By: Charlie Vakassian

I have been watching the Giants ever since I was a little kid. There have been so many heroic moments: The Helmet Catch in 2007. The improbable run in 2011.

Stars like Michael Strahan, Eli Manning, and Odell Beckham have worn the blue with pride. This is why it’s a real shame to see a once-proud franchise fallen hard so far. The Giants once again showed their amazing ineptitude on Sunday, losing a game that seemed close, but was never within reach. Let’s take a look at the performances on each side of the ball, and what comes next.

Offense

Just another all-around miserable performance by an offensive unit that has shown it cannot move the ball at all. Jake Fromm looked uncomfortable all game and was constantly under pressure by the Washington front four. He only completed 15 of 31 passes for 103 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, as well as a bad fumble where he tried to throw a forward pass and the ball simply slipped out of his hands.

Saquon Barkley never got going, with only 30 yards on 11 carries. Fromm was the leading rusher with 53 yards on a few scrambles. Yes, you read that correctly. Darius Slayton caught the lone TD of the day for New York. The offensive line was in tatters, and aside from Andrew Thomas, everyone was constantly getting beat. Simply put, the Giants need new starters at four offensive line spots.

The final straw was when the Giants were backed up inside their own five yard line, and on back to back plays, head coach Joe Judge called for QB sneaks in what was essentially victory formation, to avoid a safety. Two straight give-up plays, and it enabled Washington to get the ball back with good field position.

Those two play calls were basically a surrender. I have never seen anything like it in all my years of watching football.

Defense

I feel so bad for the defense. They leave their hearts out on the field, only to consistently get let down by an atrocious offense. Leonard Williams and Lorenzo Carter both notched sacks. Dexter Lawrence and Azeez Ojulari were getting pressure often, and even the secondary did their jobs. Being on the field for so long, along with the turnovers on offense, led to them eventually wilting in the fourth quarter, allowing the WFT to pull away.

If there is one thing this defense needs, it is an alpha pass rusher. If Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson is available at pick 5, they need Roger Goodell to run to that podium.

Special Teams

Alex Bachmann had a solid punt return for 16 yards the lone opportunity he got. Graham Gano hit his extra point, but had no FG opportunities.

Riley Dixon, who is a disappointment this season, actually got off some impressive punts, averaging 51 yards per punt in six tries, landing one inside the 20. Special teams coverage was good, holding dangerous return man DeAndre Carter to less than six yards per return on four punt returns.

Coaching

Joe Judge was in fact fired. It was deemed Mission Impossible for the Giants to lure in the right GM with the head coach that would make him run laps if he messed up, so they opted to finally pull the plug on Judge.

Final Thoughts/Offseason Sneak Peek

So the Giants season ends not with a bang, but a whimper. There are a lot of changes that are going to be made. General Manager Dave Gettleman is retiring, and Joe Judge may be on the hot seat himself.

Evan Engram and Jabrill Peppers are key free agents. There will need to be new starters on the offensive line, as well as tight end, linebacker, and on the edge.

The draft is going to be huge, as the new GM will have a a lot of early picks (5,7,36,67,81) to fill a lot of holes. Free agency will have to be a lot of bargain bin shopping, as there is little to no cap space right now, although cuts can be made to free up some room.

Next week we will do positional breakdowns, as well as potential free agency/draft options at said positions.

The post New York Giants Week 18 reflection and Giants offseason outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The New York Giants have had a very impressive offseason, bringing in a lot of new members to the team and really improving it in all facets.  The Giants also only missed the playoffs last season by one game, and even though they were in a notoriously weak 2020 NFC East, they were still able to be in that position with rather lackluster receiving options and lacked depth.  In this article, I will be going over three reasons the New York Giants can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Hugely Improved Roster

As I previously mentioned, the Giants have made some significant improvements to their roster and 

have really given Daniel Jones every single opportunity to succeed in the 2021-2022 season.  The most notable two additions for Jones will be Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, who both bring some elite separation factor to the roster, granted in different ways.  Toney reminds me of almost an Alvin Kamara of sorts in terms of how insanely elusive he is, obviously not that level of playmaker yet but his shifts and lateral agility are absolutely off the charts.  Having a short-range receiver like that who can turn five yards into 25 is massive.  

Outside these two additions they also brought in players like Azeez Ojulari and Elerson Smith to help the linebacking front, Rodarius Williams for CB depth and even potential to start eventually, and OL depth in Jake Burton and Raymond Johnson III.  It is also notable that they will have a returning Xavier McKinney for a full season of play potentially and his young capabilities should sure up an already solid secondary.

Daniel Jones is Ready for the Next Step

One of the most notable things in the NFL is when quarterbacks really learn the NFL landscape and make the jump from solid to good.  Josh Allen did it last season (year three), Baker Mayfield really improved from season two to season three, even players like Ryan Tannehill improved extremely when getting more weapons around them, in his case a new system and team. 

Daniel Jones did have a relatively down year in 2020, no doubt, throwing almost as many TDs as interceptions and less than 3000 yards, however, who can blame him?  When your primary receiving threats are a not yet developed Darius Slayton, Sterling Shephard who has been mediocre and struggles with separation, and Evan Engram who despite being a Pro-Bowler last season really has trouble holding onto the ball, you are bound to have issues passing.  Also take note he did not have Saquon Barkley out of the backfield to pitch to when he was under pressure.  With that said, he has the weapons, he has a somewhat developing O-line, and a phenomenal defense to get him the ball back.  He should perform at a new high level in 2021 based on all of this.

The NFC East is”¦Interesting

Finally, we take a look at the surrounding teams, all of which have huge deals of question marks.  Starting with the Dallas Cowboys, who yes, should be contending for the playoffs, however, this is provided Dak Prescott is actually able to play at the high level he did previously, and the injury did not change him heavily.  Even if so, the Cowboys did go 2-3 prior to Dak’s injury last season, and one game was pure because the Atlanta Falcons had a miscue on special teams.  

Then you have the Washington Football Team, who yes are also primed to make a playoff push potentially.  With that said, again, is their QB a set thing?  Ryan Fitzpatrick did do well with the Miami Dolphins, but this is a completely different offense, and many forget Fitz was not extraordinary and consistent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not too long ago.  The WFT also are missing strength along the O-line to protect Fitz, and could definitely use some more in terms of secondary depth and potentially even another CB.  

Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles, who most have written off as the bottom team in this division right now, as they are mainly banking on Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith to push this team forward.  With a continually aging offensive line, a relatively dismantled defense outside a few players like Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay, they really look like they will struggle unless something sparks heavily.

The post Why the New York Giants can contend for playoffs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Daniel Racz (Twitter: @Danny___Dimes)

Introduction

When Saquon Barkley came to the NFL out of Penn State in 2018, Barkley was a generational talent at the running back position. The Giants front office raved about his skillset, with general manager Dave Gettleman saying, “I have never seen a player like him in my 30 years evaluating talent.” 

In Saquon’s rookie year, he set the league on fire. In his first career game, a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saquon ripped off the first of many breakaway runs for the G-Men. Barkley’s skill and athleticism are undeniable: there is perhaps no better running back in the league when healthy. That said, Saquon’s past two years have disappointed fantasy players. 

An early high ankle sprain derailed much of his 2019 season. While he ended that year on a high note and finished as an RB1, he was not productive for much of the season. Saquon’s 2020 season was over when he tore his ACL and MCL against the Chicago Bears early on in week two. 

Saquon is expected to make a full recovery before the 2021 season, but should he cost an early 1st round startup pick?

The Benefits That Come With Owning Saquon

In owner John Mara’s most recent news conference, he told reporters that he expected Saquon to be a Giants for a long time. These words should ease any worries about his long-term status, as he will likely be on Big Blue for the prime of his career. 

The Giants’ ownership does not often comment on contract matters, so their word should be taken as gospel. Mara’s comments should lead you to make transactions with the assumption that Saquon Barkley will be a Giants for years to come.

Workhorse running backs are growing scarcer every year, and the Giants have not shied away from giving Saquon 20-25 touches a game. Saquon’s volume gives him such a high floor, and his skill gives him a ceiling matched only by players like CMC, Kamara, Cook, and Henry. 

During his record-breaking rookie season, Saquon put up over 24 points a game (PPR format). If he even gets back to producing 80% of what he did as a rookie, he will be a locked and loaded top 5 running back. 

Although his current ADP is RB4, his range of outcomes certainly includes an excellent shot at the RB1 title.

The Risks Involved With Owning Saquon

Just like any other running back, Saquon’s lifespan is relatively short. We can hope that Saquon returns without a loss of athleticism, but there is a chance he will not be the same elite athletic specimen. 

A healthy Saquon is a great player, but do not automatically assume we get a healthy Saquon–factor the risk into any transaction. 

Another risk related to Saquon Barkley is the effectiveness of what the New York Giants decided to call offense in 2020. The offense averaged 17.5 points per game, good enough for 30th in the league. 

While Saquon and a likely wide receiver addition, we will see a less stagnant offense. That said, The Giants’ offense will still have Jason Garret at the helm, so it may not produce many explosive plays for any of its weapons. 

The Verdict

Saquon Barkley may be the most polarizing player in dynasty. When considering Saquon, think about where your roster is at the moment. If you are an immediate contender and can add Barkley to cement yourself as the likely favorite of your league, you ought to do it. 

The 2022 rookie class is relatively weak and lacks depth, do not be afraid to give up those picks. The 2023 class has some elite running backs, but if you anticipate being a contender, that should not affect you. 

Saquon is a buy at his current price if he immediately makes your team a powerhouse or keeps you in the clear lead dog role. 

That said, if your team is likely to be in a productive struggle or the cellar, rostering Saquon does not do you much good. His long-term outlook is less bright given his risks and the age apex of most running backs. Your league will likely have a market for Saquon, but if no one is buying, wait until after the offseason. Some “workhorse” running backs will turn into committee members, and some will go down to injury at the start of the season. Exercise patience when selling top tier assets, as it is more likely that any one of your league mates will lose a running back than for Saquon to take a drastic dip in value.

Overall, Saquon’s value is entirely dependent on your roster. If you need immediate production, he is a buy. If you are in a startup draft, buy him knowing that your winning window is now. If you are playing for 2023 and onward, it would be wise to move on from him and avoid buying him unless the owner is selling him for extreme value. 

The post Saquon Barkley: Dynasty Outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.