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
Baltimore at Cleveland
The Ravens seem more optimistic about Lardarius Webb this week and have him listed probable. But you'll still need to check the inactives list to be sure he's cleared to play.
Barkevious Mingo is questionable and was limited again all week. Mike Pettine was hopeful in his Friday press conference, but wanted to see how Mingo responded to practice. He's a GTD and will likely rotate more than he had been if he's active today. Chris Kirksey and Craig Robertson have been rotating by series and there's been no indication this week that will change today.
Dallas at St. Louis
Justin Durant is still out and Rolando McClain is a longshot to play after missing practice with a groin injury all week. Anthony Hitchens moves to the middle and will join Bruce Carter in subpackages. Kyle Wilbur will start at SLB. Hitchens is a boom-bust LB3. Carter and Barry Church are the beneficiaries here.
The Rams are healthy. Only corner Trumaine Johnson is out today. There are no expected changes to the depth chart.
Green Bay at Detroit
Brad Jones remains out for the Packers. Jamari Lattimore did not play in the dime last week and likely won't today. With the Lions running an offense that could use lots of multi-wide receiver sets, Lattimore is a risky play today. Micah Hyde was back to full practice late in the week and is probable. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix should still see 40 snaps today.
James Ihedigbo will miss another week with his neck injury. Isa Abdul-Quddus will start in his place. Ezekiel Ansah is back on the injury report with a knee problem. He didn't practice until Friday and is a game-time decision. Devin Taylor would see more work this week with George Johnson also questionable with a groin injury. Nick Fairley practiced through a biceps injury and is tentatively expected to play.
Houston at New York Giants
D.J. Swearinger Sr is questionable after hyperextending his elbow last week. He was limited all week in practice but is expected to go. Whitney Mercilus played every down last week with Jadeveon Clowney recovering from knee surgery. The Texans are still rotating Brian Cushing and Mike Mohammed, with Mohammed taking the subpackage snaps. That likely continues for at least one more week.
Jon Beason is out today. Jameel McClain moves inside into an every-down role. Spencer Paysinger will play outside linebacker with Devon Kennard out with a hamstring strain. McClain is a sneaky LB2+ option today. Walter Thurmond is out with a pectoral tear. That could put Antrel Rolle back in the slot in subpackages, but the Giants leaned on Trumaine McBride there last week after Thurmond's injury.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Jerrell Freeman remains out with a hamstring injury. He didn't practice all week and may be out for another 1-2 weeks. Josh McNary replaced him and played every down on Monday. He didn't show well and the Jacksonville matchup isn't favorable. Arthur Jones is also out and his high ankle sprain will cost him at least two weeks.
The Jaguars have lots of dinged players on defense. Paul Posluszny is battling a nagging knee issue, Chris Clemons and Winston Guy have been sick this week and Johnathan Cyprien is recovering from a concussion. All are expected to play today.
Minnesota at New Orleans
Chad Greenway is questionable with a broken hand and rib injuries, but is expected to play. Watch the inactives this morning to be certain. He's a LB3 start if he's active. If he doesn't go, Gerald Hodges will likely slide into his role and play every down.
David Hawthorne is out today. Ramon Humber will start and play every down in his place. The matchup is a little suspect here, but Humber has LB3+ upside if you're in need of help today. The Saints are otherwise healthy. This could be the week when Cam Jordan's stat line finally catches up with his on-field play. I'd start him with confidence.
Oakland at New England
Sio Moore is out and Nick Roach is also likely to miss another week with concussion symptoms. Kaluka Maiava will start and probably play in the nickel today, though we could see more Khalil Mack in subpackages, too. Miles Burris was terrible last week, but has more upside today. Tyvon Branch and Charles Woodson get small bumps in value.
Jamie Collins is questionable but wasn't available to the media after his limited Friday practice. That's often a sign a player won't play. Expect Dont'a Hightower to start in his place once again. With Hightower in Collins' role last week, Chandler Jones was a standup outside linebacker and nickel defensive end. That's the primo role for fantasy value and we can probably ignore whatever crazy alignments are reported during pregame warmups this week.
San Diego at Buffalo
Melvin Ingram III is now on injured reserve-return designation with a hip injury. That will put Jeremiah Attaochu in an expanded role if his hamstring is ready. He didn't practice all week, however, and may not play today.
With another strong week, Preston Brown may cement himself in the every-down outside linebacker role if he hasn't already. Keith Rivers is again doubtful. Nigel Bradham sat in dime packages and I think it'll be Brown there again today. Brandon Spikes is still off the injury report but his Week 1 knee trouble may have the team moving on from him as an every-down role. I'd trust Brown as a LB2 today and Bradham as a LB3. Hopefully, there are no role changes here and we'll have clarity heading into the middle weeks of the season.
Tennessee at Cincinnati
The signing of James Anderson in Tennessee is not a depth move. It may not be this week, but Anderson will move into the lineup at ILB soon. If we hear differently during warmups or on the lineup card, I'll update here. Anderson's addition is notable for three reasons. First, it's clear the Titans are not happy with Zaviar Gooden and don't believe Avery Williamson is ready yet. Two, Anderson will play SILB and allow Wesley Woodyard to move back to the WILB role he's more suited for. Three, Anderson will likely play every down, which Gooden was not last week.
Vontaze Burfict is out with another concussion. That absence may stretch into the weeks after Cincinnati's Week 4 bye. Vinny Rey will play every down in Burfict's spot and has LB3 value for now. The Bengals are otherwise healthy and playing with a stable depth chart.
Washington at Philadelphia
Brandon Meriweather is back from suspension and expected to start today. He's a high variance DB play today. Ryan Clark and Brian Orakpo are both fighting minor injuries, but expected to play.
Mychal Kendricks is out with a calf injury. With luck, he'll only miss one week, but prepare for an extended absence. Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho will rotate in his place today. That's a sizable bump for DeMeco Ryans and Malcolm Jenkins.
LATE GAMES
Denver at Seattle
Danny Trevathan was back doing limited work in practice on Friday. He won't play today, but his return to practice is a strong sign he'll be ready after the Broncos' Week 4 bye. Denver listed Chris Harris (knee) and Von Miller (groin) probable and both should be ready to take their usual snaps today. Bradley Roby has been playing very well and today could be a great matchup for him if the Seahawks choose to run primarily 11 personnel with Percy Harvin in the slot.
Seattle has only Bruce Irvin with a questionable tag today. Their depth chart is set. Not that the Seahawks are at home and have an assist-happy stat crew. It's not likely to be as damaging to the total tackle count with the Denver matchup, but be aware that a 4-7 line is a little more likely than an 8-3 for Bobby Wagner and company today.
Kansas City at Miami
Eric Berry is out today. Ron Parker likely replaces him and is startable at cornerback in many league management systems. He's a CB1 today. Josh Mauga was the every-down linebacker last week, with James-Michael Johnson sitting in the nickel. We'll see if that changes with Berry out. Mauga is a LB3 with upside today, Johnson a boom-bust flex option.
Koa Misi remains out with an ankle injury. Philip Wheeler and Jelani Jenkins are probable with thumb and shoulder injuries. I think we'll see the same rotation this week as last, with Jenkins assured an every-down role and Trusnik getting the bulk of subpackage snaps over Wheeler.
San Francisco at Arizona
Tramaine Brock is nursing a toe injury and looks unlikely to play today. Otherwise, the Niners have a stable depth chart. Don't expect to see MIchael Wilhoite lose time to Chris Borland at this point.
John Abraham was back with the team this week but failed a concussion exam and was put on injured reserve. I think Tyrann Mathieu will see a much larger role this week, though he's unlikely to be ready to play every down until after the bye week. I would think it's Johnson that will eventually lose playing time, but Mathieu will only see subpackage snaps for now.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Pittsburgh at Carolina
The Steelers are healthy and there are no expected depth chart changes.
Thomas Davis was limited this week with a hip injury, but returned to a full practice on Friday and is expected to play. Roman Harper was nearly full time last week after Ron Rivera hinted the rotation with Charles Godfrey would continue. There's still some risk with Harper, but he's worth considering as a DB3 today.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Chicago at New York Jets
Shea McClellin and Jay Ratliff are both out. Jon Bostic is expected to play on the strong side and could be an every-down player this week. There's high variance in Bostic, but some upside if you're in a deep league and want a Monday night sweat. Kyle Fuller will replace Charles Tillman. It's not a great matchup, but Fuller has CB1 upside every week. Chris Conte is probable to return from last week's shoulder injury.
Dee Milliner is out. The Jets are otherwise healthy and have no known depth chart changes planned.
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.
