Who’s hot
Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota: The quarterback is putting up Nintendo-like numbers. He’s on pace to break the single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns.
Who’s cold
Chad Johnson, Cincinnati: The wide receiver needs to ask the Browns for the Pepto-Bismol back. He has 91 yards in the last two weeks and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1.
Pick him up
Keenan McCardell, San Diego: The wide receiver was traded by Tampa Bay after a long holdout. With Reche Caldwell out for the season, look for McCardell to step in and become Drew Brees’ top target.
Drop him
Jerry Porter, Oakland: He was supposed to be the Raiders’ No. 1 wide receiver. Instead he’s averaging 45 yards per game and he has yet to score a touchdown.
Start him
Reuben Droughns, Denver: Look for the running back to rack up 150 rushing yards and a TD or two against the last-ranked Cincinnati run defense. In their last three games, the Bengals’ opponents have run almost twice as much as passed (120 run, 66 pass).
Bench him
Isaac Bruce, St. Louis: The wide receiver has cooled off (89 yards, 0 TDs last two games) after starting the season with four straight 100-yard games. He’s also facing the top-ranked Dolphins’ passing defense that has surrendered just five passing touchdowns in six games.
