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
Buffalo at Jacksonville
Kiko Alonso has been limited all week with a nagging knee injury. He's been guessing more lately and finding himself out of position. The Jaguars are likely without Maurice Jones-Drew and Cecil Shorts today and the Bills are away from their favorable home stat keeper. That combination makes Alonso a less attractive play today. Call him a high variance LB3.
Jonathan Cyprien did not practice after a thigh strain during Wednesday's practice. He's listed doubtful and very unlikely to play. Winston Guy will start in his place and has some DB3+ upside. Josh Evans is expected to start at free safety.
Chicago at Cleveland
The Bears will once again be without Lance Briggs, but the rest of the defense is healthy. With Jeremiah Ratliff and Stephen Paea healthy, the Corey Wootton - Shea McClellin rotation is back at left defensive end. Julius Peppers draws a very unfavorable matchup with Joe Thomas today. Consider other options if you have them.
Craig Robertson was back -- and bad -- for Cleveland last week. He also sat in subpackages for a defensive back. I wouldn't risk him today. Paul Kruger has been better of late, but is no more than a desperation play in very deep sack-heavy scoring systems.
Houston at Indianapolis
The Texans are healthy. There's some risk in Darryl Sharpton with the assist-happy Indy stat crew, he's a marginal LB3 today. If you're looking for a home run pick in deeper, sack-heavy leagues, take a look at the underwhelming Whitney Mercilus. This is a reasonable matchup for him, even on the road.
The only Colts worth trusting are Jerrell Freeman, Antoine Bethea and Robert Mathis today. LaRon Landry is close, but the home stat crew often depresses the value of tacklers.
1135 ET: Pat Angerer inactive. Kelvin Sheppard could play near every-down, but marginal LB3 at best.
New England at Miami
The New England back seven is a tough handicap. If you're in a deeper league, you might consider Brandon Spikes or one of the Patriots' safeties, but it's best to avoid this group today. On the bright side, it's a very favorable matchup for Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich against a very weak Miami offensive line.
Reshad Jones managed only a limited Friday practice, but local sources are expecting him to go after he told them "ain't no doubt" he was playing today. Proceed with caution. With so many injured receivers, it could be a run heavy attack for New England, making Dannell Ellerbe a higher upside LB3 today.
Philadelphia at Minnesota
No changes to the starting lineup today. There's some upside in all of the Philadelphia pass rushers. Trent Cole is the best option, but Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox are considerations in deeper leagues. It's a tougher matchup for the tacklers, with the Vikings likely to be without a viable running back.
Both Chad Greenway and Audie Cole should be good plays today. The secondary is a tougher call. Harrison Smith should be back but there's no guarantee he plays every down with Andrew Sendejo and Jamarca Sanford healthy. I'd hold on using Smith in fantasy leagues today unless there's a very favorable pregame report.
San Francisco at Tampa Bay
The Niners are healthy and there are no changes to their depth chart.
This is a above-average matchup for Mason Foster. The Niners aren't likely to force many dime subpackages and Foster has been seeing more snaps over the past month. He's a strong upside LB3 play today.
Seattle at New York Giants
Malcolm Smith replaces K.J. Wright today and has a shot to play every down as he did when Bobby Wagner was down. The matchup is solid enough that Smith can be considered a LB3 today. It's a good spot for Wagner, who gets a solid running back matchup away from his assist-happy home stat crew. Chris Clemons and Cliff Avril have favorable pass rushing matchups. They'd be must plays, but their rotation limits their chances.
This should be a good matchup for Jon Beason, but it's risky due to his inconsistency. Antrel Rolle is probably the best tackle matchup in the back seven. Justin Tuck's pass rush matchup is borderline, but he's playing too well to bench unless you have another strong DL1 option.
Washington at Atlanta
London Fletcher and Perry Riley are less favorable starts today. The opportunity is there but they won't have the benefit of a stat-boosting home stat crew. Consider Fletcher at LB3+ and be careful using Riley unless you're a heavy favorite and want to bank a handful of points.
Paul Worrilow continues to be a high upside LB1. Sean Weatherspoon looked like he had a piano on his back last week and William Moore isn't playing aggressively in run support. That continues to give Worrilow a huge territory to make plays.
LATE GAMES
Arizona at Tennessee
Rashad Johnson will replace Tyrann Mathieu at free safety, with Antoine Cason seeing more slot corner snaps. Neither are great fantasy options today. Yeremiah Bell, Daryl Washington and Karlos Dansby may get very slight boosts in value. Though he was shut out last week, Matt Shaughnessy should see 30-45 snaps in his usual role.
The Titans are listing Akeem Ayers and Alterraun Verner questionable, but both fully practiced Friday and should play. The linebacker rotation was a mess last week, with five players taking at least 30 snaps. Moise Fokou is the closest thing to an every-down linebacker, but none of this group can be trusted in a critical playoff matchup except in deeper leagues where you've no other 30+ snap options.
Green Bay at Dallas
Both Brad Jones and Jamari Lattimore are fighting minor ankle injuries. Jones was back to a full Friday practice. Although he's still not playing in the dime, he's been a stable LB3+ over the past month. Sean Richardson is rotating in heavily for M.D. Jennings and got good reviews from Mike McCarthy early this week. He could be taking over next to Morgan Burnett soon.
Sean Lee is out this week -- and very possibly for the rest of the season -- with a sprained ligament in his neck. Bruce Carter is also out today with a hamstring injury. That puts Justin Durant in the middle, with Ernie Sims on the weak side and Kyle Wilbur on the strong side. Sims should play every down, but there's risk with all three against Green Bay. I think Wilbur gets enough snaps to hold value if he's classified as a defensive lineman in your league. Jeff Heath is a solid DB2 play today; he's continued to start over J.J. Wilcox.
Kansas City at Oakland
Justin Houston has been cleared for individual work but isn't ready to play. There's a slight chance we'll see him back next week. His absence hasn't greatly affected Tamba Hali, who gets another strong matchup today.
Tyvon Branch practiced for most of two weeks and was deemed not ready to play. He's on injured reserve and done for the season. The Raiders are otherwise healthy. This should be a good matchup for both Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett.
New Orleans at St. Louis
Roman Harper has been the odd man out in most subpackages lately. Even with Tavon Austin out today, he's a risky play. Cameron Jordan, Curtis Lofton and Kenny Vaccaro all have better than average matchups. Malcolm Jenkins is a solid start, too.
Janoris Jenkins did not practice this week and is questionable to play. The Saints haven't targeted wide receivers much this year, so corners aren't the upside play they once were. Alec Ogletree and T.J. McDonald could have strong days if Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles meet expectations.
New York Jets at Carolina
The Panthers have been a good matchup, but it's difficult to trust any Jet in fantasy leagues. Consider Demario Davis and Dawan Landry in deeper leagues only.
The Panthers are healthy. The highest upside is along the defensive line today. Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis likely need a big play or an unexpectedly sustainable Jet offense to hit their ceiling. That's not to say that either should be benched, but both get bumped down a tier (LB2 and LB3 ceiling respectively). Charles Johnson was added to the injury report as questionable with the flu but is expected to play.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
The Bengals will have George Iloka back today, but the only fantasy value here in the back seven is Vontaze Burfict. Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson get a poor offensive line matchup but the elusive Ben Roethlisberger. Both are boom-bust DL2 tonight.
Cam Heyward has been a consistently strong fantasy option of late but the Bengals have protected well. He's also high variance tonight.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Baltimore at Detroit
There's a good chance the Ravens get Elvis Dumervil back from a bone bruise on his ankle tomorrow but the Lions have been a terrible pass rush matchup for most. Terrell Suggs gets enough tackle opportunity to keep him in lineups, but his upside is limited.
The Lions are banged up at cornerback. Rashean Mathis and Jonte Green are the likely starters. Ezekiel Ansah is expected to play through a shoulder injury, but his snap count and injury make him a risky play. Consider him as a DL2 in sack-heavy leagues only.
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.
