Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Atlanta
Stephen Nicholas is out again today. Mike Peterson will take his place. Thomas DeCoud was back playing every down last week.
Seattle
Kam Chancellor is unlikely to play today (doubtful) per Pete Carroll. It should be Atari Bigby is his place. I don’t expect Bigby to be as effective as Chancellor, but he’s a reasonable DB3 spot start in a good matchup. Matt McCoy is probable. McCoy and Leroy Hill were the nickel backers last week. That’s likely what we’ll see again today, though it’s possible that David Hawthorne looked healthy enough to force a change there.
Cincinnati
Robert Geathers will return this week, but his absence didn’t affect the snaps of the defensive line. Expect the same rotation we’ve seen most of the season.
Carolina
Chris Gamble isn’t out with a concussion today. Charles Godfrey should return after a full week of practice. Jason Williams was productive last week, but may see his snap count drop if the Bears choose to use a slot receiver frequently. Thomas Williams was with James Anderson in the slot.
Chicago
Chris Harris is questionable but left practice with an aggravated hamstring injury this week and seems unlikely to play. Major Wright will be back, but the safety rotation should be avoided here.
Denver
Elvis Dumervil and DJ Williams whould both return this week. Dumervil is questionable and may only play on nickel downs. Williams fully practiced and should resume his every-down WLB role. Before his injury, Williams and Wes Woodyard were the nickel backers when Von Miller played from a 3-pt stance. Joe Mays played well enough to challenge that situation, but still likely sees his snap count drop today.
Detroit
Justin Durant is out with a concussion today; Bobby Carpenter starts for him. Carpenter never made it high enough on the nickel depth chart this preseason to be considered a major threat for subpackage snaps.
San Diego
Na’il Diggs played in the nickel packages for Donald Butler last week. The coaches hinted this week that was the plan as soon as Diggs was comfortable in the defense. Butler was quoted as saying he was happy with that arrangement. The Dolphins, if they fall behind, could use enough spread sets to limit Butler’s snap count significantly. Use him with caution.
Kansas City
Jon McGraw was limited all week with a shin injury. He’d be replaced by Donald Washington again, and could be rotated regardless as he sounds very much like a GTD. Jovan Belcher saw time in some nickel packages last week, but not all. Washington (assuming McGraw is inactive) is probably worth considering as a spot DB3.
New England
Patrick Chung was limited this week and listed questionable. He said he could play and would be ready if needed – not exactly a ringing endorsement for his prospects today. Brandon Spikes played more snaps last week, but doesn’t look likely to become an every-down LB anytime soon.
Oakland
Michael Huff and Matt Shaughnessy didn’t practice this week and neither is likely to play. Jarvis Moss and Trevor Scott should see more snaps today, but neither are a great bet for pass rush value against Tom Brady.
New Orleans
Will Herring and Martez Wilson, who started last week, are out today. Jonathan Vilma was limited and listed questionable with his knee injury. Vilma looks likely to play, but isn’t guaranteed to last the entire game. If he’s inactive, Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a solid start. Otherwise, all of the NO linebackers are shaky fantasy bets.
Jacksonville
Matt Roth looks likely to back this week. Aaron Kampman and Derek Cox (again) are out. Dwight Lowery played every down last week ahead of Courtney Greene, but Chris Prosinski saw a good number of snaps in subpackages.
NY Giants
Both Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora made the trip to Arizona. That would strongly suggest that Umenyiora will be active and in the rotation. Tuck will be a GTD and possibly a play-by-play decision. It’s very hard to bench Tuck if he’s active. Umenyiora will likely ease back into the usual rotation with JPP. Umenyiora will be a boom-bust pick any week he’s active.
Arizona
Daryl Washington is off the injury report. He was moving well last week and should be back in his every-down role today. Paris Lenon is likely to take the bulk of the snaps over Stewart Bradley at the other ILB position.
Houston
DeMeco Ryans continues to recover, but hasn’t yet been confirmed to return to the nickel subpackage. He’ll be a big risk against the Steelers, who have been relying on lots of spread sets and should again today. Mario Williams was limited with a knee injury this week, but probable to play. The Pittsburgh matchup looks strong for him.
San Francisco
Donte Whitner was limited by his hip injury all week and is questionable but expected to play.
Philadelphia
Brian Rolle replaces Casey Matthews at WLB. He should play most downs, but Keenan Clayton is a threat to see time in nickel packages. The SF matchup might not be strong enough to test Rolle’s value. Nate Allen will replace Kurt Coleman in the Eagles’ starting lineup, but expect Philadelphia to try to get Jaiquawn Jarrett ready to play in the coming weeks.
Tennessee
Gerald McRath is likely out today (doubtful, didn’t practice). It’s likely that Will Witherspoon becomes an every-down LB in his absence. It’s also notable that Barrett Ruud said a shoulder injury could limit him most of the season. That’ll affect his tackle numbers and likely his 2012 value. Colin McCarthy replaced him last week and stayed in for a nickel down or two. He’s worth watching. Chris Hope will be back today.
Washington
LaRon Landry was back last week. He missed a small handful of snaps, but looked like his usual dynamic and disruptive self. He practiced fully all week and will be a top DB unless he has an Achilles’ setback.
NY Jets
David Harris seems to be nearly fully recovered from his toe injury. He moved better last week, played every down and made it through a full practice both Thursday and Friday. He could be back as a viable LB3+ v Baltimore this week.
Indianapolis
The Colts put Gary Brackett and Melvin Bullitt on IR this week and (likely) demoted Jacob Lacey for Terrence Johnson. Pat Angerer is now anchoring the depth chart at MLB. He’s likely to play an every-down role, but there’s a chance that we see Kavell Conner and Ernie Sims there when Sims is ready to play. That doesn’t look likely to be this week. Bullitt will be replaced by David Caldwell and Joe Lefeged. The rotation will kill the value of either, but I think Lefeged may eventually take over full time.
Tampa Bay
Quincy Black was back to a full practice this week, but Mason Foster remains an every-down MLB.
Stephen Nicholas is out again today. Mike Peterson will take his place. Thomas DeCoud was back playing every down last week.
Seattle
Kam Chancellor is unlikely to play today (doubtful) per Pete Carroll. It should be Atari Bigby is his place. I don’t expect Bigby to be as effective as Chancellor, but he’s a reasonable DB3 spot start in a good matchup. Matt McCoy is probable. McCoy and Leroy Hill were the nickel backers last week. That’s likely what we’ll see again today, though it’s possible that David Hawthorne looked healthy enough to force a change there.
Cincinnati
Robert Geathers will return this week, but his absence didn’t affect the snaps of the defensive line. Expect the same rotation we’ve seen most of the season.
Carolina
Chris Gamble isn’t out with a concussion today. Charles Godfrey should return after a full week of practice. Jason Williams was productive last week, but may see his snap count drop if the Bears choose to use a slot receiver frequently. Thomas Williams was with James Anderson in the slot.
Chicago
Chris Harris is questionable but left practice with an aggravated hamstring injury this week and seems unlikely to play. Major Wright will be back, but the safety rotation should be avoided here.
Denver
Elvis Dumervil and DJ Williams whould both return this week. Dumervil is questionable and may only play on nickel downs. Williams fully practiced and should resume his every-down WLB role. Before his injury, Williams and Wes Woodyard were the nickel backers when Von Miller played from a 3-pt stance. Joe Mays played well enough to challenge that situation, but still likely sees his snap count drop today.
Detroit
Justin Durant is out with a concussion today; Bobby Carpenter starts for him. Carpenter never made it high enough on the nickel depth chart this preseason to be considered a major threat for subpackage snaps.
San Diego
Na’il Diggs played in the nickel packages for Donald Butler last week. The coaches hinted this week that was the plan as soon as Diggs was comfortable in the defense. Butler was quoted as saying he was happy with that arrangement. The Dolphins, if they fall behind, could use enough spread sets to limit Butler’s snap count significantly. Use him with caution.
Kansas City
Jon McGraw was limited all week with a shin injury. He’d be replaced by Donald Washington again, and could be rotated regardless as he sounds very much like a GTD. Jovan Belcher saw time in some nickel packages last week, but not all. Washington (assuming McGraw is inactive) is probably worth considering as a spot DB3.
New England
Patrick Chung was limited this week and listed questionable. He said he could play and would be ready if needed – not exactly a ringing endorsement for his prospects today. Brandon Spikes played more snaps last week, but doesn’t look likely to become an every-down LB anytime soon.
Oakland
Michael Huff and Matt Shaughnessy didn’t practice this week and neither is likely to play. Jarvis Moss and Trevor Scott should see more snaps today, but neither are a great bet for pass rush value against Tom Brady.
New Orleans
Will Herring and Martez Wilson, who started last week, are out today. Jonathan Vilma was limited and listed questionable with his knee injury. Vilma looks likely to play, but isn’t guaranteed to last the entire game. If he’s inactive, Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a solid start. Otherwise, all of the NO linebackers are shaky fantasy bets.
Jacksonville
Matt Roth looks likely to back this week. Aaron Kampman and Derek Cox (again) are out. Dwight Lowery played every down last week ahead of Courtney Greene, but Chris Prosinski saw a good number of snaps in subpackages.
NY Giants
Both Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora made the trip to Arizona. That would strongly suggest that Umenyiora will be active and in the rotation. Tuck will be a GTD and possibly a play-by-play decision. It’s very hard to bench Tuck if he’s active. Umenyiora will likely ease back into the usual rotation with JPP. Umenyiora will be a boom-bust pick any week he’s active.
Arizona
Daryl Washington is off the injury report. He was moving well last week and should be back in his every-down role today. Paris Lenon is likely to take the bulk of the snaps over Stewart Bradley at the other ILB position.
Houston
DeMeco Ryans continues to recover, but hasn’t yet been confirmed to return to the nickel subpackage. He’ll be a big risk against the Steelers, who have been relying on lots of spread sets and should again today. Mario Williams was limited with a knee injury this week, but probable to play. The Pittsburgh matchup looks strong for him.
San Francisco
Donte Whitner was limited by his hip injury all week and is questionable but expected to play.
Philadelphia
Brian Rolle replaces Casey Matthews at WLB. He should play most downs, but Keenan Clayton is a threat to see time in nickel packages. The SF matchup might not be strong enough to test Rolle’s value. Nate Allen will replace Kurt Coleman in the Eagles’ starting lineup, but expect Philadelphia to try to get Jaiquawn Jarrett ready to play in the coming weeks.
Tennessee
Gerald McRath is likely out today (doubtful, didn’t practice). It’s likely that Will Witherspoon becomes an every-down LB in his absence. It’s also notable that Barrett Ruud said a shoulder injury could limit him most of the season. That’ll affect his tackle numbers and likely his 2012 value. Colin McCarthy replaced him last week and stayed in for a nickel down or two. He’s worth watching. Chris Hope will be back today.
Washington
LaRon Landry was back last week. He missed a small handful of snaps, but looked like his usual dynamic and disruptive self. He practiced fully all week and will be a top DB unless he has an Achilles’ setback.
NY Jets
David Harris seems to be nearly fully recovered from his toe injury. He moved better last week, played every down and made it through a full practice both Thursday and Friday. He could be back as a viable LB3+ v Baltimore this week.
Indianapolis
The Colts put Gary Brackett and Melvin Bullitt on IR this week and (likely) demoted Jacob Lacey for Terrence Johnson. Pat Angerer is now anchoring the depth chart at MLB. He’s likely to play an every-down role, but there’s a chance that we see Kavell Conner and Ernie Sims there when Sims is ready to play. That doesn’t look likely to be this week. Bullitt will be replaced by David Caldwell and Joe Lefeged. The rotation will kill the value of either, but I think Lefeged may eventually take over full time.
Tampa Bay
Quincy Black was back to a full practice this week, but Mason Foster remains an every-down MLB.
