Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Going back to the old blog format today for the most part, though I'll also put the biggest breaking news updates in this first post.
<<<<<>>>>>
Sean Weatherspoon, Clay Matthews inactive.Ashlee Palmer at MLB for Detroit.
Will Smith and Mario Williams are active.
Lance Briggs looked very unlikely to play during warmups. He's now officially inactive.
Scott Shanle inactive in New Orleans. Listed probable, but late week hamstring injury has him out today. Probably going to see more Marvin Mitchell, but it's tough to project subpackages. May see more dime this week. Danny Clark starts at SLB, Jo-Lonn Dunbar shifting to WLB. Not certain that Dunbar plays every-down, but he's the best bet for production if needed.
<<<<<>>>>>
Sean Weatherspoon (knee) is listed questionable but didn’t practice all week. He’s very unlikely to play, putting Stephen Nicholas back in an every-down role vs Philadelphia. Offenses that use single back sets and slot WR/TE personnel have been very good to Nicholas so he’s a solid LB3+ start this week. John Abraham is also questionable but did practice (limited) all week. He seems likely to play.Lance Briggs did not practice this week after aggravating a high ankle sprain. Reports have Brian Iwuh as his likely replacement, but Pisa Tinoisamoa probably gets the nod alongside Brian Urlacher in the nickel. Seattle isn’t a strong enough matchup to consider Tino more than a desperation LB3/LB4.
Gary Brackett did not practice this week with a groin injury but did travel with the team to Washington. If he can’t go, Pat Angerer will play MLB and the coaches have said that he’s ready to make the play calls, strongly suggesting that he’ll have an every-down role if he plays.
Rocky McIntosh didn’t practice this week with a concussion. There’s a chance he’ll be cleared by Sunday night but expect to see HB Blades in his place and the Redskins to use lots of dime against the Colts. Blades may see fewer than 15 snaps if the game stays close.
The Cowboys used lots of rotation at the ILB spots last week. Keith Brooking and Bradie James were still the primary backers, but Jason Williams and Sean Lee got snaps. Williams saw time for James, who was limited by a PCL injury (he practiced fully Friday and should play), and Lee took a handful of snaps in a 53 defense wrinkle the Cowboys used against the Tennessee heavy sets. Lee played well enough that both ILB spots could be rotated this week.
Mario Williams has a shoulder injury to add to the nagging groin problem and is listed questionable. He didn’t practice until Friday and was then just limited but all indications are that he’ll play.
Clay Matthews is considered a GTD, but listed doubtful. Brandon Chillar is out again after giving it a go early in the week and deciding he wasn’t ready. That means both AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop are every-down players again vs MIA. Charlie Peprah remains the SS by default, with Atari Bigby on PUP and Derrick Martin now out with an injury.
Justin Durant is back this week from a high ankle sprain. He played in the nickel ahead of Kirk Morrison earlier in the season, but Morrison earned some measure of trust in the nickel role over the past two weeks. 60-40 Morrison is the every-down backer this week, with Durant possibly rotating in at times.
Haloti Ngata was limited all week by a knee injury and is questionable. The Ravens’ coaches are calling him a GTD, but Ngata was more optimistic after practice Friday. Consider him better than 50-50 to play.
DeAndre Levy is still out with a groin injury. Landon Johnson is questionable. If Johnson can’t play, it will apparently be Ashlee Palmer at MLB. Either one should be considered a desperation LB3 play, with Palmer having more upside against a reasonably good matchup.
Channing Crowder practiced fully all week and looks to be ready to play every down at SILB, if the Dolphins use nickel rather than dime against GB. Jared Odrick did practice this week (limited) and may have a chance to play.
Thomas Howard is still out and Quentin Groves is likely not yet ready to return which could put Trevor Scott back in an every-down WLB role and give Matt Shaughnessy near full time snaps at DE again this week.
Mathias Kiwanuka is still out with the neck injury. Keith Bulluck was limited all week in practice, but the indications are that he’ll again sit this week. The Detroit matchup probably sets up best for Boley to see a near full complement of snaps again. Kenny Phillips is probable this week, but I’ll have an eye on the pre-game tweets again as Phillips was active last week but played only in subpackages as the Giants limited his snaps after his knee acted up a bit late last week.
Robert Ayers, Brian Dawkins, Darcel McBath and Wes Woodyard won’t play for Denver this week. I haven’t seen anything specific on what the Broncos are planning to do at linebacker. It likely makes most sense to move Mario Haggan outside on base downs and use Jarvis Moss on nickel downs, with Joe Mays playing SILB in the base, but I haven’t seen anything suggesting Haggan will move. Regardless, Jason Hunter becomes an every-down OLB. It’s a 4pm game unfortunately, but I’ll try to get what I can on Haggan/Mays/etc by gametime. David Bruton starts at SS and is a reasonable bye week option.
Patrick Robinson started outside (with Randall Gay remaining the slot corner) for Tracy Porter last week and should do the same vs TB. Roman Harper was limited with a hamstring injury again this week, but is listed probable and played last week. Will Smith is questionable again with the groin injury. He was made inactive after post-practice reports last Friday read very positively.
Kyle Moore is questionable with a shoulder injury and didn’t practice this week. Tim Crowder would have a tough big play matchup vs NO, but might be a reasonable desperation play in tackle heavy leagues. Sean Jones fully participated in practice on Thursday and Friday and seems likely to send Sabby Piscitelli back to the bench.
Cedric Griffin is on IR with an ACL tear. Robaire Smith is out for Cleveland.
<<<<<>>>>>
Sean Weatherspoon, Clay Matthews inactive.Ashlee Palmer at MLB for Detroit.
Will Smith and Mario Williams are active.
Lance Briggs looked very unlikely to play during warmups. He's now officially inactive.
Scott Shanle inactive in New Orleans. Listed probable, but late week hamstring injury has him out today. Probably going to see more Marvin Mitchell, but it's tough to project subpackages. May see more dime this week. Danny Clark starts at SLB, Jo-Lonn Dunbar shifting to WLB. Not certain that Dunbar plays every-down, but he's the best bet for production if needed.
<<<<<>>>>>
Sean Weatherspoon (knee) is listed questionable but didn’t practice all week. He’s very unlikely to play, putting Stephen Nicholas back in an every-down role vs Philadelphia. Offenses that use single back sets and slot WR/TE personnel have been very good to Nicholas so he’s a solid LB3+ start this week. John Abraham is also questionable but did practice (limited) all week. He seems likely to play.Lance Briggs did not practice this week after aggravating a high ankle sprain. Reports have Brian Iwuh as his likely replacement, but Pisa Tinoisamoa probably gets the nod alongside Brian Urlacher in the nickel. Seattle isn’t a strong enough matchup to consider Tino more than a desperation LB3/LB4.
Gary Brackett did not practice this week with a groin injury but did travel with the team to Washington. If he can’t go, Pat Angerer will play MLB and the coaches have said that he’s ready to make the play calls, strongly suggesting that he’ll have an every-down role if he plays.
Rocky McIntosh didn’t practice this week with a concussion. There’s a chance he’ll be cleared by Sunday night but expect to see HB Blades in his place and the Redskins to use lots of dime against the Colts. Blades may see fewer than 15 snaps if the game stays close.
The Cowboys used lots of rotation at the ILB spots last week. Keith Brooking and Bradie James were still the primary backers, but Jason Williams and Sean Lee got snaps. Williams saw time for James, who was limited by a PCL injury (he practiced fully Friday and should play), and Lee took a handful of snaps in a 53 defense wrinkle the Cowboys used against the Tennessee heavy sets. Lee played well enough that both ILB spots could be rotated this week.
Mario Williams has a shoulder injury to add to the nagging groin problem and is listed questionable. He didn’t practice until Friday and was then just limited but all indications are that he’ll play.
Clay Matthews is considered a GTD, but listed doubtful. Brandon Chillar is out again after giving it a go early in the week and deciding he wasn’t ready. That means both AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop are every-down players again vs MIA. Charlie Peprah remains the SS by default, with Atari Bigby on PUP and Derrick Martin now out with an injury.
Justin Durant is back this week from a high ankle sprain. He played in the nickel ahead of Kirk Morrison earlier in the season, but Morrison earned some measure of trust in the nickel role over the past two weeks. 60-40 Morrison is the every-down backer this week, with Durant possibly rotating in at times.
Haloti Ngata was limited all week by a knee injury and is questionable. The Ravens’ coaches are calling him a GTD, but Ngata was more optimistic after practice Friday. Consider him better than 50-50 to play.
DeAndre Levy is still out with a groin injury. Landon Johnson is questionable. If Johnson can’t play, it will apparently be Ashlee Palmer at MLB. Either one should be considered a desperation LB3 play, with Palmer having more upside against a reasonably good matchup.
Channing Crowder practiced fully all week and looks to be ready to play every down at SILB, if the Dolphins use nickel rather than dime against GB. Jared Odrick did practice this week (limited) and may have a chance to play.
Thomas Howard is still out and Quentin Groves is likely not yet ready to return which could put Trevor Scott back in an every-down WLB role and give Matt Shaughnessy near full time snaps at DE again this week.
Mathias Kiwanuka is still out with the neck injury. Keith Bulluck was limited all week in practice, but the indications are that he’ll again sit this week. The Detroit matchup probably sets up best for Boley to see a near full complement of snaps again. Kenny Phillips is probable this week, but I’ll have an eye on the pre-game tweets again as Phillips was active last week but played only in subpackages as the Giants limited his snaps after his knee acted up a bit late last week.
Robert Ayers, Brian Dawkins, Darcel McBath and Wes Woodyard won’t play for Denver this week. I haven’t seen anything specific on what the Broncos are planning to do at linebacker. It likely makes most sense to move Mario Haggan outside on base downs and use Jarvis Moss on nickel downs, with Joe Mays playing SILB in the base, but I haven’t seen anything suggesting Haggan will move. Regardless, Jason Hunter becomes an every-down OLB. It’s a 4pm game unfortunately, but I’ll try to get what I can on Haggan/Mays/etc by gametime. David Bruton starts at SS and is a reasonable bye week option.
Patrick Robinson started outside (with Randall Gay remaining the slot corner) for Tracy Porter last week and should do the same vs TB. Roman Harper was limited with a hamstring injury again this week, but is listed probable and played last week. Will Smith is questionable again with the groin injury. He was made inactive after post-practice reports last Friday read very positively.
Kyle Moore is questionable with a shoulder injury and didn’t practice this week. Tim Crowder would have a tough big play matchup vs NO, but might be a reasonable desperation play in tackle heavy leagues. Sean Jones fully participated in practice on Thursday and Friday and seems likely to send Sabby Piscitelli back to the bench.
Cedric Griffin is on IR with an ACL tear. Robaire Smith is out for Cleveland.
Last edited by a moderator:
to see billcosby in here this morning. If there were such a thing as Fantasy BuckBuck, sir, I'd join a league.
Thanks for the quick response. Going with him and Staughnessy(sp) thanks to this thread.
