Week 4 IDP Upgrades and Downgrades

Upgrades

DT Kevin Williams, MIN (4 solos, 2 assists, 2 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - Williams is a long way from the back to back double digit sacks he put up in 2003 and 2004 and his numbers have been underwhelming in the 3 years since then. But, the addition of Jared Allen outside should make things a little easier on him and the loss of Spencer Johnson in free agency should free up some additional playing time. He was held off the stat sheet in week 2 against the Colts but rebounded with a big game against the Panthers this week. In addition to his 6 tackles and 2 sacks, he also was credited with 2 tackles for a loss and 2 QB hits.

DE Kevin Carter, TB (5 solos, 0 assists, 1 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - At 35 years old, Carter's best days are certainly behind him. But, he remains a starter at DE for the Buccaneers and he's put together a couple of good games in a row, suggesting that he could still have some value as a backup DE in deeper leagues. Carter was very active in the OT victory over the Bears, finishing with 5 solos, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits, and a PD.

DE Cullen Jenkins, GB (3 solos, 2 assists, 1.5 sacks 1 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Jenkins was expected to take over as a full-time player last year but he couldn't quite take over the spot and remained in a platoon with pass rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. The trade of Corey Williams to Cleveland has freed up some snaps, which allows Jenkins to slide inside on passing downs. He's getting over 80% of the defensive snaps for the Packers this year and looks to be much more effective with the additional playing time. The Giants have one of the league's best offensive lines, but Jenkins still finished with 1.5 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 3 QB hits.

DE Travis Kirschke, PIT (6 solos, 1 assists, 0.5 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - With Brett Keisel out indefinitely with a calf injury, Kirschke was inserted into the starting lineup and finished in a tie for the team lead in tackles, including 6 solos. He also combined with Larry Foote on a sack of McNabb and was credited with a QB hit. As a 3-4 DE who is 34 years old, don't expect him to perform like a reliable starter in most weeks but he may provide depth over the next month.

DE Juqua Parker, PHI (3 solos, 2 assists, 2.5 sacks 1 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - Chris Clemons was expected to compete for a starting spot in Philadelphia this year but he has failed to make an impact so far, allowing Parker to emerge as the starter opposite Trent Cole. Although the Eagles like to use a rotation on their defensive line, it looks like Parker is seeing about 75% of the snaps which is probably enough for him produce like a viable DL3 or better. The Eagles defense made life miserable for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers this week as they finished with 9 sacks. Parker led the team with 2.5 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 4 QB hits.

ILB DQwell Jackson, CLE (5 solos, 9 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 1 INT, 1 PD) - Jackson was one of the more underrated IDPs this offseason and he's showing why with 17 solos and 15 assists through just 3 games of the season. The Browns made some big improvements on the defensive line, but they are still vulnerable in the secondary and just aren't playing very well on either side of the ball. As a result, the defense is seeing a lot of time on the field each week and Jackson has been extremely active from the ILB spot. He also helped his cause for staying on the field in passing situations with his second career interception this week.

OLB Brandon Chillar, GB (7 solos, 2 assists, 0 sacks 1 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - Chillar signed with the Packers this offseason to give them a more athletic player at SLB who could matchup better against opposing TEs. This week, with the Packers facing Jason Witten, Chillar was inserted into the starting lineup in place of Brady Poppinga and he finished with 8 tackles, a PD, and a FF. Look for the Packers to stick with him, although his upside will be limited as long as Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk are healthy since they figure to remain as the nickel LBs.

OLB Alex Hall, CLE (6 solos, 1 assists, 1 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Hall was a late round draft pick out of Division II St Augustine who the Browns have high hopes for. He got his first career start this week in place of Willie McGinest and made the most of it with 6 solos, a sack, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 QB hits. He's a tall, athletic player who figures to be the long-term option at OLB opposite Kamerion Wimbley with McGinest retiring after this season. He's a player to keep your eye on in deeper dynasty leagues but he probably would only warrant a pickup in sack-heavy scoring systems.

OLB Leroy Hill, SEA (10 solos, 1 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Although Hill hasn't quite performed like a reliable every week starter, he has been pretty consistent from year to year during the first 3 years of his career. He finished 2007 strong with some amazing numbers (21 solo tackles, 2 sacks) in the Seahawks 2 playoff games. Based on his performance this week, it looks like he may be able to pick up where he left off. With Julian Peterson frequently moving up to play DE in passing situations, Hill can stay on the field as part of the nickel package. If you're looking for a LB on the waiver wire who can fill in during the bye weeks or for an injured starter, Hill is certainly worth a look.

OLB Joey Porter, MIA (5 solos, 1 assists, 3 sacks 1 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Porter is worthy of an upgrade after he made some controversial statements about Patriots QB Matt Cassel last week and then backed them up with a huge performance on Sunday. He finished the day with 5 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits and a forced fumble. This will probably wind up as his best game of the season, but fantasy owners may be rewarded with some other big games if they can afford to put up with some clunkers as well.

OLB Clint Session, IND (9 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Session is filling in for an injured Tyjuan Hagler at SLB but he is playing like he doesn't want to give the spot up. Session started out as an MLB early in his college career but he was moved outside for his junior season. He's just in his second year so the Colts are willing to suffer through some growing pains with him but he has proven to be very active with 20 solo tackles through 3 games. While his 9 solos this week aren't necessarily indicative of him playing well since the Jaguars were able to run all over the Colts, but if the Colts run defense continues to struggle while Bob Sanders is out of the lineup then he may be able to keep this going a little while longer. It's not a coincidence that all 3 Colts LBs rank among the league leaders in tackles right now.

OLB D.J. Williams, DEN (14 solos, 2 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - The Broncos offense is leading the league with an amazing 38 points per game, but the defense ranks near the bottom with 28 points allowed per game. With an offense like that, the Broncos opponents are likely to be passing the ball pretty regularly just to try and keep up. That should help a player like DJ Williams who is likely to remain on the field in all downs and situations. He was very active this week as Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey combined for 19 receptions. With an incredible 14 solo tackles this week, Williams is now tied with another WLB Freddie Keiaho for the league lead with 23.

CB Brandon Carr, KC (9 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - With Patrick Surtain inactive due to a shoulder injury, the Chiefs wound up starting 2 rookie CBs on Sunday against the Falcons. While Brandon Flowers is the more highly regarded player and the one that most fantasy owners have been expecting big things from, the less heralded Carr was the player who stood out with 9 solo tackles. Surtain is an older player so Carr and Flowers are likely the future at CB for the Chiefs, and with the way their season has been going, the Chiefs may decide to just take their lumps with both rookie CBs this year in hopes that they will hold up better next season. With Herm Edwards implementing the Tampa 2 defense in Kansas City, Carr is definitely a player to keep your eye on.

CB Anthony Henry, DAL (5 solos, 1 assists, 2 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - Missing Roy Williams, who is out for awhile with a broken arm, the Cowboys started the game with 3 CBs and 1 safety. That meant that Anthony Henry was likely going to be taking the place of Roy Williams, which should allow him to very active making plays over the middle of the field and up near the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys were very aggressive in blitzing Henry during Sunday night's game against the Packers, and he finished with 2 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 QB hits. Henry is a bigger CB who has good instincts and a knack for making big plays, so he could get a nice boost as long as Williams it out of the lineup. Pat Watkins also saw some time at SS but he suffered a shoulder injury in the first half.

CB Bryant McFadden, PIT (5 solos, 1 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 2 PD) - McFadden is normally the Steelers nickel CB, but he started in place of the injured Deshea Townsend for the second week in a row and again finished with a very strong statline. He's now recorded 14 solo tackles, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery through 3 games and is producing like one of the best fantasy CBs in the league. McFadden is a former 2nd round pick who might finally be ready to live up to the high expectations many had for him. With Townsend at 33 years old, he might be better suited to playing fewer snaps anyway, so don't be surprised if McFadden winds up holding onto the starting job.

S Erik Coleman, ATL (10 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 1 FF, 0 FR, 1 INT, 1 PD) - Coleman was a top-10 fantasy safety during his first two years in the league with the Jets, but his production fell off and he was eventually benched last year. As a result, he flew way under the radar of many fantasy owners this preseason, but it looks like he has found new life with the Falcons. In addition to his 19 solo tackles through 3 games, he has also contributed an INT and a FF. He's still just 26 years old and already has plenty of experience as a starter, which should make him a nice fit on a rebuilding team like Atlanta.

S Aaron Rouse, GB (9 solos, 3 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - With Atari Bigby out with a hamstring injury, 2nd year player Aaron Rouse got the start at SS and led the Packers in tackles. He played well in place of FS Nick Collins last year as well and it seems that the Packers will need to try and find ways to get him on the field even after Bigby returns. Collins also suffered a bruised back in the game so the Packers are pretty banged up at the safety position. Rouse is a promising player who is likely to produce solid numbers whenever he gets the opportunity and this week's performance is a good sign for dynasty owners who have him stashed on their rosters.

Downgrades

DE Elvis Dumervil, DEN (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - The struggles the Broncos defense are going through can likely be traced in part to the disappointing production from Dumervil thus far. He's started all 3 games but has recorded just 1 solo tackle and 1 assist. Compare that to his first 3 games last year when he had 8 solos, 4 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, and 1 INT. With the Broncos offense scoring so many points, there should be plenty of pass rush opportunities but Dumervil doesn't seem capable of taking advantage of them so far.

DE Ray Edwards, MIN (0 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - Edwards was expected to benefit significantly from the addition of Jared Allen, but through 3 games he has failed to record a single sack. The rest of the Vikings defense seemed to get on track this week but Edwards finished with 0 tackles and just a single PD. With offensive lines focusing most of their attention on Allen and the two big DTs inside, Edwards should really be doing much better than this.

DE Patrick Kerney, SEA (0 solos, 1 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Despite a favorable matchup against Rams RT Alex Barron, Kerney was held to just a single assisted tackle in the game this week. He did play with a soft cast on his hand after spraining his wrist that may have limited his effectiveness, and he also missed some time in the first half after getting poked in the eye, but it was clearly a disappointing performance for a player who entered the game with 7 solos and 3 sacks in his first 2 games.

DE Antwan Odom, CIN (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - Odom was brought in to replace Justin Smith but an ankle injury forced him to miss the entire preseason and it looks like he may not be fully recovered just yet. Odom has started the last two games at RDE for the Bengals but he continues to share time to Frostee Rucker who has been more effective up to this point. Despite 43 pass attempts from Eli Manning in this week's game, the Bengals finished with 0 sacks and just 4 QB hits.

DE Jason Taylor, WAS (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 3 PD) - Taylor underwent minor surgery on Monday and will miss at least next week's game while recovering. He was reportedly kicked in the leg during this week's game and that caused blood to build up near his ankle, so the pressure had to be released. By missing the game, his streak of 134 consecutive starts will come to an end.

DE Dewayne White, DET (0 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Although White got off to a great start this year with 2 sacks in his first 2 games, he was kept off the stat sheet in week 3 despite 39 rushing attempts from the 49ers. This is the same type of inconsistency that made White so frustrating for fantasy owners last year. He is perfectly capable of having a multi-sack game one week and then disappearing the next. Until he can improve his consistency from week to week, he'll likely remain a risky starting option. The Lions struggles on offense are also not likely to help his fantasy value as he's much better defending the pass than the run.

ILB Leon Williams, CLE (0 solos, 1 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Although some reports last week indicated that Leon Williams would receive some more playing time on defense so that Andra Davis could focus more on special teams, it wasn't reflected in the box score. D'Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis combined for 13 solos, 11 assists, and an INT while Williams was credited with just a single assisted tackle in the game. Williams had a very impressive 60+ solo, 4 sack season last year and many thought he would beat out Davis for a full-time job this year but it looks like he may need to wait until next year.

OLB Donnie Edwards, KC (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Edwards started for the Chiefs at SLB this week but finished with just 1 solo tackle in the game. The Falcons were able to control the line of scrimmage and had 36 rush attempts on the night, but the only play Edwards made came on a run up the middle where he stopped Michael Turner for no gain.

OLB Derrick Johnson, KC (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Johnson is one of this year's breakout candidates thanks to his move to weakside linebacker, but he was nowhere to be found in Sunday's blowout loss to the Falcons. Despite facing 36 rush attempts, Johnson finished with just 1 solo tackle in the game, which came early in the 1st quarter on a short pass to WR Harry Douglas.

OLB Keith Rivers, CIN (0 solos, 2 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Rivers got off to a great start with 13 solos and 5 assisted tackles in his first two games, but he was tough to notice in this week's game against the Giants. He was credited with just 2 assisted tackles as the Bengals limited Brandon Jacobs to just 35 yards on 14 carries and forced the Giants into more passing situations. Don't worry too much about this bad game as he remains the most promising Bengals LB and their defense figures to be on the field a lot this year.

CB Champ Bailey, DEN (0 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 1 PD) - In a game where the opposing QB completed 39 of 48 pass attempts, it was surprising to see Champ Bailey finish with 0 tackles and just 1 PD. The Broncos defense has given up 70 points and nearly 1000 yards of offense in their past two games and Bailey is likely being hurt by the complete lack of a pass rush up front. If the Broncos can't get more pressure on opposing QBs, Bailey could be in for a disappointing season.

CB Sheldon Brown, PHI (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Brown is a physical corner who has put up some very productive fantasy seasons in recent years thanks to his ability as a tackler. However, apart from a big game against the Cowboys in week 2, he has not been very active with just 3 solos combined in week 1 and week 3. Unfortunately, his upside is limited because he doesn't make many big plays and it looks like he's not playing too many more snaps than #3 CB Lito Sheppard.

CB Cedric Griffin, MIN (1 solos, 1 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Griffin is coming off a breakout fantasy season that saw him collect 80+ solo tackles, which is pretty unusual for a CB. He was expected to build off that performance this year and develop into more of a playmaker thanks to the addition of an elite pass rusher like Jared Allen, but through 3 games he has just 9 solo tackles and 1 PD.

CB Terrence McGee, BUF (1 solos, 0 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - McGee has been one of the best fantasy CBs around for several years now, especially in leagues that award extra points for return yardage. It looks like he could be taking a big hit, however, as the Bills announced last week that they plan to get this year's 1st round pick Leodis McKelvin more involved by letting him handle the kickoff returns.

S Michael Huff, OAK (2 solos, 1 assists, 0 sacks 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT, 0 PD) - Huff was a very high draft pick who has been a good player but hasn't quite played up to expectation thus far. With the signing of Gibril Wilson in free agency, he was moved to his natural position of free safety but that seems to have killed whatever little fantasy value he already had. Through 3 games this year, Huff has collected just 7 solo tackles, 2 assists, and 2 PDs. There are probably better options available on your waiver wire.