The Good

In today’s NFL, you have to be able to get after the quarterback. For instance, the 2022 Eagles had a whopping 70 team sacks and it was one of the reasons they made a Super Bowl run. Like the Eagles, the Giants have invested in their defensive line and it’s now one of the strengths of the team.

One of those investments was linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux who they drafted with the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Thibodeaux had an impressive rookie season where he had 4 sacks and 49 combined tackles. His impact could be seen almost immediately as he was able to free up space for Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams on the inside. Thibodeaux will only continue to get better and could get close to the double-digit sack mark this season.

One of the more underrated signings this offseason was Bobby Okereke. The Giants signed Okereke to a 4-year $40 million dollar contract back in March. Somehow Okereke has flown under that radar but he is a top-tier linebacker. He is coming off of his best season in Indy where he totaled 151 combined tackles and 6 TFLs. Okereke will help bolster the Giants impressive front seven and the defense will finish in the top 10.

The Bad

Daniel Jones looks to be more than comfortable in Brian Daboll’s system. So it would make sense to surround Jones with more weapons. The Giants did bring in Darren Waller this offseason and if he stays healthy that will certainly help. Outside of Waller though there are questions at the receiver position.

Isaiah Hodgins has shown flashes but needs to be more consistent. Darius Slayton has also had his moments but injuries have hampered his production. The Giants brought in Parris Campbell and drafted Jalin Hyatt this offseason. I could see Hyatt making an impact but I would’ve liked to see the Giants sign a veteran receiver for Jones.

The Prediction

I see the Giants taking a slight step backward this year. I have concerns about the Saquon Barkley situation spilling into the season. Even though the Giants were able to bump up incentives for the star RB, it’s not the contract he ultimately wants. Their schedule is tough and the NFC East is always a gauntlet.

2023 Record: (7-10 4th in the Division)

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Dallas Cowboys: WR Brandin Cooks [ADP: 118.7]

The Dallas Cowboys traded for Brandin Cooks in the offseason and he slots in as their WR 2. The Dallas offense is very dynamic so look for Cooks to have a bounce-back year. He is capable of getting over 1000+ receiving yards so his value in the 10th round is worth it.

New York Giants: WR Isaiah Hodgins [ADP: 185.8]

Isaiah Hodgins became my favorite super late pickup of the previous season. He and Daniel Jones would always connect for TDs and it showed even in the playoffs. With a full training camp, the two will hope to build more from last year. With no locked-in WR 1, Hodgins can hopefully take that crown for the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles: TE Dallas Goedert [ADP: 57]

Philadelphia was definitely the hardest to choose as they have so many highly-ranked players and their ADP feels safe. Enter Dallas Goedert. Without the injuries, I feel he should be in the discussion for the top five TEs in all of football. He was very unlucky last season as he missed five games in the middle of the season. In a position lacking in depth, Goedert is worth a pick in the late 50s.

Washington Commanders: QB Sam Howell [ADP: 123.6]

It’s very difficult to say a QB is a fantasy sleeper unless there are certain circumstances. Ranked 29th among all QBs is the starter of the Commanders, Sam Howell. The QB from North Carolina started just one game last season as a rookie. His only competition is Jacoby Brissett so Washington will want to see what he’s made off. The Commanders do have some pieces on offense so I think Howell won’t be too bad if you’re in a 2QB type of league.

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PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

Isaiah Hodgins did not do much in order to get into Buffalo’s good behaviors as he barely played as a Bill. With such a deep WR core, it would be an uphill battle for him to even get reps.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

There were no draft expectations for Hodgins as his ADP was 999 or undrafted. I don’t blame owners as WRs are deep in fantasy football. However…

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

It all changed when the Giants claimed Hodgins off waivers. Isaiah became a favorite target of Daniel Jones and he resigned for another year in New York. He ended the year with 37 catches for 392 yards and four TDs. He had those TDs in the last six games of the season Keeping Hodgins was a good move for the Giants who look at Daniel Jones as the guy at QB.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 16 vs Minnesota Vikings

Isaiah Hodgins had the best game of his career so far against the Vikings in Week 16. He connected for eight catches and 89 yards and a TD. The hype was getting louder for Hodgins as he caught his third TD in four games at the time. He had a season-high 22.90 FP, good for WR 7.

Special Edition: Wildcard vs Minnesota Vikings

There’s something about the Vikings that makes Isaiah unstoppable. In the Wild Card Round, the Giants faced the Vikings on the road. Hodgins dominated with eight catches for 105 yards and a 14-yard TD in the first quarter. He saved the best game of his career for this and it worked out for New York.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Isaiah Hodgins appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

They shocked everyone when they beat the New England Patriots to Super Bowl 42 and 46, the latter being the last time they had won a playoff game until their win over the Minnesota Vikings last weekend.

Facing the number one seed is never easy, but the Giants will go into this game confident they can cause an upset.

Can they do it again?

Taking Their Chances

If the Giants are to advance, they have to capitalize and make the most of any opponent flaws.

Philadelphia’s quarterback Jalen Hurts and offensive lineman Lane Johnson have been injury doubts and will likely go into this game not 100% healthy.

This is where the Giants can capitalize, between the trenches. With a defensive line featuring studs such as Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Jaylon Smith, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, they can get to the Eagles.

This is not going to be a pretty win, and the Giants are likely going to have to grind out a hard-fought win, but if they can win this battle between the trenches, then they have every chance. If they do this, they will need their offense to also perform lights out.

Is Daniel Jones Eli 2.0?

This was one of the feel-good stories of Wildcard Weekend.

Jones became the first quarterback in playoff history to throw for 300+ passing yards and have over 75 rushing yards during their 31-24 win over Minnesota.

Some players have a clutch gene in them when it comes to playoff football, and there was not a more recent example than Nick Foles as he guided the Eagles to their one and only Super Bowl.

Eli Manning was another player, and like Jones, he was never elite in the regular season. However, in the postseason, he turned into a different animal.

Who can forget his pass to David Tyree in Super Bowl 42 and catch to Mario Manningham in Super Bowl 46. These are not exactly elite receivers who helped these plays happen.

Manningham never had a season with 1,000 yards receiving and only once did he catch more than five touchdowns in a regular season. He only had 51 receptions and one touchdown in the two seasons that followed Super Bowl 46 before retiring.

Tyree never had more than 211 yards in any regular season and had four touchdowns all throughout his career. He had just four receptions from eight targets and one touchdown in their Super Bowl winning postseason run in the 2007 season. He never had a career reception after getting his ring.

There is a sense of familiarity with the current players Jones has around him. Barkley is the one exception, an elite running back, a contender for Comeback Player of the Year and someone with three 1,000-yard seasons in his five years in the league.

Wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger both scored in Sunday’s win. Bellinger only had 268 yards in 12 games this season and Hodgins has just 392 career yards in three seasons. Darius Slayton also came up big despite never having a season with more than 800 yards. His 88 yards went a long way to helping the Giants beat the Vikings..

In Barkley, Bellinger, and Hodgins, these are three weapons that will be a big help to Jones if they are to beat the Eagles.

If They Were To Win…

A road game against either the San Francisco 49ers or Dallas Cowboys would follow should Brian Daboll’s men advance. Whilst they would once again be underdogs, they will fill confident after beating Philadelphia.

As great as Brock Purdy has been, the rookie QB has yet to be tested at the highest level, with a favorable regular season schedule and a game against the seventh seed Seattle Seahawks. Purdy looked nervous at times in the Wildcard Round.

Earlier, there was discussion about quarterbacks such as Nick Foles and Eli Manning who turn it on in the postseason. Other quarterbacks such as Kyler Murray (2021 season) and Jared Goff (Super Bowl 53) proved to be the other way around. If Purdy struggles, whilst there is an argument that their defense could bail them out. With an offense that scored 31 points on Sunday, there is no guarantee that this 49ers defense will automatically be the same as they have been all season.

If they are to face the Cowboys, this is a Cowboys team that has perennially struggled since their 1995 success. They have choked in recent seasons when it matters, and despite his brilliant performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, Dak Prescott has yet to deliver when it really counts.

It is a longshot that the Giants win one game, let along two or three more, but there have been crazier playoff moments. This is why NFL fans love the playoffs. Anything can happen.

The post Could The Giants Shock The World? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Don’t forget to check out our fantasy football rankings page for our latest player rankings.

QB: Mike White NYJ 19% Rostered

Mike White is back after a two week absence from injury. The New York Jets are in a sticky situation with a wildcard spot on the line. In a three game sample size, he averages 18+ FP. He faces a Seattle defense that has cooled of. Look for Mike White to deliver an impressive performance against the Seattle defense. If there are Jets’ WRs available, you may also want to consider scooping them up.

RB: Tyler Allgeier 53% Rostered

Who would have thought Tyler Allgeier could help teams win championships. The Falcons’ RB has been on a role in the past two games. He scored 22.60 FP against the Saints in Week 15 and 15.70 FP against the Ravens in Week 16. He faces an Arizona defense that did play well against Tampa Bay the prior week. Allgeier can be trusted upon to break through for the Falcons.

WR: Isaiah Hodgins NYG 6% Rostered

Isaiah Hodgins has been one of the best kept secrets in fantasy football. Despite being 6% rostered, he has scored 15.40 FP, 15.80 FP and 22.90 FP in three of his last four games. In those games, he has caught a TD and he averages at least five receptions. The Giants face the Colts who have been disappointing on defense. Isaiah Hodgins is primed for another solid game.

TE: Noah Fant SEA 31% Rostered

The hype for Noah Fant at the start of the season has finally arrived as he has been more than solid these past few weeks. He has become Geno’s favorite red zone target as he has three TDs in the last four games. This has helped him average almost 10+ FP these past few games. With the Jets prioritizing D.K. Meltcalf, Noah Fant may have another big day this Week 17.

DEF/ST: Jacksonville Jaguars JAX 8% Rostered

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been on fire and are now the division leader in the AFC South. They come into Week 17 against the Texans in a game they can easily win. The Jaguars have been the seventh best defense in fantasy and have scored double digit FPs for the past three weeks. Look for another great game against the struggling Texans.

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