DEFENSIVE LINE
Matt Roth- While Roth is not anything special and will not set the world on fire, he is consistent and has been solid over the past couple of weeks. Whether the Jags are playing with a lead or coming from behind, Roth seems to be good for around four tackles per game. He also sprinkles in a sack or two here and there. You could do worse if you are in a deep league.
Albert Haynesworth- Haynesworth is pretty much down to his last chance in the league and he knows it. That, combined with the ample playing time TB is going to give him will give him a chance to be decent. In his first week in Tampa, he started and logged five total tackles. Those five stops were two more than he had in all six games combined in NE. Haynesworth will be given every opportunity to succeed this last half a year in TB and he will hopefully make the most of it. He is particularly nice in leagues requiring a DT.
LINEBACKERS
Kamerion Wimbley- Wimbley’s ability and prowess was on display Thursday night as he absolutely annihilated the SD OL and Philip Rivers on his way to four sacks. While he certainly will not do this very often, Wimbley does have 17 tackles and five sacks over the past three weeks. He is playing at a high level and will likely keep it up going forward.
Rob Ninkovich- Ninkovich has his second straight solid game for the Pats this week. During the past two weeks he has 12 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defensed and a touchdown. He is playing quite well against the pass and the Pats need him with how terrible they are against the pass and with how banged up their secondary is. Combine this with Jerod Mayo still being less than 100%, and Ninkovich is being relied on the play all over the field in both run and pass support for the Pats D.
Omar Gaither- Gaither has officially claimed that vacant WLB spot in Carolina. He is doing his best Thomas Davis impersonation as well. Gaither now has 17 tackles (14 solo) and a sack in the last two weeks. With Carolina constantly behind and getting gashed in the running game, Gaither has a chance to keep up this output for the rest of the season.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Terence Newman- Newman has now had three solid weeks in a row for the Dallas secondary and is picking up pace as we head into the stretch run. Throughout the last three weeks, Newman has 14 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defensed and a touchdown. He is the most consistent Dallas DB at the moment and with Dallas typically being stout against the run, he is seeing a lot of action in the back half of the Dallas defense.
Kurt Coleman- Coleman has been on this list before, but his up and down performances have left a lot to be desired. He seems to teeter between a “must own” player and one that you absolutely cannot stand to keep on your roster. This week he is one of those “must own” guys again. He now has two solid weeks in a row and has tallied 23 tackles during these last two weeks. With how banged up the Eagles secondary is (particularly at S), Coleman does not seem to have much risk of being benched. As long as he can stay in the lineup and on the field, he has a good chance to produce for that back end and middle of the porous Eagles defense.
