National Football League

Week 2 stock market report: Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers in week 2 of the NFL season. Let’s take a look at the players who saw their stock rise, and who saw their stock plummet.

The Minnesota Vikings opened their brand spanking new stadium on Sunday, facing off against the division rival Green Bay Packers. This game was a nail-biter until the very end, but the Vikings were able to secure the victory to start the season 2-0.

As a whole, the Vikings’ team stock has risen to pre-Bridgewater-injury levels. Anytime a team starts 2-0, people will take notice, so expect plenty of “experts” to suddenly be jumping on the Vikings’ bandwagon. However, there were some players who saw their stock drop, and they will need to turn it around in order for this team to take the next step.

Let’s take a look at the players who raised their stock on Sunday, as well as those who saw their stock drop.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and forces a fumble in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings were able to sack Aaron Rodgers five times on Sunday while adding another eight quarterback hits. While it was an impressive night for the defensive line, it has pretty much become the norm. However, there were a couple of defensive linemen who got in on the action and raised their stock.

Danielle Hunter is proving every week that he deserves to be a starter in the National Football League. Hunter came out of nowhere as a rookie to rack up six sacks, and he has set out to prove that last year was not a fluke. Coming off the bench behind Brian Robison, Hunter accumulated four tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.

With Sharrif Floyd out with an injury, Shamar Stephen got the surprise start against the Packers. However, it was another player coming off the bench who really stole the show. Tom Johnson was a constant thorn in Rodgers’ side and was able to get a sack, a tackle for a loss, and most impressively, four(!) quarterback hurries.

The rest of the defensive line was impressive as well, but Everson Griffen, Brian Robison and Linval Joseph are already hot commodities in the league. The rest of the defensive line did what they were supposed to do, while Hunter and Johnson took their games to another level.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes (26) intercepts a pass in front of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Going into the game against Green Bay, the defense knew it would be in for a long day. The defensive line did their job, keeping Rodgers under constant pressure all game long. Anthony Barr and the rest of the linebackers were able to limit the Packers’ running game and cover tight ends.

Last night, the weak link of the defense was the defensive backfield.

Xavier Rhodes was held out for the second straight game because of a knee injury, forcing Trae Waynes into a starting role once again. Across from Waynes was Terence Newman, the 38-year-old corner who is perhaps finally showing his age.

Both Waynes and Newman were repeatedly picked on by Aaron Rodgers, and both gave up multiple penalties that kept the Packers’ offense on the field.

It’s understandable that at some point, Newman will cease to be the ageless wonder, and it’s possible we have seen the beginning of the end for his career.

Waynes, on the other hand, showed decent coverage last night, but he was unable to maintain his position throughout the route. Waynes is still learning to play cornerback in the NFL, and there will still be some bumps and bruises along the way. He was able to redeem himself with the interception that sealed the game for the Vikings, but overall his stock was down for the game.

It will be hard for the Vikings to continue winning ball games with cornerback play like they got on Sunday. If Newman is nearing the end of his career, it will be important for Waynes to step up his game and become the starter across from Rhodes.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a touchdown pass past Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the player of the game, Stefon Diggs continues to prove he is one of the better young receivers in the league. Diggs followed up his impressive week one performance with the best game of his young career, catching nine passes for 182 yards and a touchdown.

The most impressive thing about Diggs’ performance was his ability to establish rapport with Sam Bradford this quickly. With only two weeks of practicing together, the two were seemingly on the same page throughout the game. Diggs has quickly become Bradford’s favorite target, and the two should be able to put up some big numbers this season.

Diggs has everything you can want in a wide receiver. His route running is superb, and his hands are as sure as they come. My favorite thing about Diggs is his mentality, however, as he routinely shows a desire to come down with the pass, no matter what.

With Adrian Peterson possibly out for a few weeks, it will be even more important for Diggs and Bradford to be on the same page and continue the connection they have already shown.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) catches a touchdown pass against Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett (42) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Rudolph was everybody’s pick to be Bradford’s favorite target. Rudolph’s big body and wide catch radius should be a perfect fit for a new quarterback with a leaky offensive line.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, Rudolph was the least consistent pass catcher on Sunday. Bradford threw the ball Rudolph’s way eight times, but Rudy was only able to haul in three of those passes for 31 yards.

There were many reasons why Rudolph had such a poor game, but the biggest reason was concentration. There were many times where he dropped a perfectly placed pass, and other times when Rudolph simply didn’t get his head around in time to look for a pass.

Sure, Rudolph caught a touchdown pass in the game, so his stock didn’t take as big of a hit as it should have. But a player with his abilities needs to be more consistent. Norv Turner’s offenses have a big role for the tight end, and with a new quarterback, Rudolph has an opportunity to change his course and become one of the best tight ends in the league. But until he gets his concentration issues under control, he will continue to be a disappointment.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (53) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

After last season, the Minnesota Vikings went out on a mission to improve the offensive line. Lots of new money was spent to bring in players like Alex Boone and Andre Smith Jr., and there were some players coming back from injury that would improve the depth and overall quality of the offensive line. Everything was in place for the Vikings’ offensive line to go from one of the worst in the league to one of the best.

But then reality set in.

The Minnesota Vikings have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and I’m being generous by not putting them dead last. Plenty of people will bash Adrian Peterson for the lack of production on the ground, but it’s not his fault.

This season #Vikings OL has gained Adrian Peterson an average of 6.9 INCHES before he is hit by a defender. That's…not good.

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) September 19, 2016

Adrian Peterson is the best running back of our generation. But when the offensive line can’t even give him a foot of space before being hit on every run, it wouldn’t matter if he was Superman.

As bad as the Vikings’ run blocking has been, the pass blocking has been just as horrendous. Sam Bradford didn’t have much time to throw, and was under pressure on nearly half of his drop backs. Bradford has shown he has the ability to make the big play down the field, but even the best quarterbacks in the league need time to set up, scan the field, and deliver an accurate pass.

This team will live and die by the offensive line. So far, the team has managed to win in spite of them, but that will surely even out throughout the season. If the Vikings have any hope of reaching the Super Bowl this year, the o-line will need to drastically step up their game.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) smiles following the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The stock that has seen the largest increase this week is Sam Bradford’s. Nobody in their right mind anticipated Bradford would play as well as he did after only two weeks, and it didn’t seem like a fluke.

Bradford has had to overcome a lot of adversity throughout his career, and these last few weeks have perhaps been the most trying. Bradford was gearing up to be the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles before being suddenly traded to the Vikings. Then, after only two weeks of preparation, he was asked to start for a team that was opening a brand new stadium against their division rivals. That’s a lot to ask of a player, but Bradford was up to the challenge.

Bradford completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a QB rating of 121.2. It was a strong showing and a big shout out needs to go to Norv Turner, who came up with a game plan that would make life a little easier for Bradford.

Sam Bradford has proven the Vikings’ front office right (at least for now) for making the trade after Bridgewater’s injury. The Vikings seem to be in good hands for this season and next if Teddy still isn’t 100%.

On a random note, I really like the new chant the Vikings have attempted to bring from Iceland. If the fans really get behind it, it will quickly become one of the best cheers in the league.

SKOL!