These guys might not exactly be carrying a lunch pail to the stadium each week, but they did bring a diligent, blue-collar, working-man approach to Week 7. Take a look at all the nominees, then vote in the poll at the bottom of the right column for your choice for the Hardest-Working Man.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
In his second season with the Packers, Cobb has emerged as a triple threat. Cobb contributes in the return game (on both kickoffs and punts), the passing game and in the running game. As Aaron Rodgers enjoyed his second consecutive huge game, it was the stat lines of Cobb and Jordy Nelson that benefited most from Rodgers' throws. With Greg Jennings out with a groin injury, Cobb has been called on to help pick up that lost production. While Nelson finished Sunday's 30-20 win over the St. Louis Rams with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, it was Cobb's contribution that helped shift the competitive aspect of the Week 7 showdown into the Packers' favor. Cobb caught two touchdown passes in the win, but it was being on the receiving end of a 39-yard strike from Rodgers that delivered victory for Green Bay.
Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came up short in their final attempts to tie up the game late against the New Orleans Saints. However, Freeman was valiant in the 35-28 defeat, throwing for three touchdowns and a career-high 420 yards to help the Buccaneers keep pace with the potent Saints offense.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
In a promising showdown between two quarterbacks selected in the 2012 NFL Draft's first round, it was the legs of Luck -- and his right arm -- that provided the necessary scores to collect a 17-13 win over the visiting Cleveland Browns. Luck -- who was sacked three times in the game -- was forced to go on the run due to a shaky offensive line and aggressive Browns defensive front. Luck's two touchdown runs did give the rookie a place in team history, becoming just the third Colts quarterback to rush for two touchdowns in a game -- matching Ricky Turner (1988) and Bert Jones (1974).
Joe Morgan, New Orleans Saints
Morgan caught just one pass that went for a 48-yard touchdown in the Saints' 35-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still, Morgan's effort on the scoring playing will keep the second-year receiver out of tiny Walsh University in the highlights for years to come. In avoiding two separate Buccaneers defenders, Morgan somehow managed to stay on his feet, recover his balance and sprint into the end zone for what could arguably be the play of the season so far.
J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
Watt's play helped the Texans deliver a 43-13 haymaker to the Baltimore Ravens, who aren't accustomed to defeats of this magnitude. Watt -- the current NFL leader in sacks -- wasn't able to take down Joe Flacco on Sunday, but did directly impact a dominant performance for the "Bulls on Parade." Watt tipped two more passes at the line of scrimmage against Baltimore, lifting his total for the season to 10 and bringing the defensive end one shy of the most batted passes in an entire season (11 by Jared Allen in 2007). One of those batted passes resulted in a pick six for Jonathan Joseph that set to tone for the lopsided win.
Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.
