New England Patriots Week 2 Stock Report

There's an ebb and flow to every NFL season, but one thing that is constant is that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will not get too high on the highs or too low on the lows. 

As we look at a handful of players who are on an upward trajectory and others who could use a solid performance in Week 2 to turn things around, we must also keep in mind that the names in these spots could be entirely different next week.

Every player has good games and bad games, but the beauty of the NFL is that the story never ends. We can turn the calendar forward a month, and the names will be different. One thing that will not be different, though, is the fact that they have a chance to change the tone of the story the very next week—for better or worse.

Stock Up: Rob Gronkowski

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The Patriots may very well be going back to a multiple-tight end offense, but the tight end that makes the biggest impact every time he takes the field is Rob Gronkowski.

The two-time All-Pro tight end hauled in five receptions for 94 yards and three touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers on opening night. Some of his biggest plays were a result of the Steelers defense somehow, as if under some incantation by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, completely missed the 6'6", 265-pound monster streaking down the seam of their defense.

Gronkowski was the only player in the league to catch three touchdowns in Week 1, but his hot start should come as no surprise. In four games against the Steelers, Gronkowski averages 6.5 catches per game, 100.8 yards per game and 1.8 touchdowns per game. 

This is the first time Gronkowski has headed into a season with no offseason rehab since 2011 (ankle rehab in 2012, forearm/back rehab in 2013, ACL rehab in 2014). Gronkowski's ceiling is somehow even taller than his 34 1/4" arms can reach, but he could reach new heights in 2015.

Stock Down: Malcolm Butler

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If the 2015 opener is any indication, cornerback Malcolm Butler might have a bull's-eye on his back in his second NFL season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Butler allowed 10 completions on 11 targets, 151 yards and a touchdown. Butler shouldn't hang his head too low; most of the damage was done by All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, who led the NFL in both receptions and yards in 2014. 

The Patriots coaches clearly trust Butler as their No. 1 cornerback, otherwise they would have altered the game plan in Week 1 so that Butler didn't have to run with Brown for nearly the entire game. That being said, who knows what the coaches will have in store for Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor in Week 2; we're liable to see a different game plan each week as the Patriots try to adjust to their opponent.

That's perhaps Butler's best attribute as he tries to shake off a tough start; no matter what the Patriots coaches ask him to do, he's equipped to do it.

Stock Up: Tom Brady

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Not only is Tom Brady not going to miss any games, it looks like he might not miss a beat.

The Patriots quarterback came out guns blazing on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, putting up 25 completions on 32 pass attempts for 288 yards, four touchdowns and a 143.7 passer rating.

He relied mainly on his two favorite targets: slot receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Just think, he could be even better when wide receiver Brandon LaFell returns to the lineup off of the physically unable to perform list.

Brady will have one of his toughest challenges of the season in Week 2, when the Patriots travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take on the Buffalo Bills. Judging by his performance against the Steelers on opening day, though, there's no reason to think Brady will be off his game on Sunday.

Stock Down: Dominique Easley

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It looked like 2015 could be a redemptive season for defensive tackle Dominique Easley. The Patriots' 2014 first-round pick spent most of his rookie season either on the bench or on injured reserve. Injuries mired his first season in the league, and as long as he could stay healthy, the 2015 season had the potential to be Easley's best opportunity to prove that the Patriots made the right choice.

After suffering a hip injury in Week 1 against the Steelers, though, Easley is already facing an uphill battle. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Easley could miss just a week or two with the injury. It's not serious, but it's another injury in a growing list of them, and Easley is building a reputation as an injury-prone player. 

There's still plenty of time left for Easley to get healthy, but after his latest injury against the Steelers, his second season in the NFL is not off to a spectacular start.

Stock Up: Dion Lewis

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Kevin Faulk. Danny Woodhead. Shane Vereen. Dion Lewis.

The Patriots have always had a talented and explosive third-down running back on the depth chart, and Lewis stepped into the role perfectly against the Steelers. He ran the ball 15 times for 69 yards and hauled in four passes for 51 yards.

Surely, his goal-line fumble will not sit well with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who put former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley into the doghouse for even so much as dreaming about a fumble. 

Lewis' opportunities may go down in Week 2 as running back LeGarrette Blount makes his return off of a one-game suspension. Also, the Patriots have other options on third down, between Travaris Cadet and James White. That being said, it looks like Lewis is the best of that lot and should still get opportunities in the passing game.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats obtained via Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus.