Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Sean Weatherspoon is listed questionable, but I think he plays despite the short week. I'll post ASAP if he's a surprise early game inactive.
Buster Skrine is now starting for Sheldon Brown permanently and Usama Young has taken over at FS for Eric Hagg. Skrine has some value as a CB2, as does Dmitri Patterson, who continues to fill in for Joe Haden. I think Skrine likely keeps the starting position when Haden returns, with Patterson returning to the nickel job and Brown competing for dime snaps or, possibly, transitioning to free safety. The Browns also continued to use Craig Robertson in the nickel despite Scott Fujita's return last week. Against the Buffalo spread, that makes Robertson a sneaky LB4 in deeper leagues today.
Carlos Dunlap is back for Cincinnati. With a full week of practice, the Bengals may let Dunlap take 50 snaps, especially with the rotation suffering the loss of Jamaal Anderson. Expect Vontaze Burfict to play WLB in the base defense, with Vincent Rey as the nickel OLB next to Rey Maualuga. Neither have clear upside against Washington. Jeromy Miles likely starts for Taylor Mays again this week. Leon Hall is likely out today with a calf injury.
Brandon Meriweather was back to a limited practice this week, but probably out this week. He could bump DeJon Gomes from the lineup next week. Rob Jackson will get a majority of the OLB snaps in place of Brian Orakpo.
Colin McCarthy is out again this week. Will Witherspoon starts at MLB and plays every down. Zach Brown starts at WLB. Both Witherspoon and Ayers remain LB3+ while McCarthy sits.
Expect Wes Woodyard to again rotate in the base defense with Keith Brooking -- at least until Brooking breaks down.
Russell Allen will continue to play every down in Daryl Smith's absence. We're two weeks into Smith's recovery from aggravating his groin strain. He's yet to practice and could be out another 1-2 weeks or more.
Pat Angerer remains out with his foot fracture. There's been no indication that he'll be back at practice over the bye week, which could mean that Week 5-6 are in question as well. There's no need to rush him back with Jerrell Freeman playing capably. I still expect that we'll see Angerer/Conner in the base and Angerer/Freeman in the nickel when Angerer returns.
Jonathan Casillas is questionable, but able to make it through consecutive limited practices on Thursday and Friday. It's an early game, so watch the inactives here. If Casillas is down, David Hawthorne likely becomes an every-down linebacker today and worthy of LB3/flex consideration.
The Jets cut Bryan Thomas this week to make room on their roster. He's expected to be re-signed but Garrett McIntyre gets another start at OLB (with Aaron Maybin getting a minor subpackage rotational role).
James Harrison and Troy Polamalu remain out this week. Polamalu is still not practicing and the calf injury smells like a 3-4 week absence. The OLB rotation with Jason Worilds and Chris Carter will continue. Ryan Mundy replaces Polamalu again.
Rolando McClain is questionable and hadn't yet been cleared to play according to Dennis Allen on Friday. He's not been ruled out, but he's a very risky start. If you put him in your lineup, have a ready LB3 hedge for him. Travis Goethel would play MLB, with Miles Burris assuming nickel snaps alongside Phillip Wheeler. Wheeler and Burris would be viable LB3, Goethel is an option in deep tackle heavy leagues only.
Erin Henderson is out with a concussion today. Curtis Jasper Brinkley will play every down and the matchup is strong enough to consider him as a LB3. Marvin Mitchell will play WLB.
Mason Foster looked more healthy last week, but continues to rotate out of some subpackages. Sooner or later, his production will start to reflect the loss of snaps should that continue. Use him as a LB3, but don't hesitate to sit him if you've another comparable option.
Paul Kruger looks likely to return tonight, but Albert McClellan and Courtney Upshaw are earning playing time. Bernard Pollard will play through his chest injury. There's a small chance of re-aggravation, but he's safe to use as a DB2+.
Buster Skrine is now starting for Sheldon Brown permanently and Usama Young has taken over at FS for Eric Hagg. Skrine has some value as a CB2, as does Dmitri Patterson, who continues to fill in for Joe Haden. I think Skrine likely keeps the starting position when Haden returns, with Patterson returning to the nickel job and Brown competing for dime snaps or, possibly, transitioning to free safety. The Browns also continued to use Craig Robertson in the nickel despite Scott Fujita's return last week. Against the Buffalo spread, that makes Robertson a sneaky LB4 in deeper leagues today.
Carlos Dunlap is back for Cincinnati. With a full week of practice, the Bengals may let Dunlap take 50 snaps, especially with the rotation suffering the loss of Jamaal Anderson. Expect Vontaze Burfict to play WLB in the base defense, with Vincent Rey as the nickel OLB next to Rey Maualuga. Neither have clear upside against Washington. Jeromy Miles likely starts for Taylor Mays again this week. Leon Hall is likely out today with a calf injury.
Brandon Meriweather was back to a limited practice this week, but probably out this week. He could bump DeJon Gomes from the lineup next week. Rob Jackson will get a majority of the OLB snaps in place of Brian Orakpo.
Colin McCarthy is out again this week. Will Witherspoon starts at MLB and plays every down. Zach Brown starts at WLB. Both Witherspoon and Ayers remain LB3+ while McCarthy sits.
Expect Wes Woodyard to again rotate in the base defense with Keith Brooking -- at least until Brooking breaks down.
Russell Allen will continue to play every down in Daryl Smith's absence. We're two weeks into Smith's recovery from aggravating his groin strain. He's yet to practice and could be out another 1-2 weeks or more.
Pat Angerer remains out with his foot fracture. There's been no indication that he'll be back at practice over the bye week, which could mean that Week 5-6 are in question as well. There's no need to rush him back with Jerrell Freeman playing capably. I still expect that we'll see Angerer/Conner in the base and Angerer/Freeman in the nickel when Angerer returns.
Jonathan Casillas is questionable, but able to make it through consecutive limited practices on Thursday and Friday. It's an early game, so watch the inactives here. If Casillas is down, David Hawthorne likely becomes an every-down linebacker today and worthy of LB3/flex consideration.
The Jets cut Bryan Thomas this week to make room on their roster. He's expected to be re-signed but Garrett McIntyre gets another start at OLB (with Aaron Maybin getting a minor subpackage rotational role).
James Harrison and Troy Polamalu remain out this week. Polamalu is still not practicing and the calf injury smells like a 3-4 week absence. The OLB rotation with Jason Worilds and Chris Carter will continue. Ryan Mundy replaces Polamalu again.
Rolando McClain is questionable and hadn't yet been cleared to play according to Dennis Allen on Friday. He's not been ruled out, but he's a very risky start. If you put him in your lineup, have a ready LB3 hedge for him. Travis Goethel would play MLB, with Miles Burris assuming nickel snaps alongside Phillip Wheeler. Wheeler and Burris would be viable LB3, Goethel is an option in deep tackle heavy leagues only.
Erin Henderson is out with a concussion today. Curtis Jasper Brinkley will play every down and the matchup is strong enough to consider him as a LB3. Marvin Mitchell will play WLB.
Mason Foster looked more healthy last week, but continues to rotate out of some subpackages. Sooner or later, his production will start to reflect the loss of snaps should that continue. Use him as a LB3, but don't hesitate to sit him if you've another comparable option.
Paul Kruger looks likely to return tonight, but Albert McClellan and Courtney Upshaw are earning playing time. Bernard Pollard will play through his chest injury. There's a small chance of re-aggravation, but he's safe to use as a DB2+.
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