• A right ankle sprain suffered in the previous game kept DE Ray Edwards inactive on Sunday. As expected, he was replaced by Brian Robison who posted 3 tackles (1 solo), deflected a pass that was intercepted by CB Antoine Winfield and recovered 2 fumbles, including one forced by DE Jared Allen on the only sack of the game for Minnesota. The sack by Allen give him 7.5 in the last five games and he’s now up to 8.5 on the season, despite getting just one in the first seven games. Robison is lined up to start opposite Allen in 2011 if Edwards departs via free agency.
  
  
• First-round pick DE Brandon Graham started again for Philadelphia Thursday night as LDE Juqua Parker missed his second straight game with a hip flexor. Graham had just 1 assist in the game. Fellow rookie DL Daniel Te'o-Nesheim saw more work in the rotation more with Parker out. He had 1 solo tackle. Parker is expected to return this week. Third DE Darryl Tapp recovered a fumble to sealed the victory after FS Nate Allen sacked Houston QB Matt Schaub late in the fourth quarter. Parker is expected to return this week. RDE Trent Cole had 3 solo tackles. DT Mike Patterson has strung together a couple of nice games. He had a sack for the second straight game and has 7 tackles (5 solo) in the last two. Reserve DT Trevor Laws had his first career pick when Schaub tried to put a screen pass in their too softly in the second quarter.
  
  
• A week after getting his first 2 career sacks, Giants rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul got 2 more on Sunday. He also recovered a fumble. Starting ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck each had a sack, as well. It was a team-leading ninth on the season for Umenyiora, but the first sack since late October. He has been battling knee problems this season and is a gamble any game. The emergence of Pierre-Paul could reduce Umenyiora’s snaps to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Tuck is a half-sack behind Umenyiora with 8.5 on the season.
  
  
• Rookie DE Carlos Dunlap dropped New Orleans QB Drew Brees on a third down in the fourth quarter to help set up a FG to tie the game and shared a sack with fellow rookie DT Geno Atkins earlier in the game. He now leads the team with 4.5 sacks on the season, all in the last four games, but is still just primarily in a pass rush specialist role behind starting RDE Michael Johnson and run-stopping LDE Robert Geathers. For the second season in a row, Cincinnati DE Antwan Odom ends the year on the IR. In 2009, he was leading the league with 8 sacks, most of those courtesy of a five-sack game against Green Bay, through five weeks of the season when a he suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in the sixth game of the season. This year he played in the first four games before serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s banned substance policy. During his suspension, he had surgery for a broken wrist and didn’t play again, and now won’t this year. The team brought back FA Victory Adeyanju for depth after releasing him two weeks ago.
  
  
• It was revealed by Houston HC Gary Kubiak that DE Mario Williams has been battling a sports hernia all year. Tackles have been down for Williams, but he has 8.5 sacks on the season, including 3 in his last three games, after a disappointing 9 all of last season. I keep playing him in sack-heavy leagues, but he’s not a must-start in others. I imagine he could be shut down when the Texans are officially out of playoff contention.
  
  
• Detroit RDE Kyle Vanden Bosch was inactive on Sunday with a neck injury sustained in their Thanksgiving game. He was replaced by Turk McBride, who posted 5 tackles (1 solo), including a sack where he forced a fumble and recovered it. However, the story of the DLine was LDE Cliff Avril. He took advantage of facing the team that has given up the most sacks with a career game, posting 3 sacks. Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh was hit with a questionable personal foul that helped the eventual game-winning drive for Chicago.
  
  
• The night after their Thanksgiving victory, New Orleans DE Will Smith was the starting RDE as usual after his arrest for misdemeanor domestic abuse battery after an alleged altercation with his wife outside a nightclub the night after their Thanksgiving victory. Both Smith and his wife say the incident was a misunderstanding and it appears neither the club nor league will take any action at this time. Smith had 2 solo tackles in the game.
  
  
• The injuries continue to pile up in Buffalo as last week they lost DE Dwan Edwards with a hamstring injury suffered in the previous game. DL Spencer Johnson returned after missing two games with his own hamstring injury to replace him, while rookie DE Alex Carrington and forgotten former first-round pick DL John McCargo saw more work in the rotation.
  
  
• After posting 2 sacks, Green Bay DE Cullen Jenkins aggravated his calf injury late on Sunday and is expected to miss at least this week. Rookie C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn pick up more snaps in his place.
  
  
• Miami DE Phillip Merling played for the first time this season, coming off surgery for a torn Achilles’ tendon over the summer. He didn’t start, but his return may be just in time, as DE Kendall Langford, who has been starting in Merling’s place, left the game early with a concussion.
  
  
• After a few weeks with Washington DT Albert Haynesworth only being talked about for his performance on the field, the tense relationship between him and HC Mike Shanahan once again became a distraction for the team when Haynesworth was benched on Sunday and then the team announced this week he was suspended without pay for the last four games. Depending on the source, including Shanahan’s evolving explanation, this chain of events is due to any or all of him being sick, being hungover, late to a meeting or practice, missing meeting or practice, performance in practice, and insubordination. Haynesworth and his agent will undoubtedly appeal this, but it’s just about getting money. Haynesworth is unlikely to play another down anywhere this year, and won’t play another as Redskin as long as Shanahan is there. It’s a circus and another complete disaster in Shanahan’s first year in Washington.
  
  
• Top waiver wire recommendations of the week: I’ve previously discussed making sure rookies Jason Pierre-Paul and Carlos Dunlap weren’t on any dynasty wavier wires, but after their last few games, both are risk/reward picks for sack-heavy redraft leagues.
  

Linebacker

• Death, taxes and 100-tackle season for London Fletcher. The über-consistent Washington ILB hasn’t slowed down at age 35, as his 4 solo tackles once again made him a triple-digit performer over a season, with four games left to play. Fletcher also broke up 2 passes, picking 1 of them for his first interception of the season.
  
  
• Minnesota WLB Chad Greenway had 7 tackles (6 solo, including 1 on special teams) and is clinging to third in the league in tackles with 115, tying his season high with four games still to play. After posting double-digit tackles in five of his first seven games, he hasn’t had one since Week Eight, but remains an extremely consistent producer. He’s posted either 7 or 9 tackles in his last five games and has posted 7-12 tackles in every game this season. He hasn’t turned in many big plays, but is a lock for lineups in tackle-heavy leagues. After missing his rookie season in 2006 when he blew his knee on the kick-off of their first preseason game, Greenway hasn’t missed a game since and has been an extremely consistent tackle producer with sporadic big plays. He is the new London Fletcher from a fantasy perspective.
  
  
• With another sack and a half on Sunday, Miami OLB Cameron Wake has taken over the league lead in sacks. He has 5.5 sacks in his last five games and now has 12 on the season. Despite ILB Karlos Dansby adding a wrist injury in their previous game to lingering turf toe, ankle and elbow problems, he was needed for a full slate of work because ILB Channing Crowder was inactive with his chronic knee problems. After working for Dansby in running situations the previous game, OLB Tim Dobbins took on the whole workload for Crowder, posting 7 tackles (5 solo) and leading the team in tackles for the second consecutive week.
  
  
• Held without a sack for the second straight game, Green Bay OLB Clay Matthews surrendered the league lead in sacks. Stuck at 11.5 on the season, he is now a half-sack behind Miami OLB Cameron Wake. The absence of third ILB Brandon Chillar didn’t pay immediate dividends for the production of starting ILBs Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk, but that was because the Packers dominated time of possession, not giving them many opportunities.
  
  
• OLB Parys Haralson was a scratch with an ankle injury and Travis LaBoy got the start at the pass-rushing OLB spot, but he alternated series with Ahmad Brooks. Both brought good pressure with Brooks racking up a pair of sacks and LaBoy getting one. Both now have 4 sacks on the season. ILB Takeo Spikes led the team with 17 tackles 13 solo), while fellow ILB Patrick Willis had just 5 (4 solo). With double-digit tackles in his two of his last three games, Spikes is now on pace to end with exactly 100 tackles, the first time since 2003 he hits triple-digits. Willis eclipsed the 100-tackle mark during the game, making it four times in his first four seasons, but he is projecting to have the lowest overall and solo tackle totals of his career. However, he has already set a single-season high with 5 sacks this year.
  
  
• Indianapolis MLB Gary Brackett returned on Sunday after missing three games with turf toe. He was back in the starting lineup, bumping rookie Pat Angerer back to SLB, and Brackett posted 10 tackles (5 solo) and broke up a pass. Angerer had 7 tackles (6 solo). WLB Clint Session (fractured right forearm and dislocated elbow) missed his fifth game, with a platoon of rookie Kavell Conner and Tyjuan Hagler continuing to replace him. Session remains questionable this week.
  
  
• The injuries continue for the LB corps in Denver. Emerging run-stopping ILB Joe Mays was placed on the IR after straining a ligament in his left knee on Sunday. With OLB Robert Ayers back, the team should move Mario Haggan back inside, giving Ayers his starting role back opposite Jason Hunter outside. Haggan had his fifth sack of the season on Sunday. There was also concern ILB D.J. Williams suffered a serious elbow injury in the game. He had a giant bump on it he posted a picture of via Twitter. X-rays were negative, but there was also concern he ruptured his bursa sac. He was in practice on Monday, so seems likely to play this week.
  
  
• While they’ve been plagued with plenty of injuries all over the defense the last few years, linebacker has been a particularly jinxed position in Buffalo. Last week a shoulder injury had OLB Reggie Torbor, who had found a regular role when the team was in a 3-4 scheme and in the nickel, become the fifth Buffalo LB to go on the IR since training camp. His replacement, rookie OLB Antonio Coleman, didn’t make it out of the first quarter, suffering a knee injury early in the game and not returning. He became the sixth Buffalo LB to go on the IR. The role of rookie OLB Arthur Moats, who had already worked his way up in the rotation, grew and former first-round pick Aaron Maybin actually got in for a handful of plays. Moats could become a part of NFL football lore if his hit on Minnesota QB Brett Favre becomes the one that finally costs him a game, or his career. WLB Paul Posluszny led the team with 15 tackles (11 solo), including his second sack of the season. After missing a couple game early in the season, Poz has posted double-digit tackles in seven of the last nine games as is all the way up to 111 on the season, tying his career season high, and tied with teammate S Donte Whitner for fourth in the league in tackles. MLB Akin Ayodele also had double-digit tackles for the second consecutive game.
  
  
• Dallas rookie ILB Sean Lee grabbed the first two picks of his career, the second off a deflected pass from Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning in OT that set up the game-winning FG for the Cowboys. He sprained his left shoulder diving for the first pick, but obviously returned to the game. His playing time in the nickel has been coming at the expense of veteran ILB Keith Brooking.
  
  
• Oakland MLB Rolando McClain played through tendinitis in his foot and led the team with 7 solo tackles.
  
  
• Cleveland OLB Scott Fujita remained out with ligament damage in his left knee. He started the week as questionable, so it looks like he has a chance to return this week. Jason Trusnik and Marcus Benard continued working at OLB in his place.
  
  
• St. Louis SLB Na'il Diggs suffered a torn right pectoral muscle on Sunday and is done for the season. The Rams have been playing musical chairs at WLB, so some combination of Chris Chamberlain, Larry Grant, Bryan Kehl, and David Vobora will work the two OLB spots.
  
  
• Top waiver wire recommendations: Watch for updates on if Scott Fujita returns this week, he could have been dropped after missing several games and could provide a boost to a desperate LB situation. Injuries and a bad run defense have given the opportunity for Akin Ayodele to be plenty productive in tackle-heavy leagues.
  

Defensive Back

• A lingering left Achilles’ tendon injury had Washington SS LaRon Landry already declared inactive for the third straight game early last week. Reed Doughty continues to replace him and led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo). Doughty has had at least a share of the team lead in tackles since replacing Landry. HC Mike Shanahan said he expects Landry to return this week, but is a risky play. Also ruled out early last week was CB Carlos Rogers. After missing Week 11 with a hamstring injury, Rogers returned for Week 12 and injured his other hamstring overcompensating. CB Phillip Buchanon got another start in place of Rogers with Kevin Barnes handling the nickel in his place, but Buchanon was benched in favor of Barnes in the second half after not contributing on run defense.
  
  
• A short week wasn’t enough time for Philadelphia LCB Asante Samuel to rest his sprained MCL, despite practicing last week, and he missed his second straight game on Thursday night. Samuel is expected to return this week. CB Joselio Hanson replaced Samuel in the starting lineup and rookie Trevard Lindley replaced Hanson as the nickel. Rookie FS Nate Allen sealed the victory with his second sack of the season, forcing a fumble that the Eagles recovered with less than three minutes left in the game.
  
  
• Rookie Kareem Jackson remains the nominal starter at corner across from Glover Quin in Houston, but Jason Allen, the former first-round pick of Miami acquired off waivers a few weeks ago, is seeing a more prominent role. Allen led the team with 9 solo tackles and had his first pick as a Texan. Houston scored on the subsequent drive for their first lead of the game. Quin continues to play through a broken bone in his right hand. SS Bernard Pollard had to leave the game briefly in the fourth quarter after a collision on an attempted TD pass, but returned to finish. Pollard had 5 solo tackles, including his first sack of the season.
  
  
• With 7 tackles (5 solo) on Sunday, Buffalo SS Donte Whitner set a new career high for with 111 tackles, tied for fourth in the league on the season. A porous and injury-plagued front seven have given the secondary plenty of tackle opportunities this season. Whitner also had his first pick this season in the game, as did CB Leodis McKelvin. McKelvin started in place of CB Terrence McGee again, as he continues to struggle with a nerve problem behind his knee. McGee will try practicing again this week, but there’s no timeline for his return. The other starter, CB Drayton Florence, returned his third pick of the season 40 yards for his first career TD.
  
  
• Cincinnati LCB Johnathan Joseph returned from a high ankle sprain to his starting role opposite RCB Leon Hall, but Jonathan Wade, who made a positive impression in their Thanksgiving game when he replaced Joseph as a starter just days after joining the team off the street, still played an integral role as the nickel. Depth at corner was still thin with rookie CB Brandon Ghee remaining inactive with a groin injury. Roy Williams returned from a concussion, but Chinedum Ndukwe remained the starter at SS. Both rotated along with starting FS Reggie Nelson, who replaced Chris Crocker who went on the IR before their previous game. There were plenty of mistakes by all, with a few big plays allowing the Saints to hang in for the win despite it being one of the Bengals better performances this year.
  
  
• Lions CB Alphonso Smith suffered a right shoulder injury late in Sunday's game and did not return. Specifics haven’t been given yet, but HC Jim Swartz says it could be a “long-term thing”. Rookie SS Amari Spievey led the team in tackles for the second straight week with 9 (4 solo, including 1 on special teams).
  
  
• Minnesota started Tyrell Johnson instead of Madieu Williams at FS reportedly because Williams was late for the team bus after their last game. Williams was back as the starter after the first series.
  
  
• Cleveland S Abram Elam continued his hot playmaking streak. He led the team with 7 tackled (5 solo) and grabbed his second pick of the season. Over the last two games, he has 20 tackles (17 solo), 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. LCB Eric Wright was active after missing the previous game with a left knee injury, but as discussed as a possibility last week, rookie missed the last game and after injuring his left knee on the first series of the previous game. Instead it was rookie Joe Haden starting opposite Sheldon Brown and Haden had a pick for an incredible fourth-straight game. He has five on the season and is coming off being named the NFL defensive rookie of the month for November. The team claimed S Sabby Piscitelli off waivers from Tampa Bay. Despite losing their second starting FS of the season two weeks ago, the Bucs were done with their former second-round pick. Piscitelli was active, but only worked on special teams.
  
  
• Already without starting CB Kelvin Hayden, who was inactive with a stinger in his right shoulder/neck, Indianapolis lost their other starting CB, Jerraud Powers, on Sunday when he broke his right forearm in the first half. Jacob Lacey was starting in place of Hayden, so Justin Tryon replaced Powers. Powers was placed on the IR this week, so Lacey should step in to the starting lineup for him and with Hayden still questionable, Tryon could get a start as well. Still no firm word on when, or if, SS Bob Sanders (torn biceps) will return. He was supposed to be cleared to return to practice last week, but was already declared out by last Tuesday.
  
  
• Dallas CB Mike Jenkins aggravated a knee injury on Sunday, but sounds like he’ll play this week. The situation is less clear for nickel CB Orlando Scandrick, who returned the second pick of his career for a TD in the third quarter before suffering a concussion. If Scandrick can’t go, playmaking UDFA rookie Bryan McCann should see a bigger role.
  
  
• Denver S Brian Dawkins was inactive with a knee injury so David Bruton got the start in his place. Rookie Perrish Cox replaced Andre Goodman.
  
  
• Tampa Bay lost CB Aqib Talib for the season when tore a tendon off his right hip bone. He was placed on the IR. Talib was tied for second in the league in pick with six. E.J. Biggers replaces him in the starting lineup.
  
  
• Jets FS Jim Leonhard was placed on the IR after breaking is right shin during practice on Friday. A liability in coverage, Leonhard’s value was as the QB of the secondary. Eric Smith replaced him on defense and got his first career sack in the game. Depth at safety took another hit on Monday night as S James Ihedigbo suffered a high ankle sprain and knee injury. He is expected to miss some time.
  
  
• Detroit CB Alphonso Smith has no timetable to return after suffering a right shoulder injury.
  
  
• Jacksonville SS Courtney Greene is expected to miss some time after suffering a shoulder injury. Sean Considine replaces him in the starting lineup and S Michael Hamlin was brought up from the practice squad for depth.
  
  
• Top waiver wire recommendations of the week: The duo of young corners in Indianapolis will be tested, so I’d add Jacob Lacey and Justin Tryon in that order.