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Linebackers
WHO'S HOT
Chris Draft, Atlanta Falcons, is one of those players
you just think will come back down to earth and mediocrity. To
his credit, however, he's developed into a consistent and
highly productive fantasy player. Even with a returned
Keith Brooking, Draft has averaged 9 solo tackles over
the last 4 games, which is stellar. In an upset over the
Giants in Week 10, he posted 13 solo and 2 assisted tackles,
and a sack. The Falcons seem to be picking up some steam
on offense, but look for the defense and Draft to see plenty
of action the remainder of the season. After "taking off" what
appeared to be a few games, MLB Andra Davis, Cleveland Browns,
had a monster game last week. A 10 solo and 2 assisted
tackle, 3 sack, and 1forced fumble game was a bright spot
in what was otherwise the Brown's third loss in a row. Certainly
one of the surprises of the year at LB, Davis is just always
in position to be involved in tackles - something that
all IDP owners like to hear. Akin Ayodele, Jacksonville
Jaguars, has been the best fantasy linebacker on the
team, and that's certainly what most foresaw at the beginning
of the season when Mike Peterson stepped in at MLB. Ayodele
has, however, been more consistent and has shown the ability
to have difference-making games. This was evident in the
upset victory over the Colts, where he posted 10 solo and
2 assisted tackles. All three of these LB's - Draft, Davis,
and Ayodele - may be falling under the radar in your league
right now, and as we are fast approaching fantasy playoffs,
they'd be a welcomed addition to any IDP squad. Other
LB's of note in Week 10: Shawn Barber, KC Chiefs; Sam Cowart,
NY Jets; Jamie Sharper, HOU Texans; Nate Wayne, PHI Eagles;
Tommy Hendricks, MIA Dolphins; and Jason Gildon, PIT Steelers.
WHO'S NOT
Zach Thomas, Miami Dolphins, sat out during last
week's lopsided loss to the Titans, but it improbable that
he will miss this week's brawl with the Ravens. The Dolphins
are 2 games back of the division leader Patriots, and can
ill-afford to have their leader on D riding the pine. Thomas
is listed as questionable with a Grade 1 groin strain,
but has stated that he does intend on playing. It is definitely
recommended that, if you are a Thomas owner, you pick up
his replacement Tommy Hendricks, who showed up in force
against the Titans, producing 14 solo and 4 assisted tackles. Whoever
plays, he is sure to post some serious numbers defending
Jamal Lewis.
START 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Andra Davis, CLE Browns, against the AZ Cardinals
Chris
Draft, ATL Falcons, against the NO Saints
Ray Lewis, BAL Ravens,
against the MIA Dolphins
Jamie Sharper, HOU Texans, against
the BUF Bills
Keith Bulluck, TEN Titans, against the JAX Jaguars
Scott Fujita,
KC Chiefs, against the CIN Bengals
Mark Simoneau, PHI Eagles,
against the NY Giants
Robert Thomas, STL Rams, against the
CHI Bears
Lavar Arrington, WAS Redskins, against the CAR Panthers
Sam
Cowart, NY Jets, against the IND Colts
David Thornton, IND
Colts, against the NY Jets
Al Wilson, DEN Broncos, against
the SD Chargers
Chad Brown, SEA
Seahawks, against the DET Lions
Derrick Brooks, TB Bucs, against
the GB Packers
Ed Barton, OAK Raiders, against the MIN Vikings
Dat Nguyen,
DAL Cowboys, against the NE Patriots
Kendrell Bell, PIT Steelers,
against the SF 49ers
Defensive Linemen
WHO'S HOT
Two defenses that seem to be peaking at the right time
are those of the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams, which
is due in large part to the outstanding play of the defensive
lines. Jevon Kearse and Carlos Hall, Titans,
both use athleticism over size to get to the quarterback. In
a landslide victory over the Dolphins, Kearse had 4 solo
and 2 assisted tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, while
Hall added 2 solo tackles and 2 sacks. Tyoka Jackson and Grant
Wistrom, Rams, had equally as impressive outing in
a slugfest against the Ravens. Jackson had 4 solo and
2 assisted tackles, 2 sacks, and forced fumble, while Wistrom
logged 7 solo and 1 assisted tackles, and a sack. In a
week noticeably weak in good performances by defensive
linemen, these 4 contributed solid efforts, and you could
do worse than adding one of them to your roster for the
long-haul. Tony Weaver, Baltimore Ravens, is maturing
right in front of our eyes. In his third year and replacing
stud Mike McCrary, Weaver has exceeded everyone's expectations
this year, including those of head coach Brian Billick. Against
the Rams, he enjoyed 5 solo tackles and 2 sacks, and the
team kept the potent Rams offense on ice for most of the
game. Other DL's of note in Week 10: Alex Brown, CHI Bears,
and Simeon Rice, TB Bucs.
WHO'S NOT
In keeping with the St. Louis Rams, it has been
amazing that they've performed so well, year to date, especially
since both Leonard Little and Damione Lewis have
failed to see the field since week 8. While Lewis has
clogging-power in the middle, it is Little that most recognize
as possibly the most important cog in the D wheel, realizing
7 sacks through 8 weeks. The Rams D is getting healthier
every week, and it will only get scary-good when they can
infuse both Little and Lewis in with the team. It may
not happen this week, however, as both are listed as questionable
(Lewis - Chest; Little - Ankle).
START 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Willie Whitehead, NO Saints, against the ATL Falcons
Tony
Weaver, BAL Ravens, against the MIA Dolphins
Jason Taylor,
MIA Dolphins, against the BAL Ravens
Aaron Schobel, BUF Bills,
against the HOU Texans
Jevon Kearse, TEN Titans, against the
JAX Jaguars
Eric Hicks, KC Chiefs, against the CIN Bengals
Michael Strahan,
NY Giants, against the PHI Eagles
Grant Wistrom, STL Rams,
against the CHI Bears
Mike Rucker/Julius Peppers, CAR Panthers,
against the WAS Redskins
Dwight Freeney, IND Colts, against
the NY Jets
Shaun Ellis, NY Jets, against the IND Colts
Simeon Rice, TB Bucs, against the GB Packers
Defensive Backs
WHO'S HOT
Eric Brown, Houston Texans, developed a reputation
while with the Broncos for delivering huge blows, but had
also been characterized as undisciplined in coverage and
over-pursuit. While with the Texans over the last two
year, however, Brown has become a solid and consistent
performer, both in run and pass support. This is evident
when viewing his performance over the last 4 games, as
Brown has averaged 7 solo tackles per game. The Texans
are a competitive team, and Brown will continue to exert
his presence near the line of scrimmage and post good fantasy
stats for the remainder of the year. Michael Lewis,
Philadelphia Eagles, is a difference maker on defense,
and he appears to be benefiting by the improvement of the
defense, as a whole. Lewis played outstanding in a big
Monday Night Football victory over the Packers, bringing
home 8 solo and one assisted tackles, a sack, and a forced
fumble. With the impending return of stud Brian Dawkins,
look for Lewis to improve on his performance this season. Ifeanyi
Ohalete, Washington Redskins, is looking
like a solid DB pick up for the remainder of the season,
if you need one. Over the last 4 games, Ohalete has improved
with each game, and averaged 6 solo tackles per game. He's
also a threat to realize an interception during each game,
with 3 on the season thus far. In an uplifting win against
the visiting Seahawks in Week 10, Ohalete provided his
best performance of the year, with 11 solo and 1 assisted
tackles. He could be peaking at just the right time for
your IDP team. Other DB's of note in Week 10: Robert Griffith,
CLE Browns; Mike Doss, IND Colts; Tyrone Carter, NY Jets;
Tim Wansley, TB Bucs; Adam Archuleta, STL Rams; and Deshea
Townsend, PIT Steelers.
WHO'S NOT
While some teams are peaking at this critical juncture
in the season, others find themselves struggling. The New
York Giants fall into this category. Not only did
they suffer a humiliating loss to the lowly Falcons in
Week 10, but they also realized another critical injury
to their secondary. DB Ralph Brown will miss several
weeks with a dislocated shoulder, which is really a shame,
as Brown had been filling in admirably for the start-of-season
starter, William Peterson. Peterson is lost for the year,
as he was placed on IR with a stress fracture in his lower
back. The Giants will start Ike Carlton in Brown's place. Team
leader, Rod Woodson, Oakland Raiders,
is listed as questionable with a strained quadriceps and
knee. This comes at time when he's called out his fellow
veterans on the team for "slacking" off. This would indicate
to me that he's likely prepared to play through the injuries. If
he does miss this game, or any game moving forward this
season, one can only expect that the Raider D slides even
further than it has already. Anthony Dorsett would step
in for Woodson for any time missed.
START 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Robert Griffith, CLE Browns, against the AZ Cardinals
Jay
Bellamy, NO Saints, against the ATL Falcons
Ed Reed, BAL Ravens,
against the MIA Dolphins
Sammy Knight, MIA Dolphins, against
the BAL Ravens
Eric Brown, HOU Texans, against the BUF Bills
Greg Wesley,
KC Chiefs, against the CIN Bengals
Adam Archuleta, STL Rams,
against the CHI Bears
Mike Minter, CAR Panthers, against the
WAS Redskins
Ifeanyi Ohalete, WAS Redskins, against the CAR
Panthers
Mike Doss, IND Colts, against the NY Jets
Ken Hamlin, SEA
Seahawks, against the DET Lions
Ronde Barber, TB Bucs, against
the GB Packers
Corey Chavous, MIN Vikings, against the OAK
Raiders
Roy Williams, DAL Cowboys, against the NE Patriots
Rodney
Harrison, NE Patriots, against the DAL Cowboys
Mike Logan,
PIT Steelers, against the SF 49ers
Top 12 Team Defenses
- TEN Titans vs. JAX Jaguars - TEN 2nd best
in NFL at creating turnovers
- SF 49ers vs. PIT Steelers - SF D is fresh off bye and
will force turnovers
- TB Bucs vs. GB Packers - It's put up or shut up for
both teams
- STL Rams @ CHI Bears - Ram D is playing best ball right
now
- BAL Ravens @ MIA Dolphins - Ravens best D in league
- PHI Eagle vs. NY Giants - Giants really struggling,
while Eagles getting better
- CAR Panthers vs. WAS Redskins - Peppers/Rucker will
get to Ramsey plenty
- MIA Dolphins vs. BAL Ravens - MIA will try and shake
up new QB, Wright
- NE Patriots vs. DAL Cowboys - Pats D one of best Dallas
will have faced
- KC Chiefs @ CIN Bengals - KC still best in league
taking the ball away
- MIN Vikings @ OAK Raiders - Raiders in state of disarray;
Vikes capitalize
- DAL Cowboys @ NE Patriots - Games figures to be a
defensive struggle
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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