The New York Giants are coming off a brutal 3-14 season, their worst since 2017, and the offense was the main culprit. Ranked 31st in the league, the unit never recovered from losing Saquon Barkley to the division-rival Eagles. In response, the Giants used significant draft capital to revamp their attack, selecting quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round and bruising Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo in the fourth.
A violent runner built for NFC East football
Skattebo might end up being one of the best Day 3 picks in the entire 2025 NFL Draft. He brings a violent, no-nonsense running style that made him college football’s most punishing ball carrier last year. He finished second in the nation with 1,711 rushing yards and forced 102 missed tackles—11 of them coming in the Big 12 Championship Game alone, where he racked up 170 yards and two scores on just 16 carries (10.6 YPC).
That kind of physicality is exactly what the Giants’ offense needs. He’ll pair with second-year back Tyrone Tracy, who flashed big-play ability with 839 rushing yards as a rookie. But while Tracy is more of a scat back and outside-the-tackles threat, Skattebo thrives on contact and grinding out tough yards, making them a potentially perfect thunder-and-lightning duo.
Cam Skattebo AGAIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/Q1TcSYhncr
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 7, 2024
Skattebo isn’t just a battering ram, though, he’s also a versatile offensive weapon. He became the first Big 12 player ever to top 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season, and the first FBS back to do it since Christian McCaffrey in 2015. He caught the ball naturally, dropping only 4% of his targets last year, per Pro Football Focus. At 5'11", 215 pounds, he’s a nightmare for defenders in the open field once the ball’s in his hands.
Expect the Giants to take full advantage of his all-around game. Between his downhill running and pass-catching chops, Skattebo could be one of the more productive rookie backs in 2025. And for fantasy football players: keep him on your radar. He’s a strong candidate to handle short-yardage and goal-line duties, which means he could rack up touchdowns and emerge as a fantasy sleeper.