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New Orleans Saints stock watch: Who’s up, who’s down going into Week 1? Some players made more of their preseason opportunities than others
Who’s up and who’s down going into Week 1? Some New Orleans Saints players made more of their opportunities than others during training camp and the preseason games, and they’re going into Sunday’s season opener with the Tennessee Titans carrying expectations that reflect it.
Here’s a quick look at which players have their stock on the rise and others who are trailing ahead of Week 1:
Jaylon Smith popped off the screen while Bryan Edwards had some costly penalties. 3 risers and 3 fallers from our Saints preseason stock watch | @southexclusives
The New Orleans Saints have one more week of preseason action remaining and are looking to end with a perfect 3-0 record. Before moving forward, let’s take a look back on Sunday’s game versus the Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints came out of the matchup victorious. Within the matchup, there were some standout players for good and bad reasons.
Let’s break down the players who rose their stock and the players who dropped their stock with their performance in Week 2 versus the Los Angeles Chargers.
Check out all of Kansas City’s risers and fallers on this training camp edition of #Chiefs stock watch.
The Kansas City Chiefs will need contributions from every player they carry into the 2023 regular season as they endeavor to defend their Super Bowl LVII title. Several Chiefs have seen their stock rise over the course of nine days of practices in St. Joseph, while others have yet to prove that they belong on Kansas City’s championship-caliber roster.
With the preseason just a week away, now is the time for players on both sides of the ball to show coaches exactly what they can bring to the field next season.
Check out all the risers and fallers from Kansas City’s training camp on our first training camp stock watch:
Here is the Vikings stock watch after week two
The Minnesota Vikings lost a really tough game to the Philadelphia Eagles 24-7 on Monday night and it didn’t feel as close as the score would indicate.
The Vikings struggled mightily throughout the game on both offense and defense so there weren’t many high spots during the game.
Here is the latest stock watch for the Vikings after week two.
Here’s who is up and who is down after the Packers’ win in the home opener at Lambeau Field.
It’s stock watch time following the Green Bay Packers’ 27-10 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 2 of the 2022 season.
Here’s who is up and who is down after the win in the home opener at Lambeau Field:
RB Aaron Jones: He got 18 touches and Matt LaFleur was actually disappointed he didn’t get more. Jones averaged almost 10 yards a touch, created six plays of at least 10 or more yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. The guess here is that Jones won’t ever come close to receiving only eight touches in a game again this season; he’s the focal point of the offense, and for good reason.
WR Sammy Watkins: All three of his catches came on scoring drives. He made easy work of the coverage on a couple of in-breaking routes early, and his 55-yard deep shot late in the game pretty much put away the win.
Pony package: The Packers had Jones and A.J. Dillon on the field together for 10 snaps on Sunday night. Aaron Rodgers always talks about getting the offense’s “best 11” on the field, and Jones and Dillon are undoubtedly in top 11. The Packers think they are just scratching the surface of what this package can become, so expect to see it more and more. The dual running back look provides opportunities to get Jones out wide and in motion. His 8-yard touchdown came off the look; Jones motioned right, and Dillon led the way as a blocker.
OLB Preston Smith: He created two sacks, three quarterback hits and six total pressures, which are impressive numbers considering the Bears only dropped back to pass 17 total times. He also add five total stops, a team-high, per PFF. The veteran edge rusher can still get it done at a high level.
Backup safeties on special teams: Dallin Leavitt made a pair of tackles covering kicks, including a takedown of the returner at the 15-yard line. Rudy Ford forced a fair catch as a gunner on punt coverage at the 10-yard line.
LB Quay Walker: His speed was big for slowing down Justin Fields’ outside the pocket, and he nearly had an interception in coverage late in the game. The rookie is still finding his way as an every-down run defender at the NFL level, but his athleticism and movement ability have jumped off the screen in each of the first two weeks.
TE Marcedes Lewis: Aaron Rodgers wanted the veteran run blocker on the field more in Week 2, and Matt LaFleur made it happen. Lewis played 31 snaps and was a big part of the outside zone run game. Week in and week out, he’s one of the team’s best blockers at the point of attack.
Offensive tackles: Left tackle Yosh Nijman and right tackle Elgton Jenkins both gave up a sack on Sunday night. Oh well. Nijman actually played a terrific overall game against edge rusher Robert Quinn, while Jenkins’ return solidified the right side of the line and made everyone else better, especially in the run game. Nijman keeps improving; Jenkins will get better and better as he knocks off the rust. Even if David Bakhtiari’s return never arrives, the Packers are in good hands at offensive tackle.
Tackling on defense: For the second straight week, the Packers missed 10 total tackles on defense, per PFF. And it’s been a collective effort; after two games, seven defensive starters have at least two misses, including De’Vondre Campbell and Adrian Amos, two of the team’s most reliable defenders. For the run defense to improve, the Packers must get better at finishing.
WR Christian Watson: The rookie was on the field for just 22 snaps, down from 40 in the season opener. And he ran just seven total routes, the fewest among the wide receivers with at least 10 snaps. The Packers did scheme him up a few manufactured touches, but he turned three catches into just nine yards. Most of his work was done as the jet motion man.
DL Jarran Reed: The veteran interior lineman got pushed around in the run game and missed two tackles. Reed and TJ Slaton weren’t effective in run-stuffing roles.
Backup outside linebackers: The Packers aren’t showing much trust in backups Jonathan Garvin and Kingsley Enagbare at edge rusher. They combined for only seven total snaps. To be fair, the Bears only ran 41 plays, so Preston Smith and Rashan Gary probably didn’t need to come off the field.
The Vikings week one stock watch has a lot of star players
The Minnesota Vikings handily beat the Green Bay Packers 23-7 on Sunday afternoon in the Fox primetime slot.
With that win, the Vikings saw a lot of players see their stocks rise or fall. Let’s break them down in this week’s stock watch.
Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson: Arguably the best wide receiver in the National Football League, Jefferson torched the Packers for nine receptions, 184 yards and two touchdowns getting open at will. His league-leading PFF grade of 91.1 is reflective of that.
Kirk Cousins: While his game wasn’t perfect, Cousins showed a different level of confidence about him in running the new Kevin O’Connell offense. He was calculated in his decision making, didn’t put the ball in harms way and found open receivers consistently.
Outside Linebacker Za’Darius Smith: After dealing with injuries each of the past two seasons, Smith came out like a wrecking ball against his former team. Lining up all over the defensive line, he was a force garnering one sack and two pressures. The best play of the game came where Aaron Rodgers tried to block him and it didn’t go as planed.
Left Tackle Christian Darrisaw: After receiving praise and comparisons to Trent Williams during joint practices with the 49ers, Darrisaw had a really solid day. He showed really good power, technique and hand usage in protecting Cousins’ blindside. Darrisaw needs to work on not undersetting which allowed Gary to gain the edge but the early returns in year two are very promising.
Safety Harrison Smith: After signing a contract extension this offseason, Smith showed that he is still one of the best in the league. He was all over the field on Sunday, including intercepting a pass that ended a potential touchdown drive for the Packers before the half. Even though he is now 32 years old, Smith is still one of the best in the league.
Defensive Lineman Dalvin Tomlinson: This scheme is perfect for Tomlinson. He gets to line up as a 4i or 5T during rushing downs and slide to the inside as a pass rusher. He was dominant on the day including recovering the Rodgers fumble.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson: Even though he is still a servicable player at his age and experience level, Peterson getting thoroughly cooked on the first play of the season by rookie Christian Watson raised a major cause for concern moving forward.
Guard Ed Ingram: This is a complicated one, as Ingram was overall good but he showed some deficiencies in pass protection. Per PFF, in 15 true pass sets, he graded out at an abysmal 2.6. A true mover in the running game, Ingram needs to improve in pass protection but the talent and physical ability is there.
Wide Receiver K.J. Osborn: How much of his nearly invisible performance was due to Jefferson is up for debate but Osborn was almost non-existent on Sunday in catching three passes for 14 yards. With Jefferson likely to be a heavy priority moving forward for defenses, Osborn will be counted on to step up.
It’s stock watch time following the Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Vikings. Who is up, and who is down following the 23-7 defeat?
It’s stock watch time following the Green Bay Packers’ 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.
Here’s who is up and who is down after the season-opening loss at U.S. Bank Stadium:
WR Christian Watson: Yeah, he dropped the 75-yard touchdown. He certainly had a mental error or two (or more). But he also displayed elite speed and dangerous ability as a vertical threat, giving him real potential as a difference-maker in 2022. The Packers started him, dialed up a shot play for him on the first snap and eventually played him 40 snaps (second most among receivers).
LB Quay Walker: He had some issues early and eventually left with a minor shoulder injury, but Walker was flying around the field and making plays sideline to sideline. Of his eight tackles, five were considered “stops” by PFF, including three in the passing game. His size and speed will be menacing all year.
Packers RBs: Aaron Jones only got eight touches, but the Packers running back pair still showed why they’ll be the heartbeat of the offense in 2022. Jones turned his eight touches into 76 yards, while A.J. Dillon produced 91 total yards and a score on 15 touches. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers will get Jones and Dillon more than 23 touches in most games. They are dynamic and versatile.
DL Kenny Clark: The Pro Bowler was a wrecking ball as a pass-rusher, tallying six total pressures and a sack. His pass-rush win percentage was over 20.0, per PFF.
LT Yosh Nijman: He gave up one hurry and had a penalty, but Nijman looked like a capable left tackle in the opener. It’ll be quite the luxury to have three capable starting left tackles once everyone is healthy.
QB Aaron Rodgers: The number of mental mistakes around him certainly hurt his individual performance. But the MVP still held the ball and wasn’t decisive, and he turned the ball over twice. The Packers are going to need Rodgers to erase a lot of mistakes on offense early in the year. In Week 1, he was part of the problem.
Packers safeties: Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are in Year 4 as the starting safety tandem, but it’s certainly possible Sunday was the worst game they’ve played together. Amos and Savage were both at least partially responsible for big plays created by Justin Jefferson. The safeties are the brain of the secondary; the number of coverage busts from veterans can’t be happening.
RG Jake Hanson: The Packers talked up Hanson all summer, but he wasn’t up to the task as a starter in the opener. The right guard gave up a sack and several other pressures, and he wasn’t good enough in the run game. The Packers really need David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins back in the lineup.
WR Amari Rodgers: Juwann Winfree, who was elevated from the practice squad, played nine snaps on offense. Rodgers wasn’t on the field for a single snap in the opener, although he did fine as the primary returner. He’s just not going to be a big factor from scrimmage this season.
CB Eric Stokes: He got confused by motion on the opening touchdown and was completely out of position. It was a tough look. He also got beat twice by Justin Jefferson for catches, including a 22-yarder.
Veteran WRs: Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb ran 55 combined routes but produced only 32 total receiving yards. Ouch. Aaron Rodgers trusts the veteran pair, but the Packers need more. A lot more. The rookie receivers were decidedly more productive.
These players improved their stock the most in the Packers preseason finale.
The Green Bay Packers preseason concluded with a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But more importantly, this was the final opportunity for several players to earn a roster spot.
Here is a closer look at the players who improved their stock in Kansas City.
It was an impressive night on offense for the undrafted rookie, who caught all five passes for 26 yards and averaged 4.0 yards per rush on seven attempts, including a 24-yard touchdown run. However, Goodson did drop a kickoff attempt and also struggled to hold up in pass protection–two factors that will determine the third running back role.
Once the Kansas City starting defense was off the field, the Packers’ offensive line did a good job of opening up running lanes, and Patrick Taylor benefited just as Goodson did. Taylor totaled 34 rushing yards on only seven carries and caught his three targets for 17 yards.
Many of us thought that Juwann Winfree was going to be the Packers’ seventh wide receiver prior to this game, and he still very well may be. But Samori Toure made that conversation a bit more interesting with his play on Thursday night. Toure caught six of his eight targets for 83 yards, including four that went for first downs, and he forced two missed tackles, according to PFF.
Quay Walker looked regular-season ready against the Chiefs. During Kansas City’s first two possessions, there weren’t many plays that ended without Walker in the middle of it. He finished with five total tackles — the second most on the team — three of which were solo.
We haven’t seen or heard much from seventh-round rookie Rasheed Walker this summer, as he has missed some time due to an injury. But he stepped in at right tackle with the backup offensive line and didn’t give up a single pressure in 33 pass blocking snaps. He also opened a big running lane for Taylor on an 11-yard run.
Prior to the preseason, we heard a lot about the ups and downs from Jack Coco at long-snapper. However, over these three games, he has been one of the few steady presences on the special teams unit. During his time at Georgia Teach, Coco only long-snapped on field goal attempts, but that wasn’t all that evident when watching him on punt attempts.
Do the Packers keep a sixth interior defensive lineman? Well, Jack Heflin continued to further complicate that decision. In only 19 run-blocking snaps, Heflin logged five solo tackles, two of which were for a loss or no gain, and he forced a fumble as well.
Abernathy again got a lot of run on both defense and special teams as he played a majority of the game. He finished with a team-high six tackles and nearly forced another interception. Depending on how the numbers shake out at safety, Abernathy may not make the initial roster, but he’s put himself in a position to be called up if Dallin Leavitt is moved to IR.
One catch for 16 yards isn’t a massive night, by any means, but it was much improved for Tyler Davis, who has dealt with drops, a fumble, and missed blocks this preseason. Earlier in the week, Matt LaFleur mentioned that the Packers are still very confident in Davis. He then went on to have his most productive practice of the summer.
Matt LaFleur made sure to get the ball in Amari Rodgers’ hands in a variety of ways as he filled that gadget role in this offense, lining up all over the formation. As a ball carrier, Rodgers totaled 17 yards on three carries. As a pass-catcher, he caught all four passes for 39 yards, including a contested one over the middle, something he has struggled with this preseason. We also saw Rodgers with a decent kickoff return to open the game when there was little blocking being done.
Throughout his career, Pat O’Donnell hasn’t been known as a booming punter. But he provides stability to this Packers special teams unit, including as a holder, and he’s very familiar with punting in the cold coming from Chicago. Against the Chiefs, however, O’Donnell was letting it fly, averaing 56.3 yards per punt on six attempts, including a long of 69 when backed up near his own endzone.
It was an up and down performance from Jordan Love, which included some missed downfield opportunities and an interception, but once the offensive line gave him some time, we again saw a confident player in the pocket who was letting the ball rip into some tight windows. As expected, consistency will need to improve, but overall, it was another encouraging performance from Love, who is much improved from a year ago.
With De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker, Krys Barnes’ role is going to be reduced but he will provide a steady presence off the bench at what has become a position of strength for the Packers. Against the Chiefs, Barnes logged three tackles, including one in the open field, as well as a pass breakup in coverage.
These players helped themselves the most during the Packers’ preseason win over the Saints on Friday night.
The Green Bay Packers beat the New Orleans Saints by a final score of 20-10 on Friday night at Lambeau Field.
Here’s who improved their stock the most during the Packers’ preseason win over the Saints:
QB Jordan Love: For maybe the first time in his three-year NFL career, Love looked like a legitimate first-round pick. He made big-time throws down the field, looked confident against pressure, extended plays with his feet and protected the ball. Drops hurt him on the stat page but this was a terrific performance.
LB Isaiah McDuffie: His speed helped him kill two drives with tackles in the open field on third down. He also brought some heat on two blitzes. Overall, four of his tackles were “stops,” or what PFF describes as a failure for the offense. McDuffie, a core special teamer, looks like a 53-man roster lock. In fact, he might be the No. 3 linebacker behind the two starters.
OT Zach Tom: He played 40 snaps at right tackle and was once again rock-solid, especially in pass protection. He hasn’t gotten beat for a pressure this entire preseason. On Friday night, his work in the run game was notably good, especially on a pair of explosive runs from Tyler Goodson. The rookie is certainly making a strong case as being one of the top five offensive linemen come Week 1.
CB Kiondre Thomas: He didn’t give up a catch despite facing four targets over 30 coverage snaps. Late in the game, he drew an offensive pass interference penalty and was in coverage on a pair of incompletions. Thomas also made two stops against the run and played 12 snaps on special teams. He’s making a real run at the No. 6 cornerback spot.
S Micah Abernathy: The Packers are desperate at safety because of injuries, and the ex-USFLer put his name on everyone’s radar with two splash plays. He made a diving interception in coverage against Taysom Hill, and he diagnosed a screen pass and chopped down the running back for a 5-yard loss. The Packers also had him on the field for 13 special teams snaps.
RB Tyler Goodson: His burst on outside zone runs keeps jumping off the screen. Goodson also forced two missed tackles, including one on a spin move to finish off a 15-yard run in the first half, and caught a 10-yard pass.
TEs Nate Becker/Sal Cannella: Becker looked comfortable as a blocker, while Cannella’s catch-and-run (breaking two tackles) for 13 yards was a standout play. Tyler Davis is really struggling, so a spot is opening up at tight end.
LS Jack Coco: His eight snaps – four on punts, two on field goals and two on extra points – hit their target without issue.
K Ramiz Ahmed: The newcomer at kicker made field goals of 25 yards and 45 yards and connected on both extra point attempts.
LT Caleb Jones: At no point this preseason has he looked out of place at left tackle. He moves well for a man his size and can be a monster in the run game. On Friday night, his pass protection was much-improved. The Packers might have something here.
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These are the players trending in the right direction following the Packers’ preseason opener against the 49ers.
The Green Bay Packers were unable to leave San Francisco with a win in the preseason opener of 2022, falling 28-21 to the 49ers on Friday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Here’s who improved their stock the most during the preseason opener against the 49ers:
OT Zach Tom: The fourth-round rookie sure looked comfortable protecting the passer at right tackle. It’s hard to imagine the Packers wouldn’t be better with Tom at right tackle and Royce Newman playing right guard along the (current) first-team offensive line.
DL Jack Heflin: He might still persuade the Packers to keep six defensive linemen. Over 37 snaps, the second-year man was an equal mix of active and disruptive, producing two pressures as a rusher and two run stops. While not as physically talented as others at this position, he’s powerful and relentless.
LB Isaiah McDuffie: He started alongside top pick Quay Walker at linebacker, produced a tackle for loss and played a team-high 11 snaps on special teams. Lock him in on the 53-man roster.
WR Danny Davis: The former Badger was a big long shot entering training camp, but he keeps proving he belongs. His adjustment back to the football on the second Jordan Love touchdown pass was impressive. A spot on the practice squad is looking more and more likely.
C Josh Myers: He’s already locked in as the starting center, but Myers continued his strong summer with a tremendous effort in the preseason opener. A big second-year leap from last year’s second-rounder would be huge for an offensive line with a lot of moving parts.
G Jon Runyan Jr.: The starting left guard was excellent in pass protection, and he even teamed up with Myers for a few people-moving combo blocks in the run game. The Packers’ guard-center pair looks Week 1 ready.
WR Amari Rodgers: He created a big play in the return game (50-yard kickoff return) and a big play after the catch (22-yard touchdown after short catch). This is how he wins. No. 8 looked much more explosive playing closer to 200 pounds.
DL TJ Slaton: On one snap, he bull-rushed the guard and blew up the pocket. Later, he found the ball, shed the block at the line and dumped the running back all in one fluid motion. The flashes are becoming more consistent.
OT Caleb Jones: The 6-9, 370-pounder is probably always going to have some issues with quicker pass-rushers, but he was a monster in the run game at left tackle during the second half. The skill set here is certainly intriguing.
WR Romeo Doubs: Despite a few drops, his ability to separate was clear as day. He’s got another gear as a vertical route-runner and understands how to stack corners. Doubs won deep on three different snaps.
CB Keisean Nixon: He looked comfortable in coverage and made two quick stops with sure tackles after short completions. Both Nixon and Shemar Jean-Charles played well on a second viewing.
OLB Kobe Jones: He made a bunch of plays in the second half, including a clean-up sack, a stop against the run and two assisted tackles after short completions. It’s certainly possible he put himself into the running at backup edge rusher.
CB Kiondre Thomas: Two tackles on special teams is a good way to get noticed. He also broke up a pass in coverage.
RB Tyler Goodson: He started at running back, and his burst really popped off the screen. He took a couple of big shots and didn’t flinch.
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