For reasons that I’ll never quite understand, NFL fans have already begun completing fantasy football drafts. When you think of potential first round fantasy football selections, New York Giants offensive players likely do not come to mind. The last thing you’ll want to do during your fantasy football drafts, however, is ignore Big Blue. The Giants could give your team several week and season-changing players throughout 2010.
New York Giants 2010 Fantasy Football preview: Quarterback
Eli Manning spent the 2009 NFL season as the most underrated quarterback in all of football. Manning’s 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 4021 yards were hardly page turners, especially considering the collapse of the Giants during the second half of the season. Then, you remember that Manning was practically playing quarterback on one foot after week 4 of the season. There’s no reason to expect any worse production from an Eli Manning playing on two good feet. For the first time in recent memory, the Giants are likely to send a pass-first offense out on the field. That should equal even more fantasy football points for a very determined Eli Manning in 2010.
New York Giants 2010 Fantasy Football preview: Running Back
Both Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were banged up come the end of 2009, and many NFL “experts” believe that Jacobs’ best days are behind him. Jacobs has vowed to return to his Juggernaut-esque ways (NSFW tribute video here) in 2010 but expecting 5.0 yards a carry from those knees is not very realistic. Of the two, however, Jacobs is a much better second or third option on your fantasy football depth chart than Bradshaw. Whenever the Giants make it inside an opponent’s five yard line, you know who will be called upon to plow through the middle for six.
New York Giants 2010 Fantasy Football preview: Wide Receiver
Steve Smith had an historic 2009 season, setting a Giants’ team record with 107 receptions. Smith isn’t a first round pick but you could do far worse than having him as one of the top two receivers on your fantasy football team. Second year potential phenom Hakeem Nicks could be a late-round steal in 2010 fantasy football drafts. In his rookie year, Nicks showed up late to camp, played for roughly five minutes during the pre-season and was less than 100 percent physically and mentally for about half the year. Even still, Nicks finished second on the Giants with six touchdown receptions.
New York Giants 2010 Fantasy Football preview: Tight End
Kevin Boss is going to be a big disappointment or a pleasant surprise for your fantasy football team in 2010 depending on where you select him in your draft and how the Giants use him. Boss enters this NFL season as one of the more reliable red zone threats in all of football. Simply stated, when Eli Manning throws to ball to The Boss in the end zone, the Giants are probably kicking an extra point on the next play. Manning didn’t go to Boss as often as expected last season, however, largely due to injuries on the team’s offensive line which caused Boss to become a blocker, not a target, in short yardage situations. Much like Jacobs, Boss could turn out to be a solid second option on your fantasy football depth chart.
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