New York Jets Week 2 Stock Report

The New York Jets did exactly what everyone expected they would do. With a 31-10 beatdown of the Cleveland Browns, the league has been put on notice that the Jets are not to be taken lightly in 2015.

And to think, the outcome may have been even more lopsided if everyone had played their best game on Sunday. Make no mistake; no team plays a perfect game—ever. There's always one or two players who could have given more, or whose stock has taken a hit due to an injury. 

Fortunately, everyone has a chance to improve on their Week 1 performance in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, who are fresh off a 27-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Last week's stars can establish themselves as important players on the roster, and those who struggled can turn things around.

Here's a look at a handful of players who are on either end of the spectrum headed into Monday Night Football. 

Stock Up: Ryan Fitzpatrick

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All the Jets need is for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be efficient and safe with the football. He wasn't perfect in his first outing with the Jets, but his performance gave promise to the thought that while Fitzpatrick might not be the answer, he also might not be the problem for the Jets in 2015.

Fitzpatrick went 15-of-24 passing (62.5 percent) for 179 yards (7.5 yards per attempt), two touchdowns, one interception and a 95.7 passer rating. Those are hardly the video-game-type numbers that are the pubescent dreams of fantasy football owners, but while he may not deliver virtual wins in fantasy, he might deliver legitimate wins in reality for the Jets.

Fitzpatrick has one weapon that he's never had before: a dominant defense. The Jets forced five turnovers and allowed just 10 points to the Cleveland Browns; if the Jets can keep up that level of play, Fitzpatrick could put up the pedestrian numbers he posted in Week 1 on a weekly basis and the Jets could still be in the hunt for the playoffs.

Stock Down: Antonio Cromartie

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Sunday was a double whammy of bad news for Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Not only was he removed from the game with a knee injury in the first half, but his replacement, Marcus Williams, did a fine job filling in. Williams yielded just three receptions on seven targets into his coverage for 38 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Cromartie struggled for much of training camp and the preseason, yielding six receptions on seven passes into his coverage in that time. His outing in Week 1 was not markedly better, as he allowed a 54-yard touchdown on the lone throw into his coverage.

The Jets are hoping that the secondary can live up to the hype that comes with the level of star power at their disposal. As it turns out, the star power may not necessarily be what gets them there.

Stock Up: Brandon Marshall

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Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall made six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown against the Browns, but he only needed one catch to show the fans at MetLife Stadium exactly why the Jets traded for him.

It was his touchdown reception, in which he towered over Browns star cornerback Joe Haden, to make a leaping grab on a fade route in the end zone. Even with Haden directly in his face, Marshall hung onto the ball with his hands over his head and controlled it all the way to the ground as the Browns cornerback fought valiantly to pry it away.

The Jets feature a duo of big-bodied boundary receivers with Marshall alongside Eric Decker, and whether it's Ryan Fitzpatrick or Geno Smith throwing the ball, the Jets quarterback will have at least a couple of physically imposing receivers to choose from.

Stock Down: Lorenzo Mauldin

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It was one of the scariest sights you could expect to see in Week 1 of the regular season. 

Jets linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin went down, stayed down, did not get up and was eventually carted off the field on a stretcher. As doctors strapped him in and attempted to stabilize his neck, all anyone could do was fear the worst. Mauldin was admitted to the hospital with a concussion, and fortunately, he was released from the hospital the next day. 

Mauldin will have to go through the NFL's concussion protocol before he can play again.

The Jets decided to stick with Calvin Pace as the starting weak-side linebacker in 2015, but Mauldin could still contribute as a pass-rusher while learning the ropes of his new full-time position. That being said, his health is the No. 1 concern, and the Jets have other players who can step up in the meantime, so they should take their time with Mauldin to make sure he's back to full health before putting him back on the field. 

Stock Up: Chris Ivory

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Chris Ivory's status as one of the league's most underrated running backs is threatened; if he continues to play the way he played in Week 1 against the Browns, no one will be underestimating his ability.

Ivory was bulldozing and dodging defenders left and right on his way to 20 carries, 91 yards and two touchdowns. He split carries with teammate Bilal Powell, who earned 12 carries for 62 yards, but the overall performance of the running game is a promising sign for the Jets offense.

In the past, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has earned a reputation for abandoning the running game in favor of spreading out the defense with an onslaught of an aerial assault. For now, at least, the Jets should keep it balanced to ensure that their best players get opportunities to carry the offense to success.