Arizona

After a down year last season, SS Adrian Wilson is returning to his 2002 form, grabbing an INT last week and leading the team in tackles so far this season.

MLB Ronald McKinnon's production declined a bit the last two season, and now it's almost completely gone. Look for him to be replaced as a starter before long.

Rookie DT Darnell Dockett led the team with 8 solo tackles. DE Peppi Zellner had a hard time finding a job this season, now he's starting in Arizona and had 2 sacks last week.

Atlanta

DE's Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith are big fans of the move to a 4-3 defense this year. Kerney had 3 sacks, to give him 5 on the year, and Smith added 1, to give him 3.

Baltimore

After a quiet start, SS Ed Reed flashed his playmaking skills, grabbing 2 INTs in Baltimore territory, returning one 50 yards and the other 40 yards.

LB Terrell Suggs returned to his rookie form, registering a two-sack game.

Buffalo

Lawyer Milloy remains out, but Coy Wire has been solid in his place. This struggling group is unlikely to get on track and surprise a loaded New England team like they did early last year.

Carolina

MLB Dan Morgan avoided injury over the bye week and remains uncharacteristically healthy, allowing his talent to shine as he leads the team in tackles. DT Kris Jenkins (Questionable) is the only defender on the injury report.

Chicago

Coming off the high of beating arch-rival Green Bay in Lambeau, more injuries crashed the Bears back to Earth. MLB Brian Urlacher, who was playing some inspired ball through a nagging hamstring his first two games, missed his first game due to the hamstring. Urlacher is Questionable for this week. Hunter Hillenmeyer started in his place, and finished with 5 tackles (2 solo) and a fumble recovery. With Charles Tillman out 7-10 months, R.W. McQuarters was unable to provide the same blanket coverage on Randy Moss, who scored 2 TDs.

On the bright side, Todd Johnson, who started at FS in place of Mike Brown who is out for the year, led the team with 7 solo tackles and displayed a nasty streak. DE Adewale Ogunleye provided the performance the team hoped for when they traded for him and signed him to a big contract, posting 2 sacks, 4 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Cincinnati

MLB Nate Webster's opportunity to finally be a starter came to an abrupt end when he tore a tendon in his knee in the 4th quarter. His season is over. Kevin Hardy and Brian Simmons both struggled with in the past attempting to move to the middle, so Plan A will be to promote undersized rookie Caleb Miller.

Madieu Williams has bounced around the defensive backfield and succeeded where ever he's asked to play, making him an unexpected early contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year. After starting Week One at CB with Deltha O'Neal inactive, he replaced an injured Rogers Beckett at SS the last two weeks, and leads the team in solo and total tackles.

Cleveland

When Sean Jones was drafted, the end in Cleveland appeared near for Robert Griffith, but he's been one of the few bright spots on the team, posting 12 tackles last week and leading the team by a wide margin on the season.

DE Ebenezer Ekuban never lived up to his first round pick status in Dallas, but with Courtney Brown out for the season, he's picked up a sack and decent tackle numbers in each of the last two games. Opposite Ekuban, Kenard Lang is off to a good start following up his strong 2003 performance, getting his fourth sack of the year.

With Ben Taylor on the shelf for 4-6 months and uninspired play from the LB corp, talented second year LB Chaun Thompson see more time.

Dallas

SS Tony Dixon, who replaced the injured Darren Woodson, had a breakout game. He had 2 sacks and a forced fumble to go with 6 solo tackles. He's tied with DE Greg Ellis, who also had 2 sacks, for the team lead with three.

FS Roy Williams leads the team with 20 solo tackles, but has yet to turn in any big plays.

Denver

After being demoted in the preseason, Reggie Hayward has been a key contributor as the starting RDE. He has had at least a half sack in every game, including one and 3 tackles last week. Opposite Hayward, Marco Coleman isn't getting to the QB, but after being on the verge of retirement before the season, he led the team last week with 9 tackles (8 solo).

Detroit

Thought to be the odd-man out when rookie Teddy Lehman was impressing in the preseason, James Davis had a sack for the second straight game. Lehman, on the other hand, hasn't turned in a big play since his forced fumble Week One.

DE Robert Porcher has been a healthy scratch for all three games. Not quite the way the Lions all-time sack leader would like his career to wind down, but a bit ironic for a man who a year ago was critical about Emmitt Smith's decision not to retire.

Green Bay

CB Mike McKenzie was a scratch as trade demands and conditioning continue to hamper his return. The team could have used him, as Peyton Manning abused the Packers all day. The team also could use a pass rush, as they only have 3 sacks and none by a DLineman.

Houston

With SS Eric Brown and primary back-up Jason Simmons injured, rookie Glenn Earl started at SS and posted 7 tackles (6 solo). Earl was a highly-regarded prospect before he blew his knee out last season, causing him to fall in the draft. FS Marcus Coleman returned an INT 102 yards, a club-record, for a TD late in the third quarter. OLB Kailee Wong is off to a great start, leading the team with 2.5 sacks and averaging over 6 tackles a game.

Indianapolis

Lost in the offensive explosion last week are the lingering deficiencies on defense. Dwight Freeney remains inconsistent and injuries in the secondary make more shootouts likely in the near future. On the bright side, David Thornton's move to the strongside has had no impact. He led the team in tackles with 10, and leads them for the season, as well as grabbed an INT.

Jacksonville

Already thin at DE, with the loss of Paul Spicer to a broken leg, talented, but baggage-laden rookie Bobby McCray got his first start. 2 tackles (1 solo) was all he had to show, but with a starting role, he could be a late bloomer. Eagles DE Hugh Douglas, who spent time with him while Douglas was still a Jaguar in the preseason, spoke highly of him, commenting on how he couldn't believe he fell to the 7th round with his talent. McCray's progress in camp was one of the reasons Douglas was traded and Tony Brackens was released.

Kansas City

The MLB job is Monty Beisel's to lose. He leads the team in tackles and has a pick. Kawika Mitchell will remain a back-up.

After a good opening day, DE Vonnie Holliday is battling groin problems and missed his second game. John Browning has impressed in his absence, and might push Holliday or Eric Hicks for time, when Holliday returns.

CB Eric Warfield already has 3 INTs. The most he's ever had in a season is four.

Miami

With DT Tim Bowens still out with a herniated disk in his back, the DLine has also lost Larry Chester for the year with a knee injury. The absences in the middle, and lack of any help from their offense, allowed another 100-yard day, this time by Duce Staley, for a D that did not allow a 100-yard rusher all last season.

Minnesota

MLB E.J. Henderson (knee sprain) and OLB Chris Claiborne (calf) are both dinged and need the bye week to recover. It was originally though Henderson could miss a month, but both may only miss one game, after the bye, and return for the 10/17 game. Rookie LB Dontarrious Thomas wasn't effected by his demotion when injuries necessitated his return. He led the team with 13 tackles, including 2 on special teams, all in the second half.

As expected, without the tipped balls all falling his way again, FS Brian Russell is a fantasy non-factor. He's the least productive member of the defensive backfield. Time to cut bait on this one-year wonder.

DE Kenny Mixon returned from a two-game suspension to the starting lineup and posted 3 solo tackles. 1st round pick Kenechi Udeze was absent from the box score, after a nice start his first two games.

New England

The D reports no injuries this week and are primed off a bye to help tie an NFL-record in going for the teams' 18th consecutive win. Willie McGinest leads the team with 3 sacks and FS Eugene Wilson does with 2 INTs.

New Orleans

DE Charles Grant had a big day, totaling 3 sacks. Courtney Watson had his first NFL sack and 6 tackles. He's locked up the MLB job and has been one of the more impressive rookie defenders.

FS Terbucky Jones has been much-maligned for not living up to his potential, but with 7 solo tackles last week, he continues on pace for a big year.

New York Giants

MLB Kevin Lewis is headed in the wrong direction, continuing to decline after a strong season-opening performance.

Michael Strahan kept chugging along, posting 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries last week.

With Shaun Williams lost to a knee injury, rookie Gibril Wilson is taking advantage of starting at SS, with his second interception in as many games along with a team-high 8 tackles (7 solo).

New York Jets

With Sam Cowart out with a knee injury, 1st round pick Jonathan Vilma will get his first start this week and have a earlier than anticipated chance to justify the hype.

Oakland

DT Warren Sapp wasn't much of a factor against his old team, finishing with 3 solo tackles, but several other players stood out. LB Danny Clark continues to be a solid fantasy option, having 8 tackles and leading the team on the year. CB Charles Woodson is playing inspired ball, registering his second sack, and nearly missing a third, along with forcing a fumble and picking up 5 solo tackles. His higher-paid brother may not have one yet, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila got his first sack of the year. LB Napolean Harris returned from injury to lead the team with 9 tackles.

Philadelphia

DE Jevon Kearse had his first sack as an Eagle…and his second…and his third, as he was in Joey Harrington's face all afternoon last Sunday. CB Sheldon Brown has 2 sacks on the season and the coaching staff likes what they see of him in a pass rush role in certain blitz packages. He's averaging over 8 tackles a game and also has a forced fumble. He appears to be in for a very productive fantasy season.

Jeremiah Trotter and Hugh Douglas continue to be relegated to reserve/special team roles. It looks like it will take an injury for either to have much value this year.

Pittsburgh

Kendrell Bell has replaced Dan Morgan as the most talented defensive player who can't stay on the field. Now a groin injury, on top of shoulder problems, has him Questionable this week. LB Clark Haggans has been quiet since his big Week One performance. On the other hand, Joey Porter returned in the deluge Monday night to lead the team with 7 tackles, as well as get his first sack and forced fumble of the year.

St. Louis

DE Leonard Little finally showed up in the box score, registering his first sack of the season, along with 3 tackles (2 solo).

Injuries are once again jumbling the defensive backfield. Aeneas Williams was needed back at CB, but will return to FS this week with DeJuan Groce returning from a knee sprain. Rich Coady started at FS, with Williams at CB, and had 8 solo tackles. Recent addition Kwamie Lassiter also saw some time as an extra DB.

LB Tommy Polley has been in and out of the doghouse, but responded to a return to the starting lineup with 7 tackles (6 solo) and a sack.

San Diego

If you have a Charger not named Donnie Edwards as an IDP on your roster, you play in a deep league.

San Francisco

With plenty of other problems with the season underway, LB Julian Peterson's holdout is far in the rearview mirror. He is second on the team in tackles and leads them with 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

DE Andre Carter remains Doubtful with back problems.

Seattle

1st round pick DT Marcus Tubbs finally got into a game, but it's reserve DT Rocky Bernard who is making an impact, having a sack in each game this year.

LB Anthony Simmons continues to do little. Unless he's injured, he's due for some big games.

Tampa Bay

Despite getting his first sack of the year, DE Simeon Rice is hardly the force he's been the past few years so far this season. A poor attitude that plagued him in Arizona and led a lot of teams to pass on his fantastic talent is re-emerging as the Bucs struggle and veteran leadership to check his ego is gone. He reportedly is upset at the play of the offense, but really needs to worry about getting his game going. HC Jon Gruden doesn't have the best track record in dealing with disruptive personalities in tough times, so this situation could grow worse.

Tennessee

While Steve McNair's sternum is of primary concern, there were several notable injuries on defense. FS Lance Schulters suffered a Lisfranc sprain in the game and could miss the rest of the season. After replacing Schulters, Lamont Thompson was called for a pass interference penalty that set up Jacksonville's game-winning score. DE Juqua Thomas suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss at least one week. Rocky Calmus was inactive again with back and leg problems. Brad Kassell has been working at MLB in place of Calmus, but many of the Titans' sets don't call for one. Rocky Boiman and Antwan Odom had knee injuries, but both are believed to be minor. Neither Odom or fellow rookie Randy Starks have done much since both registered sack in productive debuts in the season-opener. One-time standout DE Kevin Carter, now a DT, had a sack and leads the team with 1.5.

Washington

Sean Taylor finally got his first start at FS, but did not come out with a bang, finishing with 4 tackles (1 solo) and 2 passes defensed.

Antonio Pierce continues to start at MLB with Mike Barrow is nursing a knee injury. Lavar Arrington joined him as inactive, giving Lemar Marshall a start. Barrow is Questionable, but Arrington remains Out this week with a knee injury, as well