The saga of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has been a divisive one after the sixth-year quarterback was given a four-year, $160 million contract extension after the 2022 season. With a history of neck injuries and coming off a torn ACL that ended his 2023 season after just six games, there are a slew of questions when it comes to his value – both in fantasy football leagues and to the Giants organization.
In 2022 – Jones’ fourth season – he finally showed the kind of production the Giants had been looking for. In 16 games, Jones threw for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns and, more importantly for fantasy managers, rushed 120 times for 708 yards and seven more TDs. In terms of fantasy points per game, those were top-10 numbers in 2022. However, it didn’t last.
In six games last season prior to his injury, Jones threw for just 909 yards with two TD passes and six interceptions and looked awful as he was sacked 30 times behind a makeshift offensive line. At that rate, had he played the entire season, he would have been sacked 85 times, blowing past the current single-season high of 76 by Houston’s David Carr in 2002.
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The Giants made a lot of moves in the offseason to shore up the offensive line and used the the ninth overall pick to select wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers will be the first legitimate top-end receiver Jones has played with during his Giants career. The additions to the offense may merely negate the decision not to keep running back Saquon Barkley, who left for division-rival Philadelphia in free agency. Not only was Barkley the backbone of the Giants running game, he also was critical as a receiver coming out of the backfield.
The Giants didn’t get involved in the quarterback frenzy atop the first round of this year’s draft, but they did hedge their bets by signing quarterback Drew Lock to back up Jones. After placing too much trust in Jones heading into last season, which led to short-lived Tommy DeVito era in New York, the Giants aren’t taking that chance again in the event Jones stinks up the joint this season.
Fantasy football outlook
Jones, who isn’t expected to land on the Physically Unable to Perform list, is currently mired in ADP rankings in the 25-30 range, depending on your source of choice – a ranking that would leave him undrafted in 12-team leagues with two quarterbacks.
He does bring a bit of upside with his running ability, although that’s now in doubt following ACL reconstruction. The reality is Jones has thrown just 62 touchdown passes with 40 interceptions in 60 career games with the Giants. Worse yet, he’s coming off the poorest season of career, posting a passer rating of just 70.5 – the lowest of his career by almost 10 points.
The biggest issue with Jones is the onerous hit the Giants take on the salary cap for his contract extension. Last year, he counted just $15.44 million against the salary cap. This year, that number jumps to $47.86, and the Giants can’t release him because he would count for $47.11 million as a post-June 1 dead-cap hit.
Although he has flashed ability at times to be a decent NFL quarterback, it hasn’t been enough to warrant endorsing him as a player you want on your fantasy roster.
