Chris Ivory, Brandon Marshall Post-Preseason Week 2 Fantasy Advice

The New York Jets defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 30-22, in preseason action Friday night, as wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Chris Ivory put forth solid showings in limited action. 

Here's a statistical overview of how the two playmakers fared against the Falcons: 

Player	Carries	Rush Yds	Rush TD	Receptions	Rec. Yards	Rec. TD
Chris Ivory	5	36	1	3	20	0
Brandon Marshall	---	---	---	4	62	0

Marshall displayed encouraging chemistry with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, hauling in four of his five targets, including a 30-yard reception in the second quarter. And while Marshall didn't find the end zone for a touchdown, the two did connect on a two-point conversion in the second frame. 

Although Geno Smith is sidelined six to 10 weeks after suffering a broken jaw, Fitzpatrick's presence under center may actually boost Marshall's stock. Fitzpatrick's career completion percentage (60.2) clocks in 2.7 points higher than Smith's. 

Fitzpatrick also finished last season with an average of eight yards per pass attempt, according to Pro Football Focus. Among quarterbacks who saw at least 500 snaps, that mark ranked fourth behind Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger. 

For Marshall, that's all overwhelmingly positive. Not only is Fitzpatrick turning to him early and often downfield, but his track record suggests he's capable of feeding him the ball accurately. 

According to FantasyPros, Marshall's currently being drafted as the 24th receiver off the board, which means he's flying off the board in the back end of the fifth round or top of the sixth round in 12- and 10-team formats, respectively. 

And frankly, that feels right. Marshall doesn't offer much upside at 31 years old, but if Fitzpatrick hones in on him throughout the first few weeks of the season, his stock will surge and offer owners a chance to sell high before Smith returns.

As for Ivory, his raw statistical totals are devoid of some crucial context. While he did rumble for a 33-yard score that set up Marshall's two-point conversion, the tailback mustered three yards on his first four carries of the evening.  

The three catches were encouraging, but Ivory remains a two-down back with Bilal Powell set to operate as the Jets' primary pass-catcher out of the backfield. 

Ivory's being drafted as the 31st running back overall at present, per FantasyPros, and that's a fine value for owners who are looking for depth and not much more. However, Ivory shouldn't be trusted on a week-to-week basis due to his shortcomings in the passing game. Consider him a plug-and-play option against poor run defenses and a potential flex play in deeper leagues.