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Top 5 2013 Fantasy Football Players: New York Giants
Top 5 2013 Fantasy Football Players: New York Giants
The New York Giants were somewhat disappointing from a fantasy perspective last year, as many owners drafted Giants that were injured or who simply underperformed. However, that means some of these players will be undervalued in this coming season, and the Giants have several high-upside options on their roster.
The Giants ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring offense, and a repeat of that performance means that there is sure to be fantasy value on the roster. For starters, the team has one of the best pairs of wide receivers in the league in Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. These two players both rank very high at the receiver position, and should be targeted by all owners.
Running back David Wilson was a key figure down the stretch for New York, and he could be in for a breakout season heading into his second year in the league. The Giants will need to put up points to keep pace in the very competitive NFC East, and that means that their skill players will have many opportunities to rack up yards and touchdowns.
Some of these players will be undervalued because of last year’s performance, and smart fantasy owners will take advantage of that. Keep an eye on some of the young talent the Giants have on the roster for sleeper candidates, especially at wide receiver.
Scoring format and league depth is always important, but the players listed here actually have pretty stable value across all formats. There are a few players with star potential on the Giants, and fantasy owners will want to make sure they draft them.
5. Brandon Myers
Tight end Brandon Myers enjoyed a breakout season for the Oakland Raiders last year, catching 79 passes for 806 yards and four touchdowns. After signing with Giants in free agency this offseason, he seems poised to improve on those numbers.
Eli Manning loves to throw to his tight ends, especially in the red zone, and he will look for Myers often. Myers is a very reliable pass catcher, and he is a big body who will be a great target in the end zone. He should be very solid overall, and his value could skyrocket if he catches seven or eight touchdowns.
Myers is a starting option at tight end in all but the most shallow leagues, and he is someone who owners will be able to grab late in their drafts. Keep an eye on Myers as your draft progresses, and you will be able to find a high-upside tight end with very little risk.
4. Eli Manning
In 2012, Manning took a step back from a fantasy perspective, throwing for 1,000 less yards than he did in 2011. He still posted a respectable 26 touchdowns, but they came with 15 interceptions. Owners never know what they will get from Manning week to week, and that hurts his value quite a bit.
Hakeem Nicks was injured for much of last season, and that made Manning’s life much more difficult. This season, with the return of Nicks and addition of Myers, Manning should have plenty of quality targets to throw the ball to. Expect both his yardage and touchdown numbers to improve overall, but there will still be turnovers and fluctuation from week to week.
The reality with Manning is that he is simply a better real quarterback than fantasy one. His two Super Bowl titles and many fourth quarter comebacks don’t count for much in fantasy, and he is a low-end starter in most leagues. Manning still has upside, and he could be a smart pick for owners who take an injury prone QB like Robert Griffin III first. However, he is not a fantasy star, so don’t draft him like one.
3. Hakeem Nicks
Nicks struggled with a variety of injuries last season, and it saw him produce just 53 catches for career lows of 692 yards and three touchdowns. His value this season will be tied entirely to his ability to stay healthy, because a healthy Nicks has proven to be a dominant receiver.
However, Nicks has yet to play a complete season as he enters his fifth year in the league, and unfortunately anyone who drafts him has to assume they won’t get more than 14 games out of him. Even so, Nicks is still easily capable of getting 1,200 yards and 8-10 touchdowns, giving him significant value.
Owners should consider Nicks a WR2, but there is potential he could end the year as a top-10 or even top-five player at the position. Manning loves to target him down the field, and he will find the end zone with good frequency. However, the health risk looms large, so be owners must be aware of that when considering drafting Nicks.
2. David Wilson
Wilson spent much of last season backing up Ahmad Bradshaw, and he was in Tom Coughlin's doghouse early on for fumbling issues. However, Wilson was dazzling on kickoff returns for much of the season, leading the league in return yardage. At the end of the season, he finally got his chance at running back, rushing for 247 yards and three touchdowns on just 43 carries, good for an impressive 5.7 YPA.
With Bradshaw off to the Indianapolis Colts, Wilson will assume the starting role for the Giants. He has huge breakout potential, and he has shown the ability to be a complete running back. The Giants like to run, and Wilson could see as many as 250 carries this season. If he can continue last season’s production, he will be this season’s breakout fantasy star.
The concern with Wilson is obviously that he has never done this before, and for all his potential and opportunity, we won’t know how good he can be until he shows us. He must have improved ball security, but that shouldn’t be an issue. Of greater concern is Andre Brown, who will likely vulture TDs from Wilson. All this being said, however, Wilson is still a very high-upside player and should be considered a RB2 with the potential to be much, much more.
1. Victor Cruz
Cruz took a step back last season from his breakout 2011 season, but he was still a very productive fantasy receiver, totaling 86 receptions for 1,092 yards and 10 TDs. With Nicks in and out of the lineup, Cruz was the focal point of opposing defenses every week, and it limited his productivity somewhat. With Nicks back and drawing some of the defense to him, expect Cruz’ yardage totals to jump back up this season.
Cruz is top-notch deep threat, and he also has exceptional after-the-catch abilities. He has scored nine and 10 touchdowns in his two seasons as a starter, and he should produce a similar number again this season. Cruz is someone Manning looks to in the clutch, and he will be heavily targeted all season.
Cruz is low WR1 or high WR2, depending on the depth of your league. He is very low risk, and he has the potential to be a top-10 wide receiver. Cruz is exactly the type of player owners want to be targeting in the third and fourth round, and he is a great addition to any fantasy team.
Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google
