New York Jets Week 10 Stock Report

That was too close for comfort.

The New York Jets were barely able to eke out a win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, sneaking away with a five-point victory in the confines of their own stadium.

As you can expect, not everyone had their best performance in Week 9 against Jacksonville.

Yes, the Jets are 5-3 and on track for a playoff spot in the AFC, where even the most mediocre teams are still in contention for the postseason. If they keep playing the way they've played over the past three weeks, though, they won't be in the hunt for much longer.

Here's a look at some of the guys whose stock went up and others who need to turn things around headed into Week 10. 

Stock Up: Ryan Fitzpatrick

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Ryan Fitzpatrick's stock goes way up on grit alone. The journeyman quarterback played through torn ligaments in his left thumb, and intends to do so again on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills before having surgery to repair the ligaments.

The Jets quarterback was 21-of-34 passing (61.8 percent) for 272 yards and two touchdowns with a 106.5 passer rating Sunday against the Jaguars. The Jets offense has relied on the running game to help keep the ball moving downfield all season, but that group ran into a brick wall with just 29 yards rushing on 28 rush attempts against Jacksonville. 

Without Fitzpatrick's handy quarterbacking, who knows what the outcome of this game might have been.

One thing we do know is that if the running game doesn't find its groove, Fitzpatrick will be under continued pressure to play up to the standards he's set for himself through the first eight games of the regular season. 

Stock Down: Buster Skrine

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When Darrelle Revis is locking down one side of the field and Antonio Cromartie is unable to finish a game due to injury, the next men up are inevitably going to have a bull's-eye on their chest, regardless of the name on the back of their jersey. That man was Buster Skrine on Sunday against the Jaguars, and quarterback Blake Bortles took advantage of a lot of matchups in Skrine's direction.

According to Pro Football Focus, Skrine yielded seven completions on eight throws into his coverage for 98 yards and a touchdown. Skrine allowed at least one reception to four different players: wide receivers Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson and Bryan Walters and tight end Marcedes Lewis. 

The Jets have great top-of-the-line starters, but one problem that has plagued them in the secondary for years is their lack of depth. Of course, they're dealing with a lot right now between injuries at safety to Calvin Pryor and Dion Bailey, which has forced cornerback Marcus Williams to play some safety. 

At this point, all the Jets can do is hope that their key defensive backs get healthy sooner than later.

Stock Up: Calvin Pace

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There might not have been a more unlikely hero on Sunday than Calvin Pace.

With the Jets protecting a five-point lead in the fourth quarter, Pace came up with a game-saving sack-fumble of Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles that helped the Jets come away with a narrow win.

The Jets veteran outside linebacker has been on the downside of his career for the better part of four years now, but thanks to his veteran savvy, he's managed to hang onto his job as a starter in the Jets defense. That hasn't stopped Jets fans from clamoring for their team to find a younger, more suitable replacement, and one play won't change that.

That being said, Pace proved that he still has it in him to make some valuable contributions to the team even at this late stage in his career.

Stock Down: Chris Ivory

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Once upon a time, the Jets had one of the league's most dominant running attacks behind the bull-dozing Chris Ivory in their backfield.

That phrase—"once upon a time"—is fitting here, because it feels like forever since they've been able to rely on steady production on the ground. In their past three games, the Jets have averaged 64 rushing yards per game after averaging 146 rushing yards per game in their first five. 

Ivory, in particular, has rushed for just 84 yards on 55 carries (1.5 YPA) and three touchdowns in the past three games. Blame it on a combination of poor blocking, stacked boxes and a hamstring injury, but wherever you place the blame, the fact remains: The Jets need Ivory to get back on track to keep their season moving in the right direction.

Stock Up: Eric Decker

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Week after week, wide receiver Eric Decker proves why the Jets were smart to sign him to a contract as a free agent last offseason.

Against the Jaguars, Decker went off with six receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Decker has caught six passes in three straight games, and one touchdown in six of the seven games he's played this season so far. 

Those who think that Brandon Marshall is the only praise-worthy receiver for the Jets would be sorely mistaken; in fact, Decker has had more receptions than Marshall in three of the seven games both men have been active. 

The truth is the Jets will have to keep both Decker and Marshall involved in the offense as long as defenses continue to crowd the box to shut down Chris Ivory.