NOTE: This column is a living document and will be updated throughout the morning. Major changes to the content will be in red. Check back often for additions as gameday inactives are announced and lineup / depth chart changes are reported. I'll also be retweeting those reports with quick bits of analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter.
EARLY GAMES
Arizona at Jacksonville
John Abraham has a hamstring injury but is expected to play. He should continue his strong month in sack-heavy scoring systems against a favorable Jacksonville matchup. Tyrann Mathieu has a tougher matchup, but looks locked into a primo base free safety, nickel slot role right now. That will even out his weekly variance.
Paul Posluszny has not been cleared for contact after last week's concussion. Russell Allen will move inside with John Lotulelei starting outside. Allen is a nice LB3+ play in what should be an every-down role. Those in deeper corner required leagues should consider Dwayne Gratz. He got his first start last week and is a physical tackler who should get boost his numbers with some plays in run support.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
The Falcons will get Sean Weatherspoon back this week. Thankfully, we got the clarity we needed on the prospective alignments. As I speculated earlier this week, it wasn't Paul Worrilow or Joplo Bartu who were on the hot seat. It will be Akeem Dent who loses his role in the base defense, with Worrilow moving inside. What isn't yet known is whether Worrilow or Bartu will be the second nickel linebacker. And it's a tough call to handicap. Bartu was seen as an up-and-coming subpackage player this preseason. Weatherspoon will reportedly wear the helmet communicator. But both Bartu and Weatherspoon are better suited to an outside role in the nickel, whereas Worrilow makes more sense in the middle. And there's no guarantee Weatherspoon is ready to take a full time role. I think you can safely consider both Weatherspoon and Worrilow LB3 plays this week. But both have a low floor.
Da'Quan Bowers didn't practice this week and is likely out with a concussion. Mark Barron is on the injury report, but fully practiced Friday. This should be a solid matchup for him.
Baltimore at Chicago
The Ravens have a long list of questionable defenders. Haloti Ngata may be the biggest risk after not practicing all week. James Ihedigo and Daryl Smith were able to take limited reps Friday and are expected to go. Smith played 81 snaps despite the thigh injury last week and, though there's always risk of a early game setback, should be a trustworthy LB3+ today.
Charles Tillman is out for the rest of the fantasy season. Zack Bowman has been very productive in similar situations in the past and should be considered an immediate CB2+ / possible DB3. Lance Briggs is still out with a fractured shoulder blade. Khaseem Greene hasn't impressed as a starter and clearly won't have a role in the nickel package. Jon Bostic and James Anderson continue to be your best IDP options at linebacker. Shea McClellin still isn't practicing and won't play with a hamstring injury. David Bass will start but is not a fantasy option. The Bears signed Jay Ratliff, but he is not yet ready to play either. Corey Wootton is likely to stay inside for at least one more week.
Cleveland at Cincinnati
The Browns are healthy and full strength on defense. I don't expect any major schematic or depth chart changes coming out of the bye week.
Vincent Rey was very impressive last week as an every-down middle linebacker. Mike Zimmer has been a fan of Rey's since last season but durability issues kept Rey from taking advantage of any possible opportunities. One week doesn't establish a trend, but this is a situation that is too good to wait on in the short term. The only competition for tackles in the back seven is from Vontaze Burfict, the stat crew has been much more friendly in Cincinnati this year and Rey has all-around talent. Rey Maualuga could be back in Week 12, but Vincent Rey could win more snaps with another strong week. Consider Rey a LB3 with upside this week.
Detroit at Pittsburgh
The Lions are unlikely to get Ezekiel Ansah back this week, and neither Ansah nor Devin Taylor are more than boom-bust sack-heavy scoring plays despite a strong matchup. Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are surer bets.
Shamarko Thomas had been threatening for rotational snaps at safety but will be out for multiple weeks with an ankle injury. That makes Ryan Clark a safer play down the stretch. LaMarr Woodley is doubtful with a calf injury. That could give Jarvis Jones more snaps, but there's no upside in the Pittsburgh outside linebacker group right now.
New York Jets at Buffalo
Ed Reed joins the Jets this week. How he'll fit into the rotation with Antonio Allen (and Jaiquawn Jarrett) remains to be seen. Consider Allen, who's recovered from his concussion and will play today, a boom-bust DB3 until we see more.
Da'Norris Searcy returned to practice late in the week and will play with a hamstring injury. I don't anticipate him seeing much playing time as a hybrid nickel backer against a Jets' offense that rarely uses multiple wide receiver sets.
Oakland at Houston
The Raiders will be without Tyvon Branch for at least two more weeks. D.J. Hayden is also out today. Sio Moore continues to see snaps in nickel packages lately and has consistently gotten to the quarterback. There's some risk with him today, but the Houston matchup is strong enough to see him as a boom-bust LB3, especially in sack-heavy leagues.
Nothing new to note with the Texans though I get the sense the fantasy value of Darryl Sharpton (productive, but fragile) and D.J. Swearinger Sr (loaded with potential, but not hitting yet) could be changing soon. For now, roll with Sharpton and leave Swearinger on your bench.
Washington at Philadelphia
Washington is healthy. The rotation, including at safety, seems mostly stable. Which, of course, means anything can happen this week. No defensive players has been consistent statistically anyway, so it's best to look for other options where you can.
Earl Wolff is out with a knee injury, leaving Patrick Chung to take as many snaps as he can until he breaks down again. Mychal Kendricks is questionable, but the full practice on Friday leaves room for optimism. If Kendricks cannot go, Najee Goode will start in his place. Goode was nowhere to be found in last week's boxscore despite a monster snap count. Goode isn't a fantasy stud in the making, but that was likely a fluke. Consider Goode a LB3/4 with marginal upside today.
LATE GAMES
Green Bay at New York Giants
Casey Hayward and Nick Perry are on the verge of having their seasons declared legally dead. Neither has been able to stay healthy enough to get into a rhythm and make an impact. Clay Matthews will place with a smaller splint this week and should be a better sack-heavy play. There's a chance Brad Jones works back into his full time role this week, but he should be on your bench until that's official.
Jason Pierre-Paul was limited this week. I'm very leery of his stinger symptoms after offseason disc surgery. There were times where Pierre-Paul looked to be turning the corner this year, but I think that ship may have sailed and there's an argument to be made that he may never return to elite defensive end status again. Last week, Jacquian Williams saw more snaps than Spencer Paysinger, leaving Jon Beason the only viable fantasy option in this linebacker group. The Packers should provide Beason with more opportunity than he's seen in the past 2-3 weeks. And there are now no more hints of injury-related issues; Will Hill has now taken over as the starting free safety for Ryan Mundy.
Minnesota at Seattle
There was an erroneous report floating around that Erin Henderson wouldn't play this week with an illness. He's fully practiced Thursday and Friday and is ready to play in a very strong matchup. The Vikings should also get both Chris Cook and Jamarca Sanford back today. Andrew Sendejo will continue to start, with Mistral Raymond headed to a reserve role. Sanford is a risk coming off the groin strain, but is the better bet for fantasy value.
Brandon Browner is out this week. Walter Thurmond will replace him, but may get the usual bump opposite Richard Sherman given the so-so Minnesota passing game. Consider him a boom-bust CB2.
San Diego at Miami
Donald Butler returned to the lineup and, surprisingly, an every-down role last week. The Chargers continued to use dime subpackages, but Reggie Walker saw no snaps. That bodes well for Butler, who is no longer on the injury report, down the stretch. Thomas Keiser could replace Jarret Johnson again this week. If Johnson is out, Keiser is a potential boom-bust sack-heavy play.
The Dolphins seem convinced that Dion Jordan can handle a small, situational role and nothing more. Philip Wheeler started losing some subpackage snaps to Jelani Jenkins last week. Jenkins has a minor foot injury, but practiced fully Friday. That rotation could continue.
San Francisco at New Orleans
The Niners expect to have Eric Reid back today but Ray McDonald is out with an ankle injury. Reid is a marginal IDP option despite the decent matchup. I think we'll see Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman take advantage of the bulk of the opportunity today.
Earlier in the week, it looked like another tough road to handicap defensive snap counts in New Orleans. But the Saints ruled Kenny Vaccaro out early, both Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins fully practiced all week and are probable. Curtis Lofton was limited but played through his injury last week. And David Hawthorne is off the injury report altogether. Other than Vaccaro, it looks like the Saints will have all hands ready in the back seven today. That includes Cameron Jordan, who was rested for much of the week, but looked like he was over his ankle injury last week.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Kansas City at Denver
The Chiefs are healthy. It's a better than average matchup for Eric Berry but Justin Houston and Tamba Hali may have their work cut out for them. Peyton Manning might be an even less mobile target than usual, but he'll be looking to get the ball out of his hands more quickly.
Champ Bailey will sit another week at least. The Broncos are otherwise healthy. Last week, we finally saw the rotation expected this preseason before Von Miller's suspension and Wes Woodyard's injury. Woodyard was the every-down middle linebacker, Miller a hybrid SLB/DE and Danny Trevathan a mostly base defender. Duke Iheancho fully practiced on Friday and is probable. He carries a risk of an in-game setback, but should be safe to use in lineups without a hedge for a possible inactive status.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
New England at Carolina
Duron Harmon is likely to start for the injured Steve Gregory today. Aqib Talib is a game-time decision again this week. The Panthers aren't likely to use many spread sets, so both Takeo Spikes and Donta' Hightower should be solid plays (Spikes LB3+, Hightower LB3-). Both Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich should also be strong bets, especially in sack-heavy leagues.
The Panthers are healthy. I expect the safety rotation to continue this week between Quintin Mikell and Robert Lester. It's difficult to handicap the New England game plan, but if you're forced to start one of those two players, it'd be Lester for me.
Best of luck in your fantasy games this weekend. Reading the Defense returns on Tuesday. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking news and analysis during the games today.
