Week Four of the 100th season is officially in the books. It brought us a 95-point affair, upsets to multiple NFC contenders, and the continued struggles of some of the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks. The word of the week in the NFL might just be “overrated”. Some of the league’s best struggled in what should’ve been clear victories. Nevertheless, I return with the Week Four edition of my NFL stock market. Whose stock rose from last week, and whose performance dropped-off?
Stock Up: Jameis Winston vs. Rams
Week 4 Stats: 68.3 completion percentage, 385 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 120.5 passer rating.
It was surprising to many to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers be the team to hand the Rams their first loss. What was even more shocking was the fact that it happened in Los Angeles. But, if we’re looking at the facts, Tampa Bay ranked third in total offense last year.
Putting up 55 points is less of a surprise than you’d think. And, leading that torching of the Rams was former Heisman winner Jameis Winston, earning himself a stock up for his efforts in knocking off the defending NFC champions.
Considering Winston actually got the win for his squad, is it fair to say he was the best quarterback in Week 4? I think so. Winston, over the past few seasons, has been rather up and down in his performances. But, this past week, he played as the number one overall draft pick should. This win was no fluke either. His dismantling of the Rams came against a defense that was in the Super Bowl last year.
Winston’s throws, which included his 67-yard bomb to Mike Evans, were something to marvel at. Winston earns himself a stock up after throwing 380+ yards in consecutive weeks. Now, let’s hope he doesn’t go back to inconsistent Jameis Winston.
Stock Down: Ezekiel Elliott vs. Saints
Week 4 Stats: 18 carries, 35 rushing yards, and 1 rushing touchdown.
This stock down is simple. Ezekiel Elliott decided to holdout at the beginning of training camp in hopes of earning a new contract. Once he signed that contract (six-year, $90 million), he somehow both returned and disappeared from the football field.
Yes, Elliott has been playing, but not as the elite running back we all know him to be. The mistake that I’ve made early in the season is praising elite players while disregarding their opponents. That’s the same for Elliott.
In Week 1, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he had just been returning from his hold-out. Then, against the Dolphins and Redskins, he looked like his usual self, notching 100+ rushing yards in each game. But, once again, it was against the Dolphins and Redskins.
Week 4 was the first time we got to see Elliott face another elite defense, and in that game, he was very underwhelming. Behind the best offensive line in football, Elliott simply wasn’t a factor beyond the one rushing touchdown he had. The point here is that if you want to be paid like a $90 million running back, you have to play like one. That includes upwards of 90 rushing yards per game.
When Elliott is off, it has a trickling effect on the rest of the offense. There’s nothing more that needs to be said other than Ezekiel Elliott needs to play better. My Dallas-New England Super Bowl prediction depends on it.
Stock Down: Jared Goff vs. Tampa Bay
Week 4 Stats: 66.2 completion percentage, 517 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and an 80.3 passer rating
Now, you might be wondering how Jared Goff made it on the stock down list. Well, when you look at what he did the ENTIRE game, he probably should’ve had upwards of 550 yards. He threw the ball 68 times (third-most attempts in NFL history) but missed on a staggering 23 of them. The Rams beat themselves in this game, and although the defense didn’t hold up their end, the offense didn’t either.
Goff needs to improve and find an identity within the Rams’ offense. Todd Gurley clearly isn’t the same player he once was, and that’s immediately assumed to be because of his previous knee injuries. Goff is the anchor that the Rams’ offense needs despite Gurley not being the same. Missing 23 of your pass attempts may never win the Rams a game when the lights are brightest, let alone a regular-season game.
Last year we saw the play of Goff decline after losing WR Cooper Kupp for most of the season. He still isn’t reaching that level of elite quarterback play that he should be on a team such as Los Angeles. He earns a stock down, as his big numbers don’t always warrant the best of results. 500+ yards is impressive for any player. But, for the number of mistakes Goff made, it makes his performance that much less impressive.
Stock Up: Nick Chubb vs. Ravens
Week 4 Stats: 20 rushes, 165 rushing yards, and 3 rushing touchdowns.
I never thought that the Cleveland Browns were going to win the AFC North. But, looking at the beating they put on the Baltimore Ravens, it’s safe to say we can’t write them off just yet. Cleveland absolutely steam-rolled their opponent, largely in part due to Nick Chubb’s huge day.
Chubb isn’t a player that I expect to be a huge factor every time he steps on the field. However, unexpectedly, he was against a stout Ravens’ defense. There’s nothing more to say other than that Chubb showed up in what seemed like a must-win game. The Browns seem to be a team fans will be hopping on and off the bandwagon all season long. But, if this game against the Ravens showed us anything, it’s that the Browns are inching closer and closer to the team we all expect them to be.
Stock Down: Entire Vikings Offense
Through 4 Weeks: 25th in total offense, 31st in passing yards, and 18th in scoring
I was debating whether or not to put the Falcons or Vikings on here with a stock down. Ever since their Super Bowl appearance, Atlanta simply hasn’t been the same team. But, looking at Minnesota, they’ve just been disappointing, and if I’m being honest, it begins with Kirk Cousins.
You’re playing on a fully-guaranteed three-year, $84 million contract but playing nowhere near the standard that such a contract should come with. After looking at the numbers above, you simply can’t help but look at how it doesn’t match the level of talent Minnesota has.
When you have two well-paid wide receivers in Adam Thielen (four-year, $64 million) and Stefon Diggs (five-year, $72 million), you have to be able to put up more than above-average numbers on offense. And, the fact that they’re almost last in the league in passing alone with those two is just mind-blowing.
Why a stock down? The Vikings passing offense is garbage. Looking at his contract, Kirk Cousins is just overrated. That hasn’t just been the case this past week but the entire season. They need to find out what’s wrong and fast because the only thing that seems to be going right for them is Dalvin Cook, and even he had a bad outing last week.