New York Jets: Stock up, stock down heading into Week 9
The New York Jets have reached the halfway point of their season with a 3-5 record. Here we take a look at whose stock is up/down heading into Week Nine.
It’s deja vu all over again. The New York Jets have reached the midway point of the 2018 season. They’ve dropped two straight and own a 3-5 ledger, the same mark they had at this time last year.
Gang Green commences the second half of their campaign this Sunday in Miami when they take on the Miami Dolphins (4-4) at Hard Rock Stadium.
Let’s take a look at some New York players whose stock is either going up or down heading into that AFC East battle:
Stock Up
Chris Herndon: The rookie from Miami caught just one pass last Sunday against the Chicago Bears but it was a 16-yard touchdown reception from fellow rookie Sam Darnold, New York’s lone touchdown of the afternoon. Herndon has now tallied a touchdown in each of his last three games and is becoming a dependable red zone target.
The 6-4, 253-pounder is averaging 13.4 yards per catch this season with a catch percentage of 66.7 percent.
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Deontay Burnett: The Compton, CA native stepped up last Sunday with all the injuries the Jets had at wide receiver and came up with a solid performance — a team-leading four receptions (on four targets) for 61 yards.
We’ll see what this means for the USC product going forward but it does show upside on his part. Burnett was called up from the practice squad in early October and may continue to see more snaps, especially with Quincy Enunwa (ankle) on the shelf.
Stock Down
Isaiah Crowell: It has been a strange season for the Alabama State product. Crowell has enjoyed two monster games — 102 yards rushing against Detroit in the season opener and a team record 219 yards on the ground against the Denver Broncos in Week 5. Aside from that, his numbers have been pretty brutal with just 163 rushing yards in his other six contests. Talk about inconsistency.
Crowell needs to step up now that Bilal Powell has been sent to injured reserve. Coming off two-straight contests in which he’s rushed for less than 30 yards, there is no light at the end of the tunnel presently. That has to change.
Leonard Williams: It’s been a disappointing season overall for the former first-round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Aside from his performance against Denver in Week 5 (two sacks, three QB hits, five tackles), the USC product has essentially been stifled this season.
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True, Williams has been double-teamed at times and that has hindered his ability to get to the quarterback. With that being said, he has not performed at the elite level many Jets fans expected — 15 sacks in 3.5 seasons simply is not enough. He has to take his play to a higher level. Plain and simple.