Matt Cassel, QB, New England - Like Turner, Cassel will see very little time behind a superstar starter, but the former USC backup has shown that he can be relied upon if he has to be. He's passed for 484 yards, completed well over 60 percent of his 54 passes, connected on three touchdowns with no picks, and is at the top of the league in passer rating. He's been way more poised and in control than you would expect of a player who didn't really even play in college.
Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona - Leinart has looked as good as Cassel, his backup at USC. He's put up impressive numbers in two games (19-of-32, 189 yards and a TD), which is especially impressive considering he missed a good portion of camp because he was pouting over his contract. He's grasped the playbook much better than the soon-to-be father apparently grasps birth control. He's been poised and hasn't panicked under pressure. Kurt Warner will start the season as No. 1, but my bet is that Leinart will assume that position before the year is out.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina - In one game Panthers fans fell in love with their draft pick. His nine carries yielded 41 yards against the Dolphins, for a decent average of more than 4.5 yards, but he is not being talked about for that. He fielded a Miami kickoff on the two-yard line, made a sick cut up the middle, and stopped running when he made the endzone. No one had come close to touching him. Williams hadn't shown much spark before that moment, but all was forgiven and Williams Fever was born.
Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans - Colston was drafted out of Hofstra with the 252nd pick, just four spots before the draft ended. Hopes obviously weren't high for him, but he has been incredible throughout camp and has now likely earned the starting spot that opened up when the team traded Donte Stallworth away. The Saints wouldn't have jettisoned their top receiver from last year if they didn't have confidence in Colston.