The New York Giants have flipped the script to a new era this season. With Jaxson Dart selected in the draft and Russell Wilson set to serve as the Week 1 starter, New York is hoping to climb toward competency after going 3-14 last year. While the quarterback conversations dominate the headlines, the running back battle is equally interesting. Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo both have a chance to be fantasy football relevant this year. But which Giants rusher should be looked at as a priority in your fantasy football drafts?
The Case for Tyrone Tracy Jr.:
The Giants selected Tyrone Tracy Jr. with the 166th overall pick in last year’s draft, and he made his impact felt in the offense. The Iowa and Purdue product led New York in rushing last year with 839 yards and five touchdowns while adding 38 receptions for 284 yards and a touchdown through the air. It is also worth noting he dealt with a bit of a fumble issue with five tallied on the year, which included three over two weeks. Based on DraftKings scoring, Tracy Jr. finished as the 25th-ranked running back in total fantasy points and 32nd in fantasy points per game.
It took an injury to Devin Singletary for Tyrone Tracy Jr. to receive a full opportunity last year. But to his credit, he mostly held down the job following his return. The 25-year-old is a former wide receiver and proved reliable as a pass catcher. While he averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game on the season, he tallied 14.0 points per game across the final 13 weeks after tallying just 11.0 total fantasy points in his first four weeks. This would have put him on pace to finish as RB21 if he had produced at this level for the entirety of the season.
Tracy Jr. sits at the top of the Giants’ running back depth chart and is producing an average ADP of 29.7 among running backs. In addition to Cam Skattebo making a push for competition for carries, there are some concerning metrics deeper in Tracy Jr.’s profile. He ranked 23rd in evaded tackles, 31st in explosive play rating, 33rd in true yards per carry, and posted -0.20 EPA per rush inside the red zone last year. The Giants’ offensive line was a part of the problem for this, but four of the five starters remain in place from last year.
The Case for Cam Skattebo:
Clearly not completely satisfied with the running back production, New York went back to the well by selecting Cam Skattebo with the 105th overall pick in this year’s draft. The 23-year-old rushed for a Big 12-best 1,711 yards last season while tallying 2,316 total yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns last year at Arizona State.
At 219 pounds, Skattebo is a power back who could be the solution to New York’s red zone issues. He is also effective as a pass catcher and posted an impressive 14.4% target share last season. One issue that could limit his short-term outlook is his limited pass protection skills. This was an area he struggled with at the collegiate level and something the Giants will be conscious of as they sort out the workload split. He also has battled a hamstring injury in training camp that has his Week 1 outlook uncertain, and has cost him some valuable preseason reps. Skattebo was initially considered day-to-day but suffered a setback. He has returned to the practice field, but his status for Week 1 is uncertain at best. Getting a late start to the season is a tough spot for the rookie to be put in, and the outlook could have been much different if he had a full sample size of preseason touches to showcase what he can do.
Skattebo is currently going off fantasy football draft boards with an average ADP of 37.0 among running backs. There is a pretty convincing case that the rookie will be the more talented back in comparison to Tracy Jr., but this does not mean the level of opportunities will mirror this. There is a likely chance that his fantasy outlook is touchdown-dependent on a week-by-week basis. His outlook being uncertain for Week 1 only increases the level of concern, and it likely will take until the midpoint of the season for him to truly settle in. Skattebo is worth a late-round flyer, but it feels a significant reach to expect him to be fantasy relevant at the start.
The Verdict:
Neither of these running backs has the best fantasy football outlook, and rightfully are not cracking the top 25 RBs in ADP. When comparing the two directly, Tyrone Tracy Jr. should be looked at as the more favorable running back. With experience on his side and concerns over Skattebo’s pass-blocking and injury status, expect a clearer pathway to production for Tracy Jr.
The Giants’ running back outlook will be fairly fluid, and Skattebo has a chance to pave a lane for himself as the season progresses. But the hamstring injury is a notable concern and slowed the momentum of what was a strong start to camp. New York will wisely continue to be cautious with him and take the long-term approach with this, especially following the setback. Hamstring injuries are not something to mess with for quick-twitch athletes, and they always have a chance to linger.
Have Tracy Jr. penciled in as a low-end RB2 and flex option, while Skattebo should be viewed as more of a depth bench addition with the hopes of a late-season breakout. Attack other options in the earlier rounds at the running back position and keep expectations reasonable for this Giants offense across the board.
