Fantasy Football Preview: New York Giants
At NFLmocks it’s all football all the time. While we patiently await the start of free agency and the college football season, I thought I’d take the next month or so to go over comprehensively the fantasy football options for each team. I’ll start where my heart lies with the New York Giants.
Quarterback
Eli Manning
(Sage Rosenfels)
Whether or not Eli Manning is a top 10 QB in the league is one of my favorite debates, but whether or not Eli Manning can be a top 10 fantasy quarterback is not really up for debate. Eli Manning is very underappreciated as a fantasy football guy heading into next season.
While if he maintains the high interception numbers it could hurt your squad the yardage totals and touchdowns numbers he puts up will not.
The last two years he’s put up 4,000 plus yards and at least 27 touchdowns. The Giants have trusted him to throw the ball more than 500 times in five of the last six years which means he’ll have his opportunities.Last year’s numbers 31 touchdowns and 4,000 plus yards passing came without Steve Smith for a large part of the season.
The problem with Eli Manning, though is he does have some inconsistencies in his game, in large part because of the balance the Giants offense has, some games they’ll put up their points on the ground. Last year he had 6 games with under 200 yards passing which can kill you in a week, but also five weeks with three or more touchdowns and a touchdown in all but three games.
The other problem with Eli Manning is that he won’t put up a ton of rushing yards. Eli could be as low as the 15th quarterback in your fantasy draft and if you get him there, it’s great value, just follow the matchups closely. One last positive with Eli Manning is he’s one of the most durable quarterbacks in the N.F.L….you know he’ll be in the starting lineup as many games as you want him to be in 2011.
Sage Rosenfels is one of the better backup quarterback options in the league for fantasy purposes if Eli Manning gets hurt, he could put up some numbers with the New York Giants weapons. If Eli gets hurt scoop him up. If you’re in a very deep league (20 teams or something crazy) make him one of the priority #2 quarterbacks. He at least can put up numbers if he ever gets in a game.
Running backs
Ahmad Bradshaw
Brandon Jacobs
D.J. Ware
Da’rel Scott
Bradshaw and Jacobs are two overrated running backs, but they can put up some big time fantasy numbers.
Ahmad Bradshaw is likely to be resigned by the New York Giants and is a great #2 option for fantasy running backs. Last year, Bradshaw ran for 1235 yards and 8 touchdowns while also 47 passes for 314 yards which is some of the most production from the running back position in all of football last year.
The problem with Bradshaw, though is that every year he struggles to maintain his health throughout the entire season. Last year 7 of the final 9 New York Giants games Bradshaw averaged less than 4 yards per carry and he also lost his starting job. Bradshaw is fun to watch because of his desire, and his speed power combination, but if you draft him consider riding him the first half of the season and trading him away at the trade deadline in your league and reaping the benefits.
Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs had 9 touchdowns last year and ran for 823 yards, he only had 7 receptions last year. The Giants have said repeatedly this off season that they didn’t give Jacobs enough carries last year. Jacbos, like Bradshaw, has trouble staying healthy. Jacobs is a solid number two fantasy running back, especially if you handcuff him with a big yardage, low touchdown guy like Jamaal Charles, but don’t get sucked in too early because of his name.
Da’Rel Scott and Ware
I don’t think Ware will make the team this year. Scott has a chance to be a return man (probably not though as Jerrel Jernigan seems to be the odds on favorite to win that job very early in the process). The Giants coaching staff doesn’t seem to trust Ware as they rarely get him into the game. The Giants were looking to add more speed to their team so it’s possible that Scott will find himself in a role similar to that of Bradshaw in 2007. Don’t look at either of these guys unless you’re in a very deep league.
Tight Ends
Kevin Boss
Travis Beckum
Bear Pascoe
Kevin Boss
Boss is a nice all around player because he has above average blocking ability,but that doesn’t mean anything in fantasy football. Last year 35 catches for 531 yards and five touchdowns. The Giants have a ton of young wide receiver weapons and don’t traditionally throw to the tight ends often. Avoid Kevin Boss if you can.
Travis Beckum
Consider Travis Beckum if you’re in a very deep league (starting two tight ends). Beckum actually puts up pretty good numbers for a backup tight end. Beckum had 13 receptions for 116 yards last year with two touchdowns. That’s nothing special, but he’s improving and only in a very deep league.
Bear Pascoe.
Do not draft.
Wide Receiver
Hakeem Nicks
Mario Manningham
Steve Smith
Ramses Barden
Jerrel Jernigan
Derek Hagan
Hakeem Nicks
Love, Love, LOVE Hakeem Nicks. Let’s start with the cons: Hakeem Nicks is young and still has inconsistent hands, even though he has very soft hands. He tries to rack up the yards after catch before he has the ball in his hands sometimes. Still, that doesn’t really matter in fantasy football.
Last season 79 receptions for 1052 yards and 11 touchdowns in 13 games played (not 13 full games either). The Giants will also try to use him on some running plays. Nicks receives a lot of targets and if Steve Smith isn’t ready to start the season will clearly be the number one option last year. Only two games last year with less than 40 yards receiving. Still put up big numbers after Smith went down in three games 96 yards, 63 yards, and 98 yards with two touchdowns in three weeks.
Nicks will be drafted early and he’ll produce…if he can stay healthy.
Mario Manningham
Criminally under appreciated. Last year 60 receptions for 944 yards and 9 touchdowns. In 2009, 57 receptions for 822 yards and 5 touchdowns. He seems to frustrate Eli Manning with his lack of route discipline, but an absolute dynamic talent with the ball in his hands. Keep an eye on Steve Smith’s health. If Smith is heading to the PUP list early in the season Manningham could be a steal.
Steve Smith
Not a huge red-zone threat, but will get some touchdowns. Catches more balls than anyone not named Wes Welker. His numbers were on pace to be slightly lower than in 2009 before his injury because of the emergence of Hakeem Nicks. He also might not be healthy enough to start the season. I’m avoiding Steve Smith until late in the draft if I can.
Much more value in a Points per reception league.
Ramses Barden
A name to keep an eye on during the training camp process. If Steve Smith is hurt he has a great chance to enter the season as the number three wide receiver behind Nicks and Manningham. If Smith is good to go, he might be a casualty of numbers. The Giants simply have too many wide receiving options to rely on Barden. He’s a training camp all star and was productive when he had opportunities last year, but should be avoided unless Smith is hurt.
Jerrel Jernigan
Jernigan is a tough call, but I think he should also be avoided. Tom Coughlin generally likes to avoid playing rookies if possible. He is not anti playing rookies, but likes to play the veterans with experience and ease rookies into the fray. I think Jernigan’s value to the team will be as a return man and sub package wide receiver throughout the season, but if he catches more than 30 balls next year I’ll be astonished. Now, with that being said if Steve Smith is hurt he’s a name to keep an eye on. The Giants could find him the most suitable to play the slot position and he could see a number of targets.
Derek Hagan
Hagan was cut last year, but brought back to the team when all the injuries started occurring at the wide receiver position. He’ll probably earn a spot on the team, but I can’t see him coming anywhere near his 24 catches for 223 yards he had last year. Do not draft.
Defense
The New York Giants defense is going to be better this year I believe and a defense that should be one of your first picks. The problem with the Giants defense the last two seasons is how many points they have given up, but at least in 2010 they were able to create a tremendous amount of turnovers, which really helps fantasy points. They, however, had no return game which meant little chance for a quick six point defensive return. This year that could change with Jerngan or possibly the return of Domenik Hixon.
The Giants could be a matchup defense though as well. Like, I said they are not elite because they give up too many points and last year they didn’t even have one defensive touchdown despite all of the turnovers they created. It might be unrealistic to assume they’ll have as many turnovers as they did last year. Still they rack up sacks and should be one of the first 7 defenses drafted.
Draftable IDP
Not many leagues to Individual Defensive players, but I enjoy leagues that do. Here are the top candidates from the Giants defense.
Justin Tuck
Tuck is the second best all around defensive end in the league in my opinion. No other defensive end besides Julius Peppers can play the run as rush the passer as well as Justin Tuck. Last year, Tuck had 76 tackles and 11.5 sacks. On top of that he caused six fumbles. If Forced Fumbles are worth two points in your league Tuck is a nice pickup.
Osi Umeinyora
Osi can put up the big sack numbers as well as force a lot of fumbles. Last season 11.5 sacks and a whopping 10 forced fumbles. Umeniyora isn’t great in run support *48 tackles, but if sacks are worth a lot of points in your league it’s worth a chance.
T.T. (Terrell Thomas)
Thomas is not the Giants third best defender, but he is the third best option for Individual Defensive Fantasy Players. Terrell Thomas had 101 tackles last year and has 10 interceptions combined over the last two years. There are much better options than Terrell Thomas in IDP leagues because you generally want to find cornerbacks who also have return ability, which Thomas does not, but as far as a combo player for tackles and interceptions Thomas isn’t a terrible option.
Kicker
Lawrence Tynes
Tynes isn’t the greatest kicker in the world, but the Giants do have a pretty potent offense and he will have many opportunities to kick field goals and score extra points. Tynes is a draftable kicker and should be on someone’s fantasy team next year.
These are my thoughts on the Giants fantasy football player. What do you guys think?
Let me know with a comment.
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