As the 2024 NFL season approaches, fantasy football enthusiasts are evaluating potential draft picks, and the New York Giants offer some intriguing options despite recent struggles. Here’s a breakdown of key players’ expected impact in fantasy leagues.
Quarterbacks: Daniel Jones and Drew Lock
Daniel Jones entered 2023 with high expectations under head coach Brian Daboll, following a standout 2022 where he ranked as QB9 based on his rushing prowess. However, the season was disappointing, marred by poor performance and an ACL injury. Jones ended up as QB42 in points per game, with diminished passing statistics and rushing touchdowns.
His first 5 games marked immediate regression. He had a 17-game pace of just 3,000 yards passing, 7 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. His rushing was on pace to mimic the results of 2022, but passing inefficiencies and injury have led to the Giants having buyer’s remorse following the $40 million-a-year contract.
Looking ahead, fantasy owners should approach Jones with caution. The Giants’ offensive line woes and a weak supporting cast make him a risky pick. Jones is confirmed as the starter due to his significant contract, Drew Lock remains a backup option with little chance of taking the starting spot unless Jones faces health issues. Jones as the QB30 in ADP should be off your radar in fantasy drafts.
Running Backs: Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
After a successful stint with the Texans, Devin Singletary joins the Giants and reunites with Daboll, under whom he had previous success in Buffalo. The time and location we first discovered Singletary’s ability to produce near-elite level numbers when given a large workshare.
In 2019 Singletary had a stint during weeks 11-16 where he was the RB28 on a points-per-game basis as a starter. Then again in 2021 from weeks 15-18, he exploded as the RB4 overall during that stretch. Finally, last season was his longest starting stint of all as the lead back in Houston. From week 9 through the rest of the season, Singletary overtook Dameon Pierce for the lead job. During this time Singletary was the RB19 in points per game. His 17-game pace was 333 opportunities, 1,423 scrimmage yards, and 7 touchdowns. Equaling 208 fantasy points, which in theory could have landed him as the RB12 for the season, assuming the pace could have held.
Given the lack of depth in the Giants’ backfield, Singletary is a valuable mid-round pick as a volume-based RB3 with the potential to perform as an RB2.
Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr., transitioning from a wide receiver in college, shows promise particularly in PPR leagues due to his receiving skills. He could find a niche role in passing situations, making him an interesting late-round pick or a dynasty stash. He tested well during the combine with a 4.48 40-yard dash time. Tracy has a quick-hitting style and elusiveness in the open field but lacks traditional power and vision between the tackles. This pre-draft analysis makes it more likely that a specialized role in passing situations is more likely rather than a potential starter-level upside.
Wide Receivers: Malik Nabers and Others
Malik Nabers emerges as the primary fantasy-relevant wide receiver for the Giants. Despite being a rookie, he is expected to command a significant target share, mirroring the usage of high-profile rookie receivers in recent years likely ranging between 24-29% team target share. However, with Daniel Jones’s underwhelming passing stats and the overall weak offense, Nabers might struggle to meet the expectations set by his ADP of WR24. While volume is always king in fantasy football, players do still have to produce numbers with their opportunities. A perfect example would be referring to a WR who lives in town but plays for the Jets. As stated in another article, Garret Wilson was 4th amongst all WRs in target and yet finished as WR39 because of his inability to overcome the shoddy positions he was put in by subpar QB play. Taking this into consideration I have ranked Nabers as my WR32. Fantasy owners should temper expectations, considering the potential for low efficiency similar to Garrett Wilson’s previous struggles with the Jets.
Tight Ends: Darren Waller
The tight-end situation is murky, with Darren Waller’s future uncertain amid retirement rumors. Daniel Bellinger or rookie Theo Johnson could step in if Waller does retire. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely during the preseason, as either could emerge as a late-round sleeper if they secure the starting role.
The New York Giants’ fantasy prospects are mixed, with potential value picks in Singletary and risks in high-draft options like Jones and Nabers. As always, the key to fantasy success will be navigating these uncertainties and making informed decisions based on the latest team developments and player performances.
his article was written by Dan Mader @DanMaderFF. Come join Fantasy Football Advice Network for more content discussions. Enjoy previous articles like Fantasy Football Spotlight: New York Jets, Fantasy Football Spotlight: Philadelphia Eagles, and Fantasy Football Team Profile: Miami Dolphins.
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