WEEK 3 - Sunday Recap

- The Rams got the best of old pal Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, thanks to his FOUR turnovers. Does that mean Matt Leinart should start warming up? Not yet, but it will just be more evidence for Dennis Green when he eventually makes the switch.

- Another nice outing for Mr. Torry Holt (120 yards, TD). He's as steady as they come.

- Here's why you can't always just go by the injury report: Brian Westbrook was questionable with a sore knee. He didn't practice Friday. But he's one of your stud guys, your first or second pick. He's got an enticing matchup against the Niners. Unless you're in some ridiculous league where you've got another stud on the bench, you've got to start him if he's cleared to play. All he did was rush for 117 yards and two TDs, then tack on 47 receiving yards - and another score! When you're setting your lineup, sometimes you've just gotta go with your heart.

- It was a similar story with Ahman Green. He was questionable with a hamstring issue. But I had to start him out of necessity because of the bye week. ESPN even put up a graphic sometime around 12:15 on Sunday saying he was "OUT," just to fool me, but Chris Berman later corrected it to say Green would play. What a nice fellow, that Boomer. Anyway, Green was good (68 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards and a TD), even though he had a costly fumble, but that's been a problem with him for years. The lesson: if a banged-up guy is cleared to play, and you would have started him anyway if it weren't for his injury, you should probably still start him.

- Need WR help? Get Green Bay rookie Greg Jennings while you still can.

- Hear that huge whoosing sound off in the distance Sunday? That was Clinton Portis owners everywhere taking a huge sigh of relief. The big guy had 164 total yards and two TDs, giving sweet satisfaction to those who took a gamble on him after two weeks of frustration. Granted, he was playing the Texans, who managed to make even Mark Brunell look good, but Portis should be cool from here on out.

- Another happy return: Steve Smith finally took the field and looked pretty good (seven catches, 112 yards) against the Bucs as he eased himself back into action. Welcome back!

- San Francisco TE Vernon Davis cracked a bone in his leg and could miss four weeks. If you need a replacement, look no further that his teammate, Eric Johnson, who caught seven passes and a TD on Sunday in Davis' absence. The Ivy Leaguer fell off the radar last year when he missed the season with a foot injury, but he led the Niners in receptions (82) the year before. He should have a bigger role in the offense the next few weeks.

- Another Niner whose stock has risen: WR/RB Michael Robinson. The former Penn State quarterback rushed for 29 yards and two TDs against Philly, and with starter Frank Gore suffering a strained abdomen already being questionable for next week, M-Rob could be getting some more touches. At the very least he may have earned himself a spot as the short-yardage back. He's got two key characteristics for that role: a big heart, and an even bigger cranium.

- Hope you weren't counting on Chris Simms at QB, but if you were, he's out indefinitely after suffering a ruptured spleen. As if the pirate ship wasn't already sinking in Tampa Bay, rookie Bruce Gradkowski now gets the call. He might have a future in the NFL, but the future is not now.

- Another pedestrian outing from Daunte Culpepper: 17 for 26, 168 yards, one TD rushing, no TDs passing, no INTs and a fumble. Not a total disaster (the Dolphins did win), but certainly not the breakout game we expected against the lowly Titans. It doesn't look like he's going to be a major fantasy force anytime soon.

- Welcome to fantasy football, Maurice Jones-Drew: 103 rushing yards and a TD catch against the Colts will make the Jacksonville rookie a hot pickup, especially when he outdid veteran Fred Taylor (74 yards).

- More RBBC (running back by committee) aggravation: Dominic Rhodes (14 carries, 48 yards) vs. Joseph Addai (three carries, 15 yards); Laurence Maroney (12 carries, 18 yards) vs. Corey Dillon (five carries, 16 yards, left with arm injury); Tatum Bell (27 carries, 123 yards) vs. Mike Bell (four carries, 12 yards); Kevan Barlow (12 carries, 31 yards, TD) vs. Cedric Houston (two carries, 10 yards, TD) vs. Leon Washington (seven carries, 25 yards; two carries, 52 yards). Maroney gets an obvious upgrade if Dillon is hurt; Tatum is separating himself; Barlow is the Jets' main guy but the other guys will steal touches; and in Indy it's anybody's guess.

- To those who added Rex Grossman and expected another four-TD day: that's not how it works, guys.

- Lots of yards for Willis McGahee (150) again, but does the dude have a fear of the end zone? Browns QB Charlie Frye now has three rushing TDs, while McGahee has zero.

- Carson Palmer throws four TDs, and not one to Chad Johnson. In fact, Chad had only one catch for 11 yards. What the heck is up with that??

- Almost thought Eli Manning wasn't gonna come through this week as the Giants got spanked by the Seahawks, but three late TD passes salvaged a nice game. Is there anything sweeter than garbage time?