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Terrell Owens is unique.

Duh, right?

Only we're not talking about the Eagles wide receiver's controversial opinions or creative post-touchdown celebrations. Not today.

Through the first half of the season, Owens has had the greatest impact of any of the offseason veteran acquisitions. The Eagles are 7-1, were the last team to lose, and have the league's ninth-rated passing offense (up from 20th last year) largely because of Owens, who has a league-high nine touchdown catches and has brought an immeasurable amount of attitude to Philadelphia. Quarterback Donovan McNabb is having the best season of his career, completing 64 percent of his passes, and is on record as saying Owens deserves 75 percent of the credit for it.

Wide receivers just don't change teams and make that kind of immediate impact. That's why giving a wideout large coin is such a huge risk, because you almost never get the big-time player you thought you were. When it comes to major trades/free-agent signings involving wideouts, teams usually end up having overpaid for them. Andre Rison. Alvin Harper. Yancy Thigpen. Joey Galloway. Keyshawn Johnson. David Boston. Peerless Price just got to Atlanta and hasn't had Michael Vick to work with all the time, and Laveranues Coles has been OK for Washington, but has either been worth the money and draft picks they cost the Falcons and Redskins, respectively? It's debatable.

There are several factors involved in the success of a receiver: system, quarterback, other receiver(s). Most of the time the top available receivers are "No. 2" types whose old teams wouldn't pay them what they wanted. Other teams think they can be No. 1s and pay them as such. It's difficult for them to enjoy the same kind of production in a different system, without a top-notch quarterback, and without, say, a Michael Irvin or an Eric Moulds dealing with the double coverage.

Owens was a different case. He's a true No. 1 still in the prime of his career. He went from a good quarterback in Jeff Garcia to a great one in McNabb. And the Eagles offense is another variation of the West Coast scheme, which he played in for eight seasons in San Francisco.

Owens has been worth every cent of the $10 million bonus included in the seven-year, $42-million deal the Eagles gave him after completing the trade with the 49ers and Ravens, one that also cost them defensive end Brandon Whiting and a fifth-round pick next year. With his next touchdown reception, he'll have twice as many as Philly's receivers had all of last year.

It says a lot about what exceptional talents McNabb and Owens are that they needed very little time to adjust to each other. Owens went to Philly and immediately became McNabb's go-to guy. Head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Brad Childress also deserve credit for coming up with creative ways to get Owens the football despite his being the focus of opposing defenses.

Owens' 49 catches and 750 yards rank fifth and second in the league, respectively. He's ruffled a few feathers around the league and among media, but he's fit in nicely with the rest of the Birds. They seem to love him in Philly's locker room.

If Owens and the Eagles keep it up, he'll get serious MVP consideration.

"To say we expected this production, we can't honestly say that," said team vice president of player personnel Tom Heckert. "We knew he was a good player. It was up to us to put him in position to make the plays we know he's capable of."

Other offseason acquisitions that have yielded immediate returns (not including rookies):

Corey Dillon, Patriots: When he arrived via trade with the Bengals, Dillon, a malcontent in Cincinnati, tried to downplay the significance of his addition, reminding everyone that the Patriots had won two titles without him. However, they wouldn't be 7-1 without him. He's New England's first-half MVP; look to the Pittsburgh game two weeks ago for proof. Dillon was sidelined and as a result, New England's running attack was shut down as the team lost its first game this season. With the Patriots' passing game sputtering since Week 2, Dillon has picked up the slack, gaining at least 100 yards in his last three games and four times overall. He's averaging almost five yards a carry and is eighth in the league with 749 yards. Above all, like Owens, he's been a model teammate.

Duce Staley, Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger has been dynamic, but the biggest reason the Steelers are 7-1 and considered the league's best team is their running game. The Steelers have returned to the run after finishing 31st in rushing last year, and Staley is their featured back. The former Eagle, who signed for a reported $14 million over five years, including $4 million in bonuses, gained 707 yards in Pittsburgh's first seven games before missing last Sunday's win over Philly with a hamstring injury. He's still 10th in the league in rushing and averages 4.7 yards a carry. Staley and Jerome Bettis form a devastating tailback duo, with Bettis (eight touchdowns) getting most of the work in the red zone.

Kurt Warner, Giants: He's kept Eli Manning's seat warm and helped keep the surprising Giants (5-3) in the playoff hunt. Warner, who signed what is essentially a one-year deal, hasn't put up St. Louis-type stats (62.6 percent, five touchdowns, four picks) but he led New York to four wins in its first five games.

Cornelius Griffin, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington, Redskins: Collectively they cost owner Dan Snyder $25 million in bonuses. So far, money well spent. Washington has the league's top defense. The "D" is the only reason the Redskins' season is merely disappointing and not disastrous. Cornerback Springs ($10 million) has three sacks and three interceptions, defensive tackle Griffin ($8 million bonus) leads the team with four sacks, and linebacker Washington ($7 million) is second on the team with 53 tackles. Springs and Washington are playing like Pro Bowlers.

Brian Griese, Buccaneers: Given yet another chance to salvage his career, Griese has helped Tampa Bay save its once-lost season with three wins in four starts. Griese replaced an injured Chris Simms Oct. 10 against New Orleans, after Simms started in place of an ineffective Brad Johnson. Griese, who signed a three-year deal in March, has sparked Tampa Bay's offense by completing 69 percent with six touchdowns and just one interception. He's fourth in the league with a quarterback rating is 106.9. Jon Gruden has his quarterback. Then again, so did Mike Shanahan.

Michael Smith is a senior writer for ESPN.com.