It's not difficult to pinpoint the teams that have unexpectedly prospered or just as stunningly plummeted halfway through the 2016 season.
Yep, we're looking at you, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. Last January, you played for a spot in the Super Bowl. Right now, you're hanging with the mediocrities (or worse) of the NFL.
Nor is it hard to spot the surprisingly successful teams putting themselves in the championship mix, from the Dallas Cowboys to the Oakland Raiders.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
But what about the individuals who are rising or flopping? The Associated Press sports writers who cover the 16 NFC teams suggest the following.
SAN FRANCISCO
Surprise: WR Jeremy Kerley, picked up in a trade from Detroit just before the start of the season, leads the team as a pass catcher.
Disappointment: On the contrary, WR Torrey Smith, San Francisco's big free-agent acquisition in 2015, has had little impact and has struggled to get open consistently.