NFL preseason Week 4 stock report: Trent Richardson, RG3 rising, Ronnie Hillman and Randy Starks dropping

With just one week left in the preseason there isn't much time for players to improve on their status heading into the season. Here's a look at who's up and who's down.

By Mark Sandritter Aug 28, 2013, 10:00am EDT

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

With starters playing limited snaps during the preseason, it may seem like it would mostly be fringe-roster players with the biggest opportunity to improve or hurt their stock. Instead, the opposite has been true with several big names rising and falling, including one player who's risen despite not playing a down.

Whose stock is rising and whose stock is falling? We take a look with our latest preseason stock report.

Stock up:

Trent Richardson, RB, Browns

Richardson entered training camp coming off an injury-plagued rookie season and offseason. There were questions of whether or not he'd be able to be a feature running back. Richardson has done a lot to silence those questions, averaging 5.3 yards per carry during the preseason. He's in better shape, down more than 10 pounds from last season, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.

If anything, Richardson's role in the Browns' offense has only grown during the preseason. With Dion Lewis and Montario Hardesty landing on injured reserve, Richardson should be a three-down back for Cleveland. He appears to be faster this year with more burst and is still a physical runner. That could be a very difficult combination to stop.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins

Griffin hasn't taken a snap this preseason and is yet to be medically cleared to play in games. His stock, however, is up due to the glowing reports coming out of Redskins practice. It appears everyone associated with the team believes RG3 will be ready for the season opener.

On Tuesday, he said he feels 100 percent and Washington tight end Niles Paul said based on what Griffin has shown in practice it, "looks like nothing ever happened." Griffin is nearly nine months removed from surgery and appears well on his way to being ready for the start of the season.

Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers

Training camp opened up with a firestorm of questions regarding Lacy's weight, but those are a distant memory now. Lacy displayed a good combination of power and agility against St. Louis, leading to one NFL scout calling him a "steal" or the Packers.

Lacy was expected to split time with DuJuan Harris, however, Harris recently landed on injured reserve and is done for the year. That leaves the door open for Lacy to be the featured back in Green Bay.

Stock down:

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos

Hillman opened training camp as the starter, but has struggled to hold onto that role because of issues holding onto the football. Hillman has fumbled three times during the preseason, including one on the goal line. Montee Ball has received more first-team reps since and Hillman was recently spotted walking around Denver's practice holding a football at all times.

With Knowshon Moreno likely coming back from injury soon, Hillman may wind up in a three-way timeshare.

Randy Starks, DT, Dolphins

Starks, coming off a Pro Bowl season, is currently coming off the bench in Miami. The Dolphins designated him as their franchise player and the two sides were unable to agree to a long-term deal. Starks did not report for offseason workouts. He said coming off the bench is his "punishment" for not reporting for workouts.

Starks has made the Pro Bowl twice in the last three seasons. He's currently playing behind Paul Soliai and Jared Odrick, although he still figures to be in the rotation. Starks is likely to hit the free agent market again next season and a reduced role would not help him cash in on one final deal.

Bjoern Werner, LB, Colts

Werner, the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, has struggled to make an impact as a rookie in Indianapolis. The Colts selected him with the No. 24 overall pick in the draft, but he's currently running with the backups as he transitions to outside linebacker.

Sports Illustrated's Greg Bedard doesn't think the Colts will get the impact they hoped from Werner this season. Bedard went on to say Werner has looked "extremely ordinary" in the preseason. Even more troublesome, Werner is struggling in a sub-package role similar to what he excelled in doing at Florida State.

NFL preseason Week 4 stock report: Trent Richardson, RG3 rising, Ronnie Hillman and Randy Starks dropping

Share this story

Share All sharing options for: NFL preseason Week 4 stock report: Trent Richardson, RG3 rising, Ronnie Hillman and Randy Starks dropping