New York Jets Week 3 Stock Report

Sometimes, a fresh face at head coach is all a team needs to turn things around. Well, that and a new, high-priced secondary, a new No. 1 receiver, some new offensive linemen and a new young defensive lineman.

The New York Jets are 2-0 and look like one of the early surprise playoff contenders. 

Make no mistake, though: At 2-0, there's still a long way to go. As head coach Todd Bowles said earlier this week, all it means is that the Jets could theoretically finish the season 2-14. 

But things are looking up, which is more than the Jets have been able to say in quite some time. Here's a look at some of the players who have helped get them there and others whose trajectory is currently pointing downward.

Stock Up: Ryan Fitzpatrick

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The Jets don't need quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be great. They just need him to be good enough.

That's exactly what he's been through two games. The veteran journeyman has completed 37 of his 58 attempts (63.8 percent) for 423 yards, four touchdowns, two picks and a 94.3 passer rating. Those numbers are right around the middle of the pack for starting NFL quarterbacks, and that's OK. 

In addition to wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, Fitzpatrick has one of the best weapons any quarterback could ever ask for: an elite defense. With a defense that currently ranks No. 1 in the NFL in scoring and No. 10 in yards, Fitzpatrick's job has been a lot easier.

If he can keep it up for 14 more games, the Jets could be a surprise playoff team. 

Stock Down: Antonio Cromartie

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The Jets invested a lot of money into improving their secondary this offseason. Don't look now, but one of their biggest investments is not paying off quite like they had expected.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie has been targeted five times and has allowed four receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He yielded three receptions on four targets against the Indianapolis Colts, allowing 71 yards and a touchdown in the process. 

It would be much easier to write this off as a slow start or as a product of Cromartie's mild knee injury in Week 1, were it not for the evidence to the contrary. He was a burn victim before the season even began and allowed six completions on seven targets for 54 yards and a touchdown during the preseason. For those of you keeping score, that means quarterbacks have only thrown two incomplete passes on 12 throws into Cromartie's coverage in the preseason and regular season combined.

In 2014, he appeared to turn his career around with a renaissance in the Arizona Cardinals secondary. Bowles had hoped that Cromartie could bring his rediscovered talent with him to New York. That's not been the case so far, though. Cromartie could still turn it around this year, but more and more, it looks like 2014 was an exception to the rule.

Stock Up: Calvin Pryor

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As a rookie, safety Calvin Pryor spent much of 2014 playing out of position at free safety. Fast forward to the second week of his second season, and we have already seen the positive effects of switching back to strong safety.

Pryor grabbed his first career interception against the Colts on Monday and was also in on five tackles (three solo, two assists). On the season, he's already tallied 15 tackles (11 solo, four assists), an interception and a forced fumble. 

NFL teams are all searching for playmakers at safety. Everyone wants a Kam Chancellor type of safety, a versatile defender who can lay heavy hits as effectively as he can cover tight ends and running backs. Pryor certainly isn't on that level yet, but he's showing the ability to carry out all the responsibilities of an every-down safety.

Stock Down: Eric Decker

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With eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown against the Colts, Jets wide receiver Eric Decker would be firmly in the "stock up" category if he hadn't injured his knee early in the fourth quarter on Monday night. 

According to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, Decker's injury is not of the season-ending variety, but his status for Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles is still uncertain. Head coach Todd Bowles described Decker's injury as a sprained knee and said that the veteran wide receiver is day to day.

All of Decker's production against the Colts came in the first half, and he might have put up even better numbers if he hadn't left the game. He and Brandon Marshall have formed a formidable duo and have contributed a combined four receiving touchdowns.

But now, with both Decker and Chris Owusu nursing injuries, the Jets' depth chart at wide receiver is getting thin. 

Stock Up: Brandon Marshall

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The Jets are well beyond the years of Stephen Hill and Santonio Holmes running through secondaries for their offense. Now, with Marshall and Decker lined up out wide, the wide receiver position is a strength of the offense.

Marshall, specifically, has provided a missing dimension for the offense with his presence, particularly in the red zone, where his 6'4", 230-pound size makes him a mismatch for nearly anyone who is tasked with covering him. The 10-year veteran has hauled in two touchdowns in two games with the Jets.

With 13 receptions for 163 yards already, Marshall is on pace to put up the best numbers he's posted in a season since 2012. 

It doesn't matter who's playing quarterback. Whether it's Ryan Fitzpatrick or Geno Smith throwing the ball, expect Marshall to be a huge part of the game plan. 

Unless otherwise noted, all advanced statistics obtained via Pro Football Focus. All quotes, paraphrased or direct, acquired via team news release.