Injuries to the Atlanta and Indianapolis linebacker groups will thrust value on unexpected players. We continue to get clarity on defensive line rotations and seeing more favorable roles for some secondary situations. I don't see any major game-time decisions to track this morning, but there are some depth chart changes and matchup considerations to be aware of before setting your lineups today.
NOTE: This column is a living document and will be updated throughout the morning. Major changes to the content will be in red. Check back often for additions as gameday inactives are announced and lineup / depth chart changes are reported. I'll also be retweeting those reports with quick bits of analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter.
EARLY GAMES
Arizona at Tampa Bay
The Cardinals lost three outside linebackers last week and it's not clear how they'll approach the depth chart today. Matt Shaughnessy, Dontay Moch and John Abraham could form a three man rotation at outside linebacker. If that doesn't work well, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles might look at a 3-3-5 base with Tyrann Mathieu an extra starter or begin transitioning to a 4-3 in the hopes that Karlos Dansby and Daryl Washington can bookend Jasper Brinkley when Washington comes off suspension. Mathieu could be an every-down player today with Rashad Johnson recovering from a finger injury. Johnson is expected to be active, but may not start.
1100 ET: Johnson was not cleared to play and will be inactive. Mathieu will play free safety and still see slot corner snaps. His run of upside continues.
Tampa Bay is healthy and has begun to get better play from its front four and secondary. Mark Barron has exploded in the past two weeks as a hybrid linebacker in the team's dime subpackage. The Arizona matchup may not force the Bucs into too many dime situations, but Barron is an elite DB1 regardless.
Baltimore at Buffalo
Arthur Brown is questionable, but practiced more this week than last. Though he missed last week's game, Josh Bynes still saw little time in subpackages and is no lock to see more than 40 snaps today. Daryl Smith had his best game as a Raven against the run and will hopefully continue to build on that today. The Ravens hope to get Chris Canty back today. Arthur Jones figured heavily in the rotation last week and played well.
Jairus Byrd won't play again today and it's becoming clear that he's not going to return on his franchise tender until he feels 100% and risk his next contract. That may not be for awhile. Leodis McKelvin is a game-time decision with a hamstring injury today. The Bills will move Aaron Williams to corner again if McKelvin can't go, with Da'Norris Searcy and Jim Leonhard getting the safety snaps. The secondary issues aren't likely to trickle down to the linebackers. Arthur Moats is unlikely to see subpackage snaps and Nigel Bradham remains a special teams player only. The Bills used Duke Williams as the extra DB after McKelvin left. Mario Williams was limited in practice with a sprained ankle, but is probable to play.
Chicago at Detroit
Henry Melton is out for the season with a torn ACL. Charles Tillman continues to battle through groin and knee injuries. He was able to get a limited practice in Friday and will likely play. Tillman has missed full series of play in each of the first three games and could struggle to play a full complement of snaps today, too. There's been no change in the defensive end rotation; both Shea McClellin and Corey Wootton continue to see enough snaps in rotation to consider boom-bust lineup options.
Ezekial Ansah is questionable with an abdominal injury. He was limited all week and may try to play. The Lions won't release much information on injuries, so we'll be waiting until the inactives are released to know Ansah's status today. Cross your fingers that it's not a long term issue. With Jason Jones out, we'll see more Willie Young. He's not a great play in balanced leagues, but has some sack-heavy scoring system upside. The usual suspects -- Louis Delmas and Chris Houston -- are on the injury report in the secondary but should play.
Cincinnati at Cleveland
Leon Hall, Dre Kirkpatrick and Reggie Nelson are all doubtful to play through hamstring injuries today. If they're out as expected, we'll see Terence Newman and Adam Jones start at corner, with Brandon Ghee in the slot. Shawn Williams could see time at safety, but Chris Crocker is back with the team again and should rotate in heavily.
1130 ET: Taylor Mays will start for Reggie Nelson. None of the Cincinnati safeties are viable fantasy options today.
Barkevious Mingo will again see close to full time duty today with Jabaal Sheard unlikely to play with a knee injury and Quentin Groves out with an ankle injury. The Bengals have given up lots of pressure this year and Mingo is a strong sack-heavy scoring league play today.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
LaRon Landry is out again this week, with Delano Howell likely to draw another start. The matchup isn't good enough to trust Howell, despite his solid game last week, except in the very deepest of leagues. Pat Angerer fully practiced on Thursday and Friday and should be back in an every-down role. I'm watching to see what kind of role Kavell Conner will have. He's been much better than Kelvin Sheppard in the early going and Angerer is proving to be an extreme durability risk again.
The Jaguars will be without Dwayne Gratz and Dwight Lowery today but their primary fantasy options are good to go. There doesn't seem to be any plans to get Russell Allen back into subpackages after three weeks and Geno Hayes looks like a low ceiling every-week LB3. Of course, that probably means Allen will finally get back to his every-down role today.
New York Giants at Kansas City
Jason Pierre-Paul was back in his usual role for the Giants last week and could be finally rounding into form. He's still more of a boom-bust DL1 than an every-week DL1 option. Jacquian Williams is questionable with a knee injury but seems likely to play. There's not a single +EV play in the linebacker group here, however.
The Chiefs are relatively healthy and the starting lineup and subpackage rotations are set. Kendrick Lewis and Brandon Flowers have nagging injuries but are expected to play.
1130 ET: Brandon Flowers inactive this week.
Pittsburgh at Minnesota
Vince Williams has gotten the bulk of the inside linebacker snaps for the past two weeks and been better than Kion Wilson. He may win an every-down role soon if the Steelers choose to stick with a two inside linebacker package. Wait one more week before committing to him in deeper league lineups. Cortez Allen should be back this week. If he gets off to a good start, he'll have CB1 upside for the remainder of the season.
Desmond Bishop saw a little more rotational time last week, but doesn't yet seem to be on the verge of replacing Marvin Mitchell in the base defense. Erin Henderson is back on the injury report with a heel injury but will play. Chris Cook will be out with a groin injury this week. Xavier Rhodes should see lots of playing time. Put him on your watch list in shallower leagues.
Seattle at Houston
Seattle should get more snaps from Chris Clemons this week. Brandon Browner and Cliff Avril are already back in their usual roles. We'll get a very good indication of just how many tackle opportunities the Seattle defense will see this year today. If they hold their opportunity under 45 on the road against a team that will want to rely on the run, it will be meaningful.
The Texans are healthy and set in their current rotation. With Ed Reed working back into the base defense, look for Danieal Manning to see more tackle opportunity around the box. He could be set for a nice run with Seattle this week at home and San Francisco on the road in Week 5.
LATE GAMES
Dallas at San Diego
The Cowboys will continue to rotate DeMarcus Ware and George Selvie out for a series now and then, but they will both push for 750+ snaps now that Anthony Spencer is on injured reserve. Selvie has been less consistent recently, but will benefit from the strong pass rush of his linemates and will be a weekly low ceiling DL2. J.J. Wilcox got the start last week and played well. His tackle upside isn't great, but it'll be interesting to see how his play affects Barry Church.
Donald Butler and Manti Te'o both fully practiced all week. If they start and go back to their preseason every-down roles, we'll see very little of Reggie Walker and Bront Bird today. The coaches weren't giving away their plans with the linebacker group, though, and I don't think you can trust Butler, Te'o or Walker today. Of the three, Butler probably has the best chance at every-down snaps. Shareece Wright may miss another game with a hamstring injury.
New York Jets at Tennessee
The Jets will be without Dee Milliner, who didn't see much playing time last week anyway, but should be ready to increase the snap count of Quinton Coples, who's recovered from his ankle injury. Coples played about two-thirds of the snaps last week and was around the quarterback enough to consider a flex-type option in sack-heavy scoring leagues today.
The Titans went to a dime package often last week. Moise Fokou was the lone linebacker on the field, with Zach Brown missing around 20 snaps. There's been no information from the team or local media on why that decision was made. The Jets force opposing defenses into subpackages only rarely, so Brown is probably safe as a LB3 today, but if he's sitting in subpackages today it's time to worry. Fokou is battling a stinger-type injury but will play today.
Philadelphia at Denver
Patrick Chung will miss this game with a shoulder injury. Earl Wolff will draw the start. Wolff and Nate Allen are solid spot DB2 starts against the Denver offense. The Eagles have started to work Brandon Graham in more often at outside linebacker and are looking at shifting Trent Cole into a 5-technique defensive end rotation. it's not time to put Graham into lineups, but the rotation will be important to watch today.
The Broncos are hopeful that both Duke Iheancho and Champ Bailey will play today. I expect Bailey will miss another week, however, and Ihenacho wasn't as optimistic with the media this week. It's probably best to avoid Ihenacho until we see him finish a game.
Washington at Oakland
Washington rotated London Fletcher out for a handful of plays last week, with Nick Barnett seeing the extra snaps. Fletcher has struggled a bit against the open offenses of PHI, GB and DET to start the season, but this should be a good matchup for him. Bacarri Rambo didn't see a base defensive snap last week. Anything is possible in Shanahanland, but Rambo won't be trustworthy in lineups for awhile.
Nick Roach bounced back as expected last week. He'll have to contend with his home stat crew again this week, but should be a LB3+ play. Charles Woodson got the bulk of the added value with Tyvon Branch out of the lineup. Brandion Ross should again start. Jason Hunter hasn't practiced all week with a quad injury. He shouldn't be in your lineup unless you have a strong late game hedge.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
New England at Atlanta
Despite the shift in stats in favor of Brandon Spikes last week, it's still Dont'a Hightower playing in subpackages. Hightower remains a slightly better play tonight.
The Falcons used a heavy rotation at linebacker last week. Joplo Bartu played every down but didn't fill up the box score. Akeem Dent started inside, but Paul Worrilow replaced him in subpackages. Dent cannot be in your lineup against the spread offense of New England. If you like to live on the edge of extreme upside, Worrilow is your riverboat gambler play of the week at linebacker. Slot corner Robert McClain has been strong against much lesser matchups than the Patriots. He's a CB2 with elite CB1 upside this week.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Miami at New Orleans
Cameron Wake is questionable with an MCL sprain. There were rumors that he'd try to go in passing situations this week -- of which there will be many vs New Orleans -- but he should be avoided this week. If he impresses against a tough matchup through injury, breathe a sigh of relief that this injury isn't as long term as it could've been. Olivier Vernon, Derrick Shelby and any New Orleans defensive lineman not named Cam Jordan are not viable hedges. Dion Jordan won't play full time, but his snap count has been trending upward for three weeks. He's an option in sack heavy scoring leagues today.
Roman Harper is out again this week. David Hawthorne didn't see any additional playing time in Harper's absence last week and shouldn't today. Martez Wilson should be getting closer to extended playing time. Put him on your watch list this week.
Best of luck in your fantasy games this weekend. Reading the Defense returns on Tuesday with an early look at the top tiers by position. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking news and analysis during the games today.
