Hot pickups - Week 3

• RB DeShawn Wynn, Green Bay Packers: Wynn looked better than fellow rookie Brandon Jackson, Green Bay's starter, in Week 2 against the G-Men, scoring twice. There's been some media speculation he could take the starting job from Jackson, who hasn't been very impressive.

I'm not sure Wynn will displace Jackson outright at this point, and even if he did, I don't think the Pack will give up on their second-round pick in favor of Wynn, a seventh-rounder. We've also got to consider Vernand Morency, working his way back from injury. And his breakout game came against the Giants, who are putrid.

Still, Wynn has potential, even if he's sharing touches, and there isn't a proven No. 1 RB in that backfield. Think of him as a fourth RB with some upside. FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

• RB Sammy Morris, New England Patriots: He's getting 10 carries a game in a good offense, and his one TD is more than starter Laurence Maroney has. He's also an experienced back with five-TD and six-TD seasons on his resume. While the Patriots have a history of making nondescript guys into offensive stars for a week or two - then abandoning them - Morris' decent workload, compared with Maroney's slow start, are too much to ignore, especially in leagues that are thin on running back talent in the free-agent pool. FOUR STARS.

• QB Byron Leftwich, Atlanta Falcons: Veteran QBs with starting experience are pretty prized in the NFL, so Atlanta was wise to sign Leftwich. Falcons starter Joey Harrington has been his usual awful self, and backup Chris Redman isn't much to be excited about. Though Leftwich never fulfilled his promise in Jacksonville (fantasy or otherwise), I fully expect him to be starting for the Falcons before long, and he will be working under a supposed offensive genius in Bobby Petrino.

Leftwich won't be much of a fantasy difference-maker - he never really has been - but he should be a more-than-capable spot starter or bye-week fill-in. It's not often you find guys like that on the waiver wire at this point in the season, especially in 12-team leagues. FOUR STARS.

• WR Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos: The second-year receiver is a big target who's caught 10 balls and a TD through two games. He's still building on the potential he showed in December last season.

Broncos QB Jay Cutler hasn't been John Elway yet, and Javon Walker and Brandon Stokley are still around to hog the ball. But Marshall is coming along as a red zone threat, and Cutler's still improving. The kid was a popular sleeper pick this year, and I agreed. He wouldn't have lasted long as a free agent in any of the leagues I'm in. FOUR STARS.

• WR Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans: The speedy 6-3 rookie from Lane College in Tennesse turned some heads with a good preseason and landed the Texans' No. 3 receiver spot behind Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter. With Johnson already ruled out for Week 3 against Indianapolis, Jones gets his chance to start.

With QB Matt Schaub looking pretty good so far, this could be Jones' chance to shine. If you're looking to roll the dice this week at your WR spot, this might be the guy. FOUR STARS.

• QB Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns: Whenever a guy throws five touchdown passes, you've got to show some respect. Anderson's assault on the Bengals secondary was pretty surprising, and now he gets Oakland as an encore.

I fully expect Anderson to come back down to earth soon and eventually hand over the keys to Brady Quinn at some point this season. But if you're really desperate at QB, and if there was ever a time to insert Anderson into a starting fantasy lineup, this would be the week. THREE STARS.

• WR Shaun McDonald, Detroit Lions: McDonald followed up his strong 2007 debut against Oakland (six catches, 90 yards, TD) with another nice effort in Week 2 against Minnesota (seven catches, 71 yards). Even with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson and Mike Furrey in the mix, McDonald is getting more than his share of the action in Mike Martz's sandlot offense.

I'm still skeptical about this whole "Lions are winning 10 games" deal that Jon Kitna started. I'm not sure that the good times will really last. But Detroit is 2-0 after all, and there are an awful lot of balls to be caught. If McDonald does it again this week, I'll be more of a believer. THREE STARS.