New York Jets Week 4 Stock Report

The New York Jets aren't going undefeated in 2015. No one expected them to, with the exception of some people who might have a few screws loose.

There are obvious flaws with this team. They start at the quarterback position, where the Jets are stuck trying to win games without a franchise signal-caller. They do not end there, though, and some of those problems were on display in the Jets' 24-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.

A couple of key injuries also threw the Jets out of their game plan, to the extent that they were predictable in doing so. The focus of the offense was squarely on the pitch-and-catch game between quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall, but it wasn't enough to help keep the Jets on track.

So, which players are on the come up and which are on a decline coming out of Week 3 and headed into Week 4?

Stock Up: Leonard Williams

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The Jets made a wise choice by drafting defensive lineman Leonard Williams with the No. 6 overall pick. Not only has his presence helped ease the absence of Pro Bowl defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, but Williams is already developing into a talented lineman in his own right.

Williams notched his first regular-season sack against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, as he was credited for a half-sack along with veteran Muhammad Wilkerson. Through three games, the rookie has notched six quarterback hurries, two hits and the one sack, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Not only did Williams contribute as a pass-rusher, but he also made his impact in run defense. He had five tackles, two of which were on runs that were stopped for a gain of one yard or less and one of which was stopped for a loss.

Not many Jets players could walk out of MetLife Stadium with their head held high after Sunday, but Williams was one of them. 

Stock Down: Ryan Fitzpatrick

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Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick should not be in immediate danger of losing his job as the starter. That being said, he should not make himself too comfortable in that seat.

In Weeks 1 and 2, Fitzpatrick was not the reason the Jets won, but in Week 3, he was clearly one of the biggest reasons they lost. He went 35-of-58 (60.3 percent) for 283 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Two of his picks were bad throws, and one was tipped in the air by wide receiver Brandon Marshall and intercepted by the Eagles on the sideline.

The Jets fell behind early and therefore sent Fitzpatrick into pass-happy mode. Unfortunately, he's not the type of quarterback who can put a team on his back and carry it to victory. The Jets need to be careful with Fitzpatrick and help protect him from being put in such scenarios. He is 3-12-1 in the 16 games when he has thrown 40 or more passes.

Stock Up: Antonio Cromartie

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Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie has not been off to a good start in 2015, but on Sunday, he proved that he could still turn things around before he gets burnt so bad he turns into toast.

According to Pro Football Focus, Cromartie had allowed completions on 10 of the 12 passes thrown his way dating back to the preseason. Against the Eagles, he didn't allow a single reception despite being targeted four times. Cromartie spent most of his day matched up with Eagles wide receiver Miles Austin, which is where he drew all four of his targets. 

Stock Down: Brandon Marshall

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Did Brandon Marshall make a bad decision when he tried to lateral the ball to tight end Jeff Cumberland? Yes. Was it the "worst play in NFL history," though? It probably wasn't even the worst play in Jets history. 

Besides, who can blame Marshall for trying to create a spark for his team? The Jets were already down 17-0 with roughly five minutes remaining in the second quarter. Marshall was the only Jets receiver who was doing much of anything on Sunday and finished the game with 10 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.

That's an impressive stat line, and it's Marshall's best of the year. He is now riding a three-game streak in which he's scored at least one touchdown, and is living up to the hype that surrounded his arrival in New York. 

The Jets would eventually come back from a 24-0 deficit to lose 24-17, but if Marshall hadn't tried the lateral, who knows if the Jets might have made it even closer—or even won the game.

Stock Down: Running Backs Not Named Chris Ivory

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Chris Ivory can't get healthy soon enough. The Jets other running backs were unimpressive in his absence. 

Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy are good backs in their own right, but the Jets' running game has been much more effective with Ivory as the bell cow. Against the Eagles, the Jets rushed for a combined 47 yards on 16 carries (2.9 yards per carry).

Some of the blame should go to the defense, which put the offense in a 24-0 deficit in the first half and forced it to get away from the running game. 

As mentioned previously, Fitzpatrick is not the kind of quarterback who can put a team on his back and carry it to victory. He needs help from the running game and the defense so that he doesn't have to be more than a game manager. If the Jets offense is going to stay successful, it must be effective in the running game on a consistent basis. 

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