Tag: devin singletary

Should fantasy owners punt on New York Giants running backs?

What should fantasy managers make of this revamped backfield?

Last year’s New York Giants were a sad group offensively. Quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) played just six games before tearing his ACL — further neutering an already shaky passing game — leaving running back Saquon Barkley as the only needle mover. Defenses knew that, too, keying on Barkley, who did his best to make chicken salad, turning 288 touches into 1,242 yards and 10 of the team’s 25 offensive TDs.

Unfortunately for the G-Men, Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, leaving general manager Joe Schoen to try and piece things together with an running backs room of veteran Devin Singletary and a pair of fifth-round picks in Eric Gray (2023) and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (2024). Further eroding the outlook for this group is Schoen’s desire to get a read on Jones. Can he stay healthy? Can he excel with what they hope is a true No. 1 wide receiver in sixth overall pick Malik Nabers? Is he the guy?

Managing Jones was the order of the day since head coach Brain Daboll arrived, but it sounds like they’ll be looking at 2024 as an audition to see if Jones is their quarterback of the future. With that in mind, let’s look at New York’s options at running back.

Giants fall in CBS Sports’ triplet rankings

The New York Giants fell — by a large margin — in CBS Sports’ annual offensive triplets rankings.

The New York Giants offense has seen several noteworthy changes this offseason, especially at the skill positions.

The Giants, of course, watched star running back Saquon Barkley sign with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles and lost Darren Waller, their biggest offensive addition of last offseason, to retirement.

Obviously, the offense is going to look much different entering this season than it did before the 2023 season.

CBS Sports recently released their annual NFL triplet rankings and to no surprise, the Giants dropped to 29th in the rankings.

29. New York Giants

QB: Daniel Jones RB: Devin Singletary WR: Malik Nabers

Daniel Jones under center and Devin Singletary behind him just screams “this is temporary.” New York tried unsuccessfully to replace Jones this offseason, and did not restructure his contract like it did last year, before it had even kicked in. Nabers is obviously here to stay, and hopefully for a long time, but it’s not surprising to see New York tumble from its over-inflated ranking last year.

CBS’ triplet rankings are gathered from a panel of 12 of their staffers grading the expected starters at quarterback and running back and their presumed top pass-catcher for the 2024 NFL season.”

Last year, Big Blue ranked 18th on the list with their triplet being Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, and Darren Waller.

When you combine the rough, injury-shortened season of Jones in 2023 with the perceived downgrade from Barkley to Singletary and the fact that Malik Nabers has yet to play an NFL snap, it’s pretty easy to see why the Giants significantly dropped on this list.

With an expected improved offensive line, a more durable back in Singletary, and Nabers being one of the more talented pass catchers Jones has played with, both the passing and running game should be improved.

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Giants’ Tyrone Tracy can have an immediate impact on offense

Could rookie RB Tyrone Tracy impact the New York Giants in the same way Jahmyr Gibbs impacted the Detroit Lions last season?

The New York Giants let star running back Saquon Barkley walk this past offseason, a move that saddened co-owner John Mara but will likely benefit the franchise in the long run.

That is because general manager Joe Schoen shifted the team’s roster priorities, opting to go with a committee approach at running back rather than rely on an expensive veteran to carry the load.

The move is more economical and possibly could be more productive. Schoen went out and signed a top back who understands the Giants’ offense in former Buffalo Bill Devin Singletary and then drafted Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy Jr. on Day 3 of this year’s NFL draft.

Tracy, a former wide receiver at Iowa who became a running back after transferring to Purdue, is already creating a buzz with his versatility.

Veteran Giants beat reporter Art Stapleton believes that Tracy could come right out of the gate and help the Giants’ offense get straight in multiple ways, just like rookie Jahmyr Gibbs did with the Detroit Lions last year.

The opportunity is certainly there as an offensive weapon, and his experience as a wide receiver should help ease the transition in the passing game where other young backs may struggle.

If you want a high-end comparison for the type of impact Tracy could have, and why he’s on this list, here goes:

I think the Giants could use Tracy the way the Lions used Jahmyr Gibbs, the electric first-round running back who finished his rookie season with 1,216 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. Could the tandem of David Montgomery and Gibbs in Detroit provide a blueprint for the Giants with Devin Singletary and Tracy?

The Detroit situation was a solid one for them last season. They ended up in the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 30 years with Montgomery running inside and Gibbs doing the rest.

Also of note, the Giants have a completely new outlook on their running back room. The new position coach, Joel Thomas, comes over from the New Orleans Saints. He has a track record of developing versatile backs, such as Alvin Kamara — one of the top all-purpose backs in the NFL over the past decade.

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Giants ranked near bottom of NFL in skill position talent

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranks the New York Giants 29th in the NFL in combined wide receiver, tight end and running back talent.

The New York Giants have been criticized for their thin roster the past few years, a trend that will continue unless they can change minds with their play on the field.

In a recent list of NFL team’s wide receiver, tight end, and running back talent for the 2024 season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked Big Blue 29th in the league.

That is down from last year’s ranking (27th) but a notch above the No. 30 rating of 2022.

Barnwell notes the loss of star running back Saquon Barkley in free agency could be offset by the addition of top draft pick Malik Nabers, a wide receiver from LSU.

Barkley is talented but was often injured and Nabers will have to excel for this swap to work out for the Giants.

If Nabers is anything short of spectacular as a rookie, this won’t be a pretty offense. Devin Singletary had a decent 2023 season with the Texans, but it’s going to be much harder for him without C.J. Stroud and a devastatingly efficient passing attack. Darren Waller retired and wasn’t really replaced. I’ve always felt Darius Slayton was underrated and underappreciated as a deep threat, but he’s probably not an every-down receiver in better offenses. I don’t know why Allen Robinson is still in the league. Wan’Dale Robinson has been strictly a gadget guy over his first two seasons, and Jalin Hyatt’s offseason hype has revolved around knowing where to line up before the snap in Year 2.

Some clarity on this analysis. The Giants are backfilling the loss of Barkley with a committee approach at running back. Singletary is the top back in the rotation at the moment, but there are others (Eric Gray and rookie Tyrone Tracy), who the team are high on.

Nabers joins Hyatt and Robinson — both recent Day 2 draft picks — in an eclectic, but interesting trio of young talent at receiver. Of course, they have yet to hit the field and no one can predict how they will click.

Waller was replaced. The Giants anticipated his retirement by signing Chris Manhertz and Jack Stoll in free agency and then selecting Penn State’s Theo Johnson in the draft.

Manhertz and Stoll are basically backups but Johnson has the same physical dimensions as Waller and is an interesting add that could surprise as a rookie.

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Giants’ Devin Singletary says Daniel Jones’ accuracy, touch wowed him

New York Giants RB Devin Singletary said it wasn’t Daniel Jones’ athleticism that surprised him but rather, his accuracy and touch.

When running back Devin Singletary arrived in East Rutherford after signing his free-agent deal, little about the athleticism of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones surprised him.

Singletary, a self-described “football head,” had watched Jones from afar and knew he possessed unique traits to match his size and strength. And even as DJ continued his recovery from a torn ACL, Singletary could see that in practice.

But there was one thing that took Singletary aback.

“Man, I’m a football head so I watch a lot of football,” Singletary said on the Giants Huddle podcast. “It had jumped (out) to me what he can do as far as him being athletic. What really, I would say — I was like ‘ahhh’ — when I got here was when I saw him throw the ball.

“Like, his touch and his accuracy. I’m like, ‘All right. This is why they call him Danny Dimes.’ That’s what really stood out to me.”

Jones has faced mounting criticism in recent years but those who see him daily continue to support the 27-year-old. He wins over his teammates, old and new, with his work ethic, leadership, and football skill.

Despite that support from inside the building, Jones must find a way to yield better results on the field. The Giants can move on from him after the upcoming season, which is essentially a make-or-break for “Danny Dimes.”

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NFL insider: Giants’ trade for Brian Burns was a ‘curious choice’

ESPN’s Seth Walder is not a fan of the New York Giants’ decision to trade for LB Brian Burns this offseason: “It was a curious choice.”

Many experts have graded the New York Giants’ moves this past offseason, from the draft to free agency. Some gave them positive reviews while others panned their efforts.

In a recent piece for ESPN, Seth Walder grades them right down the middle with a C+ grade.

The biggest move the Giants made was the trade for Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns in exchange for a second-round pick and a flip of fifth-rounders. Then, the Giants inked Burns to a five-year, $141 million extension.

This was also the move Walder says he disliked the most because of the cost of trading for, and then extending, Burns.

It was a curious choice, as the Giants spent a lot of capital to upgrade one of their only strengths — maybe their only strength. And they did it at a time when they don’t appear close to contention. As good of a player as Burns is, they traded a premium draft pick for the right to pay top money to a player.

What Walder liked the most was the Giants’ free agent signings of two veteran guards — Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor.

Walder called the $9.5 million the Giants guaranteed to free agent running back Devin Singletary “unnecessary” and cited the decision to allow safety Xavier McKinney to walk in free agency but noted they could be awarded a fourth-round compensatory pick for that loss.

I like the more under-the-radar free agent signings of Eluemunor and Runyan, who should help the offensive line. On the other hand, fully guaranteeing $9.5 million to running back Devin Singletary seemed unnecessary. The loss of safety Xavier McKinney stings but at least the Giants are likely to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick for him.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but Walder’s take on the Burns trade is, well… curious.

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PFF continues to hammer Giants, ranks their receivers among NFL’s worst

Pro Football Focus ranks the New York Giants’ receivers among the worst in football headed into the 2024 season.

The New York Giants made a significant upgrade to their wide receivers crops this offseason, selecting LSU’s Malik Nabers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Nabers, who flashed throughout the spring, is expected to come in and take over the No. 1 role, which the Giants have struggled to fill since trading Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019.

The presence of Nabers takes pressure off the remaining wideouts, including Darius Slayton, who can finally settle into the ideal WR2 role, as well as the young upstarts, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt.

On paper, the Giants suddenly have what looks to be a formidable wide receiver unit but Pro Football Focus isn’t buying that.

Because of Darren Waller’s retirement and Saquon Barkley’s departure, PFF believes the Giants’ receivers are among the very worst in football.

28. NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants’ receiver room will go as rookie Malik Nabers goes. If he is a star, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt could all look like great complementary pieces.

After Darren Waller‘s retirement, Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson are the main options at tight end. Subbing out the pass-catching abilities of Saquon Barkley for Devin Singletary is a downgrade, as Singletary hasn’t brought much in the receiving game in his career.

Barkley caught 91 passes for 721 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, which greatly padded his career stats. In the five years since then, he’s hauled in 197 receptions for 1,379 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a career receiving success rate of 38.1 and a catch percentage of 72.7.

Comparatively, in his five NFL seasons, Singletary has caught 175 passes for 1,164 yards and four touchdowns with a receiving success rate of 45.9 and a catch percentage of 75.8.

How much of a downgrade is that, really?

Losing Waller’s potential hurts but even if he returned, there was no guarantee he could stay on the field anyway. Meanwhile, Theo Johnson looks to be a dynamic option who could surprise in 2024.

The 28th overall ranking aside, it’s clear the Giants upgraded their receivers this offseason. But they’ll have to show it before they get any credit.

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Fantasy football: Malik Nabers is Giants’ highest-ranked player in PFF’s PPR 400

Rookie WR Malik Nabers is the highest-ranked New York Giants player on Pro Football Focus’ PPR 400 ahead of the 2024 fantasy football season.

New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is the team’s highest-rated player in Pro Football Focus’ PPR 400 for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.

In a fantasy mock draft based on the PPR (Point Per Reception) scoring system, analyst Nathan Jahnke listed the top 400 offensive players in ranked order.

Nabers was ranked 42nd overall and No. 22 among wide receivers. Running back Devin Singletary — the 31st rated at his position — was ranked 98 overall.

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson came in at No. 171 overall and No. 72 among wideouts. Quarterback Daniel Jones got no love at all, ranked 202nd overall and 30th overall at his position.

Others placed on the list: rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (No. 199 overall, No. 62 running back); wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (No. 212, No. 81 wide receiver); wide receiver Darius Slayton (217, 84); tight end Daniel Bellinger (250, TE 31); rookie tight end Theo Johnson (301, 39); quarterback Drew Lock (347, QB 38), the Giants’ defense (349, DEF 26) and kicker Graham Gano (391, PK 31).

Former Giants star running back Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, placed 13th overall on the list and fifth among running backs.

There are few surprises on the list given the Giants’ performance in 2023.

There is little to no confidence in Jones as he is ranked near the bottom of the starting quarterback rung and plenty of confidence in Lock, who despite telling the media that he’s firmly the backup, is ranked right outside the starter’s category.

Three newcomers — Nabers, Singletary, and Tracy — were ranked relatively high considering the rookies have yet to play a live down in the NFL and Singletary is on his third team in as many years.

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Giants’ Devin Singletary: ‘I’m a playmaker’ like Saquon Barkley

New York Giants RB Devin Singletary isn’t worried about being in the shadow of Saquon Barkley: “I’m a playmaker like him.”

Newly signed New York Giants running back Devin Singletary is trying to make the running back transition smooth for fans with his playmaking skills.

The former Florida Atlantic running back started out his career with the Buffalo Bills where he played four seasons as their primary back. There he totaled 4,122 yards and 20 touchdowns in 61 games. He then totaled 1,091 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Houston Texans as he overtook Dameon Pierce as the bellcow.

Singletary has averaged over 1,000 scrimmage yards a season and will be looking to replicate that and more as he looks to replace former second-overall pick Saquon Barkley.

In six seasons (74 games), Barkley recorded 7,311 scrimmage yards and 47 touchdowns. These are big shoes to fill for Singletary as Barkley was the engine of Big Blue’s offense.

However, Singletary is not worried about any of that.

“We ain’t really worried about ‘The Shadow of Saquon’ or none of that. It’s just find ways to win games,” Singletary told the New York Post. “I’ve been in the league just like him.

“He’s only been in the league a year before me. … I feel like I’m a playmaker like him, so … I’m just gonna be me.”

Singletary will certainly get held to the standards of Barkley’s success as they share the same number and the latter is the only running back the Giants really have had in the past six seasons.

The Giants will look very new across the board with a new No. 1 wide receiver (Malik Nabers) and a new No. 1 tight end (Theo Johnson).

Singletary believes with all these additions and Brian Daboll’s play calling things will be “explosive.”

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Giants’ Devin Singletary calls Brian Daboll a ‘fearless’ play-caller

New York Giants RB Devin Singletary says head coach Brian Daboll is a “fearless” offensive play-caller.

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary just joined the team during free agency, but he knows head coach Brian Daboll better than most of his teammates. That’s because Singletary was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2019 when Daboll was still the offensive coordinator.

Singletary played under Daboll for three seasons, until Daboll left for New York following the 2021 season.

During that time, Singletary learned what kind of coach Daboll is, how he calls plays, and how to expect the unexpected. So, when he was asked to characterize Daboll’s play-calling, he knew exactly what to say.

“Man, fearless. He’s fearless. No fear of failure. Only the desire to excel. That’s the best way to put it,” Singletary told reporters on Thursday.

“You have to be on your toes at all times with Daboll.”

Singletary believes that Daboll gave them an advantage in Buffalo with his play calling. And, ideally, the Giants will get to see some of that fearlessness pay off this season.

After spending his first four years with Buffalo, Singletary joined the Houston Texans last season before joining the Giants earlier this year. Over his five-year career, Singletary has yet to break the 1,000-yard mark in a season. He had his best season in 2023 with Houston when he rushed for 898 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

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