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The New York Giants will be extremely short-handed in their Week 6 contest against the New England Patriots. The Giants head into Thursday Night Football without tight end Evan Engram, running backs Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman, and wide receiver Sterling Shepard. The team formally ruled out all four on Wednesday.
Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 and could be back in time for Week 7. He got in limited work this week, marking his first return to practice since the injury. Gallman suffered a concussion during the team’s Week 5 loss to the Vikings and sat out all three days of practice this week.
Fantasy football analysis, Giants running backs
It’s a mess until Barkley returns. With Gallman also sidelined, the team will send out Jon Hilliman and Elijhaa Penny. Hilliman is a rookie with 19 rushes for 53 yards and one four-yard reception to his name. Penny is in his third season, and has 46 rushes for 179 yards and two touchdowns to his credit. He also has 13 receptions for 97 yards.
Neither is a quality start against the Patriots, but if you’re desperate, they’re certainly options. Hilliman would be the choice in standard fantasy football leagues, while Penny makes more sense in PPR leagues. Avoid them if you can, but do what you gotta do. At this point in the fantasy football season, none of us can judge!