Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints: Stock up, stock down

After a magical eight-game run, the Los Angeles Rams have officially lost, though not everything was a negative.

After starting out hot offensively, the New Orleans Saints managed to take a massive lead of 35-17 by halftime. The Rams improved on both sides of the ball in second half eventually tying the game, though they ultimately couldn’t get the job done.

Let’s jump right into the stock report:

Stock Down

CB Marcus Peters

What else is there to say about Peters that hasn’t already been said? After making the stock down last week, he once again finds himself on the list. Peters was once again a major liability and had absolutely no answer for WR Michael Thomas after travelling with him. Thomas threw up a career day with 12 receptions for 211 yards and a touchdown. Not only that, but Peters’ major blunder in coverage effectively ensured the Rams lost the game. Terrible.

ILB Mark Barron

Barron struggled badly in this game. He was beaten in coverage for large gains multiple times, was washed out against the run on certain occasions, and simply missed too many tackles. The Rams need a better performance from the most expensive linebacker they have.

OLB Matt Longacre

Are you wondering why the Rams traded for Dante Fowler Jr? You shouldn’t, and watching Longacre today is all the proof you needed to see. Another game, another invisible performance.

FS Lamarcus Joyner

The performance of Joyner this season could be considered the eighth wonder of the world. After having a career year last year, Joyner proved to be a major liability today. Now, I don’t want to knock him too much because he was asked to do a ton. He logged snaps at outside CB, in man coverage versus running backs (Alvin Kamara), deep safety, and even nickel. All in all, he was awful tackling today and was beaten in coverage several times.

Stock Up

WR Brandin Cooks

The #BrandinCooksRevengeGame went pretty darn well. Cooks registered six receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown in his return to New Orleans. He had a beautiful post-corner on Marshon Lattimore uncovering for a big gain. His catch over the middle of the field that was tipped by Cooper Kupp was also an outstanding and heads up play.

WR Cooper Kupp

It was great to have this guy back, wasn’t it? Even though Kupp was only targeted six times, he managed to turn that into five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Kupp continues to prove his importance to this offense as he routinely uncovers and creates separation for Jared Goff to throw into. Outside of one drop by Kupp, he had a very clean game.

Offensive Line

The Rams had 483 total yards in the game, they scored 35 points in the game, and QB Jared Goff was not sacked once in the game. The offensive line put forth a spectacular performance. The only blunder here was a personal foul on LG Rodger Saffold prior to halftime that knocked the team out of field goal range, but all turned out well as the Rams gained the yardage back the next play and K Greg Zuerlein made the field goal anyways.

TE Gerald Everett

Well this is new. Tight ends have been largely irrelevant for this offense but today that was not the case. Everett had three receptions for 48 yards - one of them being a major catch and run before half to set the team up with a field goal attempt. Tyler Higbee also got some action with two receptions for 40 yards.

CB Nickell Robey-Coleman

The more you watch defenses today, the more you should appreciate NRC. The Rams ask NRC to lock up the slot against anyone and everyone (not today, Peters traveled with Thomas in the slot) and he does a fantastic job week in and week out. To my knowledge, NRC was only beaten one time in coverage and that was against Alvin Kamara. As of today, NRC is the Rams’ best cornerback and it isn’t even close. Hopefully things become more competitive when CB Aqib Talib returns.