring systems.
The Browns look likely to get Scott Fujita back this week. Expect him to start over L.J. Fort at OLB, but I think Craig Robertson sticks in subpackages for now. Dmitri Patterson starts for Joe Haden; if you're looking for an upside corner, Patterson fits the profile and had a run of CB1 value with Philadelphia two seasons ago.
Thomas Howard is out with a torn ACL. I expect to see Dan Skuta on base downs for now, with Vincent Rey and Manny Lawson splitting subpackage duty. But the reports that Vontaze Burfict may take over long term are very believable. And I'll go one step further. If Rey Maualuga continues to play like he did last week, Burfict may move inside at some point. At either position, Burfict could have LB3+ upside when (not if, BTW) he moves into an every-down role. There hasn't been any indication yet that Taylor Mays won't start, but he's on a very short leash. Carlos Dunlap might be active today, but it'll be at least Week 3 before we see him move back into his preseason role as a 40+ snap per week player.
Daryl Smith is out again this week. Russell Allen again assumes his nickel snaps.
Brandon Flowers is questionable. He was inactive last week under similar circumstances, but practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and looks more likely to play than not. Tamba Hali is also back.
Pat Angerer and Dwight Freeney are out this week. Jerrell Freeman was the lone every-down linebacker last week; Moise Fokou replaced Kavell Conner. It seems clear that the Colts don't believe Conner is good enough in coverage to play every-down. He's around the ball enough to consider a high risk LB3 against Minnesota, but start preparing for other options if you haven't already.
Jabari Greer is questionable but seems a lock to return to the lineup after practicing fully all week. David Hawthorne came out in subpackages for Jonathan Casillas. That was the case early in the preseason as well, so I expect it to continue for now.
Greg Hardy was hit by a flu bug that went through the Carolina locker room this week, but will play. The Panthers used a variety of base and subpackages last week, but Jon Beason played every down. James Anderson nearly played every-down, with Thomas Davis a part-time sub player. Keep Luke Kuechly on your bench until he settles down and begins getting subpackage looks. That, unfortunately, may make him a bye week filler only for the remainder of 2012.
Darrelle Revis is out with a concussion today.
James Harrison and Troy Polamalu are likely out today. Polamalu's calf injury could be a longer term concern. I don't have any specific information, but it's odd for Polamalu to be ruled out so early in the week (without a concussion related problem anyway). Ryan Clark is always a quietly sure DB2 and should have a very good day today. John Norton noted some changes in usage for Larry Foote last week that might make him a stronger than expected every-week play. Regardless, he's a good option against the Jets.
Rolando McClain was limited by an ankle injury this week but will play. Ron Bartell went on IR (w/ return possible) after breaking his shoulder blade last week.
I still think Mason Foster can be used as a LB3 this week, but watch his movement and the Tampa Bay subpackages. Foster was limping and couldn't get to full speed outside the tackles last week and the Bucs used Dakoda Watson as a coverage linebacker in dime packages rather than a rush defensive end.
Keith Rivers is likely out this week. With Michael Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka getting healthy, we may see less rotation this week. I wouldn't trust Boley yet as more than a LB4 starter, but he's worth watching closely this week.
Colin McCarthy is out this week with what I believe to be a high ankle sprain. He could miss another 1-3 weeks. Will Witherspoon moves into the middle and an every-down role. He'll have LB2 upside today, but won't don't expect McCarthy numbers every week. Akeem Ayers should continue to have LB3 value. Zach Brown will play WLB in the base defense. Robert Johnson and Michael Griffin played every down last week, with Jordan Babineaux a very part time player. Babineaux's ability to get to the ball was the primary fantasy draw; Johnson isn't nearly as good in that regard and Griffin misses as many tackles as he makes. With McCarthy out, however, there's some DB3/flex upside in both Johnson and Griffin if you're feeling lucky.
There were no Shanahanigans with the Washington safeties last week as DeJon Gomes and Madieu Williams played every down against New Orleans. They didn't play that well, however, and Reed Doughty is lurking.
Michael Brockers is still out for St. Louis. Darian Stewart wasn't on the injury report last week, but was inactive and may still be struggling with his hamstring. Expect Craig Dahl to continue to start at safety and Jo-Lonn Dunbar to play an every-down role at OLB.
Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman rotated out of the Niners' preferred dime package last week. That was almost certainly a one-week game plan exception against Green Bay. But it worked. I don't think we see either Willis or Bowman drop off the every-down linebacker list, but we'll see how the Niners defend a similar Detroit offense this week.
