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 Baltimore
Prince Shembo was probable with a knee injury last week, but played only on special teams. Mike Smith said Shembo didn't play due to concerns with the knee and limited practice time. Shembo was limited until Friday this week. There have been no updates on the depth chart this week. Watch the Falcons' Twitter sources for a possible tell this morning. If we can get confirmation of the plan, it's a great matchup to plug either Shembo or Bartu into your lineup.
The Ravens are healthy. No depth chart changes are expected. Lardarius Webb is off the injury report. He started last week and played nearly every down. If you've been sitting on him, this would be a solid matchup to break him into your lineup again.
Carolina at Green Bay
Antoine Cason and Marvin White started at cornerback last week. Josh Norman looks likely to return from a concussion today, which would send White back to a reserve role -- behind Charles Godfrey, who will be the slot corner.
Datone Jones is out today. That won't help the run defense, which is already struggling to get off blocks consistently and shut running backs down between the tackles. Jamari Lattimore is dealing with a neck injury. I expect we'll see more Brad Jones, but A.J. Hawk remains the lone every-down inside linebacker. Tramon Williams is questionable but will likely try to play through an ankle injury.
Cincinnati at Indianapolis
Vinny Rey starts at middle linebacker for Rey Maualuga. Emmanuel Lamur is doubtful with a shoulder injury. It appears the Bengals will likely go with Jason DiManche in the base defense and Taylor Mays in some nickel situations with Lamur out. That may limit Rey's upside today.
Arthur Jones fully practiced Friday and looks ready to return. He may play a limited role only, but should be healthy for future weeks.
Cleveland at Jacksonville
The Browns' depth chart has been stable. The rotation with Chris Kirksey and Craig Robertson still leans in Kirksey's favor but not enough to tip the stat line significantly. Cleveland is also rotating Jabaal Sheard, Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo. All three are reasonable big play league flyers today.
Andre Branch was limited earlier this week but returned to a full Thursday and Friday practice. He's probable with a groin injury, but rotating often and has a poor matchup today.
Miami at Chicago
Reshad Jones and Koa Misi were back last week. The Dolphins stuck with Jelani Jenkins in nickel packages, rotating Misi and Philip Wheeler in those situations. That should continue for the rest of the season. Jones immediately had an impact in his return to a starting role. He's an every-week DB1 start.
Lance Briggs is out today, as is Chris Conte. Jon Bostic has been limited all week with his neck injury and is questionable. D.J. Williams is probable and Shea McClellin will also likely return to play today. Expect to see McClellin on the strong side, Williams back at middle linebacker and, if active, Bostic on the weak side. If Bostic is healthy enough to play, it'll probably be he and Williams in the nickel, but we may see Khaseem Greene rotate in at times in both packages. Danny McCray and Brock Vereen will rotate next to Ryan Mundy at safety.
Minnesota at Buffalo
Chad Greenway fully practiced this week and returns to his weak side linebacker position. Gerald Hodges is out with a hamstring, so there's no legitimate threat to Greenway's snaps today. Sharrif Floyd is questionable, but has played through limited practice often this year. If you're looking for a DE flyer, consider Everson Griffen (and possibly Brian Robison) against Kyle Orton. It's a road matchup, but there's upside here.
The Bills are healthy. It's been a four man, package-specific rotation at linebacker recently, with each player taking 60-85% of the snaps. I think Nigel Bradham is trustworthy today, but there's a lower floor for each than usual. Da'Norris Searcy is probable but has been rotating significantly with Duke Williams. Avoid both today.
New Orleans at Detroit
The Saints are healthy and have no expected depth chart changes.
Tahir Whitehead was replaced by Josh Bynes in nickel packages during the second half last week. There's been some talk among local writers that the change may have been game plan specific, but it's a concern for Whitehead's snaps against New Orleans. If you've got another option today, I'd consider it. We'll know the Lions' plans with clarity after today's game. Ezekiel Ansah was limited with a toe injury. He's probable, but a toe injury is an issue for a pass rusher. The Saints have been a tough matchup in the past, but are growing more favorable recently. If you must use Ansah, the home field advantage helps his matchup.
LATE GAMES
Arizona at Oakland
Tyrann Mathieu is taking more and more base defensive snaps and could be a full time player today as the Cardinals transition Tony Jefferson back to a reserve role. Calais Campbell was optimistic about returning soon but didn't practice this week. Frostee Rucker is now questionable after being limited by a calf injury this week.
Justin Tuck looked very limited by an ankle injury last week and managed only a limited Friday practice. He's questionable and will rotate out frequently if he goes. Sio Moore returned last week and played nearly every down. Khalil Mack is essentially an every-down player and likely sees more snaps on the line with Tuck limited.
Kansas City at San Diego
Eric Berry tested his ankle on Wednesday and was not ready. He's out again this week. Reports this week say Joe Mays will begin practicing soon, but we're not likely to see him for another 2-3 weeks. Josh Mauga has been locked into the nickel role.
Manti Te'o and Jerry Attaochu are out with injury again today. There's no angle to exploit with Te'o absence. Neither Andrew Gachkar nor Kavell Conner have been productive. Brandon Flowers and Jason Verrett are both questionable. It looks like both corners will play, as will Shareece Wright, who will return from a knee injury today. Expect Flowers and Wright to start, with Verrett back in a nickel role for now.
New York Giants at Dallas
Trumaine McBride is out. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is questionable. Zack Bowman would start for DRC and likely sees rotational time regardless. Jayron Hosley is slated to be the next man up in the slot corner role, but the Giants may decide to use Antrel Rolle there, too. It's a great matchup for both Jon Beason, if he's healthy enough to get to the ball, and Quintin Demps.
Bruce Carter remains out, as the 10-14 day estimate was never realistic. We'll see Anthony Hitchens (base defense only) starting again today.
Seattle at St. Louis
Bobby Wagner is out today and possibly multiple weeks with a toe injury. K.J. Wright moves inside, with Malcolm Smith and Bruce Irvin starting at outside linebacker. Smith is a flyer in deeper, tackle-heavy leagues but hasn't been productive in this role recently. Byron Maxwell will miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain. Marcus Burley is the best bet to replace him.
The Rams have some role players listed questionable, but the high profile fantasy names are all healthy.
Tennessee at Washington
The Titans continued rotating linebackers last week, though Zaviar Gooden did not play. Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard shared dime snaps, with Williamson playing more than Woodyard. George Wilson was limited early in the week, but is listed probable. That should keep the linebacker rotation unchanged.
Ryan Clark and Perry Riley are questionable. Clark played through his questionable tag and likely will again. Local writers expect Will Compton to draw the start again this week, allowing Riley one more week of healing time.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
San Francisco at Denver
Patrick Willis is listed probable on the injury report on the NFL's media site. It's a misprint. He's out today. Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite will start and both likely play every down tonight. It's an interesting matchup and tough to read, but I think both are capable of LB3+ numbers. Ideally, you'd wait on see on Borland, but use either starting inside backer this week if you need bodies.
With Danny Trevathan out for another extended period, Brandon Marshall is locked into an every-down role. We'll see how the Broncos approach their subpackages tonight. In Week 3, Nate Irving played every down in a 2-4-5 nickel. The Broncos continued the 2-4-5 after Trevathan returned. But they used a dime look after Trevathan's injury last week. There's been no report this week about how the Broncos will align today, so Irving is a risky LB3 at best.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Houston at Pittsburgh
It's possible Jadeveon Clowney could return Monday night. More likely, he's getting in a week of conditioning and football drills to ready himself for next week. Despite the poor stat line, last week was Brian Cushing's return to the nickel package. If that sticks -- and Mike Mohamed was limited all week with a calf injury -- the numbers should be there.
Ryan Shazier was limited this week but is not yet expected to play. Cortez Allen is expected to be replaced in the base defense by Brice McCain and go back to a nickel role only.
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.
