We're now nearing the midway point of the season and have a deep enough sample size to trust that most teams aren't changing up their depth charts or philosophical approach to their base defense and subpackages. So, I'm going to scale back the general overview and not hit every team each week. I'll focus more intently on changing situations due to injury, unexpected snap counts from the previous week and do more detailed scouting reports on some young and developing talents.
If there's a situation you'd like me to cover more deeply, send me an email or tweet (details at the end of the column). The Sunday column will continue to hit the broad highlights for every team, project the depth chart changes due to injury, discuss any game-time decisions and note any key matchups of importance.
ATLANTA
Akeem Dent was back in the lineup this week, but played only in base packages. Joplo Bartu, who had his most statistically productive day yet, and Paul Worrilow started outside and played in the nickel. Neither Bartu nor Worrilow are shedding blocks effectively. Bartu has more range and recovery speed, which is helping him run down plays. Worrilow is a little better fundamentally, but doesn't have great footspeed for a weak side linebacker. The Falcons are going to see more opportunity on defense and while that will work in Bartu's favor, he's being used as a strong side linebacker on the line of scrimmage too often to be a consistent fantasy option. It's a situation to continue to monitor for a positive trend, but I still don't see a viable LB3+ in the mix.
BALTIMORE
I had hoped to see Arthur Brown in a full time role with Josh Bynes missing last week's game with injury. But Jameel McClain looked good enough in practice to activate off the PUP list and immediately earn the starting strong inside linebacker job in the base defense. It's unlikely any of the three get enough snaps to have value in the coming weeks. Hold onto Brown in dynasty leagues. It's easy to be discouraged, but many highly thought of linebacker prospects took a full year to become every-down players. The writing was on the wall for Brown after a preseason injury cost him lots of developmental time.
BUFFALO
Seven defensive backs played at least 55% of Buffalo's defensive snaps last week. The rotation was similar to what the Bills did in Week 6. Stephon Gilmore is still rotating with Aaron Williams at cornerback and the three-headed monster of Da'Norris Searcy, Jim Leonhard and Jairus Byrd is sharing safety snaps. It's still just a matter of time before Leonhard and Searcy see their playing time take a big hit so approach both with caution.
CAROLINA
The tackle opportunity trend is ugly for the Panthers right now. Over their past four games, Carolina hasn't topped 50 opportunities in any game. And they have faced the fourth fewest rushing attempts in the league. The schedule looks better in the second half of the season, but there will still be some variance in Luke Kuechly's tackle numbers. He's also forced to deal with better competition for tackles this year. Thomas Davis is getting to the ball outside quickly and the safety rotation has two run-minded bodies in Quintin Mikell and Mike Mitchell. Mitchell in particular seems to be gaining confidence with each passing week. But the bulk of his big plays have been right place, right time rather than elite safety play. Mitchell remains a high variance option with high durability risk.
CHICAGO
Lance Briggs joins D.J. Williams on the sidelines for an extended period with a broken bone in his shoulder. He'll miss at least a month and possibly 6-8 weeks. It'll be interesting to see how the Bears replace Briggs. Blake Costanzo saw the majority of the base defensive snaps after Briggs left the game, but rookie Khaseem Greene may see some rotational time. Greene was compared unfairly to Lavonte David by some before the draft. He's in the David mold -- plays bigger than his size, quick, rangy, capable in coverage -- but Greene isn't as violent and decisive downhill and isn't in David's class as a run defender or pass rusher. That doesn't mean Greene can't be statistically productive if he gets an opportunity. I expect Jon Bostic and James Anderson to be the Bears' nickel backers, but Greene could threaten Bostic's nickel role in time. The biggest bump in production likely rolls to Major Wright, who could be an every-week elite safety option while Briggs is out.
CLEVELAND
D'Qwell Jackson has caught Jonathan Vilma Syndrome. I don't know if there's an unreported injury, but there's a clear difference in the Jackson of the first three games this season and the Jackson I see over the past month. The quick read-and-react, instincts and decision-making are still there. But Jackson is getting railroaded out of the play whenever he's engaged by an offensive lineman, lets up in his pursuit when he's closing on plays outside the tackles and doesn't have the same closing speed when he does successfully penetrate before being blocked. There's been no clear schematic change and the Cleveland defensive line is holding up well enough. The Browns are getting plenty of tackle opportunity. Jackson will need to pick up his play to take advantage. In the meantime, T.J. Ward has been the big beneficiary with Craig Robertson continuing to be plagued by inconsistency in all phases.
DALLAs
Bruce Carter disappointed with just one solo tackle last week in what should have been a strong matchup for him. His performance is something of an enigma. Carter has been good in coverage but hasn't run into a lucky string of passes defensed or interceptions. He'll sometimes look confused when Sean Lee makes an adjustment, but other times is very decisive and downhill. That's led to some inconsistency, but it's not the only reason that Carter hasn't been the upside play I thought he'd become this year. Monte Kiffin isn't employing many Tampa-2 concepts. There's more man coverage than he's used in the past, with Carter continuing to trail backs and tight ends. There's not a lot of the "spill" concept to the weak side that Kiffin highlights in his playbook either. That's not necessarily bad for Carter, but it's not the defense that Derrick Brooks and Lance Briggs and many others have ridden to 90+ solos from the weak side. There's also a safety in the box -- Barry Church -- more often that expected. That's clearly not good for Carter. The sum of those parts equals a marginal LB3 play. On the other hand, the scheme has done for Jason Hatcher what it's done for every other capable pass-rushing lineman put into the 3-technique role. He will continue to be an every-week stud.
DENVER
Von Miller didn't get a sack last week and the Broncos defense was again exposed across the back seven. But don't overreact to Miller's two solo tackle stat line. Miller was affecting the pocket consistently and put multiple hits on Andrew Luck. According to Pro Football Focus, Miller had eight hits and hurries in 35 pass rush chances. The big plays are coming and he'll get more comfortable and effective in run support as he returns to football shape. A healthy Robert Ayers and Wesley Woodyard will also go a long way to getting the Denver defense into more attractive down and distance situations.
DETROIT
Ezekiel Ansah struggled again last week and, once again, it was no surprise given his matchup against an athletic and accomplished offensive tackle matchup. He'll have a neutral-leaning matchup against Dallas this week before his schedule opens up after the bye. I had Devin Taylor on my dynasty watch list in the preseason tiers and he's starting to flash. While he won't get more than 15-20 situational snaps each week, he'll have a chance at a 500+ snap role in 2014. If you're in deep leagues and have access to Game Rewind, watch his snaps closely for further development. I had anointed Glover Quin as my favorite upside defensive back target this summer. The signs were all there for him to add to a very successful string of upside bets over the past few years. But something's missing. He's not playing poorly and he's been as good as advertised in coverage. He's not making tackles, however, and there's no evidence that the trend will reverse soon.
HOUSTON
The list of offensive injuries was long this week, but there were a few critical defensive injuries, too. The Texans took the toughest blow, losing Brian Cushing for the season with a sprained knee and broken leg. The depth chart at inside linebacker behind Cushing -- Darryl Sharpton (exploitable in all areas and a durability concern), Joe Mays (inconsistent, but okay against the run), Tim Dobbins (who's already been cut after Cushing's injury) and Justin Tuggle (an untested UDFA) -- is as ugly as any group in the league. Sharpton is going to get the first shot at the job and could be an every-down player. But the chances of him holding up are slim and it won't be surprising to see Houston try to get Tuggle coached up to take some rotational snaps to conserve Sharpton. The safety position could see the most fantasy upside. And, after saying Shiloh Keo would take over for Danieal Manning, it was D.J. Swearinger Sr who started and played nearly every down. Like Jonathan Cyprien, there will be some bumps in his stats, but there's strong upside for him if he sticks as the starter.
KANSAS CITY
Eric Berry is generating just as much IDP angst as Luke Kuechly and D'Qwell Jackson. Berry's underwhelming performances are almost entirely opportunity based. The Chiefs have faced the third worst tackle opportunity in the league and have seen more than 50 tackle opportunities only once all season. They're also in the bottom five in rush attempts faced. Had you told me Carolina and Kansas City would be among the league's worst at giving themselves tackle chances before the season, I might have not have believed you. But the signs were there. Both teams have dominant front lines with young talent that had lots of upside. So neither situation is a fluke. The schedule opens up in the second half with four games against Denver and San Diego, a road game at Washington and Indianapolis in Week 16. Unless you're in a shallow roster league, there's hope for Berry yet.
MIAMI
Cameron Wake was reportedly moving well in practice and in line to play a larger role last week. But he's clearly not healthy and looks to be multiple weeks from contributing in a major and consistent role again. I don't have an extended take yet, but I'm interested in seeing Jelani Jenkins in a subpackage role again this week if Dannell Ellerbe isn't ready to play. There's some long term upside here.
MINNESOTA
Desmond Bishop finally worked his way into the starting lineup last week, then tore his ACL. There was already concern with his ability to run after last season's hamstring tendon rupture. The ACL tear will make it still more difficult for him to return to NFL-ready form. Bishop hadn't displaced Erin Henderson from subpackages, and Henderson's poor stat line against Carolina will likely prove more fluke than trend. With Harrison Smith battling turf toe, there may be more pursuit chances for Chad Greenway.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The Patriots followed the likely script for once. Last week, I thought we'd most likely see both Brandon Spikes and Dont'a Hightower in extended roles with a mix of Dane Fletcher and Jamie Collins filling in for Jerod Mayo. That's -- mostly -- what happened. Hightower flipped to the weak side and played nearly every down. Spikes continued to sit in dime situations, though it's notable that there weren't too many of those against the Jets. Collins got the start and was very effective in limited snaps. I expect we'll see his snap count increase and there could be matchup value to be found in him with good pass rush matchups. Be ready to move on him for Week 9 against Pittsburgh if he builds on last week's performance against Miami this week.
pittsburgh
I've long been a Lawrence Timmons defender. I liked him before the draft when many argued he was too stiff and limited to be more than a middling outside linebacker in a 4-3. I liked him through the years as a do-everything weak inside linebacker despite more inconsistent than not tackle numbers in a defense that severely limited their own tackle opportunity. The Steelers aren't the stud defense they used to be and their offense has been surprisingly effective at controlling the flow of games this year, but Timmons has been a consistently effective fantasy option. He should continue to be, although the broken hand he suffered last week could result in a missed tackle or two until his cast is trimmed down.
SAN FRANCISCO
Corey Lemonier is finding himself as a pass rusher. It's an easy role for a rookie to thrive in. There are few reads to make and they can make use of their athleticism rather than a perfected technique or developing fundamentals. He didn't record a sack against Tennessee but has been consistently good over four consecutive weeks now. He's not finishing enough to be a viable starter in sack-heavy leagues, but he's going to grow into a nice bookend in the longer term opposite Aldon Smith.
SEATTLE
Malcolm Smith has put together two solid games as the every-down weak side linebacker. He won't have a role when Bobby Wagner returns from a high ankle sprain, but he's a high floor LB3 with upside in his current role if you're looking for a bye week flyer.
TAMPA BAY
Mark Barron has generated almost as many questions as Eric Berry recently. Barron needs two things to hit his elite ceiling in a given week -- volume and a matchup that will put him in a nickel linebacker role frequently. The ideal situation is a team that will spread the field in lots of situations and isn't afraid to run from those sets. The Saints and Patriots clearly fit that role earlier in the season. The Eagles should have fit the bill in Week 6 and it's possible Barron's hamstring injury had continued to limit him. There aren't a lot of those matchups left on the schedule and, unfortunately, the road matchup against New Orleans doesn't come until Week 17. But there are good volume opportunities in Week 9, Week 12 and Week 15 in addition to other reasonable matchups to come. Don't give up on Barron yet unless you're in a shallow league and a clear streaming situation.
TENNESSEE
Colin McCarthy didn't do enough to take the starting job away from Moise Fokou. There was a handful of solid efforts against the run but he wasn't dominant between the tackles and was just average in coverage. On the bright side, Zach Brown played nearly every down again despite George Wilson continuing to see time in multi-DB packages.
Subscribe to The Audible on iTunes or download our weekly IDP podcast here every Thursday for injury updates, player analysis and matchup discussion. Check my article page on Sunday morning for notes on every team's key injuries, depth chart changes and IDP expectations. Follow and ask questions on Twitter @JeneBramel.
