Atlanta
DE Jamaal Anderson had his second sack of the season, and his career, in the game, but had to leave in the second quarter after suffering a concussion. He was unable to return and his status is in question this week as he’ll be monitored for after effects. DE John Abraham was sackless for the second-straight game after starting the season with seven in the first five games. The explosive Abraham can be erratic, but can also dominate a game, and is a must-start if healthy. Rookie MLB Curtis Lofton recorded his first career sack among his three solo tackles and stripped the ball on it. DE Chauncey Davis recovered it. Davis replaced Anderson and finished with a team-high six solo tackles in the game. Davis will get the start if Anderson can’t go this week.

CB Domonique Foxworth, who came over in from Denver in an early September trade, got his first start as a Falcon and played well. He posted three solo tackles and broke up a pass, with solid coverage. DT Grady Jackson had been attached to a FOXsports report about several players testing positive for banned substances, allegedly diuretic found in certain water pills used for weight lose. While not a steroid, it is banned because it is a masking agent that can be used to hide steroid use and, in a worst-case scenario, could involve suspensions. His agent reportedly has said Jackson will not be suspended at all, but the story is still evolving, although Jackson seems set to play this week.

Baltimore
Rookie LB Jameel McClain had quite a debut on Sunday. On his first defensive snap ever in the NFL, McClain beat OLB Terrell Suggs to OAK QB Jamarcus Russell in the end zone for a sack and safety. Suggs, NT Haloti Ngata, and OLB Jarret Johnson each had a sack, as well. Suggs leads the team with five sacks, matching his career-low total for all of last year. Unsurprisingly, he seems extra motivated in a contract year. McClain, an undrafted free agent, had just been a special teamer until Sunday.

After aggravating his lingering right knee injury in practice last week, CB Chris McAlister was inactive. Samari Rolle (neck surgery) and SS Dawan Landry (spinal cord concussion) remained inactive, as well. McAlister and Landry are expected to miss at least one more game, while Rolle will try to go this week, but is still a question mark. Frank Walker and Fabian Washington remained the starters at corner. Walker got his first pick since 2005, the only turnover the defense forced. Nickel CB Corey Ivy led the team with 6 solo tackles (including one on special teams). Jim Leonhard remained the starter at SS, as well as punt returner and secondary kick returner. FS Ed Reed played through a lingering right hamstring injury.

Buffalo
FS Ko Simpson was limited by a hamstring and Bryan Scott got the start. He worked primarily at SS, working both slots with Donte Whitner. Scott led the team with seven solo tackles, including his first sack since 2005. Once an extremely productive starter for the Falcons, Scott was driven out of ATL after the 2005 season because of perceived limitations in coverage and has spent the last three seasons as an injury-prone reserve in NO and BUF. However, it was a strong effort against SD TE Antonio Gates in their previous game that reportedly contributed to his increased usage. Scott is a nice waiver pick who could pay off with good tackle numbers, but his job security is questionable. MLB Paul Posluszny (six solo) and WLB Keith Ellison (five solo) had seven tackles.

DE Aaron Schobel missed another game, but CB Terrence McGee returned, although he was limited by his left knee sprain. MIA WR Ted Ginn Jr. had a career day thanks, in part, to McGee’s knee. Ashton Youboty was also inactive with a foot injury. Schobel sounds questionable again this week and Ryan Denney continues to start in his place.

Carolina
MLB Jon Beason and CB Chris Gamble led the team with eight tackles (seven solo). They are one and two on the team, respectively, in tackles on the season. Gamble is on track to set a career high in tackles, on pace for just under 100 for the season. Beason also had his second pick of the season near the goal-line off a tipped pass to help preserve the victory. Third DE Charles Johnson finally lived up to the pass rush specialist label with his first multi-sack game. Johnson had both sacks for the Panthers.

Chicago
Despite the bye, a couple key injuries in the secondary is still a concern. Corners Nathan Vasher (thumb and wrist) and Charles Tillman (shoulder) did not practice to start out the week. Vasher had the pins removed from his wrist and hopes to return this week, but Corey Graham has played well in Vasher’s absence and could push Vasher to the nickel job, which he might be better suited for. DB Danieal Manning (hamstring) was back at practice and proclaimed himself ready. DT Tommie Harris was also held back as he continues to have problems with his knee.

SLB Hunter Hillenmeyer had thumb surgery over the bye and his status is in question. He had been losing some snaps to UDFA Nick Roach before Roach hurt his left shoulder. Roach is back and he or Jamar Williams would get a shot if Hillenmeyer can’t play this week.

Cincinnati
MLB Dhani Jones posted just one solo tackle in the game and fell down to a tie for fifth in the league in tackles. There was no mention of an injury in HC Marvin Lewis’ presser, but Jones has been playing through a mild foot problem. With rookie Keith Rivers on the IR, the rest of the LB corps was lined up with Brandon Johnson replacing Rivers at WLB and Rashad Jeanty at SLB. Jeanty led the team with nine tackles (seven solo), despite leaving early with a foot injury. Between injuries and suspensions (Darryl Blackstock), the team has no depth at LB. They brought rookie tweener Eric Henderson up from the practice squad last week and he could be in line for more time. Johnson had six (four solo) in his first career start.

The safeties continue to lineup with Chinedum Ndukwe at SS and Dexter Jackson at FS, with Marvin White (who Jackson replaced last week as the starting FS) working in. DT John Thornton returned from an Achilles’ tendon injury and had the only sack for the Bengals. The team has just six on the season, only the Chiefs have less.

Cleveland
DT Shaun Rogers led the team with nine solo tackles, including his fourth sack of the season. He also blocked a FG attempt. The volatile Rogers has been putting up great numbers with his new team, he is on-track for career numbers across the board. OLB Willie McGinest had just one solo tackle, but he brought some great pressure too, getting four QB hits. ILB D’Qwell Jackson had nine tackles (eight solo), including his first sack of the season.

SS Sean Jones had six tackles (five solo) in his second game back from knee injury. He did experience some swelling after the game and seems questionable for the next game, as he’ll undergo some further evaluation. Mike Adams, who replaced him while he was out, missed Sunday with a hamstring injury. DE Shaun Smith (hand) remained inactive and is looking for medical clearance to return this week. Louis Leonard continues to start in his place.

Dallas
The team won, but OLB DeMarcus Ware was held sackless for the first time in ten games and you get the feeling he would have traded the win for a sack. ILB Zach Thomas led the team with 11 tackles (eight solo). Thomas leads the team on the season. ILB Bradie James went down in pain late in the game, but was back in and seemed fine by the end.

A thin secondary took another hit when CB Anthony Henry left with a quad injury in the third quarter. The team already had first-round pick Mike Jenkins starting in place of Terence Newman, who is recovering from groin surgery and expected to be out until after the team’s Week 10 bye. Also, they were still, of course, without Pacman Jones. Orlando Scandrick replaced Henry and Alan Ball moved to the nickel. That should remain the lineup this week, as it sounds like Henry is doubtful. Keith Davis remained the starter at SS, as expected. Pat Watkins (stinger) was active, but limited to special teams work. Reserve OLB Anthony Spencer (hamstring) missed another game and is also expected to be out until after the bye.

Denver
With Boss Bailey on the IR, Jaime Winborn takes over SLB coming off the bye. Winborn has shown flashes of talent, but health has been a major problem. He’s never played 16 games and this is his ninth year in the league. CB Karl Paymah will replace Champ Bailey who is out 4-6 with a groin strain.

Detroit
While the team spirals down out of control, DE Dewayne White remains white hot. White shared a sack with DT Cory Redding and had another solo on which he stripped the ball. He also had another sack erased on an offside by DE Jared DeVries. White totaled six tackles (five solo). He has 23 tackles (18 solo) and 3.5 sacks in the last three games. Reserve ends Ikaika Alama-Francis and rookie Cliff Avril continue to be involved more, but neither are worth playing. Avril had the first sack and forced fumble of his career. MLB Paris Lenon recovered the fumble. Lenon also led the team in tackles with nine (eight solo). Rookie LB Jordon Dizon hasn’t been more involved in part due to battling a lingering hamstring.

FS Dwight Smith was inactive with a foot injury suffered in the previous game and Kalvin Pearson started in his place. Smith’s status remains in question for this week.

Green Bay
Coming off the bye, DE Mike Montgomery (ankle), CB Al Harris (spleen), and SS Atari Bigby (hamstring) are expected to return. DT Johnny Jolly was indicted on drug possession from an arrest back in July. It is likely the trial won’t begin until the season is over, so there may be no ramification for him this year.

Houston
DE Mario Williams got his seventh sack of the season and is on a good pace to at least match his production from his breakout season last year. He forced a fumble on the sack that DT Amobi Okoye. Okoye is back in the starting lineup, but continues to rotate and have no fantasy value. CB Dunta Robinson still wasn’t starting, but both he and Fred Bennett saw significant work. Robinson is expected not to start again this week, but it seems a formality, at this point. He had nine tackles (seven solo) and a pick. Get him back in your lineup. SLB Zach Diles led the team with 12 (seven solo). FS Will Demps was benched in favor of Nick Ferguson and reserve Eugene Wilson stole a lot of snaps from starting SS Brandon Harrison. According to Houston Chronicle beat writer John McClain, HC Gary Kubiak likes how the tandem play together. Robinson looks like the only HOU DB worth considering in fantasy lineup right now.

Indianapolis
MLB Gary Brackett led the team with nine solo tackles and broke up a pass. SLB Clint Session also had nine tackles (six solo). SS Bob Sanders (high ankle sprain and arthroscopic knee surgery) remained inactive and is likely to miss one more game. CB Kelvin Hayden (knee) remained inactive, but is expected to return this week.

Jacksonville
FS Reggie Nelson returned after missing three games with a knee injury. He was back in the starting lineup without restrictions and posted five solo tackles. MLB Mike Peterson led the team with ten solo tackles. DE Paul Spicer had his second sack and forced a fumble on it. Reggie Hayward was back in the starting lineup across from Spicer with rookies Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves rotating in. Despite adding two pass rushers with their first two picks, only the Bengals and Chiefs have less sacks than the nine total sacks JAX has.

Kansas City
NYJ QB Brett Favre managed to keep both teams in the game as he alternated picks and TDs. Rookie CB Brandon Flowers had the first two interceptions of his career, including returning one for a 91-yard TD in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Flowers also had eight tackles (five solo). SS Bernard Pollard led the team with nine tackles (seven solo). FS Jarrad Page had his second pick of the season. He also suffered a groin injury in the game. Nickel CB Patrick Surtain was also dinged, leaving with a quad injury. He was replaced by Dmitri Patterson.

Donnie Edwards returned from his ankle injury and didn’t start, but worked in at MLB with Pat Thomas, as well as outside. It looks like time to cut bait on Thomas, who hasn’t been very productive since starting the year in the middle, and Demorrio Williams is of indeterminate value until this is sorted, as well. DE Tamba Hali was moved back to LDE and finally brought pressure. He had a hit on Favre that forced the first INT and had his first sack of the season. It was just the fourth sack of the season for the Chiefs and first by the defensive line. However, Hali had to leave the game after aggravating a lingering knee injury. Turk McBride started at RDE with seventh-round pick Brian Johnston seeing some work. The team hopes Johnston, a product of FCS (aka D-IAA) Gardner-Webb, will be the next Jared Allen – a physical specimen from a small school who blows up. With the team all but mathematically eliminated, Johnston could start to see more work. He won’t have much value in redraft leagues, but is a nice prospect in deep dynasty leagues.

Miami
With the team up just 17-16, CB Will D. Allen grabbed his first pick of the season on the first play of the fourth quarter. He was playing through a knee injury. The team converted that turnover in to a FG. On the next drive by BUF, reserve OLB Quentin Moses forced a fumble and OLB Joey Porter recovered it. The offense ran a few minutes off the clock before punting it back to the Bills and pinning them at their own three-yard line. After two incomplete passes, Porter was credited with his second sack of the game when he stripped the ball from BUF QB Trent Edwards in the end zone. BUF C Duke Preston recovered the ball, but was tackled by LB Charlie Anderson for the safety. With less than two minutes remaining, SS Yeremiah Bell forced a fumble after a reception that ILB Channing Crowder recovered to seal the team’s third victory.

With two more sacks, Porter leads the league with 10.5 on the season, tying his career high. He has 9.5 sacks in the last five games alone. The team placed CB Michael Lehan on the IR and signed Joey Thomas to take his roster spot for depth. CB Jason Allen will remain in the nickel role with Lehan down for the season. Allen led the team with seven solo tackles (including one on special teams). He has been productive when given the chance, but his inconsistency has made it hard for him to keep playing time since being drafted in the first round of 2006. NT Jason Ferguson played through his rib injury, but saw limited snaps.

Minnesota
Tackles Kevin and Pat Williams took the headlines over the bye when they were involved in a FOXsports report about several players testing positive for banned substances, allegedly diuretic found in certain water pills used for weight lose. While not a steroid, it is banned because it is a masking agent that can be used to hide steroid use and, in a worst-case scenario, could involve suspensions. HC Brad Childress said he expects both to play this week as the story continues to evolve.

FS Madieu Williams is expected to finally take the field as a Viking, after sitting out so far this season after preseason surgery on his neck for a nerve problem. However, it may not be as a starter immediately. Rookie Tyrell Johnson has filled in admirably, but is unlikely to hold Williams off for long. The Vikings made Williams one of the highest-paid safeties in the league this off-season. If you have room, this is probably the last opportunity to sneak Williams by on waivers, he should be producing soon. Napoleon Harris is expected to remain the starting MLB, even when David Herron returns. Herron is out indefinitely with a hip injury and there is no indication he’ll be ready after the bye.

New England
Starting corners Deltha O’Neal and Ellis Hobbs were both dinged up in the game. O’Neal left with an apparent head injury and Hobbs left with an apparent shoulder injury in the first half. Both returned in the fourth quarter. Hobbs was only back briefly before appearing to aggravate the injury and leaving for good. Mike Richardson and rookie Jonathan Wilhite worked in their place. O’Neal had his second pick of the season before leaving. As expected, Brandon Meriweather replaced Rodney Harrison, who went on the IR with a torn quad, at SS. Meriweather had six tackles (three solo). He leads the team in picks and is a great addition in all leagues if available.

ILB Tedy Bruschi led the team with 11 tackles (six solo). OLB Adalius Thomas had two sacks, giving him a team-leading five on the season. He’s on track to return to double-digit sacks this season since moving back outside, but his tackle numbers are way down now that he’s focusing on pinning the ears back and getting after the QB. Ends Ty Warren and Richard Seymour each had a sack. It was the first of the season for Warren and fourth of the season for Seymour. Seymour is on his way to posting his best numbers since his 2003, the best fantasy season of his career. Both pulled more work with third DE Jarvis Green (ankle) inactive.

New Orleans
Starting ends Will Smith and Charles Grant are among the players having their names mentioned in the diuretic/water pill scandal. As previously mentioned, the story is still evolving, but the worst case scenario involves potential suspensions. Both played in London, with Smith posting three solos and Grant one, as well as batting down a pass. The team had no sacks. Both are expected to play this week.

The team got healthy as first-round pick Sedrick Ellis (right knee) was back in the starting lineup and nickel CB Aaron Glenn (ankle sprain) was back, as well. Ellis had one solo tackle. MLB Jonathan Vilma led the team with nine solo tackles and grabbed his first pick as a Saint. He took a slim lead in tackles for the league, with 72 on the season.

New York Giants
Constant pressure on PIT QB Ben Roethlisberger was a difference in the game. The Giants entered the game behind the Steelers for the league lead in sacks, but posted five to none by PIT to pass them on the way to victory. DE Mathias Kiwanuka led the way with a career-high three sacks, and a few other QB hits, forcing a fumble on one. He has five sacks on the season. DE Justin Tuck got his sixth sack of the season and third DE Darrell Tollefson also had one. This line hasn’t missed a beat despite losing Osi Umenyiora before the season began, helped by the emergence of Tollefson.

MLB Antonio Pierce returned after missing the previous game with a quad strain. He had seven tackles (three solo) and forced a fumble. FS Michael Johnson led the team with eight tackles (three solo, including one on special teams). First-round pick S Kenny Phillips got his first career pick on the a desperation fourth-down heave by Roethlisberger that sealed the victory with less than two minutes to play.

WLB Gerris Wilkinson remained inactive with a MCL sprain giving rookie Bryan Kehl another start. He had four tackles (one solo) and his first career pick. Wilkinson is out at least one more week, but could find himself seeing less snaps in a continued job share. Nickel CB Kevin Dockery suffered a fracturing of the transverse process in his back during the game and is out for a few weeks. Rookie Terrell Thomas replaced him and will see more action while Dockery is out.

New York Jets
ILB David Harris suffered an injury to his lower body and left the game Sunday. HC Eric Mangini, notorious as his mentor Bill Belichick for ambiguous injury data, called it a hip, but it has been reported as both a hamstring and a groin injury. Harris should be questionable this week and probably benched, since his production has been unspectacular this season, not warranting the risk if there is any question. David Bowens replaced him on Sunday and had four tackles (three solo, including one on special teams), with his third sack. DE Shaun Ellis had a sack for the fourth straight game, his team-leading sixth of the season. SS Kerry Rhodes had nine tackles (eight solo), including is first sack of the season. Rhodes leads the team in tackles and is having a nice bounce-back season after a disappointing 2007. CB Dwight Lowery led the team with ten tackles (eight solo).

Oakland
MLB Kirk Morrison led the team with a game-high 13 tackles (11 solo). It was his second double-digit tackle game of the season. He is now on pace to slightly surpass his career best of 127 set in 2006. However, he is second on the team in tackles to SS Gibril Wilson on the season. Wilson posted seven tackles (six solo) and forced a fumble recovered by CB DeAngelo Hall. Wilson is on pace to shatter his career high in tackles, but hasn’t been coming up with the big plays. Both Morrison and Wilson are among the top ten in the league tackles. They get plenty of opportunities with the offense among the bottom third of the league. Hiram Eugene remained the starter at FS with Michael Huff coming off the bench. Huff had started the first 37 games of his career before Eugene replaced him last week.

DE Derrick Burgess missed his third game with a strained triceps. Jay Richardson started in his place opposite Kalimba Edward. Rookie DE Trevor Scott couldn’t follow up his two-sack performance the prior week, posting just two solo tackles on special teams. SLB Ricky Brown got his first double-digit tackle game with a career-high 10 (six solo), but made some mistakes in the game and could be pushed by back-up Robert Thomas.

Philadelphia
DL Darren Howard was looking like a bust after being a high-profile addition three years ago. Last year, he fell to the bottom of the depth chart and posted just one sack, the lowest total of his career. This year, he began working inside and was born-again as an all-purpose reserve. With another sack on Sunday, he leads the team with 4.5 on the season. He has some value in deep leagues who segregate DE and DT (and he qualifies as a DT), but still not worth rostering in most leagues because his output will be erratic. DE Trent Cole led the team with six tackles (five solo). He is still a good pass rusher, but career-high 12.5 sacks last year is looking like an outlier on expectations of where his expected production actually lies. CB Asante Samuel grabbed his third pick of the season among the three passes he broke up in the game.

Pittsburgh
OLB James Harrison was on the other side of losing the ball for once on Sunday. As the back-up long snapper, he had to fill in when Greg Warren injured and sailed a snap deep in PIT territory over P Mitch Berger and out of the end zone for a safety. Harrison had his worst game of the season on defense, as well, posting just two assists. He also had two solo tackles on special teams. ILB James Farrior and DE Brett Keisel led the team with 11 tackles (six solo) each. Despite leading the league in sacks as a team entering the game, PIT couldn’t get to NYG QB Eli Manning. The Giants took over the team lead in sacks by the time the game was over. The defense also forced no turnovers.

FS Ryan Clark dislocated his shoulder in the fourth quarter and left the game. Tyrone Carter replaced him and should get the start Monday night with Anthony Smith also seeing more work, as Clark is expected to miss the game. Despite not practicing last week and being reported prior to the game that DE Aaron Smith would miss it, he started. Smith is apparently dealing with a serious personal situation that the team and media are respecting his privacy regarding specifics. Smith is not expected to practice this week and remains a question for Monday night. NT Casey Hampton returned from a groin injury and SS Troy Polamalu played despite a concussion in the previous game. Both are expected to play this week.

St. Louis
DE Leonard Little aggravated the same hamstring injury that cost him two games earlier this year and left the game in the first half. Eric Moore replaced him and had a sack in the fourth quarter, his first of the season. Rookie DE Chris Long also had two big sacks in the fourth quarter, giving him four on the season. Little is a very risky play this week regardless of what his status ends up being. DT Adam Carriker (left ankle sprain) was inactive despite practicing last week.

FS O.J. Atogwe had his fourth pick of the season and third in the last two games. He is the main playmaker on defense and arguably the top fantasy option at purely FS. CB Ronald Bartell left in the third quarter after a big shot. Nickel corner Jason Craft replaced him and led the team with 11 tackles (nine solo, including one on special teams). CB Tye Hill (torn cartilage in knee) was inactive despite wanting to return last week.

San Diego
ILB Tim Dobbins led the team with nine tackles (seven solo), including forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass. He seems to be pulling ahead in the rotation with Matt Wilhelm, even against a passing team like the Saints. OLB Jyles Tucker returned after missing three games with a hamstring strain. He had two tackles, including one for a loss.

CB Quentin Jammer left in the third quarter with cramping. Cletis Gordon saw plenty of work with Jammer our and CB Antonio Cromartie battling a lingering hip problem. The team has a bye as they return from London, so both corners should be healthy for their next game.

San Francisco
OLB Manny Lawson had his first big game of the season. He missed two games with a hamstring injury before returning the previous week and on Sunday he led the team with nine tackles (seven solo), including his first sack of the season. DE Ray McDonald was inactive with a knee injury. He is expected back after the bye. SS Michael Lewis played through a knee sprain and had three solo tackles.

Seattle
MLB Lofa Tatupu returned from a concussion in the previous game, but left in the first quarter with a groin strain and didn’t return. Once again, D.D. Lewis filled in admirably, posting ten tackles (six solo, including one on special teams). It was his second consecutive game he didn’t start and posted double-digit tackles. WLB Leroy Hill led the team with 13 tackles (ten solo, including one on special teams). DE Patrick Kerney also left the game early after aggravating his surgically-repaired (torn labrum) left shoulder. He had his fifth sack of the season and stripped the ball, as well as recovered a fumble forced by SLB Julian Peterson on his fourth sack of the season, before leaving. Rookie Lawrence Jackson replaced Kerney. HC Mike Holmgren expects Tatupu and Kerney to miss practice this week, but play on Sunday. CB Josh Wilson returned his first career pick 75 yards for his first career TD. DT Rocky Bernard had two sacks.

Tampa Bay
DE Gaines Adams doubled his sack production on the season with two in the game. MLB Barrett Ruud led the team with 12 tackles (five solo). SS Jermaine Phillips left the game after suffering a broken arm on a kick return early in the second quarter. Sabby Piscitelli replaced him and should move in to the starting lineup, rotating with Will Allen. Piscitelli becomes a quality addition in most average (12 teams) or larger leagues. Phillips is out 4-6 weeks.

Tennessee
SS Chris Hope had his first two picks of the season and first two-pick game of his career. The second was tipped off the hands of IND TE Dallas Clark late in the fourth quarter and TEN put the game away with a TD on the next play. OLB David Thornton (five solo) and FS Michael Griffin (six solo, including two on special teams) led the team with eight tackles.

DE Kyle Vanden Bosch was inactive after aggravating his groin injury. Dave Ball was supposed to replace him, but Ball was hurt on the opening kick-off and rookie Jason Ford saw most of the work. The team had no sacks in the game.

Washington
DE Jason Taylor started, but was limited, on Sunday. He posted just one solo tackle. After the game, he pushed up a procedure scheduled for Monday to drain the calf. Demetric Evans rotated in and recorded his first sack of the season, the only one for the team. Evans should get the start this week as Taylor is expected to miss at least this week. DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder) missed his second straight game, but is expected back this week. MLB London Fletcher led the team with seven tackles (six solo).

The secondary was hurting with CB Shawn Springs (calf strain) inactive, as expected, and SS Chris Horton out, as well. Fred Smoot replaced Springs across from Carlos Rogers and with Leigh Torrence at the nickel, but the team had more problems at safety. With former starter Reed Doughty out for the season, the team went to the street after Horton was hurt. They signed Mike Green, formerly with CHI and SEA, and put him in the starting lineup on Sunday. Green had six tackles (five solo). Horton is expected back this week.