Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Arizona
Daryl Washington was back in an every-down role last week. Paris Lenon again took all the snaps, pushing Stewart Bradley into a reserve role.
Minnesota
Antoine Winfield is doubtful, but Leslie Frazier called him a GTD. He seems very unlikely to play. The Vikings don’t have much behind him, so they may end up playing more zone coverages than they have been. That could push more value back toward Chad Greenway. EJ Henderson was limited all week and could again sit in nickel packages to get some in-game rest.
Cincinnati
Carlos Dunlap started last week and got a few more snaps in rotation. That was likely a combination of the Bills’ spread sets and the Bengals wanting to bring Robert Geathers and Jonathan Fanene along slowly from their injuries. I think it’s probable that Dunlap goes back to the rotational role he held previously. Chris Crocker practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and will play. Gibril Wilson continues to see lots of subpackage snaps, though, and should be on everyone’s radar for when Crocker inevitably misses time.
Kansas City
Jon McGraw is probable and should go back to his former every-down safety role.
Indianapolis
Ernie Sims practiced fully on Friday and is expected to return. He played alongside Gary Brackett in nickel packages during the preseason and observers expect that he’ll play alongside Pat Angerer – sending Kavell Conner back to the bench – in the nickel today. Depending on how the Colts choose to defend the Chiefs, that could mean very few snaps for Conner.
New Orleans
Jo-Lonn Dunbar went back to a part time role last week with Jonathan Vilma returning.
Carolina
Chris Gamble returns this week. I haven’t seen anything specific on the Jason Williams-Omar Gaither situation, but last week suggests that the Panthers weren’t impressed with Williams’ play early but I haven’t yet seen confirmation that Gaither has become the starter in the base defense. It’s still Thomas Williams as the nickel OLB.
NY Jets
Bryan Thomas is out with an Achilles’ injury. The Jets have said that they’ll use a combination of Jamaal Westerman, who’s been used at ILB in the past, and Aaron Maybin will replace him. Maybin has showed a little burst off the edge as a situational rusher, but the bulk of the snaps will probably go to Westerman. Neither have much added fantasy value.
New England
The Patriots will be without Jerod Mayo for a few weeks. This week, Gary Guyton sounds likely to play an every-down role in his place. In time, it’s possible that Dane Fletcher joins Brandon Spikes in the base package, or that this becomes a three-way rotation of sorts. The safety rotation went back to what it was previously with Patrick Chung back on the field. Sergio Brown took the bulk of the snaps over Josh Barrett.
Oakland
Matt Shaughnessy remains out with a shoulder injury. That meant more snaps for Jarvis Moss, Trevor Scott and Lamarr Houston last week, with Moss the biggest beneficiary. Michael Huff should be back this week. Mike Mitchell may also be recovered enough to begin taking more snaps in the Raiders’ dime subpackage.
Houston
Add a hamstring injury to the list for DeMeco Ryans, who was limited most of the week. This will likely be the fourth consecutive week that he comes off the field in subpackages.
Philadelphia
Trent Cole is out with a calf injury. Both Darryl Tapp and Juqua Parker practiced fully on Friday and should be back in rotation. Brian Rolle played in most packages, but sat in a dime package with four corners. Jaiquawn Jarrett was active last week, but saw no playing time. Nate Allen struggled but should remain a starter this week.
Buffalo
Chris Kelsay is out with a calf injury. That likely means more Alex Carrington if the Bills choose to stick with a 4-3 alignment, or Danny Batten/Arthur Moats if the Bills morph back toward a 3-4.
Denver
Brian Dawkins missed most of practice this week, but says he wants to play. He’s listed questionable.
Seattle
Kam Chancellor is questionable and was limited in practice this week. He says he’ll play. With Matt McCoy on IR, it’s likely that Leroy Hill and David Hawthorne remain the full time every-down linebackers.
NY Giants
Justin Tuck is doubtful with both groin and neck injuries. There’s been speculation that he had setbacks with one or both injuries during practice this week. He seems very unlikely to play again this week.
Tennessee
Jordan Babineaux will start at safety for Chris Hope, who’s out for an extended period with an arm injury. Gerald McRath practiced fully this week and should be back in his nickel role. That limits Will Witherspoon’s value again.
Pittsburgh
Lawrence Timmons moves outside with the loss of James Harrison. That may not be a bad thing, given how Timmons has played inside over the past game or two. Larry Foote and James Farrior go from a timeshare to full time duty at both ILB spots. Neither have played well and are not guaranteed to have vastly increased fantasy value. I’d bet on Farrior if you need one this week. Keep an eye on Stevenson Sylvester, who has promise in the long term and could begin seeing time if the veterans struggle.
Atlanta
The Falcons should get Stephen Nicholas back this week. Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham are questionable and neither practiced fully this week. Both should be considered GTD; there’s very little information from the usual Falcons’ sources.
Detroit
Justin Durant looks on-track to return from his concussion this week.
Daryl Washington was back in an every-down role last week. Paris Lenon again took all the snaps, pushing Stewart Bradley into a reserve role.
Minnesota
Antoine Winfield is doubtful, but Leslie Frazier called him a GTD. He seems very unlikely to play. The Vikings don’t have much behind him, so they may end up playing more zone coverages than they have been. That could push more value back toward Chad Greenway. EJ Henderson was limited all week and could again sit in nickel packages to get some in-game rest.
Cincinnati
Carlos Dunlap started last week and got a few more snaps in rotation. That was likely a combination of the Bills’ spread sets and the Bengals wanting to bring Robert Geathers and Jonathan Fanene along slowly from their injuries. I think it’s probable that Dunlap goes back to the rotational role he held previously. Chris Crocker practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and will play. Gibril Wilson continues to see lots of subpackage snaps, though, and should be on everyone’s radar for when Crocker inevitably misses time.
Kansas City
Jon McGraw is probable and should go back to his former every-down safety role.
Indianapolis
Ernie Sims practiced fully on Friday and is expected to return. He played alongside Gary Brackett in nickel packages during the preseason and observers expect that he’ll play alongside Pat Angerer – sending Kavell Conner back to the bench – in the nickel today. Depending on how the Colts choose to defend the Chiefs, that could mean very few snaps for Conner.
New Orleans
Jo-Lonn Dunbar went back to a part time role last week with Jonathan Vilma returning.
Carolina
Chris Gamble returns this week. I haven’t seen anything specific on the Jason Williams-Omar Gaither situation, but last week suggests that the Panthers weren’t impressed with Williams’ play early but I haven’t yet seen confirmation that Gaither has become the starter in the base defense. It’s still Thomas Williams as the nickel OLB.
NY Jets
Bryan Thomas is out with an Achilles’ injury. The Jets have said that they’ll use a combination of Jamaal Westerman, who’s been used at ILB in the past, and Aaron Maybin will replace him. Maybin has showed a little burst off the edge as a situational rusher, but the bulk of the snaps will probably go to Westerman. Neither have much added fantasy value.
New England
The Patriots will be without Jerod Mayo for a few weeks. This week, Gary Guyton sounds likely to play an every-down role in his place. In time, it’s possible that Dane Fletcher joins Brandon Spikes in the base package, or that this becomes a three-way rotation of sorts. The safety rotation went back to what it was previously with Patrick Chung back on the field. Sergio Brown took the bulk of the snaps over Josh Barrett.
Oakland
Matt Shaughnessy remains out with a shoulder injury. That meant more snaps for Jarvis Moss, Trevor Scott and Lamarr Houston last week, with Moss the biggest beneficiary. Michael Huff should be back this week. Mike Mitchell may also be recovered enough to begin taking more snaps in the Raiders’ dime subpackage.
Houston
Add a hamstring injury to the list for DeMeco Ryans, who was limited most of the week. This will likely be the fourth consecutive week that he comes off the field in subpackages.
Philadelphia
Trent Cole is out with a calf injury. Both Darryl Tapp and Juqua Parker practiced fully on Friday and should be back in rotation. Brian Rolle played in most packages, but sat in a dime package with four corners. Jaiquawn Jarrett was active last week, but saw no playing time. Nate Allen struggled but should remain a starter this week.
Buffalo
Chris Kelsay is out with a calf injury. That likely means more Alex Carrington if the Bills choose to stick with a 4-3 alignment, or Danny Batten/Arthur Moats if the Bills morph back toward a 3-4.
Denver
Brian Dawkins missed most of practice this week, but says he wants to play. He’s listed questionable.
Seattle
Kam Chancellor is questionable and was limited in practice this week. He says he’ll play. With Matt McCoy on IR, it’s likely that Leroy Hill and David Hawthorne remain the full time every-down linebackers.
NY Giants
Justin Tuck is doubtful with both groin and neck injuries. There’s been speculation that he had setbacks with one or both injuries during practice this week. He seems very unlikely to play again this week.
Tennessee
Jordan Babineaux will start at safety for Chris Hope, who’s out for an extended period with an arm injury. Gerald McRath practiced fully this week and should be back in his nickel role. That limits Will Witherspoon’s value again.
Pittsburgh
Lawrence Timmons moves outside with the loss of James Harrison. That may not be a bad thing, given how Timmons has played inside over the past game or two. Larry Foote and James Farrior go from a timeshare to full time duty at both ILB spots. Neither have played well and are not guaranteed to have vastly increased fantasy value. I’d bet on Farrior if you need one this week. Keep an eye on Stevenson Sylvester, who has promise in the long term and could begin seeing time if the veterans struggle.
Atlanta
The Falcons should get Stephen Nicholas back this week. Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham are questionable and neither practiced fully this week. Both should be considered GTD; there’s very little information from the usual Falcons’ sources.
Detroit
Justin Durant looks on-track to return from his concussion this week.