QB Kyle Boller, BAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - If Kyle Boller is still on your waiver wire, now would be a very good time to fix that right away. Boller completed 21 of 36 passes for 191 yards and kept the Ravens moving all game. Baltimore actually had more yardage than Buffalo despite the final score going the other way. Even though the Ravens are off in Week 8, having a capable backup is almost never a bad idea, and Baltimore seems to be more effective with Boller under center.

QB Tom Brady, NE - Tom Brady is having a great season. It seems like we are upgrading him every week. But, how can you not upgrade a passer with five first half touchdown tosses? Brady finished the game with 21 pass completions from 25 attempts for 354 passing yards and six scoring passes. That is an 84% completion percentage. He now has thrown 27 touchdown passes against only two interceptions in seven games. The former Michigan star is on pace to set several records.

QB Drew Brees, NO - Drew Brees and the Saints have now won two games in a row after such a disastrous start to the 2007 season. Brees had completions to nine different Saints receivers enroute to 219 yards passing with 2 TDs. It could very well be possible that some owners may have given up on Brees a few weeks ago. He may be available on your waiver wire, especially in smaller leagues. If he is, adding him could be a nice pick up. Coach Sean Payton has called some great plays of late that have been well executed. This two game win streak could be the start of good things for the Saints. New Orleans' next three games are @SF, JAC, STL.

QB Kerry Collins, TEN - Collins filled in for Vince Young, who did not see any action on Sunday, due to his stubborn quadriceps injury. Like expected, the Titans and the strong arm of Kerry Collins took to the air, passing for 280 yards. Collins failed to throw a TD pass in the game, but he did move the ball down the field very well, which led to two rushing TDs, not to mention an NFL record eight field goals by Rob Bironas. Vince Young could be back next week vs. Oakland, so the Collins show might've only been a one-game event. However, he merits an upgrade simply because we now know he's capable of giving a nice performance. Tennessee's next three games are all at home vs. OAK, CAR, JAC.

QB Jay Cutler, DEN - Cutler will miss Javon Walker, but he turned in a very good game against the Steelers as he completed 22 passes on 29 attempts for 248 yards and three scores. With the impending departure of Travis Henry, this team will need good numbers from Cutler to succeed.

QB Trent Edwards, BUF - Trent Edwards led the Bills to a huge win against the Baltimore Ravens in week seven. It looks like Edwards' hold on the starting job is pretty tight. Edwards seemed to get in rhythm with Lee Evans. On the day, Edwards' stats were not very gaudy, but his hold on the position strengthened. The rookie from Stanford ended up with 11 completions in 21 attempts for 153 yards and an interception. The Bills get the Jets and Bengals the next two games. Expect Edwards to improve even further against those two soft defenses.

QB Jeff Garcia, TB - Garcia still has not thrown an INT this season and now he has 5 TD passes in his last three games along with 590 yards passing. Garcia, in a losing effort, was extremely efficient this past week at Detroit passing for 316 yards connecting on 37 for 45 attempts for an impressive 82% completion percentage. Garcia and the Buccaneers may have had a chance to get the win against Detroit if it were not for a fumbled snap by Garcia on the Detroit two-yard line early in the fourth quarter that would've put the Bucs back into the game trailing by just two points. Instead, the Lions added another TD which put the game out of reach. Tampa Bay's next three games are JAC, ARI, BYE.

QB Brian Griese, CHI - Brian Griese completed 27 of his 41 passing attempts for 322 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles defense. Griese has now enjoyed two straight games over the 300 yards mark against two good defenses. This was a much-needed win for Griese and the Bears. The Bears are scoring well while waiting for their defense to get healthy.

QB Joey Harrington, ATL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - After Bobby Petrino benched Joey Harrington in favor of Byron Leftwich, the Falcons had to turn back to him after Leftwich left the game with an injured ankle. Early reports say Leftwich will be out 2-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain, which means Joey Harrington gets an upgrade by default, simply because he'll be on the field. Whether that is a good thing or not is yet to be determined. The Falcons have a bye next week, but Harrington will likely get the start for week nine at San Francisco. Harrington did manage to pass for 128 yards in about a quarter and a half of action, however he did not lead his team to a TD when they needed one. Atlanta's next three games are BYE, @SF, CAR.

QB Philip Rivers, SD - Rivers gets the upgrade because he gets another explosive weapon to throw to in Chris Chambers. Chambers will be the team's deep threat in the passing game, and may also help to open things up underneath for Antonio Gates.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Roethlisberger threw for four touchdowns and 290 yards in a losing effort against the Denver Broncos in Week 7. Roethlisberger (24-35-290-4-2) connected with TE Heath Miller twice for two touchdowns and also added 20 yards rushing. He moved the Steelers down the field well, connecting with eight different receivers.

QB Tony Romo, DAL - Romo had a stellar first half, going 28 for 32 in the first 30 minutes against the Vikings in Week 7. The nightmarish performance against Buffalo last Monday seemed like a long time ago with Romo putting up these numbers, including hitting Terrell Owens for a touchdown. Move Romo (31-39-277-1-0) back up the charts based on this performance.

QB Sage Rosenfels, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Rosenfels entered the game for Houston when Matt Schaub was knocked out of the game by a hard hit from Titans DT Albert Haynesworth. Rosenfels played the tail end of the first half and the entire second half. In limited duty he passed for 290 yards and threw 4 TD passes (all in the fourth quarter) with 3 INTs and 1 fumble lost. The Texans trailed 32-7 going into the fourth quarter and Rosenfels brought the team back in dramatic fashion to take the lead with just under one minute remaining, only to have the Titans march down the field and kick the game-winning field goal. Although the Titans were fairly lax in their pass defense and coverage, Rosenfels still engineered quite a comeback with those four TDs and that should not go unnoticed. In the event Matt Schaub is not healthy enough to play next week at San Diego, Sage Rosenfels appears to be a fairly productive replacement. Houston's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

QB Kurt Warner, ARI - Warner showed his resiliency in returning from torn ligaments in his elbow to play on Sunday, and put up some quality fantasy numbers (27 of 41 for 282 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions). Warner has a bye next week and then faces a tough Tampa Bay pass defense -- but starting in week ten faces a pretty juicy series of opponents in the Lions, Bengals, 49ers, and Browns.

Downgrade

QB Jason Campbell, WAS - Campbell managed to do just enough for the Redskins to win, but not much more. Campbell finished with just 95 yards passing, going 12 for 18 with an interception and zero touchdowns. With Clinton Portis doing most of the work for Washington and the Redskins struggling to find capable receivers, Campbell remains a bye week starter at best.

QB Tarvaris Jackson, MIN - Tarvaris Jackson finished the week seven game with six completions in 19 attempts for a mere 72 yards. Jackson added 20 rushing yards on four carries. His presence in the lineup hurts the viability of the Viking receivers. He is simply not a good option. Further limiting Jackson's desirability is the fractured middle finger on his throwing hand.

QB Jon Kitna, DET - Jon Kitna has had a couple of poor fantasy games in his last two outings. In week seven against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the veteran quarterback completed 16 passes in 20 attempts for only 147 passing yards and no touchdowns. Fantasy owners have come to expect more than twenty pass attempts in a game. With the results of this and the game against the Redskins, fantasy owners might not consider Kitna the must start that he was a few weeks ago.

QB Byron Leftwich, ATL - An injury to Byron Leftwich's right ankle forced him out of the game halfway through the third quarter. The early diagnosis is a high ankle sprain that will keep him sidelined for 2-4 weeks. Before the injury, Leftwich and the Falcons had the lead against New Orleans and were moving the ball well down the field, finding Roddy White early and often. Leftwich also gained confidence from WR Michael Jenkins, who had four of his six receptions before he left the game. The Falcons next three games are BYE, SF, @CAR.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - Schaub suffered two injuries this past week against Tennessee. He injured his ankle halfway through the first quarter after being sacked, which forced him to leave the game to have it looked at. It was reported as a left ankle sprain but, he did return to the game after getting the ankle taped. Schaub was then literally "knocked out" of the game again when DT Albert Haynesworth was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit which drove him to the ground. The fierce nature of the pile-driving tackle forced Schaub out of the game and he did not return. His status for week eight is unknown at this time. In addition to the injury he may have some competition from Sage Rosenfels, who engineered a 25-point comeback in the fourth quarter that almost won the game for the Texans. Houston's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

Holding steady

QB Chad Pennington, NYJ - Chad Pennington needed a good game to save his job against the Cincinnati Bengals in week seven. Well, he got it. It is too early to know if the performance did save his job, but Pennington had good fantasy numbers. The former Marshall star completed 20 of 31 for 272 yards with 3 touchdown passes and one interception. But, the interception was costly. With the Jets down eight points and driving with under one minute left in the game, Pennington had his pass intended for Laveranues Coles intercepted by Jonathan Joseph, who returned the pick for a touchdown.

Running Back

Upgrade

RB Marion Barber III, DAL - Barber managed to collect 96 yards on 19 carries and score a touchdown against the toughest rushing defense (Minnesota) in Week 7. Barber also added four catches for a scant nine yards, but he continues to be the most productive Cowboy running back by a wide margin.

RB Lorenzo Booker, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Lorenzo Booker has been inactive all season, but with Ronnie Brown out for the remainder of the season, Booker will finally see the field.

RB Jesse Chatman, MIA - Jesse Chatman is once again fantasy relevant with the injury to Ronnie Brown. Chatman stands to benefit the most with Brown missing the remainder of the season. He looked good earlier in the season while sharing touches with Brown. In week seven against the Patriots, Chatman had seven carries for 73 yards and a touchdown run. The former Charger added a nine-yard grab.

RB Patrick Cobbs, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Patrick Cobbs could be the sleeper with the injury to Ronnie Brown. Chatman may be a back that is better in a committee. After the Brown injury, Cobbs had three rushes for 14 yards and a scoring run. He also had one reception for 19 yards. Cobbs has bounced around the NFL but now might turn into a decent waiver player this week.

RB T.J. Duckett, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - T.J. Duckett looks to be the primary backup to Kevin Jones. Tatum Bell did not touch the ball at all while Duckett was effective. The former Falcon had 30 yards on four carries. He might also be the short yardage back for the Lions. The former Spartan did look good in limited action. With Bell's ineffectiveness and Jones' injury history, Duckett might get even more action later in the season.

RB Earnest Graham, TB - How does 92 rushing yards and 13 receptions for 99 yards sound? Sounds pretty good doesn't it? Apparently Earnest Graham didn't necessarily like the news of the Buccaneers trading for Chiefs RB Michael Bennett this past week. He decided to speak his mind with his play on the field. Thirteen receptions??!? He now has 19 receptions in his last two games and has a firm grasp on the Buccaneers starting RB gig - 32 touches for 191 total yards will do that for you. Although he didn't find the end zone, his performance, especially in PPR leagues was very impressive. Ride the wave Graham owners. Jeff Garcia is loving his outlet to the RB and Graham is benefiting greatly. Tampa Bay's next three games are JAC, ARI, BYE.

RB Priest Holmes, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Holmes made his return Sunday after being out for two full years. With the trade of Michael Bennett to the Chiefs, Holmes served as the primary backup to Larry Johnson and got five touches on the day -- albeit for only three yards. But just getting back on the field means an upgrade for Holmes.

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Jackson got some reps in practice last week and will likely be activated for the week eight game against the Browns. Then following the week nine bye, Jackson will face the Saints, 49ers, Seahawks, Falcons, and Bengals. As bad as the Rams offense has been this year, that's a stretch of games in which Jackson could help his fantasy owners.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - With many wondering if Jacobs would even be healthy enough to play in Week 7, Jacobs answered critics and went out and had a career day against the 49ers. Jacobs rushed for 107 yards on 18 tries and scored a touchdown in the 33-15 victory. He also added three catches for 16 yards. Jacobs commanded most of the touches and reasserted himself as the primary tailback for the Giants. With Miami up next, expect big numbers next week if his ankle holds up.

RB Larry Johnson, KC - Johnson is starting to roll, having rushed for more than 100 yards in three out of his last four games. He has also found the end zone in two consecutive weeks. Johnson has a bye next week and then faces a tough Packer defense in week nine, but he gets an upgrade because the Chiefs' have re-established a strong running game this season after a very slow start.

RB Kevin Jones, DET - Kevin Jones looked great this week against Tampa Bay. This was his first game this season as the primary ball carrier. The former Hokie had 15 carries for 76 yards and a score. He added 34 receiving yards on six receptions. Jones looked like the Kevin Jones before the Lis Franc foot injury. The Buccaneer defense posed a good test for Jones, but he excelled and looked very good.

RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF - Marshawn Lynch is quietly having a good rookie season. He has been overshadowed this season by fellow rookie, Adrian Peterson. Against the Baltimore Ravens, The former Cal star had 27 carries for 84 yards and a score. He had another 14 yards on three catches. Lynch gets the Jets and Bengals the next two weeks. The Jets next week are the same team that gave up huge yardage to Kenny Watson in week six. With the upcoming schedule, Lynch is a player on the rise.

RB Laurence Maroney, NE - Laurence Maroney finally played and looked pretty good. However, he only had six rushes for 31 yards. The Patriots gave him limited carries to test the injured groin. Maroney was not needed much in the blow out game. But, this is a good sign that Maroney's groin is improving. With the injury to Morris, the Patriots might need the former Minnesota Gopher as the season progresses.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - McGahee continues to deliver week after week, and that kind of consistency in a topsy-turvy fantasy year deserves recognition. McGahee had 114 yards rushing on 19 carries and a touchdown in Week 7 against Buffalo, and similar production should be expected after his bye next week.

RB Jerious Norwood, ATL - The changing of the guard at RB for the Falcons may be coming very soon. Warrick Dunn had another disappointing game and even though Jerious Norwood's game wasn't much better, there is a hint of a position takeover smell in the air. Norwood had only 38 yards rushing on the day against New Orleans, but 30 of it came on one run. Keep an eye on this situation, because if given the chance to start, Norwood could be a big player, especially in time for your fantasy playoffs. The window of opportunity to snag Norwood away from his owner is right now. The Falcons have a bye next week, which is a perfect time for the trade offer. Why go after Norwood? He was averaging 5.7 yards per carry entering this week's game and his 6 for 38 yard (6.3 YPC) performance elevates that number even more. The poor game from Warrick Dunn also helps his chances, not to mention the coach speak last week that indicated that Norwood would eventually get more carries. While this past game didn't dictate the opportunity for more carries, it could come soon. You can get him cheap right now, and it could pay off in a big way for the stretch run. The Falcons play @STL, NO, TB, @ARI in weeks 13-16. That's not a very difficult playoff stretch.

RB Clinton Portis, WAS - Clinton Portis rushed 18 times for only 43 yards, but he did score on two of those runs. He also added two catches for 14 more yards as he got the bulk of the workload as the main tailback for Washington. As long as he continues to cross the goal line when called upon and also stay healthy he will be the featured tailback for the Redskins.

RB Pierre Thomas, NO - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Thomas looks to be the favored back behind Reggie Bush right now. Thomas has scored a TD in each of the last two games (special teams in week six and rushing in week seven).

RB Kenny Watson, CIN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - After his Week 7 efforts where Watson scored three touchdowns and had 130 yards rushing, you should absolutely be certain that Watson will be used more going forward. Watson also had three catches for 27 more yards, so go ahead and grab him if you can.

RB LenDale White, TEN - The Titans were able to pass the ball fairly well against Houston, but they also managed to rush for 151 yards. White led the way with 104 yards on 27 carries including another TD inside the 5-yard line. White now has four rushing TDs this season, all inside the 5-yard line. This was his first 100-yard game this year and with Chris Brown sidelined with a ankle injury, the impressive performance should leave a lasting and positive memory in the mind of head coach Jeff Fisher. It's looking more and more like LenDale White will be the main rushing threat for Tennessee this year. Tennessee's next three games are OAK, CAR, JAC.

Downgrade

RB Tatum Bell, DET - Tatum Bell did not have a touch in the week seven matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kevin Jones is now healthy and looked great in the game. To make matters worse, T.J. Duckett played well, too. The value of Tatum Bell is close to zero at this time. We never know when Kevin Jones or Duckett will get nicked up again, so it is advisable to hang onto the former Oklahoma State star as long as possible.

RB Michael Bennett, TB - Bennett joined the Buccaneers this past week after being traded from Kansas City. If the mid-week quote from his mouth of "Jon Gruden's playbook is like reading Chinese" didn't concern you, maybe the play of Earnest Graham and his 191 total yards, including 13 receptions, did the trick. Don't expect much from Michael Bennett going forward, this is looking very much like it's Earnest Graham's job to keep.

RB Cedric Benson, CHI - Cedric Benson came into the season with high expectations given the departure of Thomas Jones to the New York Jets. In the week seven game against the Eagles, Benson had 17 carries for 46, and added a 19-yard catch. Benson is averaging just a shade over three yards a carry. He has been largely ineffective this season. The former Texas Longhorn has 416 rushing yards on 136 carries through seven games.

RB Ladell Betts, WAS - Betts had only three carries for 12 yards in Week 7 and zero catches as Washington continues to ignore him and give Portis as much work as he can handle. While he did almost score on a 10 yard run to the Cardinals' two yard line, he was removed so Portis could punch it in. He is only worth anything at this point if Portis gets hurt and should only be owned in deep leagues or by Portis owners.

RB Chris Brown, TEN - Brown was inactive this past week against Houston with a sprained ankle. His lack of presence in the game opened the door even wider for LenDale White, who rushed for 104 yards on 27 carries, including a TD. While Brown may still get some carries when he does return, it's looking more and more like LenDale White will be the main ball carrier for Tennessee this season. Tennessee's next three games are OAK, CAR, JAC.

RB Ronnie Brown, MIA - Ronnie Brown has been playing great this season. In week seven against the Patriots, the former Auburn star went down with a knee injury while trying to make a tackle. Before injury, he totaled 76 rushing yards on 17 carries. Brown added five receptions for 33 yards. Unfortunately, he will miss the remainder of the season.

RB Warrick Dunn, ATL - This is Dunn's second consecutive downgrade. It was a shoddy outing that painfully included 13 carries for only 28 yards. The poor effort was against the Saints, who aren't exactly defensive juggernauts. Dunn also only had just one reception for 1 yard. Hardly impressive numbers. His compliment Jerious Norwood also didn't fare well, but he did at least have a nice 30-yard run in the game. Atlanta's next three games are BYE, SF, @CAR,

RB Rudi Johnson, CIN - Johnson was inactive Week 7 but hardly missed with Kenny Watson's outstanding performance. Johnson needs to get healthy and produce, but even when he gets back to 100% it is likely that Watson will remain a contributor.

RB Julius Jones, DAL - Jones had just 28 yards on nine carries and added 30 yards receiving on four catches. Marion Barber had 23 touches compared to his 13, so once again he remains the second fiddle despite the starter label.

RB Thomas Jones, NYJ - Thomas Jones faced an injury-riddled Bengal defense, which seemed like a great matchup, in week seven. Fantasy owners were disappointed ... once again. The former Virginia Cavalier had 19 carries for 67 yards. This was against the same Bengal defense that gave up huge yardage against Larry Johnson and the Chiefs last week. His season totals are not near the expectations fantasy owners had coming into the season. Jones has a total of 131 carries for 487 yards and no touchdowns on the season. The next two games for Jones and the Jets are against the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins so things are not getting any easier for the former Chicago Bear.

RB LaMont Jordan, OAK - After looking good early in the season, the Raiders' offensive line has struggled to open any holes in the running game over the past two weeks. Moreover, Jordan split carries with Dominic Rhodes on Sunday (11 carries to 9), a trend that will harm Jordan's value going forward if it continues.

RB Brian Leonard, STL - Leonard got only twelve touches on Sunday, as the Rams got behind early and failed to establish the running game. Moreover, there's a good chance that Steven Jackson will return this week, ending Leonard's stint as the Rams' starting RB.

RB Aaron Stecker, NO - Stecker had a single carry for a single yard to go with two catches for 11 yards in week seven. The loss of Deuce McAllister has not been a boon to his stats, and it looks like Pierre Thomas has passed him by.

RB Derrick Ward, NYG - With many wondering if Brandon Jacobs would even be healthy enough to play in Week 7, Ward had to take a back seat to Jacobs as he put up big numbers. Ward played second fiddle to Jacobs, collecting 27 yards rushing and 12 more receiving on nine touches. Ward dropped a sure touchdown early in the contest against San Francisco, rushing to score on a ball thrown to him at the 49er two yard line. As long as Jacobs produces and remains healthy, Ward's role looks to be greatly diminished. His value now is mostly in case Jacobs gets hurt, which still is a reasonable possibility.

Holding steady

RB Reggie Bush, NO - Bush saw his total touches drop for a third straight game (30, 25, 22), but that didn't exactly hurt his production. The beauty of Bush is that even if he has a down rushing game, he still has a heavy involvement in the passing game. This week, that exact scenario saved him from having a poor game. He had only 17 carries for 54 yards against Atlanta, but his five receptions for 19 yards, including a 4-yard TD reception, kept his owners somewhat happy. New Orleans' next three games are @SF, JAC, STL

RB Frank Gore, SF - The 49ers as a whole have been struggling to stay in games, which has kept them from establishing the ground game with Gore. During the 49ers current four-game losing streak, Gore has not carried the ball more than 16 times in a game and has not found the end zone. He did have success rushing the ball Sunday with the limited opportunities he got, going for 88 yards on 14 carries (6.3 yard average). But Gore won't be a fantasy force until the 49ers can get him the ball more often, especially around the goal line.

RB Ahman Green, HOU - Nothing that good or that bad to report for Ahman Green. He had a very pedestrian 39 yards rushing on 11 carries, but his opponent this past week, the Titans, have one of the best run defenses in the league. The fact that Houston was playing catch up most of the game, including the entire second half also didn't help his chances. Green did catch five balls for 32 yards though and will likely see an increase in production as the season goes on and his injured knee continues to heal. He faces easier opponents in the coming weeks as Houston's next three games are @SD, @OAK, BYE.

RB Travis Henry, DEN - The Denver Post is reporting that an NFL spokesman has stated that Henry's appeal of his suspension will be heard on November 5, which gives Henry at least two more games before any suspension is likely to take effect.

RB Willie Parker, PIT - Willie Parker had 93 yards rushing and another 34 on two catches, but he was held out of the end zone in Week 7. He was also removed on a few downs near the goal line for Najeh Davenport, but for the most part Parker remains the featured back for the Steelers. His production should remain high the rest of the way, and as a result the touchdowns should come.

RB Brian Westbrook, PHI - Westbrook rushed for 79 yards and added 40 more on six catches in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears. The Eagles and Westbrook could not find the end zone, but Westbrook remains the focal point for the Eagles offense. He should continue to put up solid numbers and find the end zone soon, either on the ground or as a receiver.

Wide Receiver

Upgrade

WR Anquan Boldin, ARI - Boldin finally healed up and looked good in week seven. He certainly merits an upgrade.

WR Marty Booker, MIA - Marty Booker is the Dolphins WR1 with the trade of Chris Chambers to the San Diego Chargers. But, the erratic play of quarterback Cleo Lemon hindered Booker and his fellow wideouts. Against the tough Patriot defense, Booker had three catches for 28 yards. Expect Booker's production to rise with more targets in the next few games.

WR Deion Branch, SEA - Branch is expected to return to the lineup in week nine, following the Seahawks' bye this week. He will be the Seahawks' primary target in the passing game once he returns.

WR Mark Clayton, BAL - Mark Clayton was regarded as the primary wide receiver for Baltimore entering this season, but his health has really held him back so far this year. Clayton was able to catch five passes for 49 yards in Week 7, which should make many fantasy owners take notice. If Clayton was dropped and is now floating on the waiver wire, pick him up if you need receiver help, but remember it will have to wait one week as the Ravens are off in Week 8.

WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ - Laveranues Coles looks to now be healed from his nagging knee injury. He played great against the Bengals. The former Florida State Seminole had eight catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Coles flashed his old speed on the first touchdown, scoring from over fifty yards away. The receiver duo of Coles and Cotchery are heavily dependent on the play of the quarterback, whether it is Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens. The Jets have little in the way of a running game and need Coles to make plays.

WR Andre Davis, HOU - No Andre Johnson, no problem. The Texans WR corps continues to put up solid numbers, despite the apparent glaring hole left by the injury to Andre Johnson. Andre Davis has games of 4, 5, 4, 3 and 4 receptions in Johnson's absence. He is a solid WR3 for your fantasy roster despite being juggled as the Texans go-to WR. He should eventually cool off, but until he does, ride the hot streak. Houston's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - Lee Evans had his best game of the season against the stout Baltimore Ravens. Rookie passer, Trent Edwards, looked to his explosive receiver down the field. The former Wisconsin Badger had five receptions for 98 yards. He had almost two-thirds of Edwards' passing yards. Evans looks to be a receiver on the rise with two good matchups coming up. The Bills play the Jets and the Bengals the next two games.

WR Ted Ginn, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Ted Ginn started in place of Chris Chambers, who was traded to the San Diego Chargers. Ginn was open a few times deep, but Cleo Lemon missed him. The rookie from Ohio State had three receptions for 37 yards. His role should increase as the season progresses and Ginn improves his route running.

WR D.J. Hackett, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Hackett is expected to return to the lineup in week nine, following the Seahawks' bye this week. The Seahawks' passing offense has been quite efficient over the last several weeks, so Hackett could end up with some decent fantasy stats as the number two receiver in the offense.

WR Derek Hagan, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Derek Hagan had all four of his catches in fourth quarter. The second-year pro accumulated 56 yards on those grabs. Hagan has now had two straight games with at least three receptions. With the Chambers trade, Hagan should see more targets. Since this game a blowout, it is difficult to judge the target distribution going forward. Hagan is an interesting prospect for fantasy owners.

WR Devin Hester, CHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Devin Hester is being used more and more as part of the Bear offense. Last week, he caught a bomb from quarterback Brian Griese late in the game. This week against the Eagles, he had three receptions for 41 yards on four targets. The Bears desperately need playmakers and Hester fits that bill. With the threat for running back kicks, and now getting receiving targets, Devin Hester makes a decent spot starter to fill a void left by injury or bye week.

WR Ike Hilliard, TB - Hilliard has 28 receptions in his last four games averaging seven catches per game in that span. Hilliard has been a pleasant surprise for his owners and it's looking like he's becoming the favorite receiver for QB Jeff Garcia. Joey Galloway was the apparent go-to receiver when the season began, but in that same span of four games, he has only 14 receptions. What was thought to be only a one or two game anomaly for Hilliard, has turned into a four game stretch of solid play. Hilliard appears to be a legit receiving threat going forward. If you have him, he's likely your WR4 or WR3 or perhaps higher if you have injuries. One thing is for sure, he's putting up points, so ride the wave and enjoy the production. Tampa Bay's next three games are JAC, ARI, BYE.

WR Chad Jackson, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jackson is off the PUP list and has the potential to contribute this season. If one of the big three WRs (Moss, Welker, and Stallworth) miss time at the end of the year, Jackson would be a nice option.

WR Calvin Johnson, DET - Calvin Johnson is finally healthy from his back injury. Johnson only had two catches for 37 yards in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie from Georgia Tech is being worked into the starting lineup and the Lions need his big play ability. Johnson will improve as the year progresses and will become viable for fantasy owners sooner than later.

WR Chad Johnson, CIN - Johnson did not find the end zone against the Jets in Week 7, but he did collect three passes for over 100 yards (3-102) against New York. Carson Palmer will continue to hit both him and T.J. Houshmandzadeh the rest of the way, and each will be solid contributors.

WR Brandon Marshall, DEN - Marshall is quietly having a consistent fantasy season, as he has caught for at least 70 yards or a touchdown in each of the Broncos' six games thus far. He will continue to fill the role as the Broncos' number one receiver as long as Javon Walker is out, which is expected to be until December. Marshall had 6 receptions for 77 yards on Sunday night (ten targets), and leads all Broncos with 56 targets on the season.

WR Derrick Mason, BAL - Mason found the end zone for only the second time all year as he collected seven receptions for 78 total yards in Week 7. Mason remains among the league leaders in receptions, but the lack of a lot of yards and scores keeps him from being mentioned amongst the best wideouts this season. Bump him up for the touchdown but Mason still needs to do it more often.

WR Randy Moss, NE - Randy Moss has not caught a lot of balls this season. But, he has made the most of them and now has a total of ten scoring receptions in just seven games. In the week seven game against the Dolphins, Moss had four receptions for 122 yards and a pair of scores. The two touchdown catches were vintage Moss from his Vikings days. In each, Brady threw the ball up for grabs, and Moss went up and got the ball in the endzone.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, CHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Muhsin Muhammad now has a touchdown grab in three of the four games that Brian Griese has started. Muhammad had five receptions for 79 yards and a score on seven targets. The scoring grab won the game for the Bears with just ten seconds to play. Brian Griese is looking to his veteran receiver for the big catch. With Berrian getting most of the publicity, Muhammad is looking more active after Griese was inserted into the lineup.

WR Terrell Owens, DAL - Owens collected over 100 yards receiving in Week 7 against the Vikings, including a touchdown in the first quarter. Owens (7-103-1) has had some off weeks in the past week tries, but now looks like he is back on track.

WR Donte Stallworth, NE - Donte Stallworth is upgraded for the third week in a row. This is the third straight game for Stallworth to score. Against the Dolphins, the former Eagle and Saint had three receptions for 51 yards and the TD. Stallworth looked fully healed. He was the strong and fast receiver many are accustomed to seeing. Stallworth is now a solid fantasy WR2 or WR3 in almost any league.

WR Brandon Stokley, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Javon Walker is expected to be out with a knee injury until December, and in the meantime Brandon Stokley will start opposite Brandon Marshall. Stokley took full advantage of his opportunity on Sunday night, catching five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown (six targets). He becomes a decent spot starter for the next month, at least as a solid bye-week fill-in.

WR Amani Toomer, NYG - Toomer caught three passes for 36 yards including a touchdown. He has now scored in back to back games and is certainly worth rostering in most any fantasy league.

WR Kevin Walter, HOU - Kevin Walter now has 18 receptions in his last two games, including six this past week against Tennessee, including a red zone TD. The wait for Andre Johnson's return continues and it looks like it won't he be back until week 11 after the Texans week 10 bye. In the meantime, Kevin Walter continues to impress. Ride him while you can and it doesn't look like it matters who the QB is. He thrives with both Matt Schaub at QB and recently, Sage Rosenfels. Houston's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

WR Hines Ward, PIT - Ward looked healthy once again, getting plenty of chances from QB Ben Roethlisberger. Ward finished with seven catches and 78 yards, moving the chains for the Steelers on several occasions. He may not be the first option any longer for Pittsburgh, but his return to action is greatly appreciated for the Steelers.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Wes Welker is having an impressive season playing in the shadow of Tom Brady and Randy Moss. The former Dolphin, playing against his old team, had a great game. Welker had nine receptions for 138 yards and a pair of scoring grabs. He now has 47 catches and five scores in the seven games. With Ben Watson out with the ankle injury, Tom Brady is looking for the former Texas Tech Red Raider across the middle. He makes a great safety valve for his star quarterback.

WR Roddy White, ATL - White looked very solid against the Saints catching 8 passes for 110 yards and a TD. He nearly had a second TD, but stepped out of bounds while trying to tip toe down the sidelines on what would've been a 39-yard TD reception. White has 33 receptions in six games or an average of 5.5 per game. He caught his second TD on the season on Sunday and looked to have great chemistry with Byron Leftwich. While Leftwich will be out for 2-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain, White should continue to be the Falcons go-to receiver. Atlanta's next three games are BYE, SF, @CAR.

WR Roydell Williams, TEN - As long as Tennessee has Kerry Collins under center, Williams is a legit receiving threat. Collins' down field arm opens up chances for Williams, who enjoyed a 124-yard effort on five receptions this past week against the Texans. If Vince Young returns next week, temper your expectations for Williams, but if Collins gets another start, don't hesitate to use Williams in a pinch if you need a WR. Tennessee's next three games are OAK, CAR, JAC.

Downgrade

WR Nate Burleson, SEA - Burleson had a kick return for a touchdown on Sunday, but caught only one pass for 12 yards (five targets) on offense. The Rams have a bye this week, and then Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett are expected to return to the lineup in week nine. Burleson will have a reduced role in the offense once that happens.

WR Marques Colston, NO - Colston had only 3 receptions for 45 yards on Sunday against the Falcons. He now has only 12 catches in his last four games. That's a far cry from his production last year. It's no wonder his name has been mentioned when talking about busts for the 2007 fantasy season. New Orleans' next three games are @SF, JAC, STL.

WR Patrick Crayton, DAL - Crayton caught just two balls for 19 yards in week seven. With Terry Glenn expected to return sometime soon, Crayton will see fewer opportunities even if he does hold on to the starting job. Look for him to rebound against Miami in Week 8, but Crayton's longterm outlook deserves a downtick.

WR Craig Davis, SD - Davis will likely be bumped from the starting lineup by Chris Chambers, relegating him to the number three wide receiver and fifth option in the Chargers' passing game.

WR Bobby Engram, SEA - Engram has been targeted 11 times in each of the past two games. That number will likely shrink after the week nine bye as Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett return to the lineup. Engram will continue to work out of the slot as the Seahawks' third receiver, and will still have some fantasy value, but he is unlikely to have many 100+ yard games going forward.

WR Joey Galloway, TB - Joey Galloway was the apparent go-to receiver when the season began but in his last four games, he has only 14 receptions and one TD. Jeff Garcia is not taking as many down field throws and that is affecting Galloway's numbers as a result. Don't expect huge numbers from Galloway going forward, but he is good for an occasional good game. Is he a legit WR2 for your fantasy team? Not right now he isn't. We're not saying to bench him, but don't expect consistent big games from him. Tampa Bay's next three games are JAC, ARI, BYE.

WR Marques Hagans, STL - With Isaac Bruce back in the lineup, Hagans saw his number of targets shrink from 10 in week six to just 4 in week seven. Bruce should continue to work his way back into the offense as his hamstring continues to recover.

WR Vincent Jackson, SD - With the addition of Chris Chambers to the offense, Jackson will likely no longer be the number one wide receiver in San Diego, or at least not the clear number one. Chambers will eat into Jackson's targets, which were already third on the team behind Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson.

WR Andre Johnson, HOU - Johnson was thought to be returning from an injured knee as early as this past week against the Titans, but now it is looking like it could be week 11 before he sees the field again. This is quickly becoming a lost season for Andre Johnson and his owners, but when he does return, he is surely to produce, provided he is 100%. Hang in there Johnson owners, if anything he'll be fresh and healthy for the stretch run. Houston's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

WR Jacoby Jones, HOU - In a game that included a ton of passing for the Texans, Jacoby Jones was nowhere to be found. He finished with just three receptions for 11 yards in the wide open passing attack offensive battle between Tennessee. Jones may eventually develop into a great player in this league, but his time is just not now. With Andre Johnson returning soon, feel free to drop the rookie Jones from your roster if you haven't done so already. Houston's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

WR Shaun McDonald, DET - Shaun McDonald had his second straight game with less than twenty yards receiving. In week five, before the bye week, McDonald had four grabs for 19 yards. In week seven against Tamp Bay, the five-year veteran had two catches for 17 yards. With rookie Calvin Johnson back from injury, McDonald cannot be counted on every week to put up good fantasy numbers.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - Moss had a terrible Week 6, taking himself out of the game in the fourth quarter, so most expected him to step up his game against Arizona in Week 7. Two catches for eight total yards does not qualify for an improvement in any way, so continue to not use Moss until he breaks out of this funk.

WR Eric Moulds, TEN - Where was Eric Moulds? He had just one target in the game against Houston. It sounds like his trot into the sunset is coming in the near future. If he's still on your roster, drop him and pick up someone who can be productive. Tennessee's next three games are OAK, CAR, JAC.

WR Ben Obomanu, SEA - Obomanu did not catch a pass on Sunday, and was targeted only three times. With Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett both expected to return to the lineup in week nine following this week's bye, Obomanu will cease to have fantasy value in redraft leagues.

WR Roscoe Parrish, BUF - Roscoe Parrish had one catch for nine yards against the Ravens in week seven. That brings his total to 21 receptions for 187 yards in six games. He, too, has yet to find the endzone. The former Miami Hurricane is explosive, but the conservative Bills offense is not producing good fantasy numbers. He has just one game over forty yards receiving.

WR David Patten, NO - Patten had a nice week last week, and there was a slight inkling that more of the same might be evident this week against the Falcons. Patten finished with just two receptions for 29 yards. As of right now, Patten isn't a viable fantasy option. New Orleans' next three games are @SF, JAC, STL

WR Antwaan Randle El, WAS - Randle El caught only three passes for 54 yards in Week 7 for the Redskins. He was the leading receiver for Washington against the Arizona Cardinals, but the passing attack is very anemic in Washington. Do not count on Randle El until he puts up better numbers and more consistency.

WR Josh Reed, BUF - Josh Reed was held to one catch for 25 yards by the Baltimore Ravens. He now has 16 receptions for 188 yards and no scores in five games. With Trent Edwards targeting Lee Evans more and more, there will be little left for the former LSU Tiger. Reed will have decent games here and there but fantasy owners will find it difficult to rely on Josh Reed for fantasy production. Reed has just one game, in five, with more than fifty yards receiving.

WR Bobby Wade, MIN - Bobby Wade now has 19 receptions for 219 yards and no scores on the season. With Tarvaris Jackson back from injury, Wade is not viable for fantasy owners. He had one catch for 16 yards against the Cowboys. As with Williamson, Wade will struggle to get receptions the rest of the season.

WR Javon Walker, DEN - Walker had arthroscopic knee surgery last week and is expected to be out until December.

WR Demetrius Williams, BAL - With Mark Clayton returning to good health and Derrick Mason continuing to excel, Williams will be pushed back down the pecking order to the third wideout for the Ravens. Williams certainly has starter and big play potential, but if Clayton and Mason are starting there will not be many targets for Williams.

WR Roy Williams, DET - Roy Williams had another down game in week seven. Against the Washington Redskins in week five, before the bye week, Williams had only three receptions for 36 yards. Against the Buccaneers, the former Longhorn had three receptions for 23 with a long of nine yards. With Calvin Johnson coming back from injury, Williams might see his targets decrease.

WR Troy Williamson, MIN - Troy Williamson is struggling for fantasy relevance. He only had one reception for 25 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in week seven. He now has nine receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown on the season. The former Gamecock is making it difficult on his fantasy owners to play him, even when he has a good matchup. With Tarvaris Jackson now back from injury, Williamson should find it difficult to make more than one reception in any given game.

Holding steady

WR Plaxico Burress, NYG - Do not panic if you have Burress on your fantasy team. He cannot be expected to score every week, can he? Yes the ankle injury is a problem, but he did catch five balls for 43 yards in Week 7 and has just one more game against Miami before taking time off for a bye. Hold tight.

WR Chris Chambers, SD - Chambers was traded from Miami to San Diego last week, and it's unclear how the trade will affect his fantasy value. He will get many fewer targets in San Diego, but should be able to do more with them as Antonio Gates will draw coverage away from Chambers and create one-on-one situations for him.

Tight End

Upgrade

TE Kyle Brady, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Kyle Brady has now caught a touchdown pass in the last two games. He has seen more opportunity since Ben Watson went down with the ankle injury. The veteran tight end had three receptions for ten yards and a score against the Dolphins. Tom Brady looks to his stellar blocking tight end in the red zone.

TE Desmond Clark, CHI - Desmond Clark has improved his production since Brian Griese took over for the ineffective Rex Grossman. On five targets, Clark had five receptions for 32 yards. Since Griese has taken over, Clark has totaled 18 grabs for 186 yards and two scoring grabs in four games. The Bears are utilizing both tight ends effectively.

TE Will Heller, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Heller isn't going to remind anyone of Antonio Gates, but the Seahawks are using him at the goalline. Heller only caught three balls in week seven, but two of them were for scores. That's welcome production in any league.

TE Eric Johnson, NO - Johnson has 28 receptions this season, including 17 in his last three games. He is averaging 4.6 catches per game, but he has only found the end zone once. While his yardage production isn't that great (only two games of 50 yards or more), his consistent receiving presence is a plus, especially in leagues that offer a point per reception or special leagues that reward two points per reception for TEs. New Orleans' next three games are @SF, JAC, STL.

TE David Martin, MIA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - David Martin has been up and down throughout this season. The former Packer had three catches for 22 yards. Martin has battled injuries throughout his career. Like the other Dolphin receivers, Martin is impacted by the erratic passing of Cleo Lemon. Martin should see his targets rise with Chambers now in San Diego.

TE Heath Miller, PIT - Miller got in on the act right out of the gate, closing Pittsburgh's first drive of Week 7 with a touchdown catch. He later added another touchdown late in the game to knot it at 28-28, but Denver won on a last second field goal. Miller's five catches and 50 yards make him a solid TE option going forward and a likely must start.

TE Zach Miller, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The rookie tight end is steadily becoming a bigger part of the Raiders' offense. With 14 targets over the past two games, Miller appears to have gained Culpepper's confidence, and should be a major part of the Raiders' passing game going forward.

TE Greg Olsen, CHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Greg Olsen is upgraded again this week after his third good game in a row. The rookie had four catches for 48 yards on eight receiving targets. With the lack of receiving threats on the Bear offense, Griese has looked to the former Miami Hurricane to make clutch receptions. The Bears line Olsen up all over the field in an effort to get him open and in space. Olsen is a great natural athlete and gets open easier than most tight ends.

TE Bo Scaife, TEN - With the strong arm of Kerry Collins under center, the receiving game gets an upgrade. This includes TE Bo Scaife. While Scaife has somewhat been a disappointment this season, he benefited from the pass-friendly offense that Kerry Collins brings to the table catching six balls for 49 yards. If Collins has to start at QB for another week, feel free to use Scaife as an option at TE. Tennessee's next three games are OAK, CAR, JAC.

TE Tony Scheffler, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Scheffler went from being inactive at the start of the season, to increasing his role in the passing offense in each of the last three weeks and ending up with five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night (six targets). While Daniel Graham is still the starter, he is being used primarily as a blocker while Scheffler is settling into the receiving TE role.

TE Jeremy Shockey, NYG - Shockey gets an upgrade based upon his finding the end zone in Week 7. He snared five balls for 39 yards and the touchdown, showing strong efforts on many catches to pick up yards after contact.

TE Quinn Sypniewski, BAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Todd Heap missed yet another game, leaving the door open once again for Quinn Sypniewski in Week 7. He contributed once again, catching four balls for 33 yards, and should be held in deeper TE leagues, especially by owners who also have Todd Heap.

TE Jason Witten, DAL - We keep upgrading Witten, but we can't help it as he is such a huge part of the excellent Dallas offense. He has been targetted 75 times already this season (Terrell Owens has only 70 targets). With ten more catches in week seven, Witten continues to put up fantastic numbers.

Downgrade

TE Chris Cooley, WAS - Cooley caught whatever Santana Moss had last week, as he had only one catch for three yards in Week 7. Cooley and the Redskins did next to nothing through the air, so until Washington gets the passing game rectified be hesitant to rely on his production.

TE Alge Crumpler, ATL - Crumpler was inactive this past week with knee and ankle injuries. His replacement is the rookie from Georgia Martrez Milner. Who? Milner is not considered a viable option at the TE position. Crumpler is suffering from a recurring knee problem, but the bye week next week will help matters. His status for week nine is unknown at this time.

TE Todd Heap, BAL - Heap was sidelined once again in Week 7 due to his lingering leg injury. Expect him to return after the Week 8 bye, but otherwise keep him downgraded.

TE L.J. Smith, PHI - It's beginning to look like 2007 will be a lost season for L.J. Smith as his hernia injury kept him out of another game in week seven. However, even when he does get on the field, we are not excited about his possibilities.

Holding steady

TE Owen Daniels, HOU - Surprisingly Owen Daniels was fairly quiet in the pass-fest, high scoring game against Tennessee. He had only two catches for 20 yards. Prior to this game he had five consecutive games of at least five receptions and 50 yards receiving. He remains a good start at TE, but if Sage Rosenfels has to start the next game due to Matt Schaub's injury, you may want to temper your expectations for Daniels. Rosenfels didn't look his way that often at all (at least not like Schaub has done in previous games). Houston's next three games are TEN, @SD, OAK.

Kicker

Upgrade

PK David Akers, PHI - After Akers struggled in the Meadowlands for the second time this year, Akers connected on all his kicks in Week 7 at home in Philadelphia. Akers had 10 points and three field goals from 24, 33 and 37 yards.

PK Rob Bironas, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - In case you didn't hear, Bironas kicked an NFL record eight field goals in the win against Houston. He now has 16 FGs in 18 attempts and has at least two FGs in four of the Texans six games this year. Kickers seem to be a dime a dozen, but Bironas and the Titans seem to be a good combination. Plus, the Titans have already had their bye week. If he's available on your waiver wire, go grab him and be content the rest of the season. Tennessee's next three games are @SD, OAK, BYE.

PK Josh Brown, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Seahawks are moving the ball very well, but the running game has been ineffective, so they may continue to have trouble punching the ball in once they reach the red zone. That's to Josh Brown's benefit.

PK Robbie Gould, CHI - Robbie Gould is getting more scoring opportunities now that Brian Griese has taken over for Rex Grossman. He has had 11 field goal opportunities in the last four games. In the week seven matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gould was four for five in field goals, missing a 39-yard attempt. He also made his only extra point opportunity. As long as Griese is under center, expect Gould to be a good fantasy kicker with plenty of opportunities.

PK John Kasay, CAR - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Kasay has an incredible seven FGs in his last two games. Well, that's incredible for anyone not named Rob Bironas.

Downgrade

PK Jay Feely, MIA - Jay Feely has not gotten many scoring chances recently. In the last four games, Feely has had zero or one field goal opportunity. In week seven, he made all four of his extra points but had no chances for field goals. The Dolphins offense has looked anemic since the injury to Trent Green. With the injury to Ronnie Brown, there should be even fewer opportunities for Feely to kick field goals.

PK Jeff Reed, PIT - The problem with Jeff Reed lately is that he is only kicking PATs (he has missed his only FG attempt in the last two games). Fantasy teams aren't helped by guys that get points one at a time.

PK Lawrence Tynes, NYG - Tynes has been on thin ice for the Giants several times this year, but things might come to a head after missing an extra point and cutting a few other kicks rather close. Tynes did connect on two field goals (29, 39 yards), but there are much better fantasy options.

Holding steady

Team Defense

Upgrade

TD Buffalo Bills, BUF - The Buffalo Bills defense had one fumble recovery and one sack while holding the Ravens to 14 points. The Bills defense gets the Jets and Bengals the next two weeks and there should be plenty of turnovers. The Bills are a good fantasy defense for the next couple of weeks and should be on many waiver wires.

TD New York Giants, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Giants dominated another team in Week 7, racking up six sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown by Osi Umenyiora as New York piled on the stats against San Francisco. Until some offensive line can figure out how to stop their front four, look for the Giants to continue to rack up sacks and turnovers going forward.

TD Tennessee Titans, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Titans forced six turnovers in the win over Houston this past week. They have one of the best run defenses in the league and now have 16 turnovers in six games this season. While they may be a below average sacking defense, they make up for it with a strong takeaway presence.

TD Minnesota Vikings, MIN - The Minnesota Vikings defense played well against the prolific Dallas Cowboy offense led by Tony Romo. The Vikings had three sacks and two fumbles, one of which was returned for a TD. The other fumble recovery set up the scoring run by Adrian Peterson. With the ineffective play of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, the Viking defense will be relied upon to make plays.

Downgrade

TD San Francisco 49ers, SF - The 49ers defense may be suffering a bit due to their inept offense. Over the last two games, they have only a single sack and single INT. That simply does not help a fantasy roster.

TD Chicago Bears, CHI - This is not the Bears defense we expected to see this season. Over their last three games, they have allowed 1217 yards (which is worst in the league) and 70 points while recording just two INTs and five sacks. Those aren't good numbers in any scoring system, and in league that deduct points for yards and points allowed, this unit is hurting you.

TD Miami Dolphins, MIA - This defense (actually the entire team now that Ronnie Brown and Chris Chambers are gone) is painful to watch, and it could get even worse. In their last three games, the Dolphins have allowed 1179 yards (which is bad) and 112 points (which is downright horrid). While they have forced four turnovers and accumulated four sacks, this simply isn't a viable fantasy defense. Further, with the still winless record, they could soon start looking to the future and give their younger players more time on the field.

TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT - After giving up 31 points, and three touchdown passes to Denver's Jay Cutler, a career high, the Steelers' #1 ranking in points against is sure to take a substantial hit. Pittsburgh did collect two sacks and two interceptions in Week 7, but the 31-28 loss by the Steelers certainly takes the value of the defense down a few pegs.

TD Houston Texans, HOU - The Houston defense has been pretty bad lately. They have recorded just one INT and only three sacks over their last three games while allowing 1164 yards and 94 points. Those are pretty brutal numbers.

Holding steady

TD New England Patriots, NE - The New England Patriots defense has quietly played as well as the offense this season. Against the Dolphins in week seven, the Patriots had one interception, one fumble recovery, and two sacks. New England added a kick return for a score. With the way the offense gets ahead early in games, the defense will have plenty of opportunities for sacks and turnovers, and they possess good returners. However, we can't give them an upgrade after they allowed the Cleo Lemon-led Dolphins score 28 points.