2022 Dynasty Capsule: New York Giants
Every year, we give our premium content members a team-by-team, player-by-player look at the prior NFL season. The coverage will be in-depth, but because the Dynasty Capsule series begins immediately after the season, we will not use it to discuss free agency or the draft. Come see us in early May once Mr. Irrelevant is off the board for another 32-article series giving you the same detailed discussion you will see below.
Buckle up dynasty fans, because you are about to be reminded why our motto is, “There is no off-season.”
QUARTERBACK
Chart courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
Daniel Jones (ADP = 206.25, QB27)
As the above chart shows, Jones offered little for the Giants as a real-life option. He managed only ten touchdowns in 11 starts, although he threw just seven interceptions. However, 220.7 passing yards per game won’t get it done. He did add 298 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, though, saving some of his fantasy value. Jones averaged 15.63 fantasy PPG, 20th among quarterbacks. While that’s not bad, he hasn’t duplicated the upside he displayed as a rookie.
Chart courtesy of DLF Player Scoring History App.
In 2019, Jones averaged 18.84 fantasy PPG, well above his marks of 14.29 in 2020 and 15.87 this year.
Moving forward, it’s unclear if the Giants will keep Jones as their starting quarterback for the 2022 season and beyond. They recently fired Head Coach Joe Judge and forced general manager Dave Gettleman into retirement, removing any attachment to Jones. The Giants possess the fifth and seventh overall picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, and they could easily select a quarterback with one of those. I have little to no interest in investing in Jones in any dynasty format right now.
Mike Glennon (ADP = NR)
Glennon is nothing more than a completely ineffective veteran backup. Therefore, he’s not worth discussing further.
Jake Fromm (ADP = NR)
Fromm carried some intrigue as a stash as a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, he washed out of Buffalo quickly, failing to secure the backup job behind incumbent starter Josh Allen. I hoped he might catch on and at least become the Giants’ backup, but he was one of the worst quarterbacks I’ve ever seen in his three games. He has zero dynasty relevance.
RUNNING BACK
Chart courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
Saquon Barkley (ADP = 15.5, RB7)
The above chart tells you all you need to know about Barkley’s 2021 season. He had 17 more carries than Devontae Booker, yet he finished with the same number of rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He also had 12 more targets but produced only one more reception and fewer receiving yards.
At this point, Barkley hasn’t paid off that RB7 value since his rookie year, where he was the RB2. He then finished as the RB10 in 2019, RB118 in 2020, and RB29 in 2021. I’m tired of making excuses for Barkley, especially after this year. He averaged a miserable 11.58 fantasy PPG, and he couldn’t even finish as an RB2 despite playing 13 of 17 games.
There is zero reason why Barkley shouldn’t outproduce Booker in the same offense. To me, that RB7 price is absolute lunacy and represents wishful thinking. I rank him RB15, which doesn’t even include any incoming rookies. If there’s even the slightest sell window from the Judge firing, I will immediately get Barkley off my dynasty team. If I can send Barkley for a young wide receiver like Jaylen Waddle or Tee Higgins straight up, I’m smashing the accept button.
Devontae Booker (ADP = 232, RB82)
Booker represents the Giants’ only other fantasy-relevant running back, and he was somewhat serviceable as Barkley’s direct backup. He remains under contract for a $3 million cap hit in 2022, with $1 million in dead cap. Given Barkley’s injuries, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Giants retain Booker for 2022 as a competent depth option. However, considering the Giants could easily select a mid-round running back in the 2022 NFL Draft to surpass Booker, I won’t bother to draft him in current startups.
WIDE RECEIVER
Kadarius Toney (ADP = 78.25, WR38)
I think it’s clear I’m not a fan of the Giants’ dynasty options as a whole. However, Toney is likely the one player I will consider acquiring this off-season. The Giants spent a first-round pick on him in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he turns 23 in a few weeks, making him a young player with draft capital. He also flashed immense upside a few times this season, finishing with 39 catches for 420 yards despite only playing ten games.
In weeks four and five, Toney exploded.
Chart courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
As you can see, he totaled 16 catches for 267 yards in those contests, accounting for almost two-thirds of his seasonal output. I’m not saying games like those will be the norm for Toney, but I don’t want to quit on a highly talented and explosive asset so early in his career. A new coaching staff can also only help utilize Toney correctly, as the Judge-led staff seemed to possess zero creativity.
Toney’s current price of WR38 and 78.25 overall seems reasonable for his level of risk and upside. I guarantee I will look to draft him in off-season startups, and I might also trade for him in existing leagues. If I could pay a 2022 second-round pick from a disgruntled Toney manager, I would do that immediately.
Kenny Golladay (ADP = 114.5, WR51)
I’m not sure there’s a worse free-agent contract in the NFL than Golladay’s was, let alone just among fantasy-relevant positions. The Giants shelled out a four-year, $72 million deal with $40 million in guarantees for Golladay, seemingly bidding against themselves in free agency. He put up 37 receptions for 521 yards and no touchdowns on 76 targets in 14 games for that investment. He did lead the Giants in targets, but he somehow finished fifth in receptions.
Considering Golladay turned 28 in November, I have zero interest in paying his dynasty price. The Giants would lose money against their cap by releasing him before 2022, so he’s stuck on this team for at least another year. Still, I’m not even sure that was Golladay’s issue. He had a mysterious hip injury in 2020 that turned out to be season-ending, and he wasn’t the same afterward. I’ll pass on him in startup drafts this off-season.
Sterling Shepard (ADP = 149.25, WR63)
Unfortunately, Shepard suffered an Achilles tear in week 15, ruling him out for the rest of the season. I know Cam Akers returned from an Achilles injury in fewer than six months, but I don’t expect that to be the norm. He was only 22 years old, while Shepard turns 29 in February. Additionally, Shepard is far from the athletic marvel Akers is, and he may be on the back end of his career anyway. The Giants can save $4.5 million by releasing Shepard before next season and $9.5 million before 2023. He is no longer much of a dynasty asset.
Darius Slayton (ADP = 225.75, WR96)
Slayton regressed heavily in 2021 after the Giants added Toney and Golladay to their receiving mix.
Chart courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
He put up career-lows in all receiving categories by wide margins, despite being in his third NFL season and playing 13 games. Slayton only carries any dynasty value because of Shepard’s injury and Engram’s free-agent status. The Giants spent so much on Toney and Golladay and still have Shepard on the payroll, so I doubt they acquire any new primary receiving weapons. Therefore, Slayton will likely be the Giants’ WR3 next season. However, he’s nothing more than a late-round dart in most dynasty formats.
Dante Pettis (ADP = NR)
Pettis only played three games for the Giants in 2021, but he had an oddly significant impact in those contests.
Chart courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
He had five receptions in weeks six and seven, including an impressive 11-target game in week six. Unfortunately, he hurt his shoulder in week eight, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Pettis was once a popular dynasty asset during his time on the 49ers before he ended up in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse. Therefore, he could emerge again somewhere. He has no true dynasty value, but he’s at least a name to remember.
Collin Johnson (ADP = NR)
I only wanted to mention Johnson because I liked him as a deep stash on the Jaguars after they drafted him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Jaguars surprisingly cut him on the eve of the 2021 season, and he eventually signed with the Giants. He only had 11 catches for 105 yards, failing to show much on the Giants. I only mentioned him because he’s still a really deep name I’ll keep in mind if he ever gets a shot somewhere.
John Ross (ADP = NR)
Ross may hang around as a speedster option for NFL teams, but his days of being a dynasty asset are over.
TIGHT END
Evan Engram (ADP = 152.5, TE20)
If you’ve watched any of my content on Ask DLF on the DLF YouTube Channel, you probably know I don’t like Engram in any way.
Chart courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
As you can see, Engram had his worst-career season in 2021, hitting a low in receptions and receiving yards with 46 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns. The Giants picked up his 2021 fifth-year option after drafting him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but they seem to have no interest in offering him an extension.
Given his somewhat decent career, I’m sure an NFL team will take a chance on Engram in free agency. He’s only 27 years old and will turn 28 in September, so he’s relatively young for a tight end. However, I won’t draft or trade for Engram at his dynasty price or anywhere near it. He’s not someone I’d even want to stream as a fantasy option, even in the best landing spot.
Kyle Rudolph (ADP = NR)
The Giants bizarrely signed Rudolph to a two-year, $12 million contract in free agency this year, although it only contained $4.5 million in guaranteed money. Assuming Engram leaves in free agency, Rudolph may temporarily become the Giants’ top tight end. However, it’s just as likely that the Giants release him, saving $5 million in cap space. Either way, Rudolph is not worth a roster spot outside of the deepest tight-end premium leagues.
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