Packers Stock Report: Week 7
A look at the buys and sells following a win over the Houston Texans in week seven.
The Green Bay Packers are back in the win column after getting drubbed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week six. Plus, Matt LaFleur extended his streak of not losing two games in a row during his head coaching tenure.
Pointless stats aside, this week was a good win as the Packers were without key three starters in David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Kevin King. However, that didn’t stop them from taking out their frustration on an already battered Houston Texans team to move to 5-1. During Sunday’s game, we saw some good things and some bad things from some of Green Bay’s players.
There were a lot of potential buys this week, but I managed to get it down to four. So, without further ado, here is the week seven stock report.
Buy
Billy Turner
Rarely does a player go from a sell to a buy in one week but here we are. Turner was asked to fill in for Bakhtiari at left tackle and did a hell of a job replacing the All-Pro. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t sacked at all, and the Texans only had one quarterback hit as a team. Turner has now started in three different spots on the offensive line for the Packers. In two seasons, he's also proven his versatility despite failing to stand out in one spot. At the very least, Green Bay learned who their emergency left tackle is.
Preston Smith
Smith has been one of the biggest disappointments in 2020. After posting career-highs in sacks, tackles, and quarterback hits last season, Smith isn’t having the kind of start you’d expect through the first six games. However, he bounced back a little against Houston with a pivotal tackle for loss on a fourth down late in the game. Sunday wasn't a great performance from Smith but maybe this will boost his confidence.
Kamal Martin
Yes, it was only one game, but Martin appeared to pick up right where he left off before suffering a torn meniscus. He was officially given the start in week seven and finished with six solo tackles, one resulting in a loss. When Krys Barnes left the game, Martin was able to pick up the slack while defending the run. The rookie out of Minnesota has a ton of room to grow, but for his first NFL game, he showcased good speed, processing skills, and tackling.
Davante Adams
Rarely does force-feeding a wide receiver workout in the long run, but Rodgers and Adams had a special connection in week seven. Adams caught 13 out of 16 targets for 196 yards and two touchdowns. It didn’t matter who the Texans put on him in coverage, Adams was going to be open. Since returning from a hamstring injury last week, the Packers top wideout has posted 19 receptions, 257 yards, and two touchdowns in two games.
Sell
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Valdes-Scantling can’t seem to shake his streakiness. During some stretches, he will look like a solid number two receiver, but in others, you will wonder if he is even on the field. Valdes-Scantling failed to make a single catch against Houston and dropped a very catchable pass that would have extended a drive during the fourth quarter. With Allen Lazard sidelined, this is his chance to step up, but so far, he’s dropped the ball- literally.
Dexter Williams
With Jones inactive with a calf strain, the Packers needed an emergency RB behind Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon. So, Williams saw his first action since week 17 of last season. Even though he was limited to just special teams, Williams’ impact was felt and not in a good way. His blown protection on punt coverage led to a block that set up a Houston field goal. At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if Green Bay eventually cut ties from Williams completely.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
Comments (18)
PatrickGB
October 28, 2020 at 12:41 pm
Maybe my eyes are deceiving me but I think that our defense looks better. Buy.
Our TE group looks like they can play even without key players. Buy
I don’t see much from any WR not named Adams. Sell
Special Teams didn’t look so special on Sunday and Swerve is missed. Sell
Coldworld
October 28, 2020 at 01:34 pm
He seems to be missed offensively too, despite not seeing the balm that often.
Leatherhead
October 28, 2020 at 03:26 pm
I think the defense benefits from the return of Clark. I think Green and Jackson both stepped up and played well. Barnes is somebody that nobody saw coming, and now Kamal Martin.
At some point this season, we might have all our starters lined up at the same time. If/When that happens, I think we'll be OK.
Buy: Buy this offense. It scores. 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL right between Seattle and Tampa. It doesn't matter to them if it's home or away, they just keep driving the ball down the field until we're in the end zone. We get some long plays. We don't turn it over. Injuries to Taylor, Adams, Lazard, Bakhtiari, Deguara, and Jones don't appear to slow the team down.
As long as we can keep our QB protected from the pressure, we're in business. Does anybody think we can't score 40 against Minnesota?
Sell: MVS is down to his last drop with me, and that would include practice. I'd bury him so deep on the bench that he'd get cobwebs.. One more drop,that's it. Sell. I'd rather put an OT out there with an eligible number than throw it to a confirmed butterfingers.
Sell: This notion that a team that's scoring over 30 every time needs somebody at WR.
All we need is a guy who can catch a simple 8 yard out, or hook. That's it. If you can do that, you can play #2 WR in this offense. Lazard will be back, at some point. We are 2nd in the league in passing TDs.....how much difference is it going to make?
MVS-EQ-Shepherd-Taylor-The New Guy- we just need a guy to line up and punish the guy who lines up across from him and sometimes tries to get open......and of course, if he does get open, and the ball is thrown to him, he needs to catch the ball. That's all we need. We can score with what we have.....we don't need a big move here.
Point-Packer
October 28, 2020 at 12:44 pm
Dexter Williams is not an NFL player. And for the record, neither is MVS.
fastmoving
October 28, 2020 at 02:12 pm
Nobody would put anything from you in any record. But I guess you well are aware of it.
Dexter Williams is an NFL player. Maybe you should watch a game or check the roster.
And MVS is an NFL player too, he plays WR and is above average. He just get started. But he has already a couple of years and some TD under his belt.
Pulpfriction01
October 28, 2020 at 03:21 pm
I'm not going to touch on MVS anymore after this because I think it's been beat pretty good. But I will say this.
When targeting Adams (including his two interceptions against tampa), rodgers has a 120 QB rating. Lazzard is at an almost perfect 157 qb rating. Tonyan is catching passes for a rating of 154. Jones is catching passes at a 104 rating. Williams is at over 100.
MVS, who is second on the team to only Adams in targets, even with his big week 1 performance, is giving rodgers a 78 qb rating. Everyone else is succeeding. And MVS is putting up the same stats he has his entire career. I'm a packer fan. I want to see him succeed. I wish him the best of luck both professionally and in his personal life. It's just not where it needs to be.
Leatherhead
October 28, 2020 at 04:48 pm
And yet, by definition, they are. Interesting. I mean they do draw paychecks for practicing and playing and working with the team?
Also, before we get any deeper, understand that with 32 teams with about 75 guys each counting IR, etc., that's going to make 2400 guys. I'm not going to believe that you've already studied and determined that Dexter Williams is number 2399 in ranking. That's nonsense.
MVS , for the rest of his life, is going to be able say he caught TD passes in the NFL . That's a pretty good club I'd like to belong to..
jannesbjornson
October 28, 2020 at 08:56 pm
Why are we still rehashing the obvious?? Cut bait and try to swing a deal or two Gutedkunst. Get a WR rental to put this group into the threat category. Hope LeFleur keeps the pressure on Pettine to perform.
Leatherhead
October 29, 2020 at 10:57 am
We're scoring 35 points left and right, home and away. Apparantly with a group of WRs that isn't a threat.
This is one of those things that makes me go "hmmmmm".
Bure9620
October 28, 2020 at 12:55 pm
The Dexter Williams non-block on special teams will get players fired, I thought there was a chance he could be released this week, just unacceptable.....MVS is fast still, but I have not seen any real development....his speed intrigues people but inconsistency just doesn't work in the NFL....I would rather have a role player whom is limited in their ceiling perform consistently than a boom/bust player that simply cannot be relied upon
jannesbjornson
October 28, 2020 at 08:57 pm
Receivers do not catch with their feet. Speed without reaction to the ball and soft mitts mean nothing.
13TimeChamps
October 28, 2020 at 12:48 pm
"During some stretches, he will look like a solid number two receiver"
Seriously?
fastmoving
October 28, 2020 at 02:17 pm
Easy to see, actually way more than that. If you fail to see it, you will a couple of games from now. No big deal.
He is a hard worker, has a lot of speed and his routes are improving.
13TimeChamps
October 28, 2020 at 02:23 pm
Now if he could only learn how to catch the ball....
Coldworld
October 28, 2020 at 01:32 pm
With Lazard resuming training (hooray), MVS should be back to what he is there for. I’ll hold on him.
I would also buy some V Scott, Redmond (deep play only) D Adams and D Winn and maybe futures in Taylor and Black. Maybe a punt on Jackson, but I really can’t because I didn’t see him targeted enough deep. Already bought Martin.
I’d sell EQ. If MVS is anonymous, EQ is downright invisible and I think doesn’t have Rodgers’ trust. I’d not get anything for D Williams I fear.
fastmoving
October 28, 2020 at 02:05 pm
MVS is a good enough NFL player just like EQ. Both have even more room to grow. This team goes where AR takes them and its not so important who plays WR.
Its the same people who freaked out over Adams in his second year and they wrong 90% of the time. Maybe more. Actually they freak out about everything anyway. Till we win it all and even then they start to complain 2 hours later and worry about something that may happen in the future.
MLF (just like Gute and MM) is a great guy with a great team and even better views of life in generell. Real Packer People. Vince would be proud
Dzehren
October 28, 2020 at 09:24 pm
EQ only played 3 offensive snaps against Houston (not including special teams where EQ made some good plays).
Leatherhead
October 28, 2020 at 09:58 pm
All of our WRs not named Adams were targeted 7 times. 3 for MSV, 2 for Taylor, 1 for Shepherd. Adams was targeted 16 times. Our TEs were targeted 3 times (Tonyan, Sternberger, Lewis). And our RBs (minus the starter, Jones) were targeted 5 times.
And yet, we scored 35...again.....on the road (for the third time) while missing guys with injuries. I'm sure there's an explanation on how a team with a below average defense and no talent at WR does this.
I guess it's just luck, a soft schedule, and the ability of Aaron Rodgers to achieve this with no real help except Adams.