Fantasy Football Preview: New York Giants

For our readers who are New York Giants fans, here is a guest column, courtesy of DraftStreet.com, on what you need to know when it comes to playing in a fantasy football money league and drafting Giants players.

Eli Manning, QB

Manning may be worthy of consideration in a fantasy football money league. He is on the fringe of starting in a 12-team league, finishing 12^th in passing yards in 2012 with 3948 and in a four-way tie for ninth in passing touchdowns with 26. His 15 interceptions were tenth worst.  Manning has been very durable, starting every game since taking over as starter midway through the 2004 season.  He has had at least 26 passing TDs each of the last four seasons and threw for over 4000 yards the last three seasons before just missing in 2012.

Victor Cruz, WR

Cruz led the Giants in receiving yardage and receiving TDs for the second straight season. His 10 TDs (tied for seventh-best) and 86 catches were similar to 2011’s nine TDs and 82 catches, but his 1092 yards were down from 2011’s 1536, the highest receiving total in Giants history. As training camp approached, Cruz was reportedly close to signing a long-term contract.

Hakeem Nicks, WR

After two seasons of at least 75 catches, 1000 yards and seven TDs, injuries limited Nicks to 53 catches, 692 yards and three TDs. Nicks had arthroscopic knee surgery during the offseason and missed OTAs, reportedly because he had broken his foot during OTAs in 2012. Nicks led the Giants in receiving in Super Bowl XLVI with 10 catches for 109 yards.

David Wilson, RB

With the departure of Ahmad Bradshaw, Wilson, a first-round draft pick in 2012, has the inside track on the starting job. Wilson had 358 rushing yards, four rushing TDs and one receiving TD as a rookie. 247 yards and three of the TDs came in his final four games.  Wilson lost playing time after fumbling in season opener, but he did not fumble again all season. Wilson’s surge also came when Andre Brown missed the final five games after breaking his leg.

Andre Brown, RB

Brown led the Giants in rushing TDs with eight and ran for 385 yards before his injury.  All eight of Brown’s TDs came from one or two yards out, so look for him to be the goal-line back.  Brown was originally drafted by the Giants in the fourth round in 2009, but after missing the 2009 season with an Achilles tendon injury, he was waived and was briefly a part of four other teams before rejoining the Giants in 2011.

Brandon Myers, TE

Myers comes over from Oakland, where he had a breakout year with 79 catches (fourth-best among tight ends) for 806 yards (sixth-best) and four TDs. He replaces Martellus Bennett, now with Chicago, who had 55 catches for 626 yards and five TDs.

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