Heading into Week 3

QB Tom Brady (New England) – In the past, he posted good numbers with mediocre receivers; this year, he has great receivers.  Brady’s protection has been excellent, and his accuracy has been second to none. 

WR Jerricho Cotchery (NY Jets) – I told anyone who would listen that this tough kid was in for a big year – some listened and some didn’t (yeah, you, Jason Lauren).  Cotchery has great hands and gets a lot of yards after the catch. 

RB Edgerrin James (Arizona) – The Cards are committed to running the football, and Edge hasn’t disappointed them. 

RB Marion Barber (Dallas) – He’s more than just a goal-line back.  Barber is averaging 3 yards more per carry than teammate Julius Jones, and he’s getting nearly as many touches (28 for Barber and 33 for Jones). 

WR Chris Chambers (Miami) – The Dolphins can’t run the ball, and Chambers is benefiting (15 catches in two games). 

WR Braylon Edwards (Cleveland) – If Derek Anderson continues to progress, Edwards will have a great season.  He has all of the tools to be a Pro Bowl receiver. 

QB Jake Delhomme (Carolina) – As long as WR Steve Smith is healthy, Delhomme will be worthy of starting consideration every week. 

WR Derrick Mason (Baltimore) – With Mark Clayton slowed by an ankle injury, Mason has regained his status as the top wideout in Baltimore.  He currently leads the Ravens with 15 catches for 130 yards.  Even when Clayton is 100 percent, Mason, who is being used in the slot a lot this season, will likely continue to make a fair amount of catches in the Ravens’ dink-and-dunk offense. 

K Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh) – The most productive kickers usually come from playoff teams, and the 2-0 Steelers look like they are back. 

Green Bay Defense – One offensive touchdown allowed in two games cannot be ignored. 

QB Joey Harrington (Atlanta) – Byron Leftwich was signed today.  Do I need to say more?

WR Joe Horn (Atlanta) – Roddy White (8-110) has five more catches than the aging Horn (3-48).  A quarterback change might help, but don’t count on it. 

NY Jets Defense – No sacks in two games.  Ugh!

QB J.P. Losman (Buffalo) – Rookie Trent Edwards had a fine preseason, and he could see action sooner, rather than later. 

QB Alex Smith (San Francisco) – Smith’s job is probably safe, but an improved receiving corps hasn’t boosted his anemic numbers. 

QB Chad Pennington (NY Jets) – Pennington is the starter for now, but Kellen Clemons’ impressive performance against the Ravens has Jet fans clamoring for the youngster.  You can’t blame them; if WR Justin McCareins hadn’t let two fourth-quarter passes bounce off his hands, the Jets would have forced Baltimore into overtime. 

RB Tatum Bell (Detroit) – The Lions think that Kevin Jones (foot) will be available for limited duty this week.  Jones is a better all-round back than Bell, and he’ll likely regain his starting job when he’s 100 percent. 

QB Phillip Rivers (San Diego) – Rivers and his inexperienced wide receivers have struggled.  Old reliable, WR Eric Parker, should be back after the team’s bye week, which will help. 

RB Ronnie Brown (Miami) – It’s pretty sad when you’re in danger of losing your starting job to Jessie Chatman. 

WR Reggie Brown (Philadelphia) – Yes, Donovan McNabb has been inaccurate, but Brown hasn’t been getting open very much, either. 

RB Brandon Jacobs (NY Giants) – Jacobs (knee) could return as soon as this week, but you have to figure that backup Derrick Ward has earned at least a share of the workload at running back. 

RB O.J. Simpson – Won’t he be surprised when he’s told that Johnnie Cochran can’t be a part of his defense team?

RB DeShawn Wynn (Green Bay) – Wynn rushed for 50 yards and two scores on 10 carries in the Packers’ win over the Giants. He is expected to get more carries at halfback this week and could displace fellow rookie Brandon Jackson as the Packers’ primary halfback.

WR James Jones (Green Bay) – The rookie continues to start for the injured Greg Jennings (hamstring).  Given that Jennings had a poor preseason, Jones could hold on to the job for the rest of the season. 

WR Jacoby Jones (Houston) – If Andre Johnson misses a lot of time, the explosive Jones will likely become Matt Schaub’s favorite target.   

WR Bobby Engram (Seattle) – Hasselbeck has a lot of confidence in the sure-handed Engram, and the veteran wideout has been the Seahawks’ most consistent receiver.  Engram won’t score a lot, but he’s a decent backup in point-per-reception leagues. 

RB Selvin Young (Denver) – Travis Henry is off to a great start, and if he’s on your roster, you might want to add Young (not Mike Bell or Cecil Sapp) as insurance. 

K Nick Folk (Dallas) – He ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 22 points, and is a perfect 4-of-4 on field-goal attempts. 

WR Jason Avant (Philadelphia) – Avant has been the Eagles’ most productive wideout so far this season.  It probably won’t last, but he’s worth a look if you need help at the position. 

WR Glenn Holt (Cincinnati) – Tab Perry is hurt again, giving Holt an opportunity to grab the No. 3 receiver job – at least until the suspended Chris Henry returns. 

LB Patrick Willis (San Francisco) – Willis is a fierce hitter, and with a team-leading 19 tackles, he’s the early favorite to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

LB Thomas Howard (Oakland) – Another unheralded defender in Oakland.  The speedy Howard has 16 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, and an INT returned for a TD in two games. 

LB Omar Gaither (Philadelphia) – He’s filling in nicely for the departed Jeremiah Trotter.

LB Stephen Cooper (San Diego) – With Donnie Edwards gone, someone was bound to see a huge increase in their tackle numbers.   

LB Channing Crowder (Miami) – Zach Thomas is still a tackling machine in Miami, but Crowder is a close second. 

LB Paul Posluszny (Buffalo) – The Buffalo defense will likely be on the field a lot this season, giving this rookie plenty of chances to make stops. 

WR Shaun McDonald (Detroit) – He’s leading the Lions in catches (13) and receiving yards (161).  However, I am still somewhat skeptical because I don’t recall a team finishing the season with four ultra-productive receivers.  You know that Roy Williams and rookie Calvin Johnson will continue to get their looks, but can both McDonald and Mike Furrey continue at this pace?  You also need to consider that the Lions have a difficult schedule. 

QB Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay) – How do you complete just 10 passes and finish with 243 yards and two TDs?  By playing against the Saints’ pathetic secondary – that’s how. 

WR Joe Jurevicius (Cleveland) – The oft-injured Jurevicius won’t be facing the Bengals every week.  TE Kellen Winslow will get the most catches, and WR Braylon Edwards will lead the Browns in yards and TDs. 

RB Ahman Green (Houston) – Green is off to a very nice start, but if WR Andre Johnson misses a lot of time, defenses will stuff “the box” to stop the run. 

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego) – Come on, now.  He’s faced two of the best run defenses in the league, and the Chargers’ passing game has yet to get in sync.  Trade him to me – I dare ya.

WR Santana Moss (Washington) – Jason Campbell found him six times for 89 yards on Monday night against the Eagles, and that’s with the young QB badly overthrowing a wide-open Moss for what would have been a long score.  With the Giants and the Lions up next, there may never be a better time to steal Moss away from another owner.