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
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Local Atlanta media believes Joplo Bartu will start again this week. He's not a great fantasy play, however. The Falcons listed Jonathan Massaquoi questionable, but he fully practiced on Friday and should play. Paul Worrilow and Kemal Ishmael are your only fantasy considerations here.
Alterraun Verner is doubtful for the Bucs. He wasn't playing well, but it's another blow to a struggling Tampa Bay secondary. Lavonte David (knee) and Michael Johnson (hand) have nagging injuries and are listed questionable. The Bucs have no players listed probable and both David and Johnson were fully practicing Friday. They'll play. It's a good matchup for Johnson, use him as a high upside DL2 today.
Dallas at Jacksonville
Rolando McClain is listed questionable and did not practice all week with knee and groin ailments. Local media reports McClain went through the walkthrough and still has a chance to play. But he's a game time decision at best. If he goes, Anthony Hitchens and Bruce Carter will flank him outside. The nickel spots are tough to handicap if McClain plays. Last week, Carter sat and McClain and Hitchens played nearly every down. I don't think McClain is healthy enough to trust, however. Expect Carter to see more snaps today and Hitchens to potentially be an every down middle linebacker. The matchup isn't great but Hitchens would be a LB3+ if McClain is inactive.
Jeremiah George started at middle linebacker last week but is out with an ankle injury today. J.T. Thomas will play inside in the base defense and every down. Telvin Smith Sr will play inside in nickel situations, with Thomas shifting outside. Andre Branch will be out another few weeks with a groin injury.
Kansas City at Buffalo
The Chiefs are healthy. Joe Mays was activated yesterday and will see playing time today, possibly starting and playing the majority of snaps in the base defense over James-Michael Johnson. Josh Mauga still looks locked in as an every-down player. Eric Berry fully practiced this week and is safe to use in lineups.
The Bills defense is healthy coming out of the bye week. I expect no personnel changes at linebacker or safety. It's a strong matchup for Preston Brown. Nigel Bradham is a LB3 with upside with the favorable home stat crew.
Miami at Detroit
Koa Misi is banged up, but should play. The roles of the linebackers haven't changed with the return of Dion Jordan. Jelani Jenkins, who should put up much better numbers today in a more favorable matchup than he's had in weeks, will be the lone every-down linebacker. Jordan will remain a situational player. He's not been great so far, but could have a better statistical day today.
The Lions will be without Nick Fairley for a few more weeks. I'm anxious to see how they use Tahir Whitehead and Josh Bynes coming out of the bye week. I think Whitehead is safe to use in deeper tackle heavy leagues as a LB3/4, but his nickel snaps are not assured. Ezekiel Ansah was added to the injury report Thursday with a toe injury, but is probable and will play.
Pittsburgh at New York Jets
Ryan Shazier and Troy Polamalu are out today. Shazier will be replaced by a rotation of Sean Spence and Vince Williams. I think I'd avoid both potential replacements today. Will Allen will fill in for Polamalu. He's a spot start in deep leagues only.
The Jets have listed half their team probable with injuries today, but there are no expected limitations or depth chart changes along the front seven today. It's tough to know how the Jets will use their "cornerbacks" but Antonio Allen is an okay fantasy play if you need someone on the bye week.
San Francisco at New Orleans
Patrick Willis is unlikely to play. He did not practice all week and Vic Fangio told reporters on Thursday Willis would have to practice to play. Chris Borland gets another every down start today. Aldon Smith won't be back until next week, should the Niners choose to activate him.
The Saints are still without David Hawthorne. That makes Ramon Humber a potential LB3+ this week. New Orleans is otherwise healthy. With how poorly the Niners offensive line played against the Rams last week, a more consistent Cam Jordan is a strong play today.
Tennessee at Baltimore
The Titans are healthy coming out of the bye. I expect Avery Williamson to continue to see the majority of the dime and nickel snaps and he's a LB2+ today. Wesley Woodyard is a LB3 with a favorable stat crew and matchup.
The Ravens officially lost Jimmy Smith after foot surgery and cut Domininque Franks and Chykie Brown last week. Danny Gorrer and Tramain Jacobs were added and it's not clear who starts opposite Lardarius Webb. A rotation is possible. The front seven matchups are favorable for Baltimore today.
LATE GAMES
Denver at Oakland
The Broncos are likely to start Steven Johnson at middle linebacker today. If they go nickel in subpackage situations, Corey Nelson will replace Johnson. Denver may choose to use more dime and Big Nickel looks, however. There's not enough information with this unfavorable matchup to trust any linebacker other than Brandon Marshall in lineups today.
Justin Tuck was healthy enough to play his usual number of snaps last week, but the Denver matchup is brutal for defensive pass rushers. Avoid the Raiders today in sack-heavy leagues. Khalil Mack and Sio Moore are strong starts in balanced leagues. Those in CB-required leagues should look hard at D.J. Hayden today.
New York Giants at Seattle
The Giants' secondary is a mess. Prince Amukamara is out for the year. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is probable but limited, Zackary Bowman is questionable after an abdominal illness on Friday. And the Giants have run through multiple slot corners already. It's good news for Antrel Rolle today. Despite rumors that Devon Kennard would see snaps at middle linebacker last week, it was Jameel McClain playing every down inside. The Seattle stat crew isn't favorable, but McClain and Rolle are strong starts today.
Bobby Wagner is still out for the Seahawks and has yet to practice since injuring his toe. Brock Coyle starts at middle linebacker, with K.J. Wright playing every down and moving inside in nickel situations. That's an excellent role and Wright is worth using despite the assist-heavy crew. Kam Chancellor won't play today with a groin injury. Byron Maxwell could return after a full Friday practice, while Marcus Burley is questionable after a Friday hamstring strain.
St. Louis at Arizona
Janoris Jenkins has a chance to play after a limited Friday practice. William Hayes is listed probable with a leg injury and should play.
Larry Foote is listed probable with a back injury and will play. The safety rotation continues for the Cardinals. I think we'll see Tyrann Mathieu and Deone Bucannon close to 40 snaps in this matchup, but both are very risky starts. Calais Campbell should be in line for a strong statistical day.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Chicago at Green Bay
Darryl Sharpton is out with a hamstring injury. Lance Briggs and Jon Bostic are back. I expect both to start and play every down. Bostic is a better fantasy play than Briggs. Kyle Fuller and Danny McCray are healthier coming out of the bye and should also start. Fuller is somewhat risky but this is a stellar matchup and worth the risk.
Morgan Burnett was downgraded to questionable after Friday's practice and is a big risk tonight. If you can hedge with Danny McCray, Ryan Mundy, Micah Hyde, or Malcolm Jenkins you can leave Burnett in your lineup. But he's 50-50 at best to play.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Carolina at Philadelphia
The Panthers are healthy. Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis are your best options, as always, but Josh Norman is a good upside play in CB-required leagues.
Philadelphia is expected to rotate Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho at inside linebacker next to Mychal Kendricks. Neither are an acceptable fantasy option. Malcolm Jenkins gets a slight bump in value.
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.
