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Linebackers
WHO'S HOT
Donnie Edwards, San Diego Chargers, has had a couple
of very strong back-to-back weeks, and the team has shown
progress, even while losing two close and hard-fought games. Edwards
is the elite player and leader on D, and he's going to
see a lot of action facing division foes Denver (Portis),
Kansas City (Holmes), and Oakland (Garner). Against Jacksonville
in Week 5, Edwards gobbled up 9 solo and 2 assisted tackles. After
this week's bye, he faces Cleveland (Green) and Miami (Williams),
so Edwards is definitely a hot LB to trade for right now. MLB
Ronald McKinnon, Arizona Cardinals, is on another improving
defense and team, and has shown flashes of brilliance the
past couple of weeks that most thought he was capable of
in 2002. Against the Cowboys, McKinnon shored up the middle
in a losing effort by gathering 10 solo and 2 assisted
tackles. McKinnon faces one of the hottest RB's in the
league this week, as Arizona plays host to Jamal Lewis
and the Baltimore Ravens. It must be hard for head coach
Bill Cowher to find a silver lining in his team's embarrassing
loss to the Cleveland Browns, but the fact that Kendrell
Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers, has progressed
week by week and was so involved on defense could be just
that. Bell is playing on all downs now, and is becoming
more and more comfortable in run support and pass protection. Bell
has always been a supreme QB rusher, but other areas have
been stifled, as Bell never played all downs on defense. Well,
this year is different, and Bell exhibited his fantasy
potential with a 9 solo and 2 assisted tackle effort. Depending
on the size and depth of your league, Bell could still
be available as a free agency pick up, and he's definitely
worth making a trade for at this point of his development
this season. Other LB's of note in Week 5: Travian Smith,
OAK Raiders; Warrick Holdman, CHI Bears, Nick Barnett,
GB Packers; Chad Brown, SEA Seahawks; Orlando Ruff, NO
Saints; Mark Simoneau, PHI Eagles; Junior Seau, MIA Dolphins;
David Thornton, IND Colts; and Keith Bullock, TEN Titans.
WHO'S NOT
There are a lot of critical linebackers listed as questionable
this week that should be of concern to their respective
fantasy owners. If a player is listed as questionable,
that means that he's got a 50/50 chance of playing in the
weekend's game. Some you may want to roll the dice on,
based on past, positive performances while injured, while
others may simply be unable to perform to standard. When
in doubt, start another player, especially at the LB position
where points are so critical. Here they are: Robert Thomas,
STL Rams (groin); Warrick Holdman, CHI Bears (ankle); Mike
Peterson, JAX Jaguars (ribs); Na' Il Diggs, GB Packers
(knee); and Junior Seau, MIA Dolphins (hamstring).
Start 'em If You Got 'em
David Thornton, IND Colts, against the CAR Panthers
Brian
Urlacher, CHI Bears, against the NO Saints
Jay Foreman, HOU
Texans, against the TEN Titans
Keith Bullock, TEN Titans,
against the HOU Texans
Nick Barrett, GB Packers, against the
KC Chiefs
Zach Thomas, MIA Dolphins, against the JAX Jaguars
Mike Barrow,
NY Giants, against the NE Patriots
Napoleon Harris, OAK Raiders,
against the CLE Browns
Mark Simoneau, PHI Eagles, against
the DAL Cowboys
LaVar Arrington, WAS Redskins, against the
TB Bucaneers
Ray Lewis, BAL Ravens, against the AZ Cardinals
Ronald McKinnon,
AZ Cardinals, against the BAL Ravens
Sam Cowart, NY Jets,
against the BUF Bills
Takeo Spikes, BUF Bills against the
NY Jets
Kendrell Bell, PIT Steelers, against the DEN Broncos
Anthony
Simmons, SEA Seahawks, against the SF 49ers
Keith Brooking,
ATL Falcons, against the STL Rams
Defensive Linemen
WHO'S HOT
Raylee Johnson, San Diego Chargers, had a breakout
game on Sunday against the Jaguars, netting 4 solo tackles,
2 sacks and 1 forced fumble. Johnson is fortunate to have
a very good supporting cast on the DL, and the LB corps
is solid. However, the DB's are young and raw, and it's
prevented several of the star players thriving this year. Johnson
has monster Marcelus Wiley on the opposite end, and he
attracts most of the opposing team's double teams. He
also has always been good in run support. Duane Clemons,
Cincinnati Bengals, is facing a similar situation,
as he's got Justin Smith on the opposite end. Clemons
had a monster game against Buffalo Bills, tallying 6 solo
tackles, 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble. The Bengals appear
to get getting better and they do have talent on the defensive
side of the ball. Clemons could be a nice, late-season
steal in many leagues this year. Jevon Kearse,
Tennessee Titans, is a stranger to no one, but it's taken
him this long - 5 games - to get his game in check. Against
the Patriots, Kearse seemed 100% healthy, as he racked
up 3 solo and 1 assisted tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced
fumble. IF the defense can get healthy, I expect big
things from Kearse and Kevin Carter on the other end. Other
DL's of note in Week 5: Kenny Mixon, MIN Vikings; Michael
Strahan, NY Giants, and Courtney Brown, CLE Browns.
WHO'S NOT
There is no underestimating the value of a line-collapsing
DT, especially when that DT is Sam Adams, Buffalo Bills. While
Adams may not be a stat producing, he makes all the players
around him that much better when he gains penetration in
the middle of opposing offensive lines. Adams is listed
as questionable with an ankle injury sustained against
the Bengals in week 5. If he is unable to go, downgrade
such stars as Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher and Lawyer
Milloy. With the Packers looking like a legitimate playoff
contender in October, one can only imagine how much further
they could get if DE Joe Johnson, Green Bay Packers,
were a picture of health this year. Instead, Johnson is
experiencing issues with his triceps and has been unable
to contribute the way most thought he would. With Kabeer
Gbaja-Biamila on the other side, and the LB and DB corps
starting to improve and gel, it seams unsettling that Joe
Johnson has netted only 6 tackles and no sacks this year.
Start 'em If You Got 'em
Mike Rucker, CAR Panthers, against the CAR Panthers
Alex
Brown, CHI Bears, against the NO Saints
Jevon Kearse, TEN
Titans, against the HOU Texans
Nick Barnett, GB Packers, against
the KC Chiefs
Tony Brackens, JAX Jaguars; against the MIA
Dolphins
Michael Strahan, NY Giants, against the NE Patriots
Courtney
Brown, CLE Browns, against the OAK Raiders
Greg Ellis, DAL
Cowboys, against the PHI Eagles
Simeon Rice, TB Bucs, against
the WAS Redskins
Trevor Pryce,
DEN Broncos, against the PIT Steelers
Leonard Little, STL
Rams, against the ATL Falcons
Defensive Backs
WHO'S HOT
Rookie Mike Doss, Indianapolis Colts, may have
given up a fumble that lead to a TD against the Bucs on
Monday Night Football, but there's no arguing that he's
a special player and finds a way to be around the ball
on almost every play. Doss scorched the Bucs for 7 solo
and 3 assisted tackles and an interception. Look for him
to get more and more comfortable, and SS in coach Tony
Dungy's D scheme is a playmaking position. Stud DB Ronde
Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
also had a stellar game. Barber is one of those DB's who
is built into every defensive strategy imaginable - he's
sent in on corner blitzes, he is excellent in run support,
and he's just an awesome cover guy. Against the hottest
team in the league, the Colts, Barber posted 8 solo and
1 assisted tackles and an interception. Veteran SS Rodney
Harrison, New England Patriots, is still
churning out high-production performances. Harrison has
always positioned himself as a fifth linebacker,
and his run support has been unparalleled for at least
the last 5 years. Against the Titans in a huge win for
the team, Harrison shined again, snaring 8 solo and 3 assisted
tackles. Other DB's of note in Week 5: Darren Sharper,
GB Packers; Antoine Winfield, BUF Bills; Brent Alexander,
PIT Steelers; and Patrick Surtain, MIA Dolphins.
WHO'S NOT
Samari Rolle, Tennessee Titans, is undoubtedly
the best cover man on the team, and he can deliver a hit,
both in air and run support. The Titans will miss him
immensely, as he'll be out 3-6 weeks with a dislocated
elbow. There is a huge drop off in talent, as Tony Beckham,
in his 2nd year, will step into Rolle's position. Corey
Hall, Atlanta Falcons, could miss 2 weeks of action
as a result of preventative surgery performed on his knee. With
the Falcons hurting with many other injuries, losing Rolle
for any amount of time could be catastrophic. Look for
Gerald McBurrows will fill in for Hall.
Start 'em If You Got 'em
Mike Doss, IND Colts, against the CAR Panthers
Mike Minter,
CAR Panthers, against the IND Colts
Mike Green, CHI Bears,
against the NO Saints
Lance Shulters, TEN Titans, against
the HOU Texans
Greg Wesley, KC Chiefs, against the GB Packers
Darren Sharper,
GB Packers, against the KC Chiefs
Rodney Harrison, NE Patriots,
against the NY Giants
Robert Griffith, CLE Browns, against
the OAK Raiders
Roy Williams, DAL Cowboys, against the PHI
Eagles
John Lynch, TB Bucs, against the WAS Redskins
Ed Reed, BAL
Ravens, against the AZ Cardinals
Lawyer Milloy, BUF Bills,
against the NY Jets
Adam Archuleta, STL Rams, against the
ATL Falcons
Top 12 Team Defenses
- DEN Broncos vs. PITT Steelers - "Turnover Tommy" Maddox
will feel the pressure
- TB Bucs @ WAS Redskins - Bucs get turnovers and sacks
during a great game
- BAL Ravens @ AZ Cardinals - BAL D off a bye week and
hungry for a W
- MIA Dolphins @ JAX Jaguars - Taylor get his first 2
sacks of the season
- IND Colts vs. CAR Panthers - Colts are a complete team,
and will get turnovers
- CLE Browns vs. OAK Raiders - Sacks starting to become
commonplace
- CAR Panthers @ IND Colts - Battle of two very solid
defenses in the league
- KC Chiefs @ GB Packers - Chiefs D has been very opportunistic
this year
- STL Rams vs. ATL Falcons - MNF will bring out best
of Rams' D
- GB Packers vs. KC Chiefs - Key players (KGB, Barnett
and Sharper) stepping up
- DAL Cowboys vs. PHI Eagles - DAL will be pressuring
and causing TO's
- OAK Raiders @ CLE Browns - Raiders starting to click,
and D is picking up
As always, be sure to check the latest injury reports
before submitting your roster. Good luck and thanks for
supporting The Huddle!
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