Denver Broncos: Stock Up, Stock Down for Key Players After Week 3

The Denver Broncos enter their Week 4 matchup vs. the Oakland Raiders at a record of 1-2. Luckily, the Broncos are in a division that isn't exactly lighting the world on fire, as they are one of the three AFC West teams that currently stand at that mark.

The Broncos lost for the second straight week against an elite opponent by six points. This past week, it was against the only remaining undefeated team in the AFC, the Houston Texans. The Broncos were down for most of the game and entered the fourth quarter down 31-11 before mounting a late comeback by scoring two touchdowns before ending the game at a score of 31-25.

It was a rude awakening for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Although the Broncos have had chances to win both of the games that they've lost at the very end, for much of both of their games vs. Atlanta and Houston, the Broncos were trailing, and for the most part, dominated.

Having said that, who are the Broncos rising and falling after Week 3?

Knowshon Moreno

Moreno is an obvious selection for this list, and it's not in the good way.

Moreno got off to an OK start in Week 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he ran for the Broncos' first touchdown of the season. He didn't screw up, did fine when he was on the field, and most importantly, did not turn the ball over.

Things took a turn for the worse in Week 2 with the Broncos having already turned the ball over three times in the first quarter due to Peyton Manning. On the Broncos' final offensive play of the quarter, Moreno fumbled the football on his first carry to make it four turnovers for the Broncos in the first quarter alone.

A week later in Week 3 vs. the Houston Texans, Moreno was deactivated altogether in favor of rookie Ronnie Hillman.

Hillman didn't exactly light the world on fire, but with Moreno fumbling in Week 2 in limited action and Hillman probably progressing in practice with pass protection and other intricacies of the running back position, it wouldn't shock me to see Moreno deactivated for a second straight week vs. the Raiders in Week 4.

Stock Down: Knowshon Moreno

Tracy Porter

Tracy Porter was the hero of Week 1 for the Denver Broncos, when he picked off a Ben Roethlisberger pass late in the fourth quarter to cement a 31-19 Broncos win. He was named Defensive Player of the Week, and he excelled in pass coverage against, perhaps, the best deep threat in the game in Mike Wallace.

Week 2 was a different story, as Porter was pressed into the nickel CB role after starting nickel CB Chris Harris was ruled out for the game. Porter gave up an easy touchdown pass in the red zone in the nickel CB role and struggled all night in pass coverage.

Porter had an even worse game in Week 3, as he gave up two long touchdown passes to Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter. Apparently on the Johnson touchdown catch, Porter was supposed to have safety help.

Regardless, Porter's stock, in the eyes of Broncos fans, has gone down.

And who could blame them?

Stock Down: Tracy Porter

Eric Decker

Despite a few drops, Decker led all receivers in receptions and receiving yards in Sunday's game vs. the Texans.

Decker had eight receptions for 136 yards, as he clearly demonstrated that he was Manning's favorite target at least during Sunday's game.

Decker started out the first two games as a clear second-fiddle to Demaryius Thomas, despite leading many observers in the preseason to believe that he would be Manning's favorite target. In games vs. the Steelers and the Falcons, Decker had nine receptions for 107 yards with no touchdowns.

Decker has still yet to reach the end zone this season, which has been a bit of a concern for a while now extending back to last season when Tim Tebow took over at quarterback.

Nonetheless, Decker was the Broncos' most consistent pass-catcher vs. the Texans, and because of that, his stock goes up.

Stock Up: Eric Decker

Britton Colquitt

It feels weird for me to put punter in this article, but Britton Colquitt has punted well in every single game this season. He is currently third in the NFL in punts downed inside the 20-yard line with seven punts through three games.

The Broncos first scored on a safety when Elvis Dumervil sacked Matt Schaub in the end zone, in large part, due to Colquitt's previous punt. Texans return man Trindon Holliday got tackled at the six-yard line leading into that Texans' drive.

Through three games, for as inconsistent the Broncos have been, Colquitt has been one of Denver's most consistent players, thus far.

Stock Up: Britton Colquitt

Peyton Manning

Saving the best for last, none other than Peyton Manning.

So what is the verdict on Peyton Manning? Is his stock going up or down?

Personally, I don't feel much different about Manning right now, compared to after our victory over the Steelers. I still believe Manning is the right quarterback for this team. I still believe that he will lead us to the playoffs this season. I still believe that he could potentially lead us into that "elite" category we so desperately want our team to be a part of.

However, Manning had an excellent game in Week 1 vs. the Steelers. He did follow that up with a three-interception stinker in the first quarter vs. the Atlanta Falcons, so it couldn't possibly get any worse the following week vs. the Texans.

The thing is, although it didn't get worse, and obviously his overall play throughout the game was a lot better than the Falcons game, the doubts still remain amongst the general public about Manning's ability to make this Broncos team an elite one.

Manning was excellent and methodical vs. the Steelers. He went 19-of-26 for 253 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Whether that's due to the no-huddle attack that the Broncos instituted throughout the game or whether it was just Manning's night. I couldn't find much to criticize about his performance vs. Pittsburgh.

Fast forward to two weeks later, and although he didn't turn the ball over for the second time in three games as a Bronco, Manning did struggle to move the offense down the field and put the ball in the end zone. 

The Broncos went 1-of-3 in the red zone, scored 11 points through nearly 3.5 quarters and failed to score a touchdown until there was less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Do I believe less in Manning than I did before?

No. 

However, observers and the media do. And because of that, I have no choice but to put Peyton Manning's stock down following Week 3.

Stock Down: Peyton Manning