Week 3: Pickups of the Week

QB Brian Griese, ---

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Garcia is out, Griese is in. John Gruden trots out another veteran QB with hopes that he can inject new life into the Buccaneers. Tampa lost a heartbreaker to the Saints in week 1 with Garcia at the helm, then won decisively in week 2 with Griese. Rumour has it that Garcia and Gruden may soon be citing "irreconcilable differences," leaving Griese as the starter by default. It's hard to see Griese having a huge fantasy impact this season, but there are some desperate owners out there who could do worse than trust a proven starter as their #2 QB. If Garcia gets traded, Griese needs to be considered in that growing group of mediocre stop-gap pivots that former Vince Young, Tom Brady and now Jeff Garcia owners have to chose from.

RB Michael Bush, ---

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From third string to starter? Quite possibly. Darren McFadden's status for next week is uncertain, ditto Justin Fargas. Bush looks to be the man next week against the Bills. He tore up the Chiefs last week (take that with a grain of salt; Kansas City has already given up a disgusting 426 rushing yards this season) and looks completely healed from the leg injury that had him on the PUP all of 2007. At 245, he's a load to bring down and he could usurp Justin Fargas in short yardage and goal line duty when all three backs are healthy. Bush's power would be a nice complement to McFadden's speed.

RB Fred Jackson, ---

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Jackson is the kind of handcuff fantasy owners love: the kind who can still put up numbers with the starter in the lineup. Marshawn Lynch isn't really at risk of losing playing time to his sophomore backup, but that's no reason for fantasy owners to overlook Fred Jackson. He's a skilled receiver who's been seeing increasing attention lately including a big 7 catches last week. With that kind of second-string productivity, Jackson is the perfect insurance policy and a decent option as a flex play against weaker teams like the Raiders - whom the Bills play in week 3.

RB Michael Pittman, ---

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Pittman has become the dreaded goal line vulture, picking off the corpses of Selvin Young owners. The journeyman ball of muscle has earned the goal line trust of Mike Shanahan to the tune of 3 TDs on just 14 carries thus far. Pittman could be in line for double-digit TD's the way the Broncos have been dominating opponents and he's certainly worth an insurance pickup if you're got Selvin Young on your fantasy team.

RB Darren Sproles, PHI

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At just 5'6" and 181 generous NFL.com pounds, Sproles didn't seem worth consideration as the heir to LaDainian Tomlinson's fantasy fortune. Like Yoda says, judge him not by his size. Last Sunday, Sproles showed that he was more than just a diminutive special-teams and occasional third down scat-back – he is a bona fide every down back who can carry the load when called upon. L.T. owners have every right to be concerned about their star's turf toe. This is the kind of injury that can linger, and owners would be wise to handcuff with Sproles.