2013 Fantasy Football Watch List: David Wilson

The Watch List gives fantasy football owners a look at player situations to monitor this off-season. With all 32 NFL teams making changes from the coaching staff down to the 53-man roster, players will see their fantasy value increase, decrease or remain the same depending on the team’s transactions.

Player: David Wilson, RB, New York Giants

The Giants selection of Wilson with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft caught fantasy football owners by storm. After the team let co-starter Brandon Jacobs walk in free-agency, the Giants were left with oft-injured Ahmad Bradshaw to man the backfield, so it wasn’t a surprise that some expected Wilson to give Bradshaw a run for his money or at the very least be a valuable handcuff.

For the most part, Wilson impressed throughout the preseason with big gains on just a few touches per game. But once the Giants opened the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys, Wilson found himself in coach Tom Coughlin’s doghouse and stayed there for most of the season after a first-quarter fumble.

Wilson slowly worked his way out (with a little help from the injury-bug to running backs Bradshaw and Andre Brown), racking up 44 yards and a touchdown in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. But his real opportunity came in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints when he not only rushed 12 times for 100 yards and two scores but added an unreal 227 yards and another score on four kick returns.

In his final four games, Wilson averaged 61.75 yards per game (5.75 YPC), giving his coaches a reason to strongly consider increasing his workload in 2013.

Wilson was so impressive over his last four games that GM Jerry Reese told reporters that Wilson could be the lead dog in 2013, attributing Wilson’s versatility, explosiveness and home-run threat ability.

This season, Bradshaw proved that he can carry the load when healthy, only problem is, he hasn’t proven he can stay healthy. Due a whopping $4 million, Bradshaw’s future with the Giants remains up in the air. Continue to monitor the Giants backfield situation, but at the moment, Wilson’s arrow is pointing upward while Bradshaw’s fantasy football value continues to sink.