UPGRADES

• DL Aaron Schobel, Buffalo (6 solos, 3 asst, 3 sacks, 1 FF)
  When Schobel played the Jets back in week 3, he was held to just 2 assists and had a very unimpressive performance against the rookie D'Brickashaw Ferguson. This week, he had his way with Ferguson throughout much of the game and finished with 3 sacks, the most he's had in a game since November 2003. After recording just 1 sack in the first 4 games, Schobel has 11.5 in his last 9 and is now tied with Shawne Merriman for the league lead with 12.5 sacks.
• DL Terrell Suggs (8 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR) and Trevor Pryce (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack), Baltimore
  Although they had a rough outing against the suddenly stingy Bengals offense in week 13, both Ravens defensive ends have been playing very well lately. Suggs has 18 solos and 4 sacks in his last 4 games. Trevor Pryce has 18 solos and 5 sacks in the same time frame. They have some very favorable matchups coming up as well starting with the Browns this weekend.
• DL Luis Castillo, San Diego (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack)
  Castillo returned to the field this week and made an impact with 4 solos and a sack against the Broncos. He now has 25 solos, 10 assists, and 6 sacks in just 9 games played, which is pretty impressive for a 3-4 DE.
• DL Cory Redding, Detroit (4 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack)
  Redding's career high for sacks before this season was 3 in 2004, but he now has 7 on the season and they've all come in the last 8 games. He's been one of the only bright spots on the Lions defensive line lately.
• DL Robert Geathers, Cincinnati (2 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack)
  Geathers continues to put up low tackle numbers, but his 2 sacks against the Raiders on Sunday brought his season total up to 10.5, which is only 2 off the league lead. He's certainly valuable in sack heavy scoring systems and could see a much bigger role next year if Justin Smith is allowed to leave in free agency.
• LB Shawne Merriman, San Diego (4 solos, 1 asst, 2 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 PD)
  Merriman continues to amaze. Last year, he put up 41 solos and 10 sacks in 15 games. This year, he now has 38 solos and 12.5 sacks in just 9 games played. He is tied for the league lead in sacks despite missing 4 games to a suspension, and he has 10 solos, 4 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in the 2 games since he returned from that suspension. He's clearly one of the favorites for defensive player of the year.
• LB E.J. Henderson, Minnesota (9 solos, 4 asst, 1 sack, 1 FR)
  Henderson's season has been up and down, but he appears to be finishing strong. In his last 2 games, he's put up 15 solos, 5 assists, a sack, and a FR and he has some favorable matchups coming up.
• LB Shelton Quarles, Tampa Bay (9 solos, 3 asst, 1.5 sacks)
  Quarles is doing what he can to make it tough for the Bucs to switch to Barrett Ruud at MLB. After missing a few games with an injury, Quarles has been amazing in his last 2 games with 16 solos, 6 assists, and 2.5 sacks.
• LB Stephen Cooper, San Diego (7 solos, 2 asst, 1 sack, 2 PD)
  With Godfrey injured, Cooper got a start at ILB next to Donnie Edwards this week and had a very impressive performance. With Edwards expected to leave via free agency after this season, Cooper should take over his starting spot and become a big time fantasy producer.
• LB Omar Gaither, Philadelphia (5 solos, 1 asst, 1 INT, 2 PD)
  The rookie Gaither has been playing well since taking over for the unimpressive Matt McCoy and his interception is a good indicator that he'll continue to play in the team's nickel package. McCoy wasn't even active this week and Shawn Barber suffered an injury.
• DB Yeremiah Bell, Miami (5 solos, 4 asst, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR)
  After a miserable game last week against the Jaguars, Bell rebounded with a huge game this week as the Dolphins shut out the Patriots. Bell was very active with 9 total tackles and also added a trifecta with a sack, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
• DB Ed Reed, Baltimore (3 solos, 2 INTs, 3 PD)
  Although the Ravens defense has been dominant and coming up with lots of big plays, surprisingly few have come from Ed Reed. He came up with some big plays this week, however, and doubled his interception total for the season. With the Browns, Steelers, and Bills left on the schedule, he has a good chance to add a few more before the season is over.
• DB Dwight Smith, Minnesota (3 solos, 1 asst, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 PD)
  Smith is probably a free agent in most leagues, but he's been a top-10 fantasy DB over the last 3 weeks. He's been doing it by making big plays with 3 interceptions and a sack and he'll be facing three passing offenses in the Jets, Packers, and Rams to end the season.
• DB Sean Considine, Philadelphia (6 solos, 4 asst)
  Although Lewis had the big TD return this week, Considine's production has been much more reliable since taking over the starting SS job in Philadelphia. He has at least 6 solos and 3 assists in each of the last 3 games.
• DB Shaun Williams, Carolina (10 solos, 1 FF)
  Williams' fantasy value has been all over the place this season, but he has been very productive of late with 21 solos in his last 3 games.

DOWNGRADES

• DL Trent Cole, Philadelphia (1 asst)
  Cole was one of the league's highest scoring fantasy DL for the first half of this season, but he's cooled off considerably. He put up 6 sacks in his first 5 games, but has just 2 in the 8 games since then.
• DL Richard Seymour, New England (2 solos)
  Last year, Seymour missed 4 games but finished with 36 solos and 4 sacks in 12 games played. This year, he has the same number of sacks but nearly half as many solos (20) in 13 games played. Although widely regarded as one of the league's best players, he's just not a very reliable fantasy option even with the Patriots playing more 4-3 fronts this year. His linemate Ty Warren has clearly surpassed him as the best fantasy option on the Patriots defensive line.
• DL Julius Peppers, Carolina (2 solos)
  Peppers is pretty widely regarded as the league's best defensive end and he's having a very productive season with 45 solos and 11 sacks. Since his 3 sack performance against the Bucs in week 10, however, he's been struggling with just 7 solos and 0 sacks in the last 3 games. If the Panthers hope to make the postseason, they'll need better play from their star defender.
• DL Grant Wistrom, Seattle (1 solo)
  Although he's only 30 years old, it certainly looks like Wistrom's career could be winding down soon. He has 4 sacks this year, which equals his production from last year but his tackles are way down (just 6 solos in his last 4 games) and the rookie Darryl Tapp could be poised to replace him next year.
• DL Dewayne White, Tampa Bay (1 solo, 4 asst)
  When Simeon Rice went on IR, many expected White to emerge with all the additional playing time he received. Although he has been quietly effective in a part-time role for the Bucs (9 sacks over last 2 seasons) in the past, his play this year has been disappointing. He has just 1 sack since entering the starting lineup over a month ago and has just 4 solos and 4 assists in his last 3 games.
• DL Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (1 asst)
  KGB has been struggling this season, both against the run and rushing the passer. As a result, the Packers benched him this week after just 2 plays. Going forward, he should still play in passing situations but will likely see his overall workload reduced considerably in favor of Cullen Jenkins.
• DL Orpheus Roye, Cleveland (DNP)
  Roye has missed the last couple games with a knee injury and will apparently be placed on injured reserve this week.
• LB Carlos Emmons, NY Giants (0 tackles)
  Emmons started the game at SLB for the Giants, but finished with 0 tackles. Since missing the Bears game with an injury, he has just 10 solos in his last 4 games and has yet to make any big plays this season.
• LB Caleb Miller, Cincinnati (1 asst)
  Miller started at MLB for the Bengals this week but finished with a very disappointing 1 assist. Meanwhile, Brian Simmons - who was the starting MLB to begin the season - finished with 4 solos, an interception, and 3 passes defensed. It looks like the Bengals may make the move back to Simmons as their full-time MLB even though Miller has been playing very well.
• LB Jonathan Vilma, NY Jets (1 solo)
  Vilma led the league in tackles last season and went to the Pro Bowl, but he has been much less productive in the Jets new defense this year. Although his numbers in the first half of the season were pretty good, he's now gone 6 straight games without breaking 4 solo tackles, and he's yet to record a single sack.
• LB Keyaron Fox, Kansas City (1 solo)
  Fox played well while filling in for an injured Derrick Johnson, but went back to the bench this week with Johnson's return. He may be able to push for a starting spot next season.
• LB Lofa Tatupu, Seattle (4 solos)
  Tatupu remains a very promising fantasy linebacker, but he hasn't really been able to build on his great rookie season as much as many expected him to. He has just 8 solos in his last 3 games, and only has half a sack and one interception this season after finishing with 4 sacks and 3 interceptions last season.
• DB Antoine Bethea (0 tackles) and Bob Sanders (DNP), Indianapolis
  Bethea started the game but left early with a shoulder injury. Bob Sanders knee acted up and he wound up missing his 9th game of the season. The Colts will need these guys healthy for the playoffs so they could be rested down the stretch.
• DB Madieu Williams, Cincinnati (1 asst)
  The Bengals defense has been playing much better since the Saints game and Williams' production has dropped off as a result. In the last 3 games, he's only recorded 5 solos, 5 assists, and a forced fumble.
• DB Deltha O'Neal, Cincinnati (DNP)
  O'Neal was inactive this week after being arrested for a DWI early Saturday morning. He's having a disappointing season after making the Pro Bowl a year ago.
• DB Brian Russell, Cleveland (DNP, IR)
  Russell missed the game this week and was placed on injured reserve today. He's been in the hospital being treated for a staph infection, and will be replaced in the starting lineup by Brodney Pool.