Week 5 Player Stock Report: Bull Market for Jets' Slot CB and Tight End
The New York Jets looked energized behind competent quarterback play last time out.
Although the Jets came up three points short against the reigning Super Bowl champions in Week 4, there were at least one-half dozen players who boosted their stock on Sunday Night Football.
Two of those standouts, one from each side of the ball, landed on this week's Jets Country Stock Report as hot investments. The two players who showed the greatest potential to increase their importance moving forward were slot cornerback Michael Carter II and sophomore tight end Jeremy Ruckert.
While Carter and Ruckert are rising, two offensive skill position players are trending downward following the 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
With a crucial road test coming against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, it's time to dump any remaining shares of wide receiver Randall Cobb and running back Dalvin Cook.
UP: Michael Carter II, CB 📈
A key cog in the Gang Green defensive machine, the slot cornerback has been one of the league's most efficient at the position in recent weeks.
Logging 62 percent of the defensive snaps, Carter is limiting opposing receivers to 4.6 yards per target. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick has totaled 15 tackles and one pass defensed thus far.
Carter provided prime coverage against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, but his biggest contribution was erased by a holding penalty charged to Sauce Gardner. With Kansas City nursing a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the slot cornerback picked off Mahomes on a third-down play only to see the offense receive a fresh set of downs due to the heavily-questioned infraction.
On Kansas City's first drive, Carter's tight coverage resulted in a third-down incompletion that forced a field goal attempt.
Carter, who finished with four tackles against the Chiefs, will likely take on an even more important role in Week 5 against the Broncos. With starting cornerback D.J. Reed and backup Brandin Echols on the shelf, Carter could be pressed into CB2 duties against Russell Wilson and Co.
UP: Jeremy Ruckert, TE 📈
Ruckert appears to be the best run-blocking option out of the tight ends group and he also carries untapped potential as a pass-catcher.
The 2022 third-round draft pick finally saw an uptick in snaps against Kansas City. Ruckert was part of the offensive formation 42 percent of the time on Sunday night, factoring in to both the rushing and passing attack.
"Somebody asked how we get more people involved. I think that was one of the questions last week and I was on the sidelines thinking, look at all these things that we get to do because we got a first down," said offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on Thursday when asked about Ruckert's usage. "Jeremy’s great, we love Ruck, we love all the tight ends."
Ruckert was on the field for Breece Hall's field-flipping 43-yard run in the third quarter, successfully blocking a defender on the outside. He also helped spring Hall free for an 84-yard gain on opening night against Buffalo.
The Long Island-born tight end caught both of his targets from Zach Wilson, totaling 26 yards receiving against the Chiefs. Aiding the team's touchdown drive coming out of halftime, Ruckert made a 23-yard grab that set the Jets up in the red zone.
DOWN: Randall Cobb, WR 📉
The aging pass-catcher totaled only three receptions over the season-opening four-game stretch that concluded against Kansas City.
Cobb caught two of four targets this past Sunday, totaling only eight yards. The 33-year-old appears to be a positive presence in the locker-room but doesn't offer much on the field these days.
His production hasn't warranted the substantial playing time he's seeing. Cobb has the third-highest snap count amongst Jets' receiver and has been on the field for 51 percent of offensive plays this season.
It may not be a bad idea to see what younger, faster options can do with an opportunity. Mecole Hardman has been hardly used and Xavier Gipson has taken the majority of his reps on special teams.
DOWN: Dalvin Cook, RB 📉
It's becoming more and more apparent why Minnesota was so eager to show Cook the door this offseason. He totaled 18 yards on six touches and didn't move the chains once at all in the Jets' Sunday night setback
Despite posting a fourth consecutive 1,100-yard rushing campaign in 2022, the veteran ball carrier seems to have lost the explosion that once made him effective. Cook has been slow to hit the hole this year while averaging only 2.5 yards per carry.
The 28-year-old Cook has not managed to gain more than 10 yards on any of his 30 rushing attempts. Brought in to take some pressure off Breece Hall, he has not shown much value through four games. Cook, who lost a costly fumble in the Week 2 setback to Dallas, has totaled four first downs.
The Jets should consider themselves lucky they are only tied to Cook for one season.
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