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 New York Giants
Prince Shembo took over for Joplo Bartu last week. Shembo wasn't yet an every-down player, though, and the Falcons released a depth chart on Monday which continued to list Bartu as the starter next to Paul Worrilow. So it may be too soon to count on Shembo as a LB3 play. Kemal Ishmael replaces William Moore, who went on IR-return this week with a shoulder injury.
Jon Beason is questionable but has told reporters all week he expects to play today. If he does, he'll likely be back in a rotational role only. That's what happened in his most recent return. Jameel McClain would move back to outside linebacker. Trumaine McBride has been productive in the slot since taking over for the injured Walter Thurmond. Quintin Demps is also firmly on the fantasy radar. He's been more efficient than Stevie Brown was as the starter.
Baltimore at Indianapolis
Chris Canty is doubtful with a chronic knee injury. Terrell Suggs continues to deal with a thigh injury. He's questionable and managed only a limited Friday practice this week. I think Suggs will play, but his burst hasn't been the same this year and he's already been used in rotation. He's not a fantasy option today.
Jerrell Freeman made his way back to a full practice on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable. Ordinarily, I'd expect a player with Freeman's recent injury history to ease back into the lineup, but there's a chance he'll be back to an every-down role right away. However, the risk that he will only play part time and the heavy assist over solo trend with the Indianapolis stat crew would have me leery about expecting more than LB3 numbers today. Arthur Jones has yet to return to practice.
Buffalo at Detroit
Nigel Bradham and Kyle Williams are doubtful today and won't play. Preston Brown gets another start at outside linebacker and can be expected to play every down with Keith Rivers. Rivers may rotate out in dime packages. Da'Norris Searcy has been in and out of the lineup over the past two weeks with injury and in rotation with Duke Williams. He's no longer a trustworthy DB3, even in deeper leagues.
Tahir Whitehead looked comfortable inside and was very productive last week. With another strong effort today, he'll prove himself to be an every-week LB2. The Lions are otherwise healthy and Ezekiel Ansah is off the injury report with a great matchup. Hopefully, he'll take advantage.
Chicago at Carolina
Shea McClellin remains out. Jon Bostic gets another every-down opportunity today and is a risk-reward LB3. Chris Conte and Ryan Mundy took all the snaps last week. Conte's snap count was surprising, since he's had to leave games multiple times with a shoulder injury. Jared Allen looks to be back from illness. His significant weight loss and inconsistent ability to finish in the pocket would keep him on my bench, however. Jay Ratliff will miss another week with a concussion.
Thomas Davis and Charles Johnson are both probable today. Davis will return to his every-down role in a solid matchup with both Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett seeing heavy usage for the Bears. Johnson has been struggling again this year and is a bye week desperation start only.
Cleveland at Tennessee
The Browns look healthy on defense. Barkevious Mingo practiced fully all week and could be back to an every-down role. He told reporters he wanted to rush more in future weeks. That may be a sign Mike Pettine is ready to give him more rush opportunities on early downs. I haven't seen any reports suggesting Chris Kirksey will be taking over full time out of the bye week, but it's something to monitor closely.
Avery Williamson took the majority of rotational snaps with Zaviar Gooden last week but wasn't yet trusted with an every-down role. Williamson's tackle numbers looked like that of an every-down player, and there's some LB3 upside with him today.
Houston at Dallas
J.J. Watt managed only a limited Friday practice. He has a thigh injury but is listed probable and will play. The Texans acknowledged Brian Cushing still isn't ready for an every-down role this week. He'll stay in rotation for now. Jadeveon Clowney's rehab continues to progress but he isn't yet close to returning.
Bruce Carter is out this week with a quad strain. Anthony Hitchens will replace him. Rolando McClain is probable and Justin Durant is off the injury report. They are the every-down linebackers today and reasonable LB3+ starts with upside if the Texans can move the ball on offense. Anthony Spencer looked healthy in his return last week and should be on watch lists for a second half push. Pick him up once he enters the starting lineup or plays more than one of three series.
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
Sean Spence stays in the lineup for Ryan Shazier this week. Ike Taylor is in the early stages of recovery from a broken arm. The Steelers have been a tough fantasy read, with no single player a reliable option. The matchup isn't great this week, so use a Steelers' defender with the knowledge there's a low tackle expectation but a higher than average chance at a big play.
Dwayne Gratz is out with a concussion but the Jaguars are otherwise healthy. Other than Gratz, there are no expected depth chart changes this week.
St. Louis at Philadelphia
Trumaine Johnson is out with a knee injury. The Rams are healthy. Robert Quinn has been better than his numbers suggest and faces a Philadelphia offensive line with multiple injuries and Lane Johnson transitioning back from suspension. Don't leave Quinn out of your lineup today.
Mychal Kendricks is showing no signs of a quick return from his calf strain. The Eagles have used a three man rotation to replace him. Sam Acho has a hint of value in deep tackle-heavy leagues, but not much. Brandon Boykin is listed questionable but fully practiced this week and should play through a hamstring strain again this week.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Dashon Goldson is out with an ankle injury. Major Wright replaced him last week and put up strong numbers. He's a solid DB3+ play today. Mason Foster was back at practice this week, though limited. It's unclear whether he'll return this week. Leave him on your bench until it's assured he's healthy enough to return to an every-down role. Michael Johnson and Gerald McCoy are both expected to play despite being listed questionable.
Jairus Byrd went to injured reserve with a meniscus tear this week and is out for the season. He'll be replaced by Rafael Bush. This may not be good news for Kenny Vaccaro, who may rotate into a deeper coverage role on early downs and potentially out of the slot on nickel downs, too. David Hawthorne fully practiced on Friday and will likely rotate with Ramon Humber today.
LATE GAMES
Arizona at Denver
The Cardinals are healthy. Tyrann Mathieu is off the injury report coming out of the bye week, but there's been no indication he's ready to return to a base defensive role yet. That may not matter much today, with the Broncos likely to give Mathieu enough subpackage opportunity to be a DB3.
Danny Trevathan is back for Denver today. John Fox told reporters he planned to be smart about working Trevathan back into action. It's likely Trevathan will have a rotational role only, though it's not clear how he and Brandon Marshall will be used. Both are risky LB3 starts today.
Kansas City at San Francisco
Eric Berry remains out and has yet to return to practice with a high ankle sprain. The Chiefs haven't had anyone step up statistically in his absence. Marcus Cooper is questionable with a knee injury.
Antoine Bethea had a huge game last week after entering the day as a game time decision. He's probable to play. Eric Reid is questionable with a hamstring injury but was able to practice this week. There's been little information about his status but he looks likely to play.
New York Jets at San Diego
The Jets expect to have Dee Milliner back in limited duty this week. Calvin Pryor was limited earlier in the week, but practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and will play.
Jerry Attaochu and Manti Te'o are out again this week. Shareece Wright is also out. The Chargers used Andrew Gachkar as a near every down player last week despite talking up the prospects of Kavell Conner. Gachkar doesn't have much upside but the snap count makes him exciting against a likely run-heavy Jets offense. Corey Liuget practiced fully on Friday and looks likely to return from last week's concussion.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Cincinnati at New England
Vontaze Burfict has progressed in the return to play protocol but hasn't yet been cleared to play. Vinny Rey will replace him and play every down tonight. It's a solid matchup, especially with a favorable New England stat crew. Use Rey as a LB3+ today.
Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower are both questionable to play tonight. The Patriots signed a linebacker from the practice squad. Mike Reiss tentatively expects both Collins and Hightower to be active, but make sure you have a hedge (Vinny Rey, K.J. Wright?) in place if you plan to use them. It's worth taking the risk with a hedge given the strong matchup.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Seattle at Washington
The Seahawks are healthy and have no expected depth chart changes. The road matchup in Washington is favorable and in front of a stadium crew that will give Seattle defenders their usual number of assists -- but not at the expense of solos. Bobby Wagner and Kam Chancellor are strong plays tomorrow night.
Jason Hatcher and Brian Orakpo are not 100% but will continue to play through injuries. The Seattle matchup and home stat crew make Perry Riley, Keenan Robinson, Brandon Meriweather and Ryan Clark strong plays tomorrow night.
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.
