2015 NFL Stock Up Week 3

Every week during the season I’ll take a look back at the games and select three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on gameday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team. So let’s see who made the cut in week 3…

Stock Up

James Jones– Jones, who was cut by the Raiders and Giants this offseason, is playing terrific back in Green Bay. Jones had 139 receiving yards and a touchdown Monday night against the Chiefs. He’s on a minimum contract this year but should be doing enough to earn a new two or three year contract next season. Continue reading 2015 NFL Stock Up Week 3 »

2015 NFL Stock Up Week 2

Every week during the season I’ll take a look back at the games and select three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on gameday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team. So let’s see who made the cut in week 2…

Stock Up

Michael Crabtree– Crabtree took a risky one year contract with the Raiders and it paid off this week. Crabtree put up 111 yards and a touchdown, which are the kind of numbers that can get him back on track to earning that number 1 receiver type of contract he desperately wants. Continue reading 2015 NFL Stock Up Week 2 »

2015 NFL Stock Up Week 1

Every week during the season I’ll take a look back at the games and select three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on gameday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team. So let’s see who made the cut in week 1…

Stock Up

Matt Forte– Running back is the toughest position in the NFL to convince a team you are worthy of a third contract that carries a high cost, but Forte did all he could to prove he’ll be the exception with his 141 yard game against the Packers. Forte kept the Bears in the game and had they run him more may have just snuck out of there with an upset. Forte was hoping for a new deal this offseason which didn’t happen, but a few more games like this and the Bears may bite. Continue reading 2015 NFL Stock Up Week 1 »

NFL Stock Up: Week 15

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Dez Bryant– Bryant was quiet the last time the Eagles and Cowboys met, but he came back with a big one this time and was virtually unstoppable by the end zone. Bryant’s first TD reception was the type of catch few can make and why when people ask me about where he ranks I always put him very high. He should be set to get a monster contract in free agency.

Jason Pierre-Paul– The Giants teed off on the Redskins offensive line and JPP led the way with 2.5 sacks. Pierre-Paul is closing the year strong against inferior competition with 6 sacks and 13 solo tackles in his last three games. He seems a lock to finish the year with double digit sacks and is doing his best to convince teams he can still be a consistent force.

Nate Washington– While it was a losing effort, Washington ate up the Jets secondary for over 100 yards.  Washington is the type of player that can help  veteran contender next season and games like this remind the NFL that he still exists down in Tennessee.

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NFL Stock Up: Week 14

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Cam Newton– I’ve been negative on Newton many times this year, but he rebounded big this week against the Saints and looked like a true franchise QB. Newton finished the day with 226 passing yards and 83 rushing yards. He outplayed Drew Brees and led his team to a big upset against the heavily favored Saints.

Percy Harvin– Harvin went off for 124 receiving yards and over 100 yards against his former team before leaving the game with an injury. While the injury is concerning given his history, this is the type of game that made Harvin a hot commodity last year. If this is the last the Jets see of him this season, this game likely earned him his bloated 2015 salary since the Jets lack of talent is glaring.

Jason Pierre-Paul– I’m not sure Pierre-Paul can repair the damage done to his contract prospects but he certainly padded his numbers in the rout against the Titans. JPP finished the day with 2 sacks and 4 tackles. That will move him to 7 sacks on the season, the second best total of his career. He needs to average at least 1 more per game to get people to take notice.

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New Contract Player Of The Week

Joique Bell– It hasn’t been a banner year for running backs who signed new contracts in the offseason, but Bell did his best to reverse the trend with his 130 offensive yards and two touchdowns that helped cement the Lions win against the Buccaneers.

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NFL Stock Up: Week 13

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Stock Up

Andrew Luck– Its rare for a player to start a game as poorly as Luck and then bounce back and have one the best games of the week. Luck ripped apart an overmatched Washington defense to the tune of 370 yards and 5 touchdowns. Luck still needs to learn to beat good teams, but hes just in his third year and by March should be the highest paid quarterback in the NFL.

Julio Jones– Jones has been quiet since his electric start to the season, but his 180+ yard game was a big reason why the Falcons got a win against the Cardinals this week. Jones is more limited than some of the other big name receivers around the NFL, but games like this will have him compensated at a very high level.

Jerry Hughes-Another week in which Hughes makes impact plays to benefit the Bills. This week it was his strip tackle where he was prepared enough to scoop up the ball and run it back for a much needed touchdown for the Bills. Hughes is arguably the most important defensive player on the team and should get rewarded well for that this offseason.

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New Contract Player Of The Week

Ryan Fitzpatrick– Fitzpatrick was benched a few weeks ago due to his limited upside but got his job back this week due to injury. He made the most of it with a 6 touchdown, 358 yard game. This was likely the best game of Fitzpatrick’s career. Fitzpatrick was signed to be a stopgap QB this offseason but with the Texans picking in no mans land in the draft he can also stake a claim to a job next year here.  At the least he kept the slim playoff hopes alive for Houston this week.

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NFL Stock Up: Week 11

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Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Stock Up

Antonio Cromartie– Cromartie took a one year deal with the Cardinals to prove he still has it and he has been one of the best signings of the season in the NFL. Cromartie went out there to cover one of the best WR tandems in the game and he was part of what was effectively a shutout effort for Arizona. It’s doubtful the Cardinals can re-sign Cromartie next year, but he has certainly earned himself a new deal and then some. And to think the Jets let him go for nothing…

Kenny Britt– Britt signed with the Rams as a reclamation project, hoping to prove that he can be a model citizen and regain the form that had him looking like a very promising player a few years ago. While his numbers this year have not been great, his 120+ yard day was and his big touchdown was the key play seen over and over in the Rams upset win. Britt won’t break the bank this offseason but he is showing that there is enough left to keep him in the NFL at a level above the minimum.

Michael CrabtreeThis summer Crabtree made it known that he wanted to be paid like a number 1 receiver. While he has not delivered on that promise, he has for the last two weeks made some very big plays, including yesterdays big touchdown catch against the Giants. Crabtree still has a few weeks left to get some momentum as he heads into free agency next year.

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New Contract Player Of The Week

Jonas Gray– There were a lot of places to go with this one, specifically the corners in Arizona that helped shut down the Lions, but no player made more of an impact than Gray, who scored 4 TDs and ran for 200 yards in the blowout win against the Colts. Gray bounced around the NFL as a practice squad level player before getting the call up from New England and he’s helping show why running backs are a dime a dozen in this league, just as LeGarrette Blount did for New England last season.