New York Giants Team Outlook
(Editor’s note: This is the free preview of the New York Giants team outlook. If you already are a premium subscriber to FullTime Fantasy, click here for our premium expanded New York Giants Team Outlook. The expanded team outlook also includes sections covering the coaching staff, offensive line, schedule, free agency, 2019 draft picks, defense & more.)
Giants Offense Outlook
The Giants ran the ball only 37.8 percent of the time in 2018 despite having an elite option at RB. Their offensive line should be better this season along with more talent added to the offensive line. They still can’t be balanced on offense with Eli Manning offering no value in the run game.
Quarterbacks
Eli Manning
Over the previous three seasons before 2017, Eli averaged 606 passing attempts per game leading to just under 4,300 passing yards and about 30 TDs per season. Manning passed for over 4,000 yards in seven of his last ten years. His sack total tends to be short along with his yards per pass attempt due to Eli getting rid of the ball quickly when his pass blocking breaks down. Last season his offensive line allowed too much pressure leading to a career high in sacks (47), but he did gain 7.5 yards per pass attempts (highest since 2011).
Manning passed for 4,299 yards with 21 TDs and 11 Ints in 2018. He finished with only one game with three TDs or more and five contests with over 300 yards passing. With no Odell Beckham, the Giants’ passing game loses its explosiveness. New York does have four viable receiving options, which gives Eli enough talent to be a league average player in passing yards and TDs. Only a QB2 in the Fantasy market with his ultimate upside tied to the success or failure of their defense.
Daniel Jones
The strength of the QB position this draft season has a sharp decline after the top two options plus a further step back behind Drew Lock. Jones had a mediocre career over three years as a starter for Duke. He passed for 8,201 yards with 52 TDs and 29 Ints. His best success in yards (2,836) and completion rate (62.8) came in his freshman season while tossing the most TDs (22) in 2018. The quality of his receiving core was below par. Daniel gets bonus points for his size (6’5” and 220 lbs.) and his football knowledge, but his arm isn’t elite.
Jones started most of his plays out of the shotgun while taking too much time to unload the ball on some plays. He’ll make some plays on the ground (406/1323/17), which will help extend drives and add value at the goal line. In a way, he’s more of a finesse player which leaves him behind the top quarterbacks in the game. A low-level backup for me who needs a break to earn a starting job in the NFL. This season he’ll work as the backup QB for the New York with his future starting job coming in a couple of years.
Other Options: Alex Tanney, Kyle Lauletta, Eric Dungey
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley
In his rookie season, Barkley gained 2,028 combined yards with 15 TDs and 91 catches while receiving 352 touches. His impact value came from his scoring ability and seven runs over 40 yards (highest total in the NFL). Over the first nine games, Saquon rushed for over 100 yards twice, but he did gain 100 combined yards in six other games. His value as a runner took off in Week 11. Over his final seven games, he rushed for over 100 yards in five games highlighted by a four-game stretch (637 combined yards with six TDs and 16 catches).
Unfortunately, Barkley let Fantasy owners down in Week 14 when he posted a poor game (56 combined yards with four catches). A complete beast with workhorse value on all three downs. Top three draft choice with his only question coming in the ultimate upside of the Giants’ scoring ability. I know one thing for sure, I need to have multiple pieces of Saquon in 2019 as his game is too explosive to miss out on an exceptional ride. If New York plays from the lead in more games, I could see over 400+ touches with 2,300+ yards and a run at 20+ TDs with high floor each week.
Wayne Gallman
Clemson gave Gallman plenty of touches (556) over his last two seasons leading to 3,025 combined yards with 31 TDs and 42 catches. His career was highlighted by his junior year (1,740 combined yards with 14 TDs and 22 catches). Over three years in college, Wayne caught 66 combined passes for 486 yards and two TDs. He runs hard with some open field ability thanks to a spin move and some wiggle.
In his rookie season, Gallman gained 669 combined yards with one TD and 34 catches on 145 touches. Over the last four games of 2017, he finished with 329 yards with 19 catches while just under 16 touches per game. Last year Wayne saw a step back in chances, which led to 265 combined yards with one TD and 14 catches while receiving 65 touches. His price point makes him an easy handcuff for Barkley while being a tough carry at times in 2019.
Other Options: Rod Smith, Paul Perkins, Jon Hilliman
Wide Receivers
Sterling Shepard
In his second full season of games for the Giants, Shepard caught 66 of his 107 targets for 872 yards and four TDs. His receiving yards improved each year in the NFL along with his yards per catch (10.5, 12.4, and 13.2). Sterling finished as the 31st highest scoring WR in PPR leagues. Even with a respectable season, Shepard only had four playable games on the year (6/80/1, 10/77/1, 5/167, and 6/113). Over his 12 other contests, he scored fewer than ten Fantasy points in PPR leagues in ten games. Last year the Giants’ WRs caught 190 passes for 2,612 yards and 14 TDs on 306 targets with Odell Beckham sucking up the most significant part of the equation (77/1052/6) in 12 games. His next step points to 80+ catches for 1,000+ yards with mid-level TDs.
Golden Tate
After a great four year run with the Lions (99/1331/4, 90/813/6, 91/1077/4, and 92/1003/5), Tate had regression in 2018. His fade came after his trade to the Eagles midseason. Over the first seven games, Golden was on pace for a similar year (44/517/3). His opportunity in Philly led to only 30 catches for 278 yards and one TD on 44 targets. The Eagles struggled to get him in space (9.3 yards per catch). On the year, Tate posted four games of value (7/79/1, 7/109, 8/132/2, and 7/85/1) with three of the outings coming over the first three weeks of the season. The Giants won’t throw the ball as much as the Lions, but Golden should still turn in a productive season. I expect 80+ catches for 900+ yards and a handful of TDs, which works as WR3 in PPR leagues.
Corey Coleman
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Darius Slayton
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Other Options: Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, Russell Shepard, Alonzo Russell, Brittan Golden
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Tight Ends
Evan Engram
Fantasy owners had high hopes for Engram in 2018 after an excellent rookie year (64/772/6). He struggled in Week 1 (2/18) followed up by a solid game the following week (7/67/1). Evan suffered an injury in Week 3, leading to three missed games. Engram failed to make an impact (5/25/1, 4/46, and 2/66) in his first three games back in the lineup before landing on the injured list for two more games. With Odell Beckham injured, Evan showed his upside over the last four contests (3/77, 8/75, 6/87, and 5/81). In early June, he’s been battling a hamstring issue. Talented TE who showed growth in his catch rate (70.3) in 2018, which gives him exciting upside if he can see 120+ targets. With 16 games played, Engram should have a floor of 70 catches for 850+ yards with a chance at a team-high in receiving TDs.
Other Options: Rhett Ellison, Scott Simonson, Garrett Dickerson, C.J. Conrad
Kicker
Aldrick Rosas
In his rookie season, Rosas appeared to kick his way out of the NFL after making only 72.0 percent of his field goals while missing three of 23 extra points. His leg bounced back in a big way in 2018. Aldrick made 32 of his 33 field goal tries with his only miss coming from over 50 yards. He’s made seven of his eight kicks from 50 yards or more. Last year the Giants scored 39 TDs while creating plenty of field goal chances. I like the direction of his leg, which would be helped by better defensive play by New York. I’m buying that he’s a top ten kicker again in 2019.
