Cleveland Browns Week 2 Stock Report

The Cleveland Browns' first game of the 2015 regular season is in the books, and though it didn't go as well as the team had expected—a 31-10 loss to the New York Jets—it's time to move on and move forward toward the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

But that doesn't mean that everything is business as usual for every player on Cleveland's roster. Here are the players who have seen their stocks rise and fall after Week 1.

Stock Up: WR Travis Benjamin

Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

Last year, Browns receiver and returner Travis Benjamin was still not 100 percent recovered from his 2013 knee injury. Both his speed and his focus has not returned to their previous levels. The result? Benjamin caught only 18 of the 46 passes thrown his way in 2014, for 314 yards and one touchdown.

He's already on his way to beating that mark in 2015, however. In fact, Benjamin was one of the Browns' lone bright spots in their Week 1 loss to the Jets.  

Benjamin caught all three of his targets last week, for 89 yards and a 54-yard touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus, he also had 48 yards after the catch, the seventh-most for any receiver in Week 1. 

The Browns need an explosive playmaker on offense in order to present a challenge to opposing defenses. At first, rookie Duke Johnson was pegged to be that player. But it may just be Benjamin, after all.

Stock Down: CB Joe Haden

Brad Penner/Associated Press

Browns cornerback Joe Haden may be a two-time Pro Bowler, but he didn't look that good on Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus' coverage data, Haden allowed six of the seven passes thrown his direction by Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be caught, for a total of 99 yards, 22 yards after the catch and one touchdown.

Though Haden had one pass defensed, Fitzpatrick had a perfect, 158.3 passer rating when targeting him.

Haden's worst performance came against Jets receiver Brandon Marshall, who caught all five passes thrown his way when Haden was covering him, for 56 yards and a score.

Haden does have shutdown corner capabilities, but he's not the largest nor most physical cornerback in the league. Against big-bodied, tough receivers like Marshall, he struggles.

In situations like this going forward, the Browns may be better off giving him safety help so that he's not burned so thoroughly.

Stock Up: Johnny Manziel

Brad Penner/Associated Press

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel's stock isn't up for what he did on the field against the Jets in relief for the concussed Josh McCown. Though he flashed moments of brilliance—including a 54-yard touchdown pass to receiver Travis Benjamin and a pair of runs that would have earned him and his team 42 yards had they not been called back via penalty—it was a rough outing.

Manziel completed 13 of his 24 pass attempts for 182 yards, one touchdown, one interception and two fumbles lost. He also rushed five times for 35 yards and was sacked three times. Though he did show clear improvement from his rookie year, he also didn't seal the deal as "the man" in Cleveland just yet.

But Manziel's stock is on the rise, and for one reason: Redemption. Browns head coach Mike Pettine said on Wednesday (via Scout.com's Fred Greetham) that McCown remains in the NFL's concussion protocol and said that Friday would be the earliest he would potentially return to practice. But that may not be enough time to get him ready to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Manziel is practicing with the first-team offense and the Browns are behaving as though they are preparing for him to start on Sunday. Pettine is currently unsure whether a cleared McCown will be starting on Sunday, which means that Manziel could get an unexpected Week 2 start. 

The Titans' defense is not as tricky as the Jets' and the Browns get to play at home, which means Manziel has a chance to redeem himself for his Week 1 performance and show that he may just be ready to take the reins of Cleveland's offense earlier than expected.

Stock Down: WR Dwayne Bowe

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

The Browns brought in veteran receiver Dwayne Bowe in March to have a deep threat to replace the suspended Josh Gordon. But so far this year, Bowe has been just as useful to his offense as Gordon has. Bowe has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that, according to head coach Mike Pettine, "had a minor setback during the week." Bowe was inactive on Sunday against the Jets.

Pettine continued: "It is frustrating because you want him out there. Here is a guy we made a big commitment to in the offseason and brought him on board to be a big part of what we do and it has been difficult—the setbacks that he has had and not being out there."

The Browns did make a big commitment to Bowe, giving him a two-year, $12.5 million contract in the spring that includes $9 million in guaranteed money. And for now, he's earning that money on the sidelines and on the trainers' tables instead of on the field. Until and unless he can play and make a positive contribution, Bowe's stock is on the downslide.

Stock Up: OT Mitchell Schwartz

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Browns right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has, whether correctly or incorrectly, been labeled the weak link of the team's offensive line since he joined the team in 2012. But in the team's Week 1 game against the New York Jets, he was impressive.

On 71 snaps played, Schwartz gave up no sacks, no quarterback hits and just one hurry, ranking him Pro Football Focus' 22nd-ranked offensive tackle for the week (out of 65). He did have one penalty and could have performed better as a run-blocker, but none of the three sacks quarterback Johnny Manziel took were Schwartz's fault.

When the Browns drafted Cameron Erving in Round 1 this year, it was a possibility that he could unseat Schwartz if not right guard John Greco. But Schwartz's job appears safe, especially when he doesn't give up a single hit on the quarterback against a defense as aggressive as the Jets'.