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Linebackers
WHO'S HOT
Tommy Polley, St. Louis Rams, is a player just
chock-full of talent in a similar role as Derrick Brooks
with the Buccaneers and David Thornton with the Indianapolis
Colts. Polley just hasn't shown consistent, week-to-week
production, and MLB Robert Thomas has become the primary
tackler on defense. However, players do bloom late, and
when a team is playing as well as the Rams are, this can
lead to opportunities for athletic, rangy players like
Polley. Case in point, against the Vikings in Week 13,
Polley flowed to the ball with regularity, posting an impressive
11 solo tackle outing. If Polley is on your league free
agency list, he's worth a flyer on your roster for the
remainder of the season. An unheralded player, Nate
Wayne, Philadelphia Eagles, has been
a steady IDP producer this year. Perhaps no team is playing
better at this point of the year, and Wayne and company
on defense, along with Donovan McNabb's turnaround, is
a major reason why. Against the Panthers this past week,
Wayne accounted for 6 solo tackles, a sack, and a forced
fumble, and he posted almost identical stats in Week 12. Wayne
is a safe starter the rest of the way this fantasy year. If
you are in need of a linebacker with tremendous upside,
look no further than Tim Johnson, Oakland Raiders. Johnson
is the replacement for Travian Smith, who replaced Bill
Romanowski, and is poised to be a contributor for the rest
of the team's dismal season. The offense is just woeful,
so expect the defense to see plenty of action the rest
of the way. There should be plenty of tackles to go around,
and you know that Johnson will use this opportunity to
try and showcase his talent for future consideration. If
Johnson can mirror the type of game he had against the
Broncos this past weekend (9 solo and 1 assisted tackles),
then he is well-worth grabbing if you have a roster spot
open. Other LB's of note in Week 13: Zach Thomas, MIA
Dolphins; Keith Brooking, ATL Falcons; Jamie Sharper, HOU
Texans; Ronald McKinnon, AZ Cardinals; Brian Urlacher,
CHI Bears; Ray Lewis, BAL Ravens; Derek Smith, SF 49ers;
Brian Simmons, CIN Bengals; Mike Barrow, NY Giants; David
Thornton, IND Colts; Jeremiah Trotter, WAS Redskins; and
Scott Fujita, KC Chiefs.
WHO'S NOT
Someone I listed as "Hot" last week was MLB Rocky Calmus,
Tennessee Titans. Calmus was putting together a
solid, late season run when he realized a broken leg
against the Jets during the Monday Night Football game. With
Keith Bulluck and Peter Sirmon at OLB, the MLB is a position
that is geared towards run D support. The replacement
for Calmus is Brad Kassell. With stud rookie MLB Nick
Barnett most likely returning in Week 14, it was a short-lived,
but productive, showing by Torrance Marshall, Green
Bay Packers. Marshall had a 7 solo and 1
assisted tackle, and 1 sack game against the Lions, but
will be relegated to spot duty upon Barnett's return. Lastly, Raynoch
Thompson, AZ Cardinals is done for the season, having
been suspended 4 weeks for violating the NFL's substance
abuse policy. Thompson was one of few notable fantasy
players on the Cardinal defense, and his absence will
make a bad D even worse. Gerald Hayes will likely fill
in for Thompson for the remainder of the season.
START 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Brian Urlacher, CHI Bears, against the GB Packers
Ray Lewis,
BAL Ravens, against the CIN Bengals
Mark Simoneau, PHI Eagles,
against the DAL Cowboys
Jamie Sharper, HOU Texans, against
the JAX Jaguars
David Thornton, IND Colts, against the TEN
Titans
Keith Bulluck, TEN Titans, against the IND Colts
Joey Porter,
PIT Steelers, against the OAK Raiders
Donnie Edwards, SD Chargers,
against the DET Lions
Anthony Simmons, SEA Seahawks, against
the MIN Vikings
Derrick Brooks, TB Bucs, against the NO Saints
Mike Barrow,
NY Giants, against the WAS Redskins
Derek Smith, SF 49ers,
against the AZ Cardinals
Scott Fujita, KC Chiefs, against
the DEN Broncos
Al Wilson, DEN Broncos, against the KC Chiefs
Zach Thomas,
MIA Dolphins, against the NE Patriots
Tedy Bruschi, NE Patriots,
against the MIA Dolphins
Takeo Spikes, BUF Bills, against
the NY Jets
Keith Brooking, ATL Falcons, against the CAR Panthers
Andra
Davis, CLE Browns, against the STL Rams
Defensive Linemen
WHO'S HOT
Welcome back, Leonard Little, St. Louis Rams,
and, boy, were the Rams missing this guy! After returning
from a torn pectoral muscle, Little was a one-man wrecking
crew against the visiting Vikings, producing an incredible
5 solo and 1 assisted tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. Little
adds speed and fire to a Rams D that was already playing
well. Look for Little to flourish the remainder of the
season. Aaron Schobel, Buffalo Bills, is an unheralded
lineman who is one of the league's best pass rushers. The
Bills D looked solid against the Giants on Sunday, and
Schobel dominated the line of scrimmage, posting 5 solo
tackles and 3 sacks. Schobel has been hit-or-miss this
year, but keep an eye on him, as the Buffalo D looked awesome
on Sunday, and Schobel could be a key find if he gets hot
during your playoffs. A beast of a defensive lineman is Robert
Porcher, Detroit Lions, and he's had
back-to-back, high-impact games. Against the Packers on
Thanksgiving, Porcher was a force, netting 2 solo and 1
assisted tackles, and 2 sacks. He also posted 2 sacks
the week prior versus the Vikings. The Lion defensive
line looked as good as any other in the league, and if
he receives such continued support, look for Porcher to
continue his sack streak. Other DL's of note in Week 13:
Adewale Ogunleye, MIA Dolphins; Ellis Johnson, ATL Falcons;
Mike Rucker, CAR Panthers; and Duane Clemons, CIN Bengals.
WHO'S NOT
There were no injuries of note in Week 13, but there were
some noticeable "no shows". Greg Ellis, Dallas Cowboys,
has been a defensive end whose quickness has made him a
lineman that realized linebacker-type stats. In recent
seasons, Ellis could be counted on for 4-6 solo tackles
per game, and a sack every other game or so. This tackling
production made him a consistent provider of IDP fantasy
points, but this year appears to be the exception. The
last 4 games, Ellis has averaged only one solo tackle per
game. Another underperformer has been Andre Carter, San
Francisco 49ers. Carter, in his third year,
was due to blossom and contend as sack leader, but this
has failed to materialize. Over the last 4 games, Carter
has contributed only 7 solo and 2 assisted tackles, and
2 sacks. Odds are that linemen producing better output
can be found on your free agency wire as you head into
your fantasy playoffs.
START 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Adalius Thomas, BAL Ravens, against the CIN Bengals
ND
Kalu, PHI Eagles, against the DAL Cowboys
Marcus Stroud, JAX
Jags, against the HOU Texans
Dwight Freeney, IND Colts, against
the TEN Titans
Robert Porcher, DET Lions, against the SD Chargers
Simeon
Rice, TB Bucs, against the NO Saints
Darren Howard, NO Saints,
against the TB Bucs
Michael Strahan, NY Giants, against the
WAS Redskins
Jason Taylor/Adewale Ogunleye, MIA Dolphins,
against the NE Patriots
Aaron Shobel, BUF Bills, against the
NY Jets
Mike Rucker, CAR Panthers, against the ATL Falcons
Leonard
Little, STL Rams, against the CLE Browns
Defensive Backs
WHO'S HOT
There is little doubt that Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys,
is one of the league's brightest young stars on defense,
and quite possibly the biggest hitter in the NFL. However,
while Williams has been in jaw-dropping collisions this
year, his fantasy production hasn't been so awe-inspiring. Perhaps
Williams has turned the corner after accumulating 8 solo
and 2 assisted tackles against the Dolphins on Thanksgiving
Day. A noted "big-game" player, look for Williams to have
his best outing of the year against division rival Philadelphia
Eagles. SS Reggie Tongue, Seattle Seahawks,
realized his most comprehensive game of the season against
the Browns in Week 13. Tongue had 7 solo and 1 assisted
tackles, a sack, and 2 forced fumbles, as the D redeemed
itself after allowing Baltimore to come back in Week 12
and win. Brian Walker, Detroit Lions, enjoyed a
solid Thanksgiving Day outing against division-rival, Green
Bay Packers. Walker went for 7 solo and 3 assisted tackles, ˝ sack,
and a forced fumble. This week, Walker faces a struggling
San Diego Charger unit, one which he had torched for 6
solo and 3 assisted tackles, and 2 interceptions in their
last meeting. Other DB's of note in Week 13: Tony Parrish,
SF 49ers; Brian Russell, MIN Vikings; Adam Archuleta, STL
Rams; Nick Harper & Mike Doss, IND Colts; Shawn Springs,
SEA Seahawks; Quentin Jammer, SD Chargers; Charles Woodson,
OAK Raiders; and Rashean Mathis, JAX Jaguars.
WHO'S NOT
Chad Scott, Pittsburgh Steelers, is lost for the
season with a torn tendon in his right hand, and injury
he realized in Week 12. Losing Scott is a tremendous setback
for a team already struggling to gain some semblance of
dominance on defense. Scott is a fantastic cover man,
and does well on the blitz and in run support. Look for
Dewayne Washington to join the line up in Scott's place. Tim
Wansley, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is also lost for the
season with a hamstring injury inflicted during last week's
game against Jacksonville. Wansley had stepped in admirably
when starter Brian Kelly was injured, and averaged 6 solo
tackles and a pass deflection per game. Dwight Smith will
assume the CB spot opposite Ronde Barber, and should also
see plenty of action. Will Allen, New York Giants,
is yet another CB who has been placed on IR. Allen is
one of the league's best young corners and had been enjoying
a fine year prior to the injury. Kato Serwanga or Ralph
Brown look to replace Allen - both represent a significant
drop off in talent, but could post some good fantasy numbers. Antuan
Edwards, Green Bay Packers, has a partially torn hamstring
and will miss at least the next 2 games. With Darren Sharper
expected back, look for a very good Marques Anderson to
assume Edwards' spot and realize good fantasy production.
START 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM
Darren Sharper, GB Packers, against the CHI Bears
Ed Reed,
BAL Ravens, against the CIN Bengals
Roy Williams, DAL Cowboys,
against the PHI Eagles
Nick Harper, IND Colts, against the
TEN Titans
Charles Woodson, OAK Raiders, against the PIT Steelers
Brian
Walker, DET Lions, against the SD Chargers
Brian Russell,
MIN Vikings, against the SEA Seahawks
Ronde Barber, TB Bucs,
against the NO Saints
Tony Parrish, SF 49ers, against the
AZ Cardinals
Greg Wesley, KC Chiefs, against the DEN Broncos
Rodney Harrison,
NE Patriots, against the MIA Dolphins
Sammy Knight, MIA Dolphins,
against the NE Patriots
Mike Minter, CAR Panthers, against
the ATL Falcons
Sam Garnes, NY Jets, against the BUF Bills
Adam Archuleta,
STL Rams, against the CLE Browns
Top 12 Team Defenses
- BAL Ravens vs. CIN Bengals - Ravens are again the league's
top D
- SF 49ers vs. AZ Cardinals - SF 4th best
in takeaways; AZ 2nd worst giveaways
- STL Rams @ CLE Browns - CLE QB situation is looking
bleak
- PHI Eagles vs. DAL Cowboys - Eagle D playing best football
now
- NE Patriots vs. MIA Dolphins - Pats D and snow showers
to slow down the 'Phins
- TB Bucs @ NO Saints - Do or die for Bucs D this weekend
- WAS Redskins @ NY Giants - Collins and offense really
struggling
- MIA Dolphins @ NE Pats - DL key in forcing Brady to
make mistakes
- CAR Panthers @ ATL Falcons - Vick vs. Rucker/Peppers. odds
D
- DET Lions vs. SD Chargers - Improving DLine will
create hurries by Brees/Flutie
- JAX Jags vs. HOU Texans - Injured Carr or Rookie
Ragone will make mistakes
- TEN Titans vs. IND Colts - Huge division game - advantage
home D
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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