New York Jets Preseason: Week 2 Stock Report

Two weeks stand between the New York Jets and the realization of their hard work in reconstructing their roster.

That's two weeks for backups to step up, injured players to get healthy and players who have been struggling to kick it into high gear.

Jets head coach Todd Bowles has a lot to resolve between now and the beginning of the 2015 regular season. There will be 37 players who are sent home, 22 players who will be named starters and a lot of backup spots that are still left to be decided.

Which players fall into which category will likely be determined by which players finished off their summer on a high note and which ones cooled off as fall approaches.

Here's a look at a handful of Jets who fall on one end of the spectrum or the other.

Stock Up: Leonard Williams

Peter Morgan/Associated Press

No one should be startled by Leonard Williams' quick impact. The entire NFL landscape knew that the Jets were getting a good player when the team handed in its selection card with the No. 6 overall pick. This is a player, after all, who was regarded as the best the draft had to offer.

Now, he's delivering on the promises of hope. 

Williams was voted Rookie of the Week by Bleacher Report's expert panel—a worthy selection, given his 1.5-sack performance that included a safety. Granted, his performance isn't as eye-popping in context (Williams was unblocked on one of his sacks), but he also notched four "stops," according to Pro Football Focus, and had a quarterback hit. 

The Jets defensive line will be one of the best in football when they get Sheldon Richardson back from suspension, but they won't have to wait that long for their front three to alter the way offenses game-plan for the Jets defense. 

Stock Down: Brian Winters

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

As a former third-round pick, the Jets had high hopes for what guard Brian Winters might become over the course of his NFL career. Thus far, he has not reached those goals. Winters' 2014 season ended with an injury that landed him on injured reserve, and young guard Oday Aboushi stepped up and filled in admirably.

It appears he won't be getting a shot at redemption in 2015. The third-year guard has been coming in off the bench in the Jets' two preseason games so far, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes that he's been getting some rest at practice.

"It has been a quiet camp for [Harrison]," Cimini writes, "but he got a chance to practice with the second-team line, behind Willie Colon and ahead of Brian Winters at right guard. What are we to make of this? Not much, according to Bowles, who said he wanted to rest the 'older guys.' Is Winters suddenly an older guy? Hmm."

There was a big battle brewing at right guard, but it appears Willie Colon will end up walking away with the job. Winters will probably spend most of the 2015 season on the bench. 

Stock Up: Brandon Marshall

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Every offense needs that big-bodied, physical presence on the boundary to help open things up over the middle. If the Jets' 30-22 preseason victory over the Atlanta Falcons is any indication, wide receiver Brandon Marshall could be just what the Jets need for that role. 

In just north of 30 minutes of football, Marshall hauled in four of the five passes thrown his way for 62 yards and also reeled in a two-point conversion. Any time Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick dropped back to pass, he was doing one of two things: getting ready to check down to a running back over the middle, or looking for Marshall.

Between Marshall, Eric Decker, Quincy Enunwa and Jeremy Kerley, the Jets have more than enough options to run Chan Gailey's spread offense. But as the primary boundary threat, it will be up to Marshall to force the safeties to respect his deep presence. The veteran has earned that kind of respect in the past, and he proved against the Falcons that he can still tip the numbers in favor of his offense—even at 31 years old. 

Stock Down: Kellen Davis

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The Jets were their own worst enemy Friday night against the Falcons, and in more ways than one. Aside from some mental miscues on defense, the Jets drew more flags than the United Nations. 

One of the worst offenders was tight end Kellen Davis, who was responsible for three different penalties: one for a false start and two for holding. 

Fortunately for Davis, the Jets don't have a lot of other options at tight end. There are incumbents Jace Amaro and Jeff Cumberland, who are both locks for the roster, but not much else other than those two. The Jets could go with undrafted rookie Wes Saxton, converted offensive tackle Steve Maneri or the newly acquired Arthur Lynch. 

If Davis doesn't clean up his penalties in a hurry, the Jets could be looking at any of those three as more suitable options for their depth chart as backups to Amaro and Cumberland. 

Stock Up: Chris Ivory

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Just because Chan Gailey is the Jets offensive coordinator doesn't mean the team should completely abandon the run. On Friday night, running back Chris Ivory showed why. 

He reeled off a 33-yard touchdown run that was well-blocked by the offensive line, but that also showed Ivory's burst and cutback ability. 

Ivory is one of the toughest runners in the NFL, having notched 2.46 yards after contact per rush attempt (ninth-highest in the NFL) and an overall elusiveness rating of 63.6 (third-highest), according to Pro Football Focus. 

Of course, the Jets will need to get competent quarterback play if they want to have a chance at competing for a playoff spot, but a strong running game may help facilitate effectiveness in the passing game—especially if Ivory is bowling over defenders as he's done in the past. 

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.