AFC North stock up, down: Steelers find life at QB, Browns still searching for answers

A quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season, we’re assessing who’s trending up and down in each division.

Here’s the AFC North’s stock report from Weeks 1-4.

Stock up: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields

Fields is playing the best football of his career, throwing for 830 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 145 yards and another three scores.

The No. 11 overall pick in 2021 has been highly criticized for not seeing the field well enough and turning the football over to start his career. However, his career-high 70.6 completion percentage and one interception, which came off a tipped pass, indicate he’s finally developing into the franchise quarterback he was drafted to be.

Fields has not been named the Steelers’ full-time starter as quarterback Russell Wilson continues to work his way back from a calf injury, but head coach Mike Tomlin said that could change if Fields continues to do two things: “Play well. Win.“

Leading Pittsburgh to its fourth win of the season in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys (2-2) on “Sunday Night Football” would help do just that.

Stock down: Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews

Andrews has been viewed as a top-five tight end for much of his seven-year NFL career, but the same can’t be said so far this year.

The 29-year-old seems to be getting lost in the shuffle with just six catches for 65 yards and zero touchdowns.

In fact, his backup, Isaiah Likely, has been much more productive with 13 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Part of the reason for Andrews’ decline in production is likely because the Ravens are running the ball very well with running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson combining for 788 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

However, even when Baltimore does decide to pass the ball, Andrews doesn’t seem to be playing an integral part in the offense.

Stock up: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase

The Bengals offense struggled through the first two weeks of the season, but it was largely because they were barely using their best player in Chase, who had just 10 catches for 97 yards during the span.

Since then, however, Chase has registered nine catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

It’s up for debate whether it was a change in philosophy or simply knocking off some rust, but Cincinnati’s offense should only get better since wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) returned last week.

Chase and Higgins have benefited from taking away pressure from each other the past three years. This rest of this season should be no different.

Stock down: Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson

Watson has had more than enough opportunities to prove the Browns right for trading a king’s ransom, which included three first-round picks, to acquire him and then handing him a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract.

However, Watson has yet to do that as he has thrown for just 2,944 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 16 games.

The 29-year-old’s poor play is a big reason why Cleveland is currently 1-3 and tied for last place in the AFC North, and he knows it.

“It starts with me,” Watson said, via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “If I’m going to be the quarterback of this offense, we’ve all got to be all the way locked in, and right now we’re not doing enough to get the W. So you can put it on me for sure.”

If Watson’s struggles continue, the team will be forced to look elsewhere for someone who could provide a much-needed spark to the offense.