2021 Packers Stock Report: Week 12
Take a look at the stock report for the Green Bay Packers after a 36-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
By GunnarDavis
This stock report article is always so much more fun to write after a win.
And, man, was this week a lot of fun to watch, too.
Going into the game, we all had a lot of questions about how this banged up Green Bay Packers team would handle the solid Los Angeles Rams (dubbed a super-team by many). The Packers answered them by controlling this one from start to finish.
So let's get into the stock report for the Green Bay Packers after a 36-28 win over the Rams in Week 12.
Buy
The bye- Yes, you should 'buy' the bye. It could not have come at a better time for the Green Bay Packers. Well, maybe a week or two earlier wouldn't have hurt. Seriously, the Packers are incredibly banged up right now, and a good two week break before their next contest will pay dividends. There a handful of guys that are hopeful to return sometime in December ahead of the playoff push. The break will only help this team.
Rasul Douglas- I think Rasul Douglas must have a thing against the NFC West. First, it was the game-saving interception against the Arizona Cardinals. Then, it was the gem of a game he played against Los Angeles on Sunday. I can't believe he was a practice squad guy before this. His play has been unbelievable. Sure, he gave up a double move to Odell Beckham Jr., but that was the only hiccup of the game. His interception returned for a touchdown, and a few pass breakups, was incredible to watch. He's getting better and better.
Rashan Gary- It's good to have Rashan Gary back. With an arm brace hidden underneath his long sleeves, Gary was a force to reckon with on multiple occassions. He made Andrew Whitworth's Sunday afternoon stressful by forcing a strip-sack, two penalties and two quarterback hits. With the bye week upcoming, it gives Gary a chance to get even healthier before the playoff push in December. Buy.
A.J. Dillon- I added A.J. Dillon to the 'buy' list a couple weeks ago, I know. He has just been so fun to watch, though, so I'm adding him again. Sunday was Dillon's fifth straight game with 75 or more yards. I know that his load will lighten up a little bit with the return of a healthy Aaron Jones to the backfield in Week 14, but Dillon's role in this offense will still be a big one.
Sell
Punt returner woes- I've been tough on this position all season long. Amari Rodgers has struggled over the course of the season with decision-making and running North and South. However, right when I got excited to see savvy veteran Randall Cobb trot out there to re-assume the position he was partially drafted for a decade ago, he fumbled the catch, which resulted in a turnover. Headaches. This position gives me headaches. What's Tyler Ervin up to these days?
Allen Lazard- This pains me to write. I am the biggest Allen Lazard fan on this planet. However, he's struggled over the past couple weeks. He's dropped a few passes, and hasn't been able to come down with the 50-50, contested catches. With everyone in the wide receiver room healthy, Lazard doesn't get the same amount of reps as he did a season ago. For all of these reasons, I'm selling his stock.
Hold
Randall Cobb- I wanted to add Randall Cobb to the buy list for his four catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Then, I wanted to add Cobb to the sell list for his fumble on the punt return and his disappearance in the second half due to a groin injury. So, I'll compromise and put him on 'hold.' As Rodgers' trusty go-to guy, Cobb will continue to play an expanded role in this Packers pass game, so hold on to his stock before it jumps up in a couple weeks.
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Gunnar Davis is a lifelong Packers fan and a recent graduate of Simpson College, where he was a 3-year letterwinner on the offensive line and graduated with a degree in multimedia communications. You can follow him on Twitter at @Gunnar57Davis.
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Comments (59)
Brockrice99
December 01, 2021 at 12:09 pm
*NFC West lol... and Rasul Douglas has made me forget about Stephon Gilmore! Douglas Island > Gilmore Island.
GunnarDavis
December 01, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Oops, good catch. It's fixed! Love the comment, too.
croatpackfan
December 01, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Buy:
Kenny Clark, Yosh Nijman, Adrian Amos
Sell: Referee who has no flag on that Donald choke
Hold: Hero throws/balls
scullyitsme
December 01, 2021 at 01:49 pm
Yeah, because matt Lafleur would never call a deep play ball. He just calls runs then Rodgers says screw you Lafleur, I’m throwing long. Yeah, that’s how it happened…..I think the new term at cheesehead tv this year is “hero ball” . I see it in every other comment on this site. Was there a misinformation campaign by the Russians on this site? I don’t watch Nagler anymore is he the one spreading this term? It’s weird. I’m actually serious, anybody know how this became a thing? There’s nothing objectively to back up this claim so why does everyone say it and believe it?
Johnblood27
December 01, 2021 at 05:14 pm
It's not that there are deep shot plays. It's that the deep shots on 3rd and short-medium come with players open for the 1st down yardage, yet our "hero" rears back and throws it up for grabs.
If Mr broke toe would take what the defense gives him SITUATIONALLY the Hero Ball stuff would melt away.
There is the occasional 3rd down splash play, and sometimes the deep guy is the open guy on 3rd down. More often than not there is an open receiver with a very, very good chance of gaining the first down yardage and Broke toe looks past that guy and gambles deep.
That is exactly why the HERO BALL term lives on.
LambeauPlain
December 01, 2021 at 12:17 pm
Gunnar, I think you meant to write Douglas has it in for the NFC WEST, not East.
He was quite a find and can take the place of King, Sullivan, or Yiadom who will all be cut candidates when Alexander returns.
Douglas should be announcing a stock split soon!
Brockrice99
December 01, 2021 at 12:22 pm
Yiadom was absolutely terrible when given the chance on defense, but he has actually had success on Special Teams so I expect Yiadom to stick around and be a Special Teams guy for the rest of the season. Sullivan will probably remain as the slot guy for the rest of the season, because he has been there for so long and we do not really have another true slot guy. King will stay on the team for the rest of the year, Gutte and the team have too much invested in him to just straight up cut him mid season. And its always a good problem to have a lot of depth at a position like corner back.
wildbill
December 01, 2021 at 12:41 pm
You can never have too many good DBs as injuries can come in bunches sometimes. Also when teams go five wide they have an opportunity to attack the weakest link
splitpea1
December 01, 2021 at 12:37 pm
Buy: K. Clark--did a good job with interior pressure; Stokes--nice bounceback game; Douglas--dehorned the Rams with his PDs and pick six.
Hold: Barry. Hold only because I'm dismissing the Bears (the players won't be, though) and looking forward to the match-up vs. Lamar Jackson. I can't wait. I don't think we'll be seeing anything like the 21 safety blitzes the Dolphins used against him, but some creativity is probably in order because business as usual may not get it done.
Also, there was another relatively easy two-point conversion allowed. This seems to go hand in hand with the suspect red zone defense; or the defense may be flustered and have trouble recalibrating after giving up a TD. Either way, it would be nice to see some improvement here.
Hold: Barnes. Certainly a better game last time, but still should understand that the sideline is his friend while attempting a tackle there.
Point-Packer
December 01, 2021 at 02:43 pm
Sell: The LA Paper Tigers
Way to mortgage the future for a bunch of over-priced have beens.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 01:16 pm
Selling Lazard….no.
If you’re judging Lazard solely on his performance as a pass catcher, then you’re not even considering his performance on the other 95% of his snaps. Like Lewis, or William Henderson back in the day, he blocks and gets a couple of touches. That’s it. That’s his job, and he’s good ar it. When you add Lewis and Lazard to the offensive line, that’s 7 guys who are good at pushing their man around. Adams requires more than one defender. You have to guard MVS.
Do the math: How many tacklers remain available to tackle Jones or Dillon? This is how our offense is designed. We’re not about an offense that features a multitude of superduper WRs. We have a good backfield, and despite the injuries, we get people blocked. Lewis and Lazard are a big help with that.
Also, don’t be deceived by his catch % around 60. When Rodgers throws the ball away instead of taking a sack….which he does a couple of times a game….the nearest receiver is considered the target. When you only get a couple of targets, and one or two of them are throwaways, you’re not going to have a very high catch percentage.
And…..you think Lazard has been off the last couple of weeks……weeks where the offense is scoring 30. How do you reconcile that?
scullyitsme
December 01, 2021 at 01:55 pm
Now there’s some logic.. the packers have been scoring 30 points so therefore Lazard is a good player. Not saying your necessarily wrong, just absolutely no logic in your statement.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 02:32 pm
He’s doing his job, the offense is rolling. I’m sorry you can’t follow the logic on that.
Johnblood27
December 01, 2021 at 05:19 pm
EQ did Lazards job week before last. Lazard was out with a shoulder.
Sorry to undermine the alan lazard love fest, but truth triumphs!
I like lazard, i like iowa State, I used to live in des Moines, but Lazard has had a little worse year this than last. I am looking for him to be the animal he was last year down the stretch.
GPG!
Coldworld
December 02, 2021 at 08:16 am
EQ did some of what Lazard did, but the two aren’t that close in terms of consistency and physicality. That’s why EQ didn’t start for him last week.
Personally, I think that like late last season, Lazard is playing despite not being fully healthy precisely because he does what he does well. Hopefully he will improve as a catcher again after the bye.
scullyitsme
December 01, 2021 at 06:52 pm
That’s awesome, your right by being wrong twice. Love this place.
Leatherhead
December 02, 2021 at 12:16 pm
So Scully, can you explain why Lazard starts when he’s healthy? If LaFleur stupid? Are all the rest of the WRs even worse than Lazard? And why hasn’t Gutekunst replaced him? Is Gutekunst not doing his job?
I mean, I agree with La Fleur and the GM…..Lazard is an asset who does his job.
GunnarDavis
December 01, 2021 at 02:05 pm
I'm very aware of what Lazard's role is on the team. However, if you've watched the games, you'll notice Lazard hasn't gotten the same amount attention in the pass game as he did a season ago. That's due to Randall Cobb and EQ. If Lazard's role is to block and catch a few passes here and there, shouldn't he be excelling when he does finally get a target? He's dropped a few recently. Also, he's struggled to make catches on the 50-50 balls.
To your point about Marcedes and Allen being blockers in the offense, both were graded out as two of the bottom three PFF offensive players on Sunday. Again, I'm a huge Lazard fan. But he needs to be better going forward.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 02:59 pm
“If I watched the game”???
Eat shit, Gunnar. I was winning football games when you were in diapers.
Adams, Jones, Dillon, and MVS are all ahead of Lazard when it comes to receiving targets. The idea that a coach would sit there and say “we need our #5 receiver to win jump balls, or else we can’t score more than 30” is stupider than you think.
Rodgers rarely throws interceptions PRECISELY BECAUSE he doesn’t throw it to people who are covered!!! Or maybe you haven’t noticed that when you were watching.
Personally, I don’t think you understand what LeFleur wants from Lazard. You’re still stuck in the old paradigm.
Like I said, eat shit. You’re on Leatherhead’s Dumbass List now.
GunnarDavis
December 01, 2021 at 03:19 pm
Didn't mean to offend you in any way, Leatherhead. We can agree to disagree on this point and move on.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 03:48 pm
You didn’t mean to insinuate that I don’t know what I’m talking about because I don’t watch the game, or you didn’t think I’d be offended by that?
JerseyAl
December 01, 2021 at 04:05 pm
How about if you just chill out? Are you that easily offended that you have to lash out with eat shit and dumbass comments? Come on...
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 04:27 pm
Ok, as you wish. I wish you were as quick to admonish people who scream “GO F* YOURSELF”. When I see stuff like that pass without comment, it makes me feel like it’s OK to say eat shit after I’ve been insulted.
I’ll behave.
JerseyAl
December 01, 2021 at 05:15 pm
I can't see everything. But if I did see something like that, they would hear from me, I can assure you of that.
Johnblood27
December 01, 2021 at 05:23 pm
Lay it down Al!
Personally, I would NEVER use profanity ;-) LH, you should be ashamed of yourself for pushing heat on our snowflake Gunnar! Gonna melt!
Hahahahahah I love this site, except for that fella that is never right!!!
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 05:40 pm
Al, I understand you can’t see everything, but there have been quite a few things said here that are every bit as out of bounds as what I said, and more. It wasn’t just a one time thing.
Guam
December 01, 2021 at 05:49 pm
For what little it is worth Leatherhead, I thought Gunnar's comment ("If you watched the game...") was out of line and not a warranted response to your initial post. However you didn't distinguish yourself when you lapsed into profanity with your response. I was probably most miffed when Gunnar didn't really apologize ("Didn't mean to offend...") for his gaffe. I was always raised to say "I'm sorry" if I screwed up and Gunnar did screw up with his initial response.
Don't let the bastards grind you down LH. Your commentary is always worth reading and I'm sure JerseyAl would prefer not to have to play cop in our threads.
JerseyAl
December 01, 2021 at 06:50 pm
"I'm sure JerseyAl would prefer not to have to play cop in our threads." Yes, please.
Coldworld
December 01, 2021 at 07:02 pm
For what it is worth, appreciate your comments, on football, resulting from having to do so.
I will just say that I found the “if you watched the game” patronizing. We likely all watched and I’m not sure I saw exactly what the person who wrote that saw either.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 08:27 pm
Guam, Coldworld, Jersey Al, and Gunnar…..
I let my temper get the best of me, and I’m sorry that happened. I felt insulted and I went on the attack. I will try to do better.
Coldworld
December 01, 2021 at 06:58 pm
A blocking WR isn’t a grading category. His blocking is a very minor component of that grading.
Alberta_Packer
December 01, 2021 at 04:44 pm
You know that there are WRs who can catch and block - these are not mutually exclusive.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 06:20 pm
So which WR in the NFL block better than Lazard? And why do you think Lazard can’t catch? He’s charged with three drops this year. His catch% of balls that are actually catchable is over 80%. He was a starter on the league’s best offense last year.
And he can’t catch?
For that matter, why does LaFleur play him so much? Maybe LaFleur is stupid? Is that what it is?
Alberta_Packer
December 01, 2021 at 09:24 pm
Why do I think that Lazard can't catch? I watch the games. A receiver who can't catch (well) but are good blockers - are just exterior blockers. Easily found.
Starrbrite
December 01, 2021 at 10:27 pm
My argument is not that Lazard is not an excellent blocker; he clearly is. IMO a receiver’s primary responsibility and skill must be the ability to catch, contested chances or otherwise. Based on his track record, Lazard is an average receiver. I Apia’s intrigued however by previous speculation that he could become a good TE.
Leatherhead
December 02, 2021 at 12:48 pm
LaFleurs offense is designed so that the #2 receiver is a blocker, not a pass catcher.
We’re 24-4 when Lazard starts, and we’re 11-5 when he doesn’t. He’s doing what LaFleur wants. That’s why he starts when he’s healthy. That’s the reason we haven’t tried to replace him. LaFleur likes the way Lazard plays that position in his offense.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 02, 2021 at 08:55 pm
Nice stat. Interesting and the sample size is decent. Thumbs up.
Starrbrite
December 02, 2021 at 09:15 pm
I don’t disagree that LaFleur holds Lazard in high regard. And I don’t have your experience with play design etc. My complaint is his failure to make the difficult catches and remove some of the heat from Davante. I hope he proves me wiring as a receiver.
Leatherhead
December 03, 2021 at 09:12 am
He’s not there to make difficult catches. Neither is Marcedes Lewis. Neither was William Henderson.
If you want your #2 to be a superduper WR who makes difficult catches and wins jump balls and gets a bunch of targets, then you’re probably wishing we had a different offense, We don’t.
calabasa
December 01, 2021 at 02:04 pm
I think the whole Special Teams is a sell. Is there something wrong with Mason, or is it just due to using a left-handed snapper?!
TXCHEESE
December 01, 2021 at 03:22 pm
Geez, I wish people would stop with the PFF crap ratings stuff. All you have to do is watch the games.
Leatherhead
December 01, 2021 at 04:33 pm
They think PFF is the Bible or something. It’s one subjective evaluation. It’s not without merit, but it’s not the Gospel.
Coldworld
December 02, 2021 at 08:18 am
I generally like PFF as a guide, but one has to be aware that it’s only that and can occasionally be downright deceiving in terms of impact on a game or what the player was in fact tasked with doing.
How many of those watching would rate Donald at 90 and Clark at 50? Is PFF wrong? Not in its terms, but it was not measuring what really mattered in that game. Like most metrics, it’s much better over a season than on a one game basis and does better when teams use players in a conventional manner for the PFF designated role and metrics.
Minniman
December 02, 2021 at 12:34 pm
- Really Good point re needing an appropriate sample size to ‘rate’ a player\team.
- DVOA is a very difficult instrument to apply to every player, every week…….. it’s kind of like “Madden Ratings”. Look at Douglas in the cards game, technically he would have been considered the lowest of the low in that matchup against Green, and yet he prevailed in the most binary basic assessment for football (he won the play that mattered, that determined the game). The similarities with KC are the same… he won the contests that really decided the game (not so much the chain movers).
- SOME of the PFF stats are available for free. This probably explains their regular quotation. Other (perhaps more accurate) stat services are subscription only, hence out of the reach of your casual CHTV poster.
- The “eye test” will always have a place. Case in point Douglas again - I’ve posted this previously but technically he’s a 4.59 40….. that’s a linebacker speed…..but he’s clearly a legit corner.
Swisch
December 01, 2021 at 04:45 pm
Lazard is a keeper!
We've already seen that he can excel when the ball is thrown his way, as in the Saints game last season.
It seems he's seldomly targeted, though, and that must be frustrating. Running pattern after pattern with so few rewards is a tough trek.
Yet it seems that he goes out every game and plays hard and smart, blocking like a tight end, and always ready to catch the ball when it comes his way.
How many other wide receivers in the NFL would be as patient as Lazard about not getting targets, without making a fuss?
I haven't seen him missing opportunities to make plays this season when he has a reasonable opportunity to catch the ball. He's going to make his share of the tough grabs, too.
Perhaps I'm wrong, Maybe there's a big deficiency in his abilities. I tend to think that he's underutilized and underappreciated. His height and ball skills and determination seem to make up for any lack of speed and quickness.
I'm buying both Lazard and MVS in a big way.
Also, I'm not giving up on Amari Rodgers as a dynamic slot receiver as he acclimates to the pro game.
As we see with the likes of Dillon and Tonyan and Gary and Barnes, don't give up on guys too soon. Remember the amount of time it took Davante to excel. Ask the Cardinals about Campbell and Douglas.
Johnblood27
December 01, 2021 at 05:28 pm
Swisch, you are an angel. Your patience is unmatched. I truly wish I had your capacity for understanding and forgiveness.
You had me until you mentioned Amari Rodgers. I just do not possess that much patience. He has been terrible at everything the gbp have asked of him. I just cannot see him moving beyond what he is now. he seems to have no jump in his game, no swerve, no confidence or physical gift to play at the NFL level. Im sorry, I hope he turns into something special, however i also hope that the GBP do not waste a lot of regular season snaps trying to salvage something from nothing. Remember jace sternberger, who i also had a lot of hope for...
Coldworld
December 01, 2021 at 07:07 pm
If you look at Rodgers’ background it’s not so surprising. We were asking him to make a huge jump. Looks like it has affected his confidence on returns as well. I may be a tad disappointed, but I won’t write him off till he’s had more time. He wouldn’t be the first to need it to show his capabilities. Maybe next year.
Swisch
December 01, 2021 at 07:25 pm
I'm not giving up on Amari, but that doesn't mean he has to see a lot of action this season. He may or may not be ready as of now.
That's where the coaches have to make the call. Perhaps ESB or Malik Taylor or someone else is better for getting snaps at wide receiver and returning punts.
It's possible that Amari is already classifiable as a complete bust, but I highly doubt it.
If the coaches still see something in him, I hope they build up his confidence, even if they limit his play for the final five games.
Let him know that adjusting to the NFL can take time. We still believe in you.
Also, with the way injuries can pile up. we may need him even this season. I agree he's been shaky out there on the field thus far, but he may just be ready to hit his stride.
Starrbrite
December 01, 2021 at 10:32 pm
Yes indeed, the experiment with Amari should be finished.
Minniman
December 02, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Have we also factored in that he’s possibly playing hurt? This would affect his ability to fulfil his physical role. Just a thought
stockholder
December 01, 2021 at 05:59 pm
It might be to early to sell Lazard. He was hurt. But I've Got MVS and Cobb Ahead of him. And It has been some time since Cobb returned punts. I Still want Cobb Back there.
Coldworld
December 01, 2021 at 07:08 pm
Cobb can play, if he can stay healthy with regular snaps. That was always the concern.
Starrbrite
December 01, 2021 at 10:33 pm
10-4 stockholder—-I’m with you.
Minniman
December 02, 2021 at 12:39 pm
Just read your post re Lazard being hurt and posted something similar.
A New Era
December 01, 2021 at 07:17 pm
Buy: Dillon!! He's proven himself to be the kind of power back we will need for cold weather games and the playoffs. Quadzilla could plow into a stone wall and get two yards.
Sell: The Media. They had many of us convinced our makeshift offensive line didn't stand a chance against the Los Angeles super stars.
Hold: Aspirations for the #1 seed. I really think Arizona will stumble, but the Packers could stumble too. They just have to stumble once more than we do and hope Tampa doesn't get hot. My gut tells me the Packers will succeed, especially if we get some of our key injured players back, but a lot can happen in five more games down the stretch.
Minniman
December 02, 2021 at 12:47 pm
A question - Having their bye week this late in the year, is another bye in 6 weeks time that relevant to the Packers? It certainly would be more important to those teams that had early bye weeks.
There are 8 potential games remaining before the pre SB bye week.
For mine, consistency and momentum are the most important things from here on in. The #1 seed bye only becomes relevant if players get banged up between now and then - and closer to that week.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 02, 2021 at 09:03 pm
It seems like GB has lost a player to injury in almost every game the team has played this year. Not getting a bye is a game that has to be played and a game that exposes players to injury, and at a time when the remaining season is short (perhaps just one game in single elimination).
True, guys can get hurt in practice and while getting time off, but the odds of injury in a game situation far exceeds injuries that occur during a bye week. Most teams come back heathier after being off for a week during a bye.
I don't disagree with your comment, but would note that it ignores the injury risk in game one of 4 possible playoff games as opposed to having to play just 3 games to win a super bowl.
egbertsouse
December 02, 2021 at 07:37 am
Everybody seems to have forgotten that Douglas dropped another pick 6 and had a long TD over his head. Yeah, he is better than Kevin King but let’s pump the brakes a little.
Minniman
December 02, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Agree, while he is playing well, he’s not a lock shutdown corner. He’s just being used very well to the skills that he has.