NFC West Stock Market: Week 8
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oct 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) celebrates after a sack against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports Oct 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL regular season is more volatile on a week to week basis than the stock market. One team who lost by several touchdowns the week before can follow up the next week with a blowout victory. Players who are responsible for the blame one week could be responsible for a game-winning play the very next game.
With Week 7 of the regular season in the books, let's take a look at three NFC West players who saw their stock rise, and three NFC West players who saw it fall as we get set for Week 8.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}THREE UP
Marshawn Lynch, running back, Seattle Seahawks
After missing 2 1/2 games due to injury, Lynch ran for 54 yards and a TD on 17 carries in a Week 6 loss as the Seahawks blew another fourth-quarter lead. Seattle made it a point to feed Lynch in a Week 7 matchup at San Francisco and he responded with 122 yards and a TD on 27 attempts. It was the most carries for Lynch since the 2013 season and helped the Seahawks control the clock for 38 minutes.
Chris Johnson, running back, Arizona Cardinals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Johnson was bottled up and limited to 40 yards on only 11 carries in a Week 6 loss to Pittsburgh, but he bounced back in a big way. Johnson scored an early touchdown on a highlight-reel run and finished with 122 yards rushing in a 26-18 victory over the Ravens. It was the third 100-yard game for Johnson, who is second in the league with 567 yards rushing.
Michael Bennett, defensive end, Seattle Seahawks
With his team reeling from back-to-back losses entering a Week 7 matchup at San Francisco, Bennett set the tone for a defense that appeared to lose its swagger. He registered a career-high 3 1/2 sacks to go with three tackles for losses and four quarterback hits in a dominating 20-3 win. The performance lifted Bennett into a tie for the league lead with 6 1/2 sacks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}THREE DOWN
Colin Kaepernick, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Kaepernick had quieted his critics with strong back-to-back games, including a 340-yard, two-touchdown effort in Week 6 that snapped the 49ers' four-game losing streak. Then the rival Seattle Seahawks came to town. Kaepernick finished 13-of-24 for a mere 124 yards and, for the first time in his career, did not have a single rushing attempt.
Greg Zuerlein, kicker, St. Louis Rams
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Zuerlein owns the worst percentage in the league with a conversion rate of 61.5 percent, but Rams coach Jeff Fisher deserves an assist for his current slump. Zuerlein is only 2-of-7 over the past two games, but four of the attempts were beyond 50 yards and two were from over 60. Yet he also missed a 35-yarder in Week 7 with offensively challenged St. Louis nursing a four-point lead.
Torrey Smith, wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers
Smith has always been a one-dimensional receiver, specializing in the deep ball but rarely seeing a high volume of passes. His stats in his first year with the 49ers attest to that: 14 catches in seven games with touchdown receptions of 76 and 75 yards. Still, he did not have a catch and was targeted only once in a Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.