PHILADELPHIA – The good news came from Valley Ranch last week. Terrell Owens is happy. He’s healthy. He’s feeling good. He loves his new coach and new offensive coordinator. He’ll never again accidentally overdose on painkillers and supplements.

All is right with T.O.’s world.

That’s bad news for defensive backs in the National Football League, and good news for the Dallas Cowboys, who have emerged as quite possibly the team to beat in the NFC – paging Chicago, paging New Orleans – after three straight wins to start the season.

Owens has been terrific this season, catching 16 passes for 329 yards – a 20.6-yards-per-catch average – with six receptions over 20 yards and three touchdowns. New coach Wade Phillips and first-year offensive coordinator Jason Garrett have made a conscious effort to involve Owens in the offense early in games, and it has worked.

“What a difference a year makes,” Owens said during a news conference last week. “It’s a lot of fun right now. It’s been a while since I’ve had fun. It’s very enjoyable, especially with the guys in the locker room. This is what I envisioned this team could be, even last year. It just makes it that much more special. The big picture looks brighter and brighter every week.”

Owens isn’t the only receiver for whom the picture looks bright.

Here’s a look some of the other most dangerous receivers:

Randy Moss. Like Owens, Moss was supposed to be a malcontent unable to mesh with a team, much less help one win. But a funny thing has happened since he arrived in New England. Moss, like Owens, has been happy. And why not?

Tom Brady has been unstoppable, completing nearly 80 percent of his passes. Part of it is Brady spent the off-season working on his technique and mechanics, and part of it is he actually has talented receivers around him this season.

Moss has 22 catches for 403 yards and five touchdowns, and he’s broken off three pass plays of 40 or more yards.

His 18.3-yards-per-catch average is among the highest in the league.

And, unlike during his two years in Oakland, Moss’ team is winning. A lot.

Asked to name the receiver who has made him go “wow” this season, Brian Dawkins picked Moss.

“What Randy is doing now,” Dawkins said, “from what he had not been doing in previous years, people thought he had lost a step and was getting old and all that good stuff. All of a sudden, they’re putting up some big numbers up there.”

Chad Johnson. If Moss is No. 1, Johnson has to be No. 1A. He is so fast running on the outside, hardly any defensive back can slow, much less stop, him. In four games, Johnson has 25 catches for 442 yards and three touchdowns. He has 10 receptions of at least 20 yards, and his 147.3-yards-per-game average is best in the league.

Yes, he is outlandish with his touchdown celebration. Yes, he is over the top. But Johnson is colorful and fun, and he backs up his antics on the field.

Bill Belichick spent part of last week game-planning for Johnson and his teammate, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Belichick said at times it looked as if they were fair-catching balls in the end zone for touchdowns. That’s how open, thanks to speed, Johnson and Houshmandzadeh get.

About Johnson, Belichick said: “He’s good at everything. He’s quick. He’s fast. He has good hands. He’s a smart receiver. He knows how to beat different coverages, and he’s seen a lot of the coverage. … He’s good after the catch. He does everything well. The guy has been the AFC’s leading receiver four years in a row right? It’s not like he hasn’t seen double coverage. It’s not like he hasn’t seen teams game plan for him. He knows he can deal with it and he’s good at everything.”

Big praise from a three-time Super Bowl winner.

Marvin Harrison. The Philly native and Roman Catholic product doesn’t have the gaudy numbers of Moss and Johnson, but when he gets the ball, he makes it count. Harrison has 16 catches for 223 yards and one touchdown this season. His numbers would be better if Reggie Wayne didn’t demand and deserve his share of attention, too.

But numbers aside, Harrison is as good as they come. A future Hall of Famer, he destroyed former teammate Jason David when the Colts opened the season against the New Orleans Saints. Lined up in uncharacteristic territory on the left side, Harrison burned David, who was in single coverage, with a stutter step. David froze, and Harrison laid out to catch a pass from Peyton Manning for a touchdown.

Harrison is 35 years old but has the speed to embarrass players 10 years younger. He’s got the moves, the smarts and the cunning, which makes him one of the best.

Plaxico Burress. Yes, Burress has had a string of injuries and a questionable attitude at times, but he possesses something you can’t teach – size. Burress is tall, and he’s one of Eli Manning’s favorite targets. In three games, Burress has 15 catches for 262 yards and five touchdowns, tied with Moss for the most in the league.

And Burress has moxie. Asked last Sunday about his friend Lito Sheppard, Burress said: “I’ve got to tell him to get on the field so we can have some fun. … We always have a good time when we’re out there. It’s good to have friendly fire.”

Steve Smith. Smith has so much game that he cost DeAngelo Hall $100,000. Anyone who can frustrate another player the way the Carolina receiver frustrated Hall, who got flagged for three penalties for 67 yards on one Panthers drive last weekend, deserves a spot on the list. Smith’s 16 catches for 281 yards and four touchdowns don’t hurt either.

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(c) 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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AP-NY-09-29-07 2028EDT