This article is part of our NFL Barometer series.
RISING
DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT
With Le'Veon Bell (torn MCL) out for the year, Williams will step up as the lead back in an offense that should allow for a huge workload. A two-game starter while Bell was suspended at the beginning of the year, Williams totaled 41 carries for 204 yards and three touchdowns, with five receptions for 20 yards. At 32 years old, Williams seems to still possess adequate burst, as he's averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Although he won't be as efficient as Bell, the usage could make him an RB1 or something close to it.
Jeremy Langford, RB, CHI
Matt Forte is dealing with a knee injury that is only minor, but it still makes sense that he'll miss one or two games after leaving Sunday's contest in the third quarter. For any time Forte misses, the rookie fourth-round pick Langford would be a candidate to emerge with a sizable workload as the likely lead runner. He's averaging just 3.0 yards per carry so far, but two one-yard touchdown runs point toward short-yardage work as a factor in the low average. Langford was a solid three-down back at Michigan State, and he timed the fastest 40-yard dash among running backs at the Combine (4.42).
Derek Carr, QB, OAK
Carr is a legitimate franchise quarterback, one who either projects as a top-12 signal-caller or is one already. In seven games, Carr has only one truly below-average performance -- 196 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
RISING
DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT
With Le'Veon Bell (torn MCL) out for the year, Williams will step up as the lead back in an offense that should allow for a huge workload. A two-game starter while Bell was suspended at the beginning of the year, Williams totaled 41 carries for 204 yards and three touchdowns, with five receptions for 20 yards. At 32 years old, Williams seems to still possess adequate burst, as he's averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Although he won't be as efficient as Bell, the usage could make him an RB1 or something close to it.
Jeremy Langford, RB, CHI
Matt Forte is dealing with a knee injury that is only minor, but it still makes sense that he'll miss one or two games after leaving Sunday's contest in the third quarter. For any time Forte misses, the rookie fourth-round pick Langford would be a candidate to emerge with a sizable workload as the likely lead runner. He's averaging just 3.0 yards per carry so far, but two one-yard touchdown runs point toward short-yardage work as a factor in the low average. Langford was a solid three-down back at Michigan State, and he timed the fastest 40-yard dash among running backs at the Combine (4.42).
Derek Carr, QB, OAK
Carr is a legitimate franchise quarterback, one who either projects as a top-12 signal-caller or is one already. In seven games, Carr has only one truly below-average performance -- 196 yards, two touchdowns, one interception -- which somehow occurred against the Bears in Week 4. His only other disappointing box scores were in Week 1, when he left the game in the second quarter with a hand injury, and against a Denver defense that just held Aaron Rodgers to less than 80 yards passing. In the four other games this year, Carr threw for 1,287 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. Even with the disappointing games included, Carr's on pace to throw for roughly 4,100 yards and 34 touchdowns while completing 65.5 percent of his passes.
Ben Watson, TE, NO
Even with age 35 approaching in December, Watson is in the midst of what looks like a career year. Following a nine-catch, 147-yard game against the Giants in which he scored his third touchdown of the year, Watson's season totals stand at 38 catches for 472 yards and three touchdowns on 48 targets. Despite generally underwhelming career production prior to this year, Watson was actually one of the league's elite athletes at tight end when he entered the league, and he appears to have some of it left.
Charcandrick West, RB, KC
After an uninspiring starting debut in which he ran for 33 yards on nine carries and lost a fumble, West bounced back with two excellent games in a row. Playing against Pittsburgh and Detroit, West took 42 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns, adding six catches for 44 yards. Knile Davis carried the ball just five times over the last two weeks and just doesn't appear to be a factor at this point, so West should remain in contention for RB1 status in most leagues.
FALLING
Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET
Despite a promising training camp and a 94-yard, one-touchdown showing in Week 1, Abdullah has mostly struggled during his rookie season, leaving his offensive role in serious question. Abdullah finished Sunday's game against the Chiefs with a three-yard carry and six kick returns for 150 yards, and Joique Bell appears to be ahead of Abdullah again after running for 56 yards on seven carries Sunday.
Matthew Stafford, QB, DET
Although the problems aren't limited to him – 13 sacks in the last two weeks is certainly an issue – Stafford has been erratic to the point that it's hard to see him finishing the year as anything more than a QB2. After throwing for 217 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Chiefs on Sunday, Stafford is on pace for 4,166 yards, 26 touchdowns and 22 interceptions as Detroit enters its bye. Pair that with the collapse of the team around him and it's hard to foresee much other than instability. Stafford dealt with a change at offensive coordinator last week and could soon see a change at head coach, though that might not be a bad thing.
DeVante Parker, WR, MIA
Although he's a talented player who could establish an A.J. Green-like presence down the road, it's increasingly looking as if Parker's rookie season will be a waste, perhaps in part due to limitations imposed by his recovery from offseason foot surgery. He left last week's game against New England early due to foot issues, and if it's bothering him now it's reasonable to suspect it's been bothering him all year. Parker hasn't seen a target since Week 3, and with Jarvis Landry and Rishard Matthews both doing well, the Dolphins clearly aren't inclined to put their first-round draft pick on the field.
