Dynasty Capsule: New York Giants

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re again going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

We conclude this year’s capsules with the New York Football Giants.

Quarterbacks

Eli Manning

Despite a poor start in a new offense, Eli Manning actually finished 2014 as a low-end QB1 thanks to top five finish from Weeks 9 through 17 that included being the QB3 in many scoring formats from Week 12 on. The combination of getting Odell Beckham, Jr. back and up-to-speed from the hamstring injury that cost him the first four weeks of the season and the time it took for Eli to get comfortable in Ben McAdoo’s system can account for much of that. Manning did put together a couple of QB1 seasons in a row in 2010 and 2011, and with Victor Cruz returning from injury and the Giants likely to have an improved offensive line in 2015, Manning looks like a good 2015 QB sleeper. The QB23 according to the February ADP, Manning is a great value for those that want to wait on QB and load up on the back end.

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

Ryan Nassib

He plays quarterback. If Eli got hurt, he might be a low-end QB2 in two QB leagues just by virtue of OBJ.

Running Backs

Rashad Jennings

Even though he missed one million games last year (check that: he missed five and had three total carries in two others), Rashad Jennings was actually still a PPR RB3, finishing at RB29. Through Week 5, he was actually the PPR RB9. Jennings carries multiple problems, including an inability to stay healthy, the potential growth of Andre Williams’ role and the fact the Giants are actively looking to add a passing down back (Helu, is it me you’re looking for?). Jennings’ ADP of RB55 shows those concerns, but the upside there, early down and passing back in a potentially high-powered offense, is there at that price if the Giants don’t add someone like Roy Helu. That upside is low-end RB2/high end FLEX, but that’s not bad at the price.

Andre Williams

Williams had infiniti times more catches last year than he did his in his senior year at Boston College (18 actually!). His pass blocking is still suspect and he is still kind of a plodder, but at least by the end of the season, he’d stopped running into the backs of his offensive lineman. That, my friend, is what we call progress in the good ‘ole U.S. of A. He’s never going to be an every down back, but he could score a bunch of TDs. If that floats your boat, then go for it, but with Williams’ ADP at RB46, give me Jennings almost ten guys later.

Other RBs

Look for the Giants to add an RB or two through free agency or the draft.

Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham, Jr.

What can you say about the guy you could sometimes get towards the late-middle of the first round of rookie drafts last year because of hamstring pull, who is now the top overall dynasty player in some people’s rankings? It truly is hard to refrain from hyperbole. Despite missing the first four weeks of the season, he was still the PPR WR7 last year. He was the PPR WR2 from Week 5 on, and from Week 9 to Week 17 he scored 256.3 PPR points, over 50 PPR points more than the PPR WR2 in that same time period, Antonio Brown (195.6). He is and should be valued right up there with the other stud WR1s.

Enough said.

Victor Cruz

The reports from Victor Cruz’ rehab on his torn patellar tendon, suffered in Week 6, have all been positive. At this point, it looks like he is on track to return for training camp. He could reclaim a starting role, so he could have a decent enough value moving forward. Unfortunately, the history of speed-type players like Cruz recovering from this type of injury and regaining even some of their former effectiveness is not that great. If you held him through his injury, it seems prudent to wait it out and see what you have, but at this point, his ADP in the middle 50s for WRs seems about right.

Rueben Randle

Talk about a disappointment.

Just 71 targets in sixteen games is not enough to support even a WR3. Don’t let Randle’s PPR WR31 finish fool you. That position is inflated by two big games in Weeks 16 and 17 (one where he caught all six of his targets and scored a rare TD, and a second where he received an anomalous thirteen targets). Coming into Week 16, Randle was just the PPR WR50. With Victor Cruz potentially coming back, and the coaches said to be excited about Larry Donnell, Randle’s arrow is point straight down. His ADP of WR65 appropriately demonstrates that.

Corey Washington

Who?

The 6’4” small college prospect didn’t make a lot of waves last year outside of some training camp buzz, but he’s very raw and is someone to watch, especially if Randle continues to underwhelm.

Other WRs

There’s no one else on the team that has much dynasty value. I could see the Giants adding some wide receiver depth later in the draft.

Tight End

Larry Donnell

One of the surprises last year was the emergence of Larry Donnell from the Giants unheralded TE competition to a PPR TE11 finish. Donnell became an effective red-zone weapon (although he’ll hopefully work on the fade with Eli this offseason), catching 6 TDs. Donnell is being drafted as the PPR TE22, which looks to me like a good spot to value pick him. He’s not Gronk or Graham, but after that tier, he’s definitely serviceable, especially with another year under his belt.

Adrien Robinson

The JPP of TE’s in rookie year Jerry Reese-speak only. He has no dynasty value at this point.

We hope you enjoyed all 32 team capsules this year.  If you missed one, click here.

[/am4show]