Tag: Eric Gray fantasy football

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.

5 fantasy football RB handcuffs to target in 2023 drafts

Make sure to insure your top backs by handcuffing their backups.

With so many teams using the committee approach in their offensive backfields, the idea of handcuffing running backs has lost some of its importance over the years.

There are still some situations worthy of doubling down on, however, and listed below are our top five — please note we tried to avoid situations where the No. 1 back wasn’t a top-20 option, such as Denver Broncos RBs Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, or where the expected workload split figures to be close, such as Detroit Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery or New Orleans Saints RBs Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Eric Gray, Oklahoma

Versatility will make Gray a coveted asset for multiple teams during the 2023 NFL Draft.

A Memphis native who stayed within the state to play his first two years of FBS ball with the Tennessee Volunteers before transferring to Oklahoma, running back Eric Gray didn’t enjoy a breakout campaign until his senior season. Saving his best for last, Gray rushed for 6.4 yards per tote on 213 attempts and managed to score at nearly a TD-per-game clip.

Height: 5-foot-9 1/2
Weight: 207 pounds
40 time: 4.62 seconds

He took advantage of the new transfer rules in 2021 and didn’t have to sit out a season. Gray started six of 13 games in 2021 before fully taking over as the lead back as a senior, earning himself All-Big 12 Conference honors.

Table: Eric Gray stats (2019-22)

Year School Class G Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
*2019 Tennessee Fr 13 101 539 5.3 4 13 115 8.8 1
2020 Tennessee So 9 157 772 4.9 4 30 254 8.5 2
*2021 Oklahoma Jr 13 78 412 5.3 2 23 229 10.0 2
*2022 Oklahoma Sr 12 213 1,366 6.4 11 33 229 6.9 0

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Quicker than fast and utilizes it to his advantage in short area — excellent burst and is unpredictable in the open field
  • Rhythmic runner who can lull defends with a convincing dead-leg cut
  • Angular rusher who fully understands how to use momentum against a would-be tackler
  • At his best in the open field making cutbacks by utilizing above-average vision, fluidity, and instincts — stacks multiple moves to create separation in tight quarters
  • Dangerous receiver out of the backfield and has advanced route-running skills to be a dual-threat weapon
  • Limited mileage on his tires
  • Efficient production as a senior
  • Functional blocking skills — being willing and unafraid is a good place to start for honing the details as a pro
  • Fits most zone- and power-blocking designs
  • Intriguing upside to step in as an early contributor

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Cons

  • Lacks breakaway speed and will be tracked down from behind by linebackers and defensive backs
  • Inconsistent contact balance and body lean — sometimes it’s pro-grade, but not as frequently as you’d like to see
  • Won’t truck through too many defenders in the NFL
  • Turns 24 in November, making him old for a rookie — cuts both ways, since he has limited mileage and four years of experience, but the window of being in his physical prime is closing
  • Could stand to show more patience to let blocks set up — can lead to missing a lane or prematurely bouncing wide
  • Like most rookies, his technique in pass pro needs work

Fantasy football outlook

Before you get ready to send the hate mail, hear me out … I’m not saying Gray is the next Alvin Kamara, but there are some similarities in what both players offer. The rookie is closer to being a “poor man’s” Kamara than not in terms of hands, route skills, lateral agility, a lack of straight-line speed, and general versatility. That said, do not expect the same career trajectory for fantasy football purposes, but Gray has a chance to be a Week 1 contributor as the “1b” of a shared backfield if he improves as a blocker this summer.

Gray offers Round 3 viability in the coming draft but probably slides into the early stages of Day 3. Regardless of where he lands, Gray will be one to watch during training camp and preseason action. Given his advanced age by rookie standards, dynasty owners can view Gray as more of a short-term rental than other running back prospects this year.