NOTE: This column is a living document and may be updated throughout the morning. Major changes to the content will be in red. Check back often for additions as gameday inactives are announced and lineup / depth chart changes are reported. I'll also be retweeting those reports with quick bits of analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter.
EARLY GAMES
Buffalo at Houston
Doug Marrone would not commit to Preston Brown this week, saying the decision about playing time would depend on the health of Keith Rivers and on-field matchups. Rivers is listed probable, which hints he'll steal snaps from Brown. I'd still risk Brown as a LB3 as I expect he'll see the bulk of the snaps and Rivers is always another injury waiting to happen. Da'Norris Searcy left last week's game with an ankle injury but will play today.
Brian Cushing is not on this week's injury report and played nearly every down last week. He's climbing up the inseason lineup tiers but remains risky until we see him play in all subpackages. D.J. Swearinger added a hip injury to his nagging elbow injury on Friday but is expected to play.
Carolina at Baltimore
Thomas Davis will test his hip injury during pregame warmups. He's a game time decision, but Ron Rivera tentatively expects him to play. If not, Chase Blackburn will start and likely play every down. Either way, Roman Harper gets a slight bump in expectation today.
The Ravens are mostly healthy on defense. Chris Canty is questionable with his chronically balky knee and Terrell Suggs is on the injury report with a thigh injury. Suggs will play and is on the IDP hot seat due to lack of production and a rotation limiting him to 70-80% of snaps. It's a decent matchup today, but Suggs may be too risky to trust.
1130 ET: Thomas Davis is inactive today.
Detroit at New York Jets
Tahir Whitehead will start at middle linebacker and play every down today. It's a good opportunity and a good matchup for his first start. If he transitions quickly to the new role, he has LB2 upside. James Ihedigbo will return and start for Detroit. It's not certain whether he'll play every down immediately, but he'll be a matchup DB3 when his role is confirmed.
Dee Milliner is still out. Muhammad Wilkerson left last week's game with a knee injury that looked to be a major concern. He fully practiced on Friday and is ready to play. Antonio Allen continues to be a top play as team relentlessly test him in coverage.
Green Bay at Chicago
Brad Jones was back to practice this week and listed questionable. Mike McCarthy told reporters this week he didn't believe in the "a player doesn't lose his job to injury" sentiment but wouldn't confirm that Jamari Lattimore would remain the starter either. I don't think Jones will see much playing time today, but Lattimore has not seized the job and has not played every down. Lattimore is a risky LB3 today with some upside due to the matchup. Clay Matthews is dealing with a groin injury but probable to play.
Jon Bostic will remain in the starting lineup at strong side linebacker with Shea McClellin out. He played every down last week and was often the first linebacker to the ball. D.J. Williams also looked good in Week 3 but is a high risk play as he'll sit when Chicago plays nickel. The Bears were down to the bottom of the depth chart at safety due to in-game injuries last week. Chris Conte is questionable, but Ryan Mundy (probable) and Danny McCray (not listed) are ready to go.
1130 ET: Jared Allen is inactive due to illness today. Willie Young will see near full time snaps in a strong matchup.
Miami at Oakland (London)
Koa Misi is still not ready to return from his ankle injury. Jelani Jenkins was limited with an abdominal injury all week. Hopefully, it's not a sports hernia type injury that will linger and cost him playing time later. For now, Jenkins is still a strong LB2+ play. Randy Starks is out today.
Nick Roach continues to deal with post-concussion symptoms and is unlikely to play. Sio Moore has been ruled out. After being in a walking boot earlier this week, Miles Burris looks healthy enough to play. I expect we'll see Burris at middle linebacker today with Kaluka Maiava on the weak side. Both have value based on the situation, but carry risk. Usama Young replaces Tyvon Branch and may be a sneaky DB2 play.
Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh
Dane Fletcher will continue to be an every-down middle linebacker with Mason Foster still out. Michael Johnson played only seven snaps last week and will still be limited in rotation if he's active today. Expect William Gholston to continue to see lots of snaps.
Sean Spence will play every down for the injured Ryan Shazier. The matchup is questionable, but Spence should be quick enough on nickel downs to support LB3+ numbers today. William Gay replaces Ike Taylor and Arthur Moats should see the majority of Jarvis Jones' snaps. Both have some value in very deep leagues.
Tennessee at Indianapolis
The Titans used a rotation at Zach Brown's former inside linebacker spot last week, with Zaviar Gooden and Avery Williamson both seeing base defensive snaps. James Anderson has been battling a thigh injury and may not be ready for regular duty yet. Ropati Pitoitua won't play with a knee injury.
Jerrell Freeman and Arthur Jones are still out with injury. Josh McNary played every down again last week but wasn't productive. He's not a legitimate fantasy option, especially with an assist-happy home stat crew.
LATE GAMES
Atlanta at Minnesota
Joplo Bartu and Prince Shembo continue to rotate series for series. Proceed with caution with both. Neither is more than a high variance LB4/flex play today. The Falcons are healthy on defense.
Gerald Hodges replaces the injured Chad Greenway (broken hand, broken rib). He was very productive in limited duty last week and will play every down today. This week's matchup isn't as strong, but it's good enough to consider Hodges a LB3+. Sharrif Floyd and Harrison Smith are on the injury report but expected to play their usual number of snaps.
Jacksonville at San Diego
The Jaguars are healthy and no depth chart changes are expected.
Kavell Conner will replace Manti Te'o in the lineup today. There were rumbles Conner was close to taking playing time from Donald Butler before Te'o's injury. It's possible Conner will play nearly every down. The matchup isn't strong enough to test the theory yet, however. Jason Verrett is not expected to play with a hamstring injury.
Philadelphia at San Francisco
Mychal Kendricks remains out with a calf injury. He'll again be replaced by a committee of Eagles, led by Emmanuel Acho. The Eagles are otherwise healthy and have no expected depth chart changes.
Antoine Bethea is questionable after being added to the injury report Friday with an ankle injury. He's trying to make his 100th consecutive start, giving him added incentive to play if it's a close call.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
New Orleans at Dallas
David Hawthorne was able to get through a limited practice but is a game time decision. Ramon Humber will likely see the majority of tonight's snaps. Cam Jordan draws a tough matchup in Tyron Smith, who held Robert Quinn in check last week.
Rolando McClain didn't sound very positive about his playing status on Friday and may miss another week. He's too risky to leave his lineups tonight without a strong hedge. Justin Durant is expected back today. I think Durant and Bruce Carter are locked in as outside linebackers today with either McClain or Anthony Hitchens in the middle. Carter is a lock to play every down, but it's difficult to handicap the other spot due to the injury situations. Call Carter a LB3+ and the other three risky LB3 plays.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
New England at Kansas City
Jamie Collins is probable after a full week of limited practices. He could return to his former every-down role. Chandler Jones is still a risky play with his primary base usage coming as a 3-4 defensive end. Alfonzo Dennard looks like he's expected back this week but has missed games when listed probable before.
Eric Berry is out again this week. Ron Parker was a statistical disappointment last week but is a boom-bust DB3 caliber play again this week. Josh Mauga continues to see every-down duty over James-Michael Johnson. Both Tamba Hali and Justin Houston are strong sack-heavy scoring plays this week.
Best of luck in your fantasy games this weekend. Reading the Defense returns on Tuesday. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking news and analysis during the games today.