NFL Stock Report Week 5: Jets fail, Niners tough loss, Caleb Williams cruises, more

We're only five weeks into the season and already our first coach has been fired! This morning the Jets parted ways with Robert Saleh following the team's 2-3 start and tough 23-17 loss to the undefeated Vikings in London.

Let’s get back to that and more as we move through the NFL.

Stock up: The NFC North

It was a 3-0 week for the division and none of the teams in action allowed 20+ points. It's hard not to look at this group and call it the best division in football.

In fact, after Week 5, the NFC North is the only division where every team has a winning record. Green Bay took care of the Rams on the road, the Vikings got their not-so-great game from Sam Darnold in London (and still beat the Jets), the Bears dismantled the Panthers, and the Lions had their bye week.

It's still early, but all four teams appear to be playoff contenders (at least) by Week 18. The Vikings appear to be the best team in football. And even though Sam Darnold didn't play well on Sunday, their defensive performance made them feel as dangerous as ever. This defense is BAD. They go after the quarterback and often take the ball away from him. Brian Flores does a great job there.

Stock Down: New York Jets

I mean…if you fire your head coach just five weeks into the season, the stock will plummet. Nathaniel Hackett's offense looks as broken with Aaron Rodgers at QB as it did with Zach Wilson running the show. Defense hasn't been the problem so far. And while this was Robert Saleh's side, the head coach is responsible for everything, and all too often this year the Jets got off to a slow start and looked unprepared.

We'll see if the restructure makes a big difference, but the fact that Saleh is gone and Nathaniel Hackett is still the offensive coordinator means the Jets are probably still trying to keep Aaron Rodgers happy. If the organization's goal is to keep Rodgers happy, things could get out of hand quickly.

Stock up: Caleb Williams

Am I somehow doubling the bears here? Secure. Do I care? Not even a little. With each week he's played, Caleb Williams has only gotten better, with this last game against Carolina being the best game of his career. It's not just the numbers that are impressive. The eye test, his progress, his processing skills and his feel for the offense make great strides every Sunday.

Don't get me wrong, the improvement in the running game and better offensive line play certainly played a role, but the progress Caleb Williams has made in just five games has been notable. He's already doing things out of his own pocket that we've never seen a Bears quarterback do before… like never before (except Perhaps Jay Cutler on his best day). The second half of the season will certainly be a big test with numerous division games. But right now, with a smaller portion of the schedule here, Caleb has the opportunity to move forward.

Stock Down: San Francisco 49ers

If I owned 49ers stock, I certainly wouldn't be selling it yet. Honestly, I might even buy a little more if the price is lower. The Niners are still trying to find their feet a bit with Christian McCaffrey out for an extended period of time. His injury has resulted in the offense having to focus a little more on Brock Purdy and the passing game. I think this represents a bit of an adjustment for the Niners.

Purdy is a good quarterback and you can definitely win with him. However, when you lose arguably the best running back in football and your game on the ground goes from being the focal point of the offense to being a complementary player, some adjustment is required.

Historically, San Francisco has gotten better as the season progresses under Kyle Shanahan. And I think that will be the case again this year. But a home loss to the Cardinals in a game where you had a double-digit lead will hurt your record. You will find out. But right now they're still trying to find themselves.

Stock up: Denver Broncos

For a team that took a lot of criticism early in the season, Denver certainly surprised a lot of people (myself included) through five games. Bo Nix played his best game as a pro, assuming he still has a long way to go. Javonte Williams is dangerous. The defense is playing great. And in Sean Payton, they have a coach who knows how to build a team and a culture.

Denver will have its share of ups and downs this season – and their two-game winning streak has come against two struggling teams – but not many have been 3-2 (let alone over .500) at this point in the season. all the year long). They most likely won't be a playoff team, but Sean Payton might have them on the right track.

Stock Down: New Orleans Saints

I get it, losses happen on the road to the Chiefs. I don't think that's why their stocks are going down, not entirely. But the Monday Night Football match in KC was a chance to show that they are a real contender. And not only did they fail somewhat, they also lost Derek Carr for what seemed like weeks.

I don't think anyone thought New Orleans was as good as they played the first two weeks of the season, but now they've lost three games in a row and are facing the Bucs and Broncos without their starting quarterback. For a season that started promisingly, it looks like the Saints could easily be 2-5 or 3-4 in seven weeks, which would be a huge disappointment after their 2-0 start.