NFC East stock up, down: Dak Prescott goes streaking

With Week 1 of the regular season in the books for the NFC East, here's a look at whose stock is up and down heading into Week 2.

Stock up

Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles kicker: On a day Philadelphia's offense managed only a single touchdown, the Eagles rode Elliott’s right foot to victory against the New England Patriots. 

The seven-year veteran went 4-of-4 on field-goal attempts, including a kick for the game’s first score. He missed an early extra point, but made up for it with a pair of 50-yard kicks in the second half.

Only the Titans’ Nick Folk made more kicks on Sunday. If Philadelphia’s offense doesn’t improve, his stock could go even higher against the Vikings on Thursday night.

Dak Prescott, Dallas quarterback: After ending the 2022 regular season with 11 interceptions in his last seven games, and promising to stop giving the ball away, Prescott had a clean sheet against the Giants.

The rest of his stats weren’t great. He went 13-of-24 for 143 yards and no touchdowns, but with a dominant defense and special teams pitching in, Prescott didn’t need to do much to get the win.

The team’s 40-0 victory was his 11th straight against the Giants, tying him with Roger Staubach for the most consecutive wins against New York in franchise history. 

Darren Waller, New York Giants tight end: Waller nearly made the “Stock down” list when he showed up on the team’s injury report with a sore hamstring. But in a week that saw tight ends like the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and the Ravens’ Mark Andrews sit out, Waller deserves credit for just making it on the field.

Waller finished as the Giants’ leading receiver with three catches for 36 yards in a 40-0 blowout loss to Dallas. It’s not much, but in a game like that, getting anything from a player with Waller’s injury history is a win.

Stock down

New York Giants: The Giants’ defeat was their worst shutout loss since 1948 when they lost 45-0 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only did New York’s special teams allow a blocked field goal return of 58 yards for the game’s first score, the defense had just two tackles for a loss, no sacks and four passes defended.

On offense, quarterback Daniel Jones took seven sacks while throwing for 104 yards and two interceptions including a pick-six. He also had two of the team’s five fumbles. No wide receiver had more than 24 yards or more than three catches. Looks like it’s back to the drawing board for the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year.

Philadelphia’s running backs: The Eagles spent the offseason reminding everyone that Rashaad Penny (their first free-agent acquisition) has been one of the best running backs in football when healthy. So why was he a healthy scratch against the Patriots? 

Philadelphia traded fourth- and seventh-round picks to Detroit for running back D’Andre Swift, who had one carry for three yards and two targets on Sunday. 

Kenneth Gainwell led all running backs with 14 carries for 54 yards, but couldn’t find the end zone and ran for just 18 yards after the first quarter. Much was said about the team’s bargain-basement backfield this spring, but in Week 1 the team got what it paid for.

Chase Young, Washington Commanders defensive end: Just when it seemed Young’s stock couldn’t get any lower, up pops a neck stinger for the Commanders’ oft-injured D-lineman. The injury occurred during the team’s first preseason game against the Browns, but even Young thought he’d be ready for the season opener.

“I’m ready to go. Straight up.” Young told reporters last week. “Feel fine. I’m ready to go.” Apparently he wasn't, making it the 23rd game he’s missed out of a possible 35 since winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. The enigmatic 24-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the year when he’ll earn pennies on the dollar if he can’t get on the field.