Nothing great but 7 tackles sure helps your defense

Williams (69) Curtis Lofton (66) Kirk Morrison (64)Brian Cushing (60)Demeco Ryans (57)Karlos Dansby (55) David Harris (54)Lance Briggs (43)1. MLB David Hawthorne - (Actual Performance: 5-1-1) This guy never ceases to amaze me! Every week he manages, in some form or another (tackles, sacks, INT's), to amass a significant amount of points. The word is already out but if for some odd reason Hawthorne is still available on your waiver wire, pick him up immediately He's a Top 5 LB from here on out.2. WLB Will Witherspoon - (Actual Performance: 5-1-0)Not a great game by "Spoon" nor a horrible one either. I expected this amount of tackle production from Witherspoon, but I also expected a sack or INT going up against the Redskins. I'll consider this a neutral prediction.3.MLB Justin Durant - (Actual Performance: 3-3-0)Durant managed to squeeze 6 tackles out of a game where there weren't many tackle opportunities for the Jaguars He actually led the team with 6 total tackles.

To his benefit though, the 49ers give up the least amount of points to opposing LB's. I still have with in Durant and would start him the majority of weeks.4.ILB Nick Barnett - (Actual Performance: 7-3-0)A very nice game for Barnett, who has been very consistent the last 6 or 7 games. I will take 10 total tackles out of my LB any day of the week.5. MLB Larry Foote - (Actual Performance: 5-2-0)Foote did exactly what I would expect him to. Nothing great, but 7 tackles sure helps your defense.The IDP Guru's Lock of the WeekMLB Paul Posluszny - (Actual Performance: 6-4-0)Another double digit total tackle day for Paul This guy is about as bankable as it gets. I still am scratching my head as to why he isn't owned in more leagues. If he is available in your league, I wouldn't hesitate to pick him up and start him every week.

He's pretty much "matchup independent" at this point in the season.DB"The Untouchables":Eric Weddle (66)Charles Woodson (63)Troy Polamalu (62) Antrel Rolle (59)Darren Sharper (58)Ed Reed (56)Oshiomogho Atogwe (54)Roman Harper (53)Brandon Meriweather (53)Daniel Manning (51)Erik Coleman (51)Antoine Bethea (49)1. The Raiders had SLB Sam Williams on Witten the entire game (Branch usually covers the TE) and the Cowboys aren't the greatest matchup for DB's. Branch's numbers this week were a big let-down, but I still would recommend using him pretty much every week.3. SS/WLB Bryan Scott - (Actual Performance: 7-3-0)Admittingly, this pick was like taking candy from a baby. Scott is playing WLB on of the poorer defenses in the league and was going against the run-heavy Dolphins And he qualifies at the SS position. However, many IDPers don't follow closely enough to know these facts.

If he's available, pick him up, and ride him out for the rest of the year.4. FS Brandon McGowan - (Actual Performance: 1-2-0)Even though the Patriots got pounded by the Saints, there defense didn't have very many tackling opportunities because the Saints scored so quickly. With that being said, McGowan still should have had more than 3 tackles.5. SS Bernard Pollard - (Actual Performance: 8-2-0)I have to say that this is a pretty amazing IDP fantasy story. Pollard was cut from the lowly Chiefs before the regular season started, essentially leaving him useless from a fantasy football perspective. It almost brings a tear to my eyes.The IDP Guru's Lock of the WeekCB Nick Harper - (Actual Performance: 9-0-0)I hope people took my advice on this one and picked up Harper this week because it sure would have paid off Harper is the perfect fantasy CB.