Who's Hot / Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Brainiac QB out of Harvard (SI PLAYERS, April 25) shows he can get physical, too, coming off the bench to throw for 310 yards and rally the Rams to a win over the Texans in his first appearance. Said the economics major, explaining his success, "I was thrown into a situation I didn't have time to think about."

Vikings

That awful love boat incident, the injury to QB Daunte Culpepper--yet after a 2-5 start, the Vikes have been reaping football's sweetest reward: Four straight wins have them in the playoff hunt. WR Koren Robinson: "We don't get rattled."

Running backs

Ten ran for at least 110 yards last week, including stars LaDainian Tomlinson (184 yards) and Shaun Alexander (his 20th TD), rookie Samkon Gado (111 yards) and back-in-form Jamal Lewis (season-high 113).

Denver

Rocky Mountain highs all around: NBA's Nuggets are near the top of the Northwest, NHL's Avalanche are a surprising 13-8-3, and watch them Broncos! Thanksgiving win has team at 9-2 and, with three patsies left on schedule, bustin' toward playoffs.

WHO'S Not