Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is off the PUP and back at practice. Will he play in week 5? Right now it’s hard to say as we haven’t heard what the next step will be. Keep in mind that Taylor has stated before that he no longer wants to play for the Colts.

Saquon Barkley – Barkley has been out of action for the past two weeks due to an ankle sprain. There are some encouraging signs that he might play this week. He is back practicing and taking reps with the team. We should have more clarity on Thursday if he is leaning towards playing.

Javonte Williams – Williams picked up a hip flexor injury on Sunday which knocked him out of the game. The good news is he is not expected to miss much time. He is likely to be limited in practice this week and we will have more updates on Friday whether he is a go or not.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Week 5 Rankings appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Brandon Aiyuk – Aiyuk has had a strong start to the season and is currently the WR8 in Half PPR scoring. He is unfortunately dealing with a shoulder injury that may keep him out of the Thursday night matchup against the New York Giants. If he is inactive Deebo Samuel will see a jump in our rankings.

Anthony Richardson – Richardson has also had a strong start to his rookie season but left the week 2 matchup early due to a concussion. He is currently in concussion protocol and reports this morning are he won’t be practicing Wednesday. If Richardson can’t go, Gardner Minshew will be in line to start on Sunday versus the Baltimore Ravens.

Saquon Barkley – (Update: Barkley is now officially OUT) Barkley picked up an ankle injury late in the New York Giants wild comeback victory on Sunday. As of now, the Giants aren’t ruling him out but I would be shocked if he played this week. He is still in our rankings but much lower than usual. We will update his ranking when we have more clarity on his status.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 37, Detroit Lions 31

The Seattle Seahawks won 37-31 in walk-off fashion on the road in Detroit as Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett, who reached out for the pylon. Smith led Seattle to a turnover-free victory, going 32-for-41 with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Both passing touchdowns were to Lockett, who racked up eight catches for 59 yards. Seattle also found success on the ground, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and headed to to the locker room. He returned shortly after, finishing the game with six receptions for 75 yards, as Geno Smith spread the targets around all game. Turnovers proved to be the downfall for Detroit. The Lions fumbled the ball away twice in a row, one to end the first half and another to begin the second half. Jared Goff then threw a pick-six to Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, who ran it back 40 yards to the house. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime with a score of 31-31. However it was not enough for the Lions, who fall to 1-1 after the loss. Meanwhile, Seattle also moves to 1-1 with the victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 38, Las Vegas Raiders 10

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a stress-free victory at home, going 31-for-37 with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Both the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders move to 1-1 on the season.

The ball seemed to be in the hands of the Bills all game, as the Buffalo defense forced three turnovers. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard both intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Rapp recovered a Zamir White fumble. Josh Allen spread the touches throughout the offense, finding Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Dawson Knox for touchdowns. The run game was unstoppable for the Bills, led by James Cook who ran for 123 yards, as Damien Harris and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown each. Allen had no turnovers and looked comfortable in a bounce-back victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens went on the road to Cincinnati and avoided a Bengals second half comeback, winning the game 27-24. The Ravens move to 2-0 on the year, as the Bengals fall to 0-2.

Jackson completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground, as the Ravens ran for 178 yards as a team, including a Gus Edwards touchdown. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow to begin the second half, and the Ravens turned it into a touchdown on the next drive.

Burrow and the Bengals made a late push in the second half, with a final drive consisting of 16 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, making the score 27-24. The Cincinnati offense struggled, rushing for just 66 total yards as Burrow went 27-for-41 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

In a low scoring affair, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 17-9. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.

The first five possessions resulted in punts, before Jacksonville finally took a 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Chiefs fumbled the ball away on the following possession, before Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled to move the ball all day, as the third year quarterback went 22-for-41 for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The ground game was no better, producing just 74 yards as the Jaguars failed to find the endzone. Kicker Brandon McManus was the lone scorer for Jacksonville, going 3-for-3. Mahomes finished the game 29-for-41 with 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding Travis Kelce on one of them.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tennessee Titans 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

The Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an overtime thriller, as Nick Folk kicked the game-winning 41 yard field goal. The Titans move to 1-1 on the season, as the Chargers fall to 0-2.

Los Angeles got out to an early 11-0 lead after a Keenan Allen touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. Ryan Tannehill came back with a 70-yard pass to Treylon Burks, as Derrick Henry finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 11-7. Both teams went back and forth all game, with impressive outings from both quarterbacks. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently, with both receivers finishing the game with 8 receptions and a combined 194 yards. Allen brought in two touchdown passes, as the Chargers marched down the field for a field goal to send the game to overtime with a score of 24-24. The Chargers won the coin toss and got the ball first in overtime, but went three and out and punted the ball back to the Titans offense. Tannehill led them down the field for an 8 play, 37 yard drive to give Nick Folk a 41 yard field goal for the win, which he put down the middle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 25, Green Bay Packers 24

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 25-24, including an electric fourth quarter comeback by the Falcons. Green Bay falls to 1-1 on the season as Atlanta goes to 2-0.

The Packers got out to a 24-12 lead in the third quarter after Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons ground-and-pound offense put together an eight play, 75 yard drive for a touchdown of their own, as Ridder ran it in himself to make the score 24-19. The Falcons defense forced a punt and drove down the field for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-22. After forcing yet another punt, Atlanta went 12 plays for 66 yards, setting up a 25 yard field goal for Younghoe Koo. The made field goal put the Falcons ahead 25-24, ultimately winning them the game. Jordan Love finished the game 14-for-25 with 151 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Falcons.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 17

Baker Mayfield shined, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers move to 2-0 on the season, as the Bears fall to 0-2.

Although the Bears scored on their first possession, it was all Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for the rest of the afternoon. Mayfield found Mike Evans wide open on a deep pass that Evans took 70 yards downfield, inside the 10 yard line. The big play setup for a Rachaad White touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead. Mayfield connected with Evans again in the third quarter for a 32 yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.

The Buccaneers defense gave Justin Fields fits all game, sacking him six times. In the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Chase Claypool for a 20 yard touchdown, making the score 20-17. The bears got the ball back after forcing a punt, beginning the drive on their own seven yard line. After a couple penalties, Justin Fields dropped back and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett, who brought it just a few steps into the endzone, giving the Buccaneers a convincing 27-17 victory at home.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 20

The Indianapolis Colts stole a game on the road in a divisional matchup as they beat the Houston Texans 31-20. The Colts move to 1-1 on the season as the Texans fall to 0-2.

Anthony Richardson ran it in for a touchdown on the Colts’ first two drives of the game, making it 14-0. On the second touchdown, he took a shot causing his head to bounce off the turf, forcing the fourth overall draft pick to be evaluated for a concussion. The rookie quarterback was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving the Colts with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Minshew took over and went 19-of-23 for 171 yards and a touchdown, maintaining the lead. The new acquisition at running back Zack Moss contributed 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans couldn’t stop the Indianapolis offense.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive outing in the loss, going 30-for-47 with 384 yards and two touchdowns. Stroud connected with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell seven times each, for a combined 218 yards. Each of the receivers brought in a touchdown, as the Colts bounced back from their week one home loss.

NFL Week 2 Recap: New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 28

The New York Giants rallied for a 21 point comeback on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, the third comeback that size in Giants history. With a 20-0 lead at halftime, and a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, Arizona allowed 24 unanswered points to fall to 0-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants move to 1-1 on the season following the rollercoaster of a week two game.

The Giants went scoreless for the first six quarters of the season, the first time since 1934. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs showed his athleticism all first half, using his legs to gain yards along with scrambling out of the pocket to make throws on the run. On Arizona’s third possession, Dobbs dropped back to pass and found an opening up the middle, taking it 23 yards for a touchdown, trucking a giants defender just before falling into the endzone. The play gave Arizona an early 14-0 lead, which would quickly grow before the half ended. 

Daniel Jones and the Giants offense came storming back in the third quarter, with help from Saquon Barkley, who scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown before leaving the field with an ankle injury towards the end of the game. The injury took away from the stunning comeback, as the Giants await the information on his ankle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 23

The San Francisco 49ers went on the road to SoFi Stadium, pulling away with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco elevates to 2-0 on the season as Los Angeles falls to 1-1 following the divisional matchup.

Two interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon. With just under five minutes remaining in the game and the Rams trailing 27-20, Stafford looked across the middle for Van Jefferson but was picked off by Deommodore Lenoir.

Christian McCaffrey was in mid-season form, rushing for 116 yards on 20 carries to go with a touchdown. Brock Purdy missed some throws on big plays throughout the game, but was sufficient, going 17-for-25 for 206 yards, along with a rushing touchdown of his own. All three of the 49ers touchdowns came on the ground and the Rams defense had no answer. 

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Puka Nacua was the focus once again for the Rams offense. He racked up 15 receptions for 147 yards, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in his first two games of his career. Meanwhile running back Kyren Williams got 20 total touches with both a receiving and rushing touchdown, proving why he should replace Cam Akers in the backfield.

NFL Week 2 Recap: Washington Commanders 35, Denver Broncos 33

The Washington Commanders completed the thriller comeback on the Denver Broncos, holding off a late game hail mary to win by a score of 35-33. Denver completed a hail mary as time expired, but couldn’t convert the two point conversion to force overtime. The Commanders move to 2-0 on the season as the Broncos fall to 0-2.

The Broncos jumped out to a 21-3 lead early into the first half, including a Marvin Mims Jr. one-play, 60 yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson. The Commanders cut the lead to 21-14 before halftime, and continued into the second half as the defense immediately forced a punt. The offense took over and scored a touchdown on its first drive as Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin in the middle of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown, tying the game 21-21.

Denver eventually got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. After moving the ball to midfield, Russel Wilson and company had one last chance to force overtime. The deep hail mary pass was tipped around before being brought in by Brandon Johnson for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 35-33. The two point conversion, a pass intended for Courtland Sutton was incomplete as the Broncos looked for a pass-interference call but didn’t get it.

Sam Howell finished the game with an impressive 27 completions on 39 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also ran in for a pair of touchdowns himself.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 30, New York Jets 10

The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets handedly by a score of 30-10 as the Cowboys defense dominated for the second week in a row. Dallas moves to 2-0 on the season as the Jets fall to 1-1.

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense looked unstoppable in week two, intercepting Jets quarterback Zach Wilson three times. Parsons recorded two sacks and four hits on Wilson, as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs each intercepted a pass.

Ceedee Lamb showed he didn’t need the help of Brandin Cooks, who missed the game due to a sprained knee. Lamb recorded 11 catches for 143 yards, with big plays setting up for multiple scores for Dallas. Kicker Brandon Aubrey went five-for-five on field goals, as Dak Prescott found tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown each. 

The lone touchdown for the Jets came from star receiver Garret Wilson, who caught a pass across the middle and took it 68 yards to the house, marking his longest touchdown of his career thus far. Other than that, there wasn’t much going for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense, who recorded 215 total yards. Parsons along with the rest of the ruthless Dallas front four pressured Wilson all game, showing why they are one of the best defenses in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 17

The Miami Dolphins held off a late comeback by the New England Patriots, winning the game 24-17 as a lateral to Cole Strange came up short on fourth down. 

Tua Tagovailoa took what the defense gave him for most of the night, finding Jaylen Waddle five times for 86 yards. The Dolphins had plenty of success on the ground as well, as Raheem Mostert took 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Cornerback Christian Gonzalez kept Tyreek Hill in check for the most part, holding the star receiver to four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a play where Gonzalez was not covering Hill.

Mac Jones finished the game 31-for-42 with 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The interception came at the end of the third quarter after the Patriots drove down the field into the redzone. Xavien Howard picked off the pass intended for DeVante Parker on the sideline at the Miami three yard line, putting an end to New Englands’ drive and keeping the score at 17-3.

The Patriots cut the lead down in the fourth quarter following a Mac Jones scramble for 18 yards, the longest run of the night for New England. Jones found Hunter Henry on the run for a six yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-10.

On the next Miami possession, Tagovailoa threw it deep down the left side of the field to Tyreek Hill as the pass was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez. The rookie first round pick made a leaping catch over Hill, giving the Patriots the ball back.

The Dolphins forced a three and out, getting the ball back on the New England 43 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Raheem Mostert took a handoff up the middle 43 yards untouched to the endzone, extending the lead to 24-10.

Mac Jones led the Patriots to a 9 play 75 yard drive ending with a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to cut the lead down to 24-17.

The Dolphins took the ball and drove it into Patriots territory, before the snap was fumbled on third and one. Tua recovered the fumble, but the mistake forced Miami to kick a 55 yard field goal. With concern for Brenden Schooler, who blocked the previous field goal, Jason Sanders missed the field goal, giving the Patriots an opportunity to tie or win the game.

After finding Kendrick Bourne for a pair of completions, Mac Jones was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of 8 yards. New England was faced with a fourth and four, where Mac Jones completed a pass to Mike Gesicki short of the first down line. Gesicki threw a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who was stopped short of the marker, ending the comeback for the Patriots.

The win brings the Dolphins to 2-0 on the season, as the Patriots fall to 0-2.

The post NFL Game Recaps Week 2 (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert – $7000

My number one quarterback on the main slate is going to be Justin Herbert. The Titans possess one of the best defenses in the league against the run, and Austin Ekeler is out this week, therefore we are going to watch Herbert cook. The Titans do not have a great secondary as we just watched Derek Car go for over 300 yards last week. I fully expect Herbert to get over 300 yards with at least 2 TDs.

Patrick Mahomes – $8300

In what could end up as the biggest shootout of the week, projected total 51 points, Mahomes is looking to rebound from a week 1 loss that saw him somewhat underperform. There won’t be many games that Mahomes throws the ball 40 times and him not get you 30 fantasy points. Last week Anthony Richardson had over 250 total yards and 2 TDs against this defense. Great stack opportunities with a lot of cheap chiefs pass catchers.

Baker Mayfield – $5100

Yes, that Baker Mayfield. I mentioned him last week that he had a great chance at throwing 2 TDs, and we are going right back to it. Great weapons on the outside, and a running game that isn’t getting off the ground, Baker is in another great position against the Bears. We just saw Jordan Love throw for 245 and 3 TDs, so it’s not unreal to see Baker eclipse 20 points this week. If you want to play the studs at RB and WR, this is your QB.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry – $7400

Every year we find a game that Derrick Henry is incredibly underpriced. This is that game. The King goes against a defense in the Chargers that historically struggles to stop the run, 31st in yards allowed last year. Ryan Tannehill does not look great, so you have to imagine the game script is going to involve a lot of Derrick Henry. I expect the King to return top 3 RB numbers today.

Saquon Barkley – $8000

Essentially removed from the game script last week before halftime, there are huge bounce back opportunity in a game where the Giants should control the game. The Arizona Cardinals showed last week that they can rush the QB, and Daniel Jones did not look very good against a pass rush. I expect Barkley to touch the ball 25+ times in this game, and we chase opportunity in fantasy more than anything. Barkley will have the best opportunity than any RB on the slate today top the leaderboard today.

AJ Dillon – $5900

Aaron Jones is not expected to play giving Dillon an excellent chance today to really showcase himself as a bell cow back. Jones had 127 total yards last week as the RB is a vital tool in the success of this offense. Dillon should see most of the work in the passing game as well as 20+ rushing attempts, putting him in a great position for 18+ fantasy points today.

Zack Moss – $4700

Moss is coming back from a fractured forearm in the preseason and will get the start for the Colts today against the Texans. Last week Deon Jackson looked incapable averaging 1.1 yards per carry. Zach Moss will have all the chances to own this backfield in the interim of Jonathan Taylor’s hiatus, and it starts today against a Texans defense that allowed over 100 and 3 TDs against the Ravens last week. If Moss gets in the end zone, he will return a great score on his $4700 price.

Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen – $7100

If you are playing Justin Herbert, you are stacking him with Keenan Allen today. With Austin Ekeler out, Allen could see 15 targets against a Swiss cheese Titans secondary. Last week he had 6 catches for 76 yards on 9 targets, and we realistically could double all those numbers with a score today. Throw in a touchdown and Allen could return 25 points today. Mike Williams ($5700) is another great stack play as the three of them could put you in a great spot in tournaments.

Calvin Ridley – $7200

Last week Ridley brought in 8 of 11 targets for 101 yards as it looked like Trevor Lawrence was enjoying having Ridley on the field. The clear number one option in a game where the Jaguars will be looking to keep up with Mahomes and company, Ridley could be in line for another huge game.

Chris Godwin – $6200

Chris Godwin operates out of the slot for the Buccaneers and the Bears starting slot corner will be out for this game. That sounds like a recipe for disaster for the Bears. 5 catches 51 yards on 6 targets last week and we could be looking at double those numbers with a TD. I love a Mayfield Evans Godwin stack today.

Gabriel Davis – $5800

Last week Stefon Diggs went off against a much better Jets defense, so why would you play Gabe Davis? Many are expecting a bounce back performance from Josh Allen, and the Raiders defense can be had. They will be game planning to stop Diggs and Davis should have a lot of territory to work on Sunday. Some of the best Josh Allen performances are when Gabe Davis booms, we could be looking at one of those coming here.

Tight Ends

Darren Waller – $5500

Waller is third highest priced TE on the slate today, but still priced well below Kelce $7600. I mentioned earlier that Jones did not look great against the pass rush last week, therefore the Giants should be looking to get the ball out of his hands quickly. The Giants should be able to get into the red zone, unlike last week giving Waller great opportunity to score. The Giants love throwing to the TE in the red zone, and they haven’t had a weapon like Waller at TE in a long time.

Sam LaPorta – $3900

Last week LaPorta saw 5 targets against the Chiefs and looked like a very capable playmaker hauling in all 5. The Seahawks did not look like a solid defense last week and I believe the Lions will put up some points. Jared Goff loves to go to the TE historically in the red zone and I could see LaPorta scoring today which would give a great return at a low price.

Logan Thomas – $3100

This one is pretty simple, young QBs love them some TEs. Thomas saw 8 targets last week, and if that continues, you can’t ignore that target share at that price.

Defense/Special Teams

Dallas Cowboys – $4000

Do we expect a repeat performance of last weeks Earth shattering 37 point game? Of course not, but could we actually see it? We all know what Zach Wilson is and we could see another game with a lot of sacks and turnover potential. I don’t expect this defense to disappoint at this price.

New York Jets – $2700

While the Dallas defense made the Giants defense unplayable last week, I can’t imagine a repeat performance happening. The Jets defense just made Josh Allen look like Dak Prescott, what do you think they are going to make Dak look like? The potential is Nathan Peterman. We honestly could see the Jets do to the Cowboys, what the Cowboys did to the Giants last week.

Atlanta Falcons – $2900

Call it a hunch, I think Jordan Love comes back to Earth a bit and turns the ball over against the Falcons. Atlanta can run the ball and control the clock putting Love in position to have to make plays and potentially make mistakes. I think Atlanta is a sneaky play to be a top defense this week.

The post DFS Plays for Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

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)

The post New York Giants Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

This past offseason the top 3 running backs available were all franchise tagged. In addition, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is also not happy about his current contract situation. If it wasn’t for a recent boost in incentives, Ekeler may have been traded. It’s important to point out these details as the real value of running backs has been debated in recent years. One thing you can’t debate is that the players below all play a critical role in their teams’ success. Let’s now look closer at the top 10 running backs in the NFL today.

10. Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara had a bit of a down year that we weren’t accustomed to seeing in 2022. In fact, the entire Saints offense took a step back last year and struggled to find an identity. New Orleans hopes the new addition of Derek Carr will help solve their offensive woes and help them take a step forward. Carr will open up the field again for Kamara and the running back should bounce back. Health and off-the-field issues will be a concern for Kamara but as of now, it looks like he won’t be suspended.

2022 Stats: 1,387 all purpose yards | 4 total touchdowns

9. Joe Mixon

When healthy, Joe Mixon has put up consistent numbers throughout his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Mixon is a true three-down back in one of the league’s best offenses. In 2023, he will have the backfield all to himself as Samaje Perine is now with the Broncos. You can expect another Pro Bowl caliber year from Mixon and plenty of opportunities to score.

2022 Stats: 1,255 all purpose yards | 9 total touchdowns

8. Tony Pollard

When the Dallas Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott this offseason it signaled a changing of the guard. They were now confident enough to let Tony Pollard be the feature back. Pollard has all the tools of a modern NFL running back. He will now get the chance to showcase those skills for Dallas. The only concern with Pollard is durability. Can he handle the full-time workload?

2022 Stats: 1,378 all purpose yards | 12 total touchdowns

7. Aaron Jones

For most of his career in Green Bay, Aaron Jones has had competition in the Packers backfield. That really hasn’t mattered as Jones has put up numbers regardless. Jones has always been a threat in the receiving game and in 2022 had 5 receiving touchdowns. Now with Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, Jones will be relied on more than ever.

2022 Stats: 1,516 all purpose yards | 7 total touchdowns

6. Saquon Barkley

The aforementioned Saquon Barkley will be playing with a chip on his shoulder next season. For what it’s worth, the Giants should’ve franchise tagged Daniel Jones and paid Barkley his due. It’s now unlikely that the two sides will agree on a new deal before the start of the season. The off-the-field noise won’t slow down Barkley’s production in 2023.

2022 Stats: 1,650 all purpose yards | 10 total touchdowns

5. Nick Chubb

Since his rookie season, Nick Chubb has rushed for 1000+ yards each year he has been in the league. Chubb has always been an old school type of running back who can carry the heavy load. He had 302 rushing attempts last season and is showing no signs of slowing down.

2002 Stats: 1,764 all purpose yards | 13 total touchdowns

4. Derrick Henry

Like Chubb, Derrick Henry is a between the tackles type of runner with breakaway speed. There were rumors this offseason that the Titans might try and trade Henry. Those rumors turned out to be false as Henry looks poised for another big year. No matter who the quarterback is for the Titans, Henry will be the focal point of this offense for the foreseeable future.

2022 Stats: 1,936 all purpose yards | 13 total touchdowns

3. Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler is one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL today. Line him up anywhere on the field and Ekeler will deliver. As we mentioned before this is likely Ekeler’s last season for the Chargers due to the contract situation. If he hits free agency expect a big payday for Ekeler.

2022 Stats: 1,637 all purpose yards | 18 total touchdowns

2. Josh Jacobs

Despite being franchise tagged this offseason, Josh Jacobs has been business as usual. Jacobs is a true professional who lets his game speak for itself. In 2022, Jacobs led the league in rushing yards, all purpose yards, yards per game and total touches. Even with a change at quarterback for the Raiders you can expect the gameplan to be the same. Keep feeding Jacobs.

2022 Stats: 2,053 all purpose yards | 12 total touchdowns

1. Christian McCaffrey

When Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers this past season it was a bit surprising. Kyle Shanahan has always deployed a running back by committee offensive system. By bringing in McCaffrey he knew he would have to rely heavily on his new star. The trade paid off as the 49ers were just 1 game away from the Super Bowl despite questions at quarterback. Now with a full offseason under his belt, McCaffrey is set for a monster year in San Francisco.

2022 Stats: 1,880 all purpose yards | 13 total touchdowns

The post Top 10 Running Backs in 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Giants had a difficult decision to make this offseason. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley were both in line for a new contract but they couldn’t afford to sign both to mega deals. They decided to pay their young quarterback instead of Barkley and signed him to a 4-year $160 million dollar deal. While you can argue if that was the right move or not the Giants knew one of their stars would not be happy. Now they must deal with the fallout from that situation and find a resolution with Barkley.

The Le’Veon Bell Effect

Sitting out an entire NFL season is not unprecedented. In 2018, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell sat out the entire season when he refused to sign his 2nd franchise tag. It was a gamble by Bell that ended up working in his favor. The following year Bell signed a 4-year $52.5 million dollar contract with the New York Jets. This made Bell the 2nd highest-paid running back at the time. Although Bell made his money, he wasn’t the same player we saw in Pittsburgh and never could replicate that success.

Standing His Ground

Saquon Barkley and the Giants have until July 17th to come to terms on a new deal. If they can’t, Barkley will either have to play the year under the franchise tag or not play at all. Barkley has stated all along he is not looking to be the top paid running back in the NFL. He just wants a respectable contract that pays him what he’s worth. At 26, Barkley is still in his prime and has shown he can be a difference-maker on the field. He finished his 2022-23 campaign with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Most importantly he didn’t miss any games due to injury.

When the season opens in the Fall, I expect Saquon Barkley to be on the field. In order for that to happen the Giants must budge and up their contract offer. There are rumors that Barkley turned down a $14 million per year contract offer from the Giants. Will Barkley accept if they up the offer to $15 million per year? Possibly, but the Giants may wait and call Barkley’s bluff.

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Jones’ Case for a Big Payday

Daniel Jones has had his ups and downs during his time with the Giants, but he has also shown flashes of potential that have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. In his rookie year, he threw for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also showed impressive mobility, rushing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Jones’ second year was marred by injuries, but he still managed to throw for 2,943 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in just 14 games. He also improved his completion percentage and passer rating, both of which are key metrics for evaluating quarterbacks.

Furthermore, Jones has been dealing with a less than ideal supporting cast. The Giants offensive line has been one of the worst in the league until recently, and the team has struggled to find consistent weapons for Jones to throw to. Despite these challenges, Jones has managed to put up respectable numbers and has shown the potential to be a franchise quarterback. Jones took great strides forward this past season under the tutelage of Brian Daboll as he led the Giants to a playoff upset over the Vikings. His poise and mobility were on full display during the game and it’s something that cannot be ignored.

Another argument for paying Jones a big contract is the current state of the quarterback market. In recent years, quarterbacks have been signing massive deals, with players like Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Deshaun Watson all signing contracts worth over $40 million per year. The salary cap is also expected to increase in the coming years, which means that quarterback salaries will likely continue to rise. With that in mind it may not be that far fetched to pay Jones in the 40 million range.

Against Paying Jones $45 Million Per Year

While Jones has shown potential, there are also several reasons why he may not be worth $45 million per year. For one, he has struggled with consistency, both in terms of his performance from game to game, and his ability to stay healthy. Jones missed significant time due to injuries in his first three seasons, and his turnover-prone play has also been a cause for concern. In fact, Jones has thrown many untimely interceptions and has had fumbling issues.

Another argument against paying Jones $45 million per year is the opportunity cost. The Giants have several other areas of need, including the offensive line, wide receiver, and of course free agent to be Saquon Barkley. If the team were to invest so much money in Jones, they may not be able to address these other needs, which could hurt the team in the long run.

At the end of the day it’s hard to justify paying Daniel Jones that much money if you’re the Giants. Ownership may well view Jones as the next Eli Manning and there are some similarities there but the price tag is just too high. If I am the Giants I am paying Barkley what he’s worth and letting Jones test the free agent market.

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10. Jakobi Meyers

By many metrics, 2022 was Jakobi Meyers’s best season so far. Yes, he had more overall yardage in 2021, but he had a higher yardage per reception in ’22 and four additional receiving touchdowns despite playing in three less games. At 26, he’s also in the midst of an athletic prime that should last 3-4 more years.

Meyers has improved in each of his NFL seasons with the New England Patriots and looks to make a solid free agent acquisition for somebody this offseason.

9. Jessie Bates III

Former second-team All-Pro free safety Jessie Bates III has had a solid tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals, having a career high four interceptions in 2022. He’s been a big player in the emergence of the Bengals as one of the better defensive units in the NFL over the last couple of seasons.

It seems the Bengals’ focus will be on extending quarterback Joe Burrow this offseason and that probably means Bates winds up on a new team.

8. Jamel Dean

Jamel Dean may not be the greatest ballhawk to ever play the cornerback position, but he is a solid pass defender at his best. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beginning a new era post-Tom Brady, that probably means not resigning free agent pieces which would further complicate the team’s salary issues.

Dean would make a solid addition to a team looking to strengthen their depth in the defensive secondary and, as a Super Bowl champion, would bring solid leadership to any locker room.

7. Lavonte David

He may now be 33 years old, but Lavonte David remains one of the better linebackers in the NFL. His entire career has been spent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but like with Jamel Dean, it’d be nearly impossible for the team to keep him this offseason. Somebody’s likely to get a excellent veteran addition to their roster.

David routinely puts up seasons with well over 100 tackles, including last season when he racked up a total of 124. He’ll surely be able to do that again in 2023.

6. Jordan Poyer

Will the Buffalo Bills bring back Jordan Poyer in 2023? They may not, and the veteran safety who will be 32 by season’s start, could get a decent short-term contract somewhere else. His best seasons have been had in recent years, which is the upside for this safety. The downside is that he spent much of 2022 dealing with injuries that limited his production.

Poyer is one of the NFL’s best safeties and that means he’ll be a hot commodity this offseason regardless of the injuries he dealt with in ’22.

5. Javon Hargrave

One of the defensive anchors for the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, Javon Hargrave had a career best 11 sacks. Because it appears the Eagles intend to resign C.J. Gardner-Johnson, is it likely that the defensive tackle ends up somewhere else for the 2023 season? Keep in mind, the Eagles have several other soon-to-be free agents to contend with.

Simply put, there’s no defense in the NFL who couldn’t use a player like Hargrave on their roster. He’s going to get paid by somebody and immediately improve their defense.

4. Derek Carr (Signed with the New Orleans Saints)

Derek Carr seems to be one of the current villains of the NFL, only more fitting having played for a franchise known for its villainy. But the Raiders are done with him. He’s always been pretty good, just not good enough to make a whole lot of noise across the league. Not that the Raiders ever did much to support his efforts (signing of Davante Adams excluded, naturally).

With Carr, it’ll be interesting to see what some team is willing to put around him. The New York Jets have been mentioned and that makes a lot of sense. The Jets are a good young team, and they would benefit immensely from the free agent quarterback.

3. Josh Jacobs (Signed franchise tag with the Las Vegas Raiders)

Remember when Zamir White was supposed to surpass and bench Josh Jacobs? What a laugh that turned out to be. The disrespected Jacobs only led the NFL in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, and yards from scrimmage in 2022. But the Raiders need a quarterback, so might the running back be found somewhere else in 2023?

Jacobs’s ascendance from average running to one of the league’s best happened seemingly overnight. Having just turned 25, somebody had better pay him now, because his ascendance may not be finished yet.

2. Lamar Jackson (Signed franchise tag with the Baltimore Ravens)

Lamar Jackson is a great football player. That said, he’s now missed a lot of playing time in each of the last two seasons and that’s an undeniable problem. His place among the NFL’s best quarterbacks isn’t in question, but his ability to stay on the field now is. What are the Baltimore Ravens going to do?

Jackson’s move to a different roster for 2023 would be the story of the offseason, but it may well happen. Talent and ability have never been an issue with the former MVP, but he needs to stay healthy.

1. Saquon Barkley (Signed franchise tag with the New York Giants)

The New York Giants went as far as Saquon Barkley took them in 2022 and the running back proved himself more than capable of coming back from past injury-plagued seasons. There are a few notable teams in the NFL who are a piece away from Super Bowl contention, and if the Giants don’t bring Barkley back, he could easily find his way to one of those teams.

The 26-year-old is reaching his athletic prime and now that any lingering questions about his durability seem to be put to rest, some team in the league is going to get one of the best running backs in the game.

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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.

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