Fantasy Football 2021 Team Previews: New York Giants

New York Giants Fantasy Preview 2021

All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros.

** = target in drafts at this ADP

Top 120

**Saquon Barkley, RB (ADP: 5): Barkley at this ADP is awesome. Injuries are obviously a concern for him, but should he stay healthy, there isn’t a better RB in the NFL, and I’m not forgetting Christian McCaffery. Barkley can do absolutely everything you’d want from a RB at an elite level, and the Giants’ offensive line quietly improved as 2020 wore on. It’s difficult to imagine a player significantly outperforming his ADP when it’s inside the Top 5, but Barkley’s ceiling is No. 1 overall player in fantasy.

Kenny Golladay, WR (ADP: 57): Golladay got the big contract this offseason, but his ADP is suffering because of where he landed. He’s undoubtedly the Giants’ top receiver, but he’s downgraded significantly from Matthew Stafford to Daniel Jones. Gollady makes his hay down the field; he’s averaged more than 10 yards per target in back-to-back seasons, and has never averaged fewer than 15 yards per reception. Can Jones effectively get him the ball on those deep shots? We’ll find out, but Jones’ career thus far has been very discouraging. Injuries are also a problem for Golladay, who only played in five games last season. Talent-wise, there’s nothing to worry about, but between the injury concerns and QB play, Golladay has more risk than usual for a top-flight receiver. He can definitely outperform this ADP by a lot, but once you account for the concerns, it seems right.

Fantasy Relevant (121-200 ADP)

Evan Engram, TE (ADP: 156): I’ve been touting Engram for years, and I’m constantly disappointed. I still can’t believe he hasn’t been more productive based on the kind of athlete he is, but entering Year 5 I must accept he is who he is. TE is a position where outside of the elite, you’re mostly sifting through boom-or-bust players. Engram is actually more consistent than that, because he’s long had significant target share. With a healthy Barkley and Golladay incoming, that’ll take a hit, so he’s now a low-ceiling, middling-floor option. At TE18 you’re not risking anything, but there are better gambles. I’d leave him on waivers and pay attention in plus matchups.

Daniel Jones, QB (ADP: 185): Here we go. I’ve been fascinated with Jones this offseason, writing about him here, and invoking him when talking about Cam Newton and Jalen Hurts. If he doesn’t go off this season, then it isn’t happening. The Giants have beefed up the offensive line, brought in a legitimate top receiver, and should have the best RB in football back. Everything is lined up for him, and I think there’s a solid chance he makes fantasy owners happy. Will he evolve into a high-end passer? No. But you’re drafting him for what he can do as a rusher. He ran the ball almost five times a game last season, and was not healthy for a big chunk of it, which coincided with his rushing falling off a cliff. His 6.5 yards per rush were better than Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray and averaging 38.4 yards on the ground per game before hurting his knee in Week 12. That’s quite the baseline for a QB, especially if he can be a league-average passer. While there’s a universe in which Jones is benched before the quarter mark of the season has passed, there’s also one in which he is this season’s shocking value at the position. I’m not calling it, but color me intrigued by him for 2021.

**Sterling Shepard, WR (ADP: 195): Shepard is being disrespected with this ADP. Golladay’s arrival bumps him down to the WR2 for the Giants, which is where he belongs, and the addition of rookie Kadarius Toney, as well as the continued presence of Darius Slayton, pushes Shepard back into the slot. He’s been miscast as a lead dog since Odell Beckham Jr. was traded, and forced to the outside where he’s not as effective. Lining up more in the slot with a real leading man to take pressure off could lead to a season that looks more like his rookie campaign when he caught 65 passes for 683 yards and eight touchdowns. That level of production will absolutely outperform an ADP barely inside the Top 200. I love Shepard here.

Sleeper Class (200 & later)

Kadarius Toney, WR (ADP: 221): Toney’s talent is electrifying, but there’s no way I can be pro-Golladay and Shepard, and hype Barkley and think there’s meat left on the bone in a Daniel Jones offense. Toney will flash and have moments, but I’d be shocked if fantasy owners could rely on him as a starter at any point. Draft the upside in dynasty leagues all you want, but I’m not interested for 2021.

Devontae Booker, RB (ADP: 243): Wayne Gallman proved there’s value in owning the Giants’ handcuff, and that’s Booker. I don’t want him, and he’s not a must-own, but he can catch the ball so if Barkley falls to injury once again, Booker will be a FLEX play at worst.

Darius Slayton, WR (ADP: 247): The Toney pick was not good news for Slayton, who is a similar player and got a bit of a raw deal with Jones at QB. Watching Giants games as a Slayton owner was an exercise in frustration, because he was open a lot and missed even more. He’s proven his explosiveness with back-to-back seasons at 15 yards per reception or better, but the Giants’ aggressive moves at the position signal a readiness to move on, or at least bury him. I think he could be fantasy relevant in his career, but probably not here without a rash of injuries.

Kyle Rudolph, TE (ADP: 273): Rudolph was once a viable late-round target who was touchdown-dependent, but you could depend on a fair amount of touchdowns. In this offense, Engram is the lead TE, so without an injury Rudolph is just a dart throw with a low ceiling even if he does score. He’s a better real life option for the Giants than a fantasy asset.

Defense/Special Teams (ADP: 229)

This D/ST might actually be decent, but the NFC East might be a tough division to own a defense without major upside. I’m not drafting them.