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
Cincinnati at Houston
Vontaze Burfict is still out. The Bengals appear to be targeting Week 13 as his return date, but he's not yet been seen at practice as A.J. Green and Gio Bernard were. Margus Hunt is also out, which means we'll see a larger set of reps for both Robert Geathers and Will Clarke.
Jadeveon Clowney should see more snaps today, but is likely not yet ready for true every down duty. The Texans rotated Brian Cushing last week with Akeem Dent and Mike Mohammed still seeing time and will continue to do so today.
Cleveland at Atlanta
Karlos Dansby argued earlier this week he'd make every effort to play. With a mid grade MCL sprain, that was never a realistic expectation. He was unable to practice and is listed doubtful. I don't see any chance he plays. That puts both Craig Robertson and Chris Kirksey in near every down roles (Tank Carder may see a handful of rotational snaps). Kirksey is the slightly better play. Jabaal Sheard is also questionable, which could give Barkevious Mingo a full set of snaps today.
Other than Robert Alford, who is out, the Falcons are healthy. William Moore is back at practice and reportedly on track to return next week against Arizona. Joplo Bartu and Prince Shembo split snaps last week. Shembo may see more snaps today, but both should be avoided in fantasy lineups.
Detroit at New England
Nick Fairley remains out. Tahir Whitehead (base) and Josh Bynes (nickel) rotated last week. Though the Patriots used mostly run formations against Indianapolis last week, it's tough to trust Whitehead today.
Still no word on the status of Chandler Jones. He hasn't practiced since his hip injury was reported. The Patriots have been consistent with the usage of Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins over the past three weeks and both can be expected to play every down again today.
Green Bay at Minnesota
Clay Matthews continues to see snaps at inside linebacker. But that's a base defensive position. When the Packers force teams to throw the ball with a big lead as they did last week, Matthews is moved around the formation as a pass rusher. His tackle counts will reflect that split. This is another matchup where Matthews is a better fit in big play leagues, but he's still a LB3 with upside in tackle-heavy formats.
Sharrif Floyd is battling a knee injury and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. His MRI was negative and he says he feels good, but he's more of a game time decision with this injury than with his shoulder issues earlier in the year.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
It's possible the Jaguars make some changes to the linebacker rotation coming out of their bye week, but I think we'll continue to see J.T. Thomas as the lone every down linebacker. Telvin Smith Sr has a good chance to see more than 40 snaps today whether he sees any base defensive snaps or not and could be a sneaky strong play in tackle heavy systems.
Erik Walden was back last week. He and Bjoern Werner are playing about two thirds of the defensive snaps. Jonathan Newsome has impressed at times, but he won't make many plays against the run and will have only 10-20 pass rushing snaps to put up a sack today. D'Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman look slow and are high risk today due to expected low opportunity. Chuck Pagano told reporters on Friday the Colts would continue to use LaRon Landry in a limited role.
1130 ET: Jaguars indeed make change at linebacker. Telvin Smith Sr announced as starter at outside linebacker. He can be expected to play every down.
Tampa Bay at Chicago
I've been trying to block Lavonte David's hamstring strain out of my mind all week. He's been limited in practice and officially a game time decision. I think he plays, though it's smart to consider his floor much lower today. Jacquies Smith continues to see increased time in rotation. The local media has only good things to report on Smith and, while it's a high variance decision, it's a good matchup to consider using him (and Michael Johnson) today. Alterraun Verner looks to be out again this week after not practicing with a hamstring strain.
The Bears defense is relatively healthy. Lance Briggs is the only every down linebacker now, with Jon Bostic replacing D.J. Williams in the nickel packages. Darryl Sharpton doesn't look close to returning from a hamstring strain. Kyle Fuller is no longer on the injury report.
1100 ET: All local Tampa Bay sources now reporting Lavonte David will be inactive today.
1130 ET: Official now. And it's Danny Lansanah moved to weak side (and a likely every down role), with Orie Lemon starting at SLB.
Tennessee at Philadelphia
Avery Williamson struggled against the run last week, but he's convinced Ray Horton he's capable of filling the Daryl Washington role in the defense. Williamson could get another 10 pass rush chances today. Add that to his volume expectation against a Philadelphia offense that could run 70 plays and he's a clear LB1.
Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho will continue to rotate next to Mychal Kendricks today. You should continue to avoid both except in the very deepest of tackle heavy leagues. Neither have any upside.
LATE GAMES
Arizona at Seattle
The Cardinals have marginalized Tony Jefferson into a base defensive role only. This looks like a decent matchup for him, but he's not trustworthy enough to use in fantasy lineups. Tyrann Mathieu and Deone Bucannon are also tough plays due to the assist-heavy stat crew in Seattle and the possibility of a game script in which the Seahawks run the ball frequently. Calais Campbell is the only Arizona defender I'd be comfortable with in all formats.
Bobby Wagner fully practiced this week and will return from an injury he says was thought to need 6-8 weeks to heal. It's essentially the same injury Jon Beason struggled with earlier this year. I'd not use Wagner until we're sure the Seahawks are playing him every down and he looks likely to avoid the same setbacks Beason had. If Seattle is ready to use Wagner on all downs, K.J. Wright is likely to go back to a base defensive role only.
Miami at Denver
Jamar Taylor will see extended time again today in a great matchup with Cortland Finnegan doubtful with an ankle injury. It's not a great matchup for Koa Misi, who leaves the field in subpackages. Both Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon have been inconsistent tacklers and that makes both tough starts against Peyton Manning. I'd avoid both in big play leagues, but still consider Wake a high variance DL1 in balanced leagues.
Steven Johnson starts at middle linebacker but plays base defense only. T.J. Ward hasn't put up consistent numbers in any role this year. He's not more than a high upside DB3. Brandon Marshall is your lone option in tackle heavy leagues. Demarcus Ware and Von Miller both have strong matchups here.
St. Louis at San Diego
Lamarcus Joyner is out today, but the Rams are otherwise healthy. Mark Barron was again used as an aggressive in the box player in some subpackages last week, doing some slot coverage but more run blitzes and pass rush. Don't expect him to see more than 15-20 snaps again today.
The Chargers got Manti Te'o back last week and platooned him with Donald Butler. Te'o played all nickel snaps, Butler saw time in the base defense. Kavell Conner was the other base linebacker and Andrew Gachkar saw time in subs. There's been no indication that will change this week, though we may eventually see both Butler and Te'o back in full time roles. For now, avoid the situation altogether.
Washington at San Francisco
Trent Murphy is going to play through a PCL sprain. It's not a good matchup and it's a tough injury to play effectively with, so avoid him in deeper leagues. Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley are both solid options again today.
NaVorro Bowman is practicing but at least a week away from muddling the inside linebacker rotation. Chris Borland remains an every-week play, with Michael Wilhoite a lesser option. Expect to see Aldon Smith play nearly every down in a very strong matchup. He should be in lineups in all formats.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Dallas at New York Giants
Rolando McClain should be healthier coming out of the bye. He practiced fully this week and, if the Cowboys go back to the rotation before McClain's most recent injury, it'll be McClain and Anthony Hitchens in the nickel. I think both are safe to use as LB3 plays this week.
Jacquian Williams is again out with a concussion. His setback last week means this could be a multi-week absence. Jameel McClain is the lone every-down linebacker now. Spencer Paysinger was in line to start, but played only nickel snaps in Week 11, with Mark Herzlich in the base defense. I expect to see the same today.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
New York Jets at Buffalo (in Detroit)
Jaiquawn Jarrett was limited with a calf injury earlier this week, but fully practiced on Saturday and is listed probable. He started and played every down over Calvin Pryor two weeks ago and will do the same this week.
The Bills should be at full strength on Monday night. It's a strong matchup for Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes and should be favorable for both Preston Brown and Nigel Bradham.
Baltimore at New Orleans
The Ravens are healthy and have no expected depth chart changes. There will continue to be lots of rotation in the secondary but it's difficult to handicap which player has the highest expectation. I'd lean very narrowly to Will Hill, but it's likely best avoided altogether.
David Hawthorne is off the injury report and playing every down. Keenan Lewis is probable and should be much closer to his usual full time role this week. Cam Jordan's expectation is also better 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.
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