The Giants may be 0-6, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t help fantasy football players win games as the season progresses. Here is our assessment of the Giants’ skill-position players for Week Seven and beyond:
QUARTERBACK
The Giants’ passing game draws a slew of favorable matchups down the stretch, making Eli Manning a player worth keeping on your fantasy roster.
Of the Giants’ final nine opponents, seven are ranked No. 21 or worse in passing yards per game surrendered. This list includes the Giants’ next opponent, Minnesota.
Manning is not a threat to run, which reduces his fantasy-football upside. Moreover, he’s thrown 15 interceptions, a negative in leagues that penalize for miscues. However, Manning has never missed an NFL start, and he’s surrounded by a talented group of receivers.
RUNNING BACK
As of this writing, Brandon Jacobs is available in the majority of Yahoo! fantasy leagues. That could change once leagues begin their weekly waiver periods this week.
If he’s still available, Jacobs is a fine short-term pickup. He figures to be the Giants’ featured back on Monday after rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in the Giants’ Week Six loss at Chicago.
Jacobs suffered a slight hamstring injury last Thursday, but he’s expected to practice this Thursday as the Giants prepare for Minnesota, head coach Tom Coughlin said Monday, according to the club.
Jacobs is starting with David Wilson (neck) and Andre Brown (knee) on the mend. Wilson is worth keeping on fantasy benches for the time being. Brown can return to the field as early as Week 10 and can soon start to be re-added to fantasy rosters.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks should be key contributors for fantasy teams down the stretch, considering the Giants’ opposition. The caveat with Nicks, of course, is that he’s in the last year of his contract, and his future has been a source of speculation in recent weeks. Nevertheless, he’s a solid starter in most fantasy leagues. Cruz, of course, is an obvious weekly play in the vast majority of leagues.
Rueben Randle, available in 48 percent of Yahoo! leagues as of this writing, is a reasonable waiver-wire pickup. His value would increase if Nicks were traded.
TIGHT END
Per NFL statistics, Brandon Myers has had just 13 passes thrown his way in the last four games. Overall, he has just five caches for 68 yards in this span. Myers is best as a bye-week replacement in most leagues.
PLACEKICKER
Through six games, Josh Brown has 25 points (13 extra points, four field goals). Like Myers, he’s a one-week fill-in at best.
DEFENSE
The Giants’ defense has struggled this season, but it might be a nice pickup for the Week 10 game against Oakland with the Browns, Chiefs, Jets and Patriots on bye.
