The NFL regular season is more volatile on a week-to-week basis than the stock market. A team that lost by several touchdowns the week before can follow up the with a blowout victory. Players who are responsible for the blame one week could be responsible for a game-winning play the next.
With Week 3 in the books, let's take a look at three NFC North players who saw their stock rise, and three NFC North players who saw it fall.
THREE UP
Adrian Peterson, running back, Minnesota
Peterson is powering the Vikings. In Week 1, the All-Pro running back carried the ball 10 times for 31 yards (3.1 yards per carry) and Minnesota lost to the 49ers, 20-3. In the two games since, Peterson has accumulated 260 rushing yards on 49 carries (5.3 YPC) and the Vikings are 2-0. Peterson scored his first two touchdowns of the season -- and since 2013 -- against the Chargers on Sunday.
Randall Cobb, wide receiver, Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers had another huge game in Week 3, and Cobb stood out as his favorite target with seven catches for 91 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-28 win over the Chiefs. Cobb has smoothed over the loss of Jordy Nelson and overcome a shoulder injury of his own to lead the Packers in receptions (20) and yardage (245) through three games. So long as Green Bay keeps rolling, Cobb's stock will continue to soar.
Harrison Smith, safety, Minnesota
Smith won't go ignored any longer. The former first-round pick out of Notre Dame had a Pro Bowl-caliber campaign in 2014 (93 tackles, five interceptions, 3.0 sacks), but he didn't get an invite to the annual all-star showcase at the end of the season. Smith is separating himself as the NFL's best safety, as he leads Minnesota's defense with 23 tackles (7.7 tackles per game).
THREE DOWN
Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback, Minnesota
Bridgewater had been bland, but in Week 3 he was bad (54.2 percent completion rate, 121 yards, interception). Peterson's powerful outing -- combined with a dominant defensive performance -- compensated for Bridgewater's ineffective day throwing, and the Vikings still stunned the Chargers. The 32nd-overall pick in last year's draft had an impressive rookie season, but he's little more than a game-manager at this point.
Joique Bell, running back, Detroit
Bell entered the season as the Lions' starting running back, but he has been terribly ineffective through three games (1.1 YPC). Detroit's offensive line hasn't been much help, but the fans are ready to see more of second-round rookie Ameer Abdullah. Bell sat out all spring and summer after having offseason surgeries on his knee and Achilles, so some apparent rust has his stock on the decline.
Alshon Jeffery, wide receiver, Chicago
Jeffery hasn't been able to stay healthy. He missed a ton of time in training camp with a calf injury, and now a bum hamstring is keeping Chicago's big-bodied wide receiver (6-3, 216 lbs.) on the sidelines. Jeffery played in Week 1 versus the Packers (five catches, 78 yards) but hasn't appeared since. When healthy, the fourth-year pro will have trouble vying for a big money in a contract year with the lifeless Bears.
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