Just checking in

I can't offer a whole lot this week in the way of recapping Sunday's action ... I spent much of the weekend moving into a new house and was without cable and the Internet, caveman-style. The good news is by this weekend I should be all settled in and will for the first time have access to DirectTV's wondrous NFL Sunday Ticket, which means my analysis should be better than ever.

In the meantime, I'll give you a few impressions from the action that I did get to see and from the information I gleaned from reading box scores the next day, like they did in olden times:

• I couldn't help but notice that much-maligned Giants defense terrorizing Donovan McNabb. Totally didn't see that coming, and I'm a Giants fan. And how does a team go from scoring 56 points one week to three the next? Does Brian Westbrook mean that much to this offense? Yes, apparently.

• Tough break for Cadillac Williams owners. The running back ranks are thinning before our eyes. I like Michael Pittman a little better than Earnest Graham from here on out. More on that in my next post.

• Before you go nuts over Daunte Culpepper's five TDs (two rushing), realize who they came against (Miami, so it was personal) and how many passing yards he had (75).

• Good signs for two of the three elite RBs we've been watching closely, as Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson both crossed the 100-yard barrier when their teams played each other. We're getting out of the danger zone with these two, moreso with LT2. And didn't I tell you to get that Dwayne Bowe kid (eight catches, 164 yards, TD for third straight week)? Yes, yes I believe I did.

• OK, I guess I can't fight it anymore. It looks like Adrian Peterson (the good one) is an every-week starter now. Chester Taylor is still going to get some looks like I've said all along, but the thing about Peterson is, he's capable of breaking off those big runs, like his 55-yarder against Green Bay. Too bad the Vikes have a bye week - I'd almost be tempted to play the kid regardless.

• If you had Matt Leinart penciled in as your backup (or starter, in deep leagues) you've probably already considered some alternatives. When you're letting Kurt Warner outplay you and manufacture major upsets, you've got a problem. I'd be looking at guys like Jeff Garcia, David Garrard, even David Carr at this point if they're out there. Sounds like Jake Delhomme might be headed for elbow surgery, so now's the time to act if you're interested in Carr.

Hot pickups - Week 4

RB Brian Leonard, St. Louis Rams: The rookie is an obvious choice as he fills in for Steven Jackson this week against Dallas (and probably a few weeks more after that). Assuming he wasn't handcuffed by Jackson owners protecting their No. 1 pick, you need to go out and get Leonard now. If you've been privy to any of his highlights from Rutgers (see video below), you know he can play a little ball. I'm excited to see what the kid can do as a pro. FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)



WR Dwyane Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs: I like what I've seen out of this cat so far. He's got two TDs already (Larry Johnson has zero) and he might be K.C.'s most reliable receiving option not named Tony Gonzalez. FOUR STARS

RB Aaron Stecker, New Orleans Saints: Now that Deuce McAllister is sidelined for '07, a lot of people don't believe Reggie Bush can carry the load by himself. I'm one of those people - although I don't think Stecker's going to just automatically match Deuce's numbers, either. He'll get a few TDs though - assuming Sean Payton's visor stops cutting off the circulation to his brain - which means Stecker deserves to be owned. THREE STARS

RB Ron Dayne, Houston Texans: Counting on Dayne is always a risky proposition, but if you happen to get inside information that Ahman Green is too hurt to play this Sunday against the Falcons and Dayne isn't, this risk will pay off. THREE STARS

RB Kenny Watson, Cincinnati Bengals: If Rudi Johnson's hamstring injury turns out to be serious, Watson would be the guy in Cincy with Chris Perry and Kenny Irons out of the picture for the time being. I wouldn't use him this week against the Patriots though - heck, I might not use Rudi even if he was healthy against the Pats. THREE STARS

QB Brian Griese, Chicago Bears: The nine-year vet gets the call this week, replacing Rex Grossman as the Bears' starter. We already know what Griese's capable of as a starter - "capable" is a good way to describe him, actually - and he certainly couldn't be any worse than Grossman. He's not a terrible spot starter, especially this week against Detroit. THREE STARS

RB Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I really hope Graham saved the footballs from his first two NFL TDs last week, because I honestly don't think a lot more are coming any time soon, no matter what Jon Gruden says. Even if Cadillac Williams is sidelined by sore ribs, don't you think Michael Pittman (5,101 rushing yards, 3,287 receiving yards and 29 total TDs in his career) is probably a smarter fantasy addition than Graham? I do. ONE STAR