• After being questionable leading up to their Sunday night game at Indianapolis due to aggravating his surgically-repaired left knee, Giants DE Osi Umenyiora started at RDE. He was limited, posting just 1 solo tackle, and rotated more with Mathias Kiwanuka, who saw less work at LB with the team aborting their “Big Base” against a stronger passing team, even though the Colts proceeded to run over them. Kiwanuka had the only sack, giving him 3 on the season, and DL Justin Tuck racked up 7 tackles (5 solo), but is still looking for his first sack. With another run-heavy team up this week in Tennessee, Kiwanuka should see his tackle numbers bounce with more of the “Big Base” package being utilized. Umenyiora remains a risky high-upside play while concerns about his knee linger.
  
  
• Houston DE Mario Williams is back. Healthy again, he is back to piling up sacks. Williams welcomed Washington rookie LT Trent Williams to the NFL with a three-sack day and batting down 2 passes. He is second in the league with 4 sacks on the season.
  
  
• Indianapolis ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis each had a pair of sacks, the third of the season for each. Freeney forced a fumble on one of his in the third quarter that DT Fili Moala rolled in for a TD.
  
  
• Detroit DE Kyle Vanden Bosch didn’t lead the team in tackles again this week, but he did lead them with 1.5 sacks among his 6 tackles (2 solo). KVB is off to a great start and should be locked in to your starting lineup. Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh did lead the team with 8 tackles (6 solo) and had a sack for the second straight game. Suh is also off to a great start and should be starting in leagues that require a DT.
  
  
• Fantasy owners were disappointed by the goose egg from Philadelphia rookie DE Brandon Graham in the season opener, but he got his first career sack and another solo tackle on Sunday. He wasn’t playing inside quite as much, although he started there, but was still sliding in for obvious passing situations. The beneficiary remains third DE Juqua Parker, who got his third sack of the season. Once again, Darryl Tapp was a healthy scratch.
  
  
• After working primarily with his hand off the ground in the preseason, Cincinnati tweener DE Michael Johnson was back with the linemen last week with Jonathan Fanene out with a hamstring injury. He saw his first significant action of the season as a pass rush specialist and brought good pressure, sharing a sack with rookie DT Geno Atkins.
  
  
• Washington DT Albert Haynesworth was inactive on Sunday after spraining his ankle in practice last week. While out of his control, this isn’t going to help his situation with HC Mike Shanahan.
  
  
• Oakland DT Richard Seymour was inactive with a hamstring injury. John Henderson started in his place, next to Tommy Kelly, and had 3 solo tackles. Trevor Scott started again at RDE, but posted just one solo tackle, while Matt Shaughnessy had a goose egg. Rookie LDE Lamarr Houston got his first career sack.
  
  
• Tampa Bay DE Tim Crowder racked up 2 sacks and forced a fumble as the third DE behind starters Stylez G. White, who also had his first sack of the season, and Kyle Moore. Crowder showed good pass rush potential as a back-up in Denver, but wasn’t a good fit when they switched to a 3-4. Crowder competed with Moore for the starting LDE role in camp and Moore likely won mostly in being drafted by the current regime. Crowder should continue to push for a greater role.
  
  
• Houston added ends Adewale Ogunleye and Ryan Denney for depth after losing Connor Barwin for the season and waiving Tim Jamison. Denney saw some action, getting a QB pressure, but Ogunleye was inactive on Sunday.
  
  
• The Jets got the news they feared on NT Kris Jenkins last week. He’s done for the year after re-injuring his left knee. Sione Pouha replaces him in the lineup.
  
  
• In Tennessee, LDE Jason Babin is off to the best start of his career. He led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo), including a sack for the second consecutive game. However, his starting job may be in jeopardy with William Hayes ready to return. Although RDE Jacob Ford is now battling leg problems. Either way, Babin will continue to be a significant part of the rotation with rookie Derrick Morgan, who shared a sack with DT Tony Brown to follow up his first solo sack in Week 1. When all the ends are healthy, Dave Ball should be the odd man out.
  
  
• Top waiver recommendations of the week: in sack-heavy leagues, I’d add Juqua Parker, as it looks like he will continue to benefit in lining up at end with rookie Brandon Graham inside in passing situations. Also consider Jason Babin, although know the rotation is about to get deeper. In shallow redraft leagues, I’d be ready to give up on Derrick Harvey in Jacksonville.
  
  

Linebacker

• Green Bay OLB Clay Matthews had 3 sacks for the second straight game and his 6 leads the league. An unimpressive Chicago OLine is on tap for this week, so he could see 3 more. Matthews has been a dominating presence in both games and is an early contender for Defensive POY. A week after ILB A.J. Hawk was bounced from the base defense, DC Dom Capers had him back in almost every package against Buffalo and Hawk responded with 9 tackles (4 solo). I’d still be leery of plugging him back in your starting lineup, the Packers may have been showcasing him for a potential trade, although I’m not sure I buy the speculation for Marshawn Lynch.
  
  
• After running a “Big Base” designed to stop the run last week, Giants DC Perry Fewell came out at Indianapolis frequently with six DBs and just one LB to stop QB Peyton Manning. The Colts took the opportunity to run over them and the IDP beneficiary was OLB Michael Boley. As discussed in this column last week, as their only LB decent in coverage, Boley had a significant role and with the Colts running wild, he led the team with 16 tackles (4 solo). In the nickel, MLB Jonathan Goff joined Boley and saw more snaps, posting 9 tackles (8 solo). The use of Keith Bulluck continued to be limited in this package, as well, and almost non-existent for Clint Sintim. Instead, back-up S Deon Grant has seen more, playing a tweener LB role at times. Sunday night showed Fewell needs to find a balance between his extreme packages when facing a team who will adjust quickly. This week they face a Tennessee team similar to their Week 1 opponent, strong running game and limited passing threat. I expect more of the “Big Base” and Boley’s role to decrease, but not be totally out of the picture like he was in their first game.
  
  
• In their new 3-4 defense, it has been Washington ILB Rocky McIntosh, who moved inside from 4-3 WLB, who has been the bigger beneficiary than ILB London Fletcher, previously their MLB. McIntosh had 14 tackles on Sunday and is among the league leaders with 24 (13 total). Fletcher isn’t far behind with 18 (10 total) and got his first sack of the season. Both were on the field for 82 of 83 defensive snaps.
  
  
• As expected, Philadelphia MLB Stewart Bradley was inactive due to a concussion. Omar Gaither started in his place and although he led the team with 11 solo tackles, many were downfield. He also struggled in coverage against Detroit TE Brandon Pettigrew and whiffed on Detroit RB Jahvid Best’s 75-yard TD off a screen. Bradley was cleared by the medical staff to return to practice and the injury report isn’t out yet, but I expect he’ll return this week.
  
  
• Pittsburgh ILB Lawrence Timmons has been a tackle-machine through two games. He is second in the league with 26 tackles (21 solo), posting double-digit numbers in both games.
  
  
• Cincinnati WLB Keith Rivers was inactive with a foot injury and the versatile Brandon Johnson got the start in his place. Johnson had 6 solo tackles and grabbed a pick. Johnson will continue to see a significant role when Rivers returns, with SLB Rey Maualuga looking to have his numbers negatively impacted.
  
  
• With OLB Calvin Pace already out with a broken right foot, the team got a scare when OLB Jason Taylor hyperextended his left elbow in the game. Taylor played through the injury, getting his first sack of the season and forcing a fumble on the final play of the game, although he further aggravated the elbow on the play. However, Taylor is expected to play this week and should continue to start at least one more game, as Pace, although ahead of schedule on his recovery, remains unlikely to play this week.
  
  
• A surprise in Carolina with SLB James Anderson leading the team in tackles. He had 10 in each of the first two games and looks worth adding. After 10 tackles in the first game, WLB Jon Beason continues cruising along, posting another 9. Some are complaining about his production, and he hasn’t turned in a big play yet, but he’s on pace for 136 tackles, which is right around what he consistently produced at MLB, although his solo tackles project to drop a bit.
  
  
• Detroit MLB DeAndre Levy started practicing last week and should return from a groin strain this week, but watch for updates.
  
  
• Miami OLB Cameron Wake had a sack and shared another. He now has 2.5 on the season. He forced a fumble on one sack that rookie OLB Koa Misi recovered in the end zone for his first career TD.
  
  
• Jacksonville SLB Daryl Smith had his second straight great game, posting 7 solo tackles, including a sack, after 7 tackles (5 solo) and a pick in the season opener. WLB Justin Durant left the game early with an ankle sprain and was replaced by Russell Allen. Durant is questionable for this week.
  
  
• Seattle LB Leroy Hill is out indefinitely with a calf injury, securing the WLB for David Hawthorne, who has had a slow start to the season.
  
  
• Top waiver recommendation of the week: If people ignored Rocky McIntosh or Derrick Johnson last week, grab them now. Both are recommended in all formats. Same for Michael Boley, to a lesser degree, since he’s still only a spot starter due to how the Giants’ defense is being schemed week-to-week. I’m cautiously optimistic about Daryl Smith’s strong start and like him in deeper leagues. In big play leagues, look for Cameron Wake, who has seamlessly taken over as Miami’s top pass rusher. I’m still skeptical about James Anderson, but he can’t be ignored in deep tackle-heavy leagues. You can cut bait on Keith Bulluck in all formats and, if you still were holding on to him, Clint Sintim in redraft leagues.
  
  

Defensive Back

• Owners of breakout fantasy star LaRon Landry had a rollercoaster ride on Sunday with the Washington SS. He left Sunday’s game early before halftime, but it was just for cramps. In the fourth quarter he left the game with a left wrist injury, but returned one play later, then left for good in overtime after aggravating the injury. It appears just a bruise and Landry should be good to go this week. He leads the league with 28 tackles (21 solo) and has a sack among those. Expect a career high in sacks this year, as he blitzed on 15 plays on Sunday.
  
  
• Miami CB Jason Allen has once again flashed the potential that made him a first-round pick. He picked off Minnesota QB Brett Favre twice and posted 11 tackles (7 solo). He’s worth taking a gamble on, but he’s burned owners with his inconsistency before.
  
  
• With Jacksonville SS Anthony Smith inactive with a foot injury, 2009 seventh-round pick Courtney Greene got his first career start. He responded by leading the team with 11 tackles (8 solo) and creating two turnovers, grabbing his first career pick and forcing a fumble.
  
  
• A Pro Bowler last year, New England S Brandon Meriweather has been displaced in the starting lineup by veteran James Sanders, but remains involved. Sanders has worked in the base package and Meriweather replaces him in the nickel, limiting the value of either. Expect this situation to be fluid, as Meriweather is the better athlete, but for SS Patrick Chung is their only safety to rely on.
  
  
• A strained hamstring looks like it will close Revis Island temporarily. Jets CB Darrelle Revis sat out the second half after aggravating his left hamstring chasing Randy Moss around on Sunday. Lots of speculation on how much time he’ll miss, from none to at least two games, so watch for updates.
  
  
• Cleveland rookie SS T.J. Ward had 11 tackles for the second straight game. On a defense weak in the front seven and who will be on the field a lot, Ward should rack up some big tackles numbers this season.
  
  
• Not surprisingly, Denver HC Josh McDaniels has little to offer about the details of CB Champ Bailey leaving Sunday’s game on crutches. That it is not a broken bone is the extent of information. Ankle sprain is the speculation. Bailey is highly questionable for this week.
  
  
• Last week I mentioned Jacksonville CB Derek Cox was benched during the game, but HC Jack Del Rio said he remained the starter. Unfortunately, that was coachspeak as Cox was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Replacement David Jones was part of a secondary abused by San Diego, so Cox may be back soon, but Cox is obviously in the doghouse.
  
  
• The cornerback formerly known as Pacman, the Bengals’ Adam "Pacman" Jones, had his first INT since 2006. He left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, but is expected to play this week.
  
  
• Top waiver recommendations of the week: In dynasty leagues and redrafts with deep rosters, I’m taking a gamble on Courtney Greene as Jacksonville needs a playmaker in their secondary. Same for Jason Allen, who could yet live up to his potential.