Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Unfortunately, I will be traveling to attend funeral services and will be unavailable on Sunday morning. It’d be great if folks would post any significant surprises on the inactive list or breaking news on lineup changes, etc as they are reported. Best of luck in your playoff matchups this week.
Demorrio Williams is out with an ankle injury. Donald Butler is very unlikely to play. That keeps Takeo Spikes in an every down role and bumps the value of both safeties today. Gary Guyton will reportedly start for Williams, but Andrew Gachkar and Bront Bird will likely see rotational snaps.
Wesley Woodyard is questionable with an ankle injury but practiced all week (limited) and has been saying he’ll play. There’s a chance he could rotate out at times if he’s less than full strength with DJ Williams and Danny Trevathan decent options for the Broncos.
Jameel McClain is out. Ray Lewis has been practicing but he hasn’t yet been activated from injured reserve. That likely means Dannell Ellerbe, who has been limited with an ankle injury in practice, will play despite being listed questionable. Depending on Ellerbe’s availability, we’ll see a combination of Josh Bynes, Brendon Ayanbedejo and Albert McClellan inside. None are worthwhile IDP options. Bernard Pollard hasn’t practiced this week with a chest injury and looks unlikely to play. If he can’t go, James Ihedigbo will start in his place. He’s an interesting desperation start, especially if Lewis and Ellerbee join McClain on the sidelines. Terrell Suggs is questionable, but fully practiced this week and looks likely to play. Jimmy Smith looks likely to be back as well, which could cut Corey Graham’s snaps significantly.
Louis Delmas is questionable again, but did get through a limited Thursday practice and could play. Don Carey likely continues to start at one safety spot, with Ricardo Silva getting the call if Delmas is out. Nick Fairley is doubtful.
Calais Campbell is questionable but played well after returning from a calf injury last week. I think he’s likely to play again this week. Expect Daryl Washington to bounce back after a disappointing Week 14.
Charles Woodson is out this week, but could return in Week 16. Clay Matthews will return to the lineup but likely play mostly in passing situations.
Brian Urlacher and Tim Jennings are out again this week. Nick Roach played every down at MLB last week. Geno Hayes is questionable, but should start at OLB. He won’t see many snaps against the Green Bay spread offense. Shea McClellin and Henry Melton are also unlikely to play.
Pat Angerer will get more snaps in the base defense this week with Kavell Conner out with a hamstring injury. He’s likely to see an above-average number of base defensive snaps and could be a solid LB4+ play against Houston. Joe Lefeged again replaces Tom Zbikowski.
Brooks Reed remains out, with Whitney Mercilus playing nearly every down in his place. Darryl Sharpton was very limited by a toe injury this week. If he can’t go, the Texans will still have a muddled, three-headed ILB rotation without a clear favorite for tackles. Glover Quin was a late addition to the injury report with a hip injury and is listed questionable.
Koa Misi is out with an ankle injury and will be replaced by Jason Trusnik.
Kendrick Lewis will likely be back starting ahead of Tysyn Hartman this week. Derrick Johnson, Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry are also probable.
Tyvon Branch is questionable with multiple injuries, but practiced Friday. He’s still considered a GTD but looks more likely to play than he did earlier in the week. If inactive, Mike Mitchell is a very strong pickup in his place.
Antoine Winfield is questionable with a knee injury but hasn’t practiced all week. He’ll play today but isn’t likely to play every down.
Kenny Phillips is out again, with Stevie Brown getting another full time start. Chase Blackburn saw his snaps drop significantly with the return of Jacquian Williams to subpackage duty last week.
William Moore is questionable, but hasn’t practiced in two weeks. He looks unlikely to play. Chris Hope would replace him in the lineup again.
Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen are both likely out today. Keenan Lewis and Curtis Brown are your likely starters., but the Steelers could rotate a number of corners based on how each are playing. Troy Polamalu should be back to an every down role in his third week back.
Jay Ratliff is likely out for the rest of the regular season. Charlie Peprah remains questionable but Danny McCray rotated last week with Peprah out and is no longer a trustworthy option if Peprah sits again. DeMarcus Ware didn’t practice all week with an elbow injury but says he’ll play today.
The Seahawks will be without Brandon Browner (susp), Marcus Trufant (hamstring) and Walter Thurmond (hamstring) today. Jeremy Lane may be the best bet for desperation value, but Byron Maxwell will see snaps as well.
Malcolm Jenkins is out with a hamstring injury. Isa Abdul-Quddus will likely start in his place, but could rotate with Rafael Bush. Neither are attractive fantasy options.
London Fletcher is questionable but will play. The Redskins continue to rotate their safeties; Madieu Williams is the only safe option and no more than a DB3+.
The Patriots listed half of their team as questionable and it’s unclear how they held practice with close to 20 players listed as limited all week. Dont’a Hightower played more snaps than Brandon Spikes last week, a trend that’s not guaranteed to continue but seemingly likely. Chandler Jones saw fewer snaps than usual in his first game back last week but could be healthy enough to trust as a DE2 again now.
Colin McCarthy is still not practicing and will likely be out again Monday night. Tim Shaw will replace him in the base defense only, but the matchup (vs NYJ) could make him a viable LB4.
Demorrio Williams is out with an ankle injury. Donald Butler is very unlikely to play. That keeps Takeo Spikes in an every down role and bumps the value of both safeties today. Gary Guyton will reportedly start for Williams, but Andrew Gachkar and Bront Bird will likely see rotational snaps.
Wesley Woodyard is questionable with an ankle injury but practiced all week (limited) and has been saying he’ll play. There’s a chance he could rotate out at times if he’s less than full strength with DJ Williams and Danny Trevathan decent options for the Broncos.
Jameel McClain is out. Ray Lewis has been practicing but he hasn’t yet been activated from injured reserve. That likely means Dannell Ellerbe, who has been limited with an ankle injury in practice, will play despite being listed questionable. Depending on Ellerbe’s availability, we’ll see a combination of Josh Bynes, Brendon Ayanbedejo and Albert McClellan inside. None are worthwhile IDP options. Bernard Pollard hasn’t practiced this week with a chest injury and looks unlikely to play. If he can’t go, James Ihedigbo will start in his place. He’s an interesting desperation start, especially if Lewis and Ellerbee join McClain on the sidelines. Terrell Suggs is questionable, but fully practiced this week and looks likely to play. Jimmy Smith looks likely to be back as well, which could cut Corey Graham’s snaps significantly.
Louis Delmas is questionable again, but did get through a limited Thursday practice and could play. Don Carey likely continues to start at one safety spot, with Ricardo Silva getting the call if Delmas is out. Nick Fairley is doubtful.
Calais Campbell is questionable but played well after returning from a calf injury last week. I think he’s likely to play again this week. Expect Daryl Washington to bounce back after a disappointing Week 14.
Charles Woodson is out this week, but could return in Week 16. Clay Matthews will return to the lineup but likely play mostly in passing situations.
Brian Urlacher and Tim Jennings are out again this week. Nick Roach played every down at MLB last week. Geno Hayes is questionable, but should start at OLB. He won’t see many snaps against the Green Bay spread offense. Shea McClellin and Henry Melton are also unlikely to play.
Pat Angerer will get more snaps in the base defense this week with Kavell Conner out with a hamstring injury. He’s likely to see an above-average number of base defensive snaps and could be a solid LB4+ play against Houston. Joe Lefeged again replaces Tom Zbikowski.
Brooks Reed remains out, with Whitney Mercilus playing nearly every down in his place. Darryl Sharpton was very limited by a toe injury this week. If he can’t go, the Texans will still have a muddled, three-headed ILB rotation without a clear favorite for tackles. Glover Quin was a late addition to the injury report with a hip injury and is listed questionable.
Koa Misi is out with an ankle injury and will be replaced by Jason Trusnik.
Kendrick Lewis will likely be back starting ahead of Tysyn Hartman this week. Derrick Johnson, Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry are also probable.
Tyvon Branch is questionable with multiple injuries, but practiced Friday. He’s still considered a GTD but looks more likely to play than he did earlier in the week. If inactive, Mike Mitchell is a very strong pickup in his place.
Antoine Winfield is questionable with a knee injury but hasn’t practiced all week. He’ll play today but isn’t likely to play every down.
Kenny Phillips is out again, with Stevie Brown getting another full time start. Chase Blackburn saw his snaps drop significantly with the return of Jacquian Williams to subpackage duty last week.
William Moore is questionable, but hasn’t practiced in two weeks. He looks unlikely to play. Chris Hope would replace him in the lineup again.
Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen are both likely out today. Keenan Lewis and Curtis Brown are your likely starters., but the Steelers could rotate a number of corners based on how each are playing. Troy Polamalu should be back to an every down role in his third week back.
Jay Ratliff is likely out for the rest of the regular season. Charlie Peprah remains questionable but Danny McCray rotated last week with Peprah out and is no longer a trustworthy option if Peprah sits again. DeMarcus Ware didn’t practice all week with an elbow injury but says he’ll play today.
The Seahawks will be without Brandon Browner (susp), Marcus Trufant (hamstring) and Walter Thurmond (hamstring) today. Jeremy Lane may be the best bet for desperation value, but Byron Maxwell will see snaps as well.
Malcolm Jenkins is out with a hamstring injury. Isa Abdul-Quddus will likely start in his place, but could rotate with Rafael Bush. Neither are attractive fantasy options.
London Fletcher is questionable but will play. The Redskins continue to rotate their safeties; Madieu Williams is the only safe option and no more than a DB3+.
The Patriots listed half of their team as questionable and it’s unclear how they held practice with close to 20 players listed as limited all week. Dont’a Hightower played more snaps than Brandon Spikes last week, a trend that’s not guaranteed to continue but seemingly likely. Chandler Jones saw fewer snaps than usual in his first game back last week but could be healthy enough to trust as a DE2 again now.
Colin McCarthy is still not practicing and will likely be out again Monday night. Tim Shaw will replace him in the base defense only, but the matchup (vs NYJ) could make him a viable LB4.