The New York Giants are set to face off with the Philadelphia Eagles this week in an important NFC East clash, but they may have to do so without running back Cam Skattebo ($5,600). After pulling up lame on his final run during the Week 7 victory over the Texans, Skattebo is still dealing with the effects of the injury and is trending toward missing the matchup. The Giants had a bye in Week 8, but the extra time off may not have been enough for him to get healthy.
The split of the running back opportunities has been a major talking point all season for the Giants. With Skattebo still battling a hamstring injury, Devin Singletary ($4,600) will likely be leaned on as the featured name in the rushing attack for this Week 9 matchup.
Devin Singletary Week 9 Fantasy Value
John Harbaugh has not been shy about criticizing the fact that no member of the Giants’ roster has taken full control of the primary running back job. However, Skattebo has clearly had the most notable flashes and led the team’s production at this stage of the year. Through the opening seven games, Skattebo leads the team with 98 rushing attempts for 418 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 10.6 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring. No other member of the running back room has more than 31 carries or 99 rushing yards on the season.
Skattebo is also not the only member of the rushing attack to be impacted by injuries. Tyrone Tracy Jr. was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury of his own, while Najee Harris was recently released by the team.
This leaves Devin Singletary as the clear top rushing option on the New York roster heading into the Week 9 matchup. The 29-year-old has been in and out of the lineup himself to start the year. Across the four games he has played, Singletary has recorded 18 total rushing attempts for 80 yards and a touchdown. This lone touchdown came in the previous victory over Houston, in which he also added 41 rushing yards and three receptions for 14 yards. He also tallied a season-high 10 touches during the Week 1 victory over the Cowboys.
The 8.4 fantasy points per game that Singletary is currently averaging on DraftKings scoring is not particularly something to write home about. This is tied for 44th among running backs this season. However, his season-high 14.5 fantasy points in the previous game is a positive sign that he can build on, and he also notched 13.8 fantasy points in the season opener.
New York currently leads the NFC East with a 4-2-1 record on the season. This is a great chance to extend that lead as the Giants face off with a divisional rival that has lost six games in a row and is depleted by injuries. Philadelphia has struggled on both sides of the ball, including against the run. Entering this Week 9 matchup, the Eagles rank 21st in points allowed, 27th in total yards allowed, 28th in total rushing yards allowed, 20th in net yards per rush attempt, and 23rd in opponents’ rushing touchdowns.
The Bottom Line
Opportunity is the greatest indicator of production when it comes to DFS and fantasy football. This plays to Singletary’s favor, especially with this being a favorable matchup against a vulnerable defense. He has been used in an extremely limited role this season, but Singletary has largely been effective with his opportunities. Harbaugh may have no choice but to give him more touches given the roster limitations, and don’t be shocked if he matches his season total of 18 rushing attempts in this matchup alone.
There is likely some level of desperation on your fantasy football roster if you are counting on a major output from Singletary in a season-long league. However, this is a spot where he should be in line for a season-best performance and have a clear chance to outperform his DFS price point. The Eagles have been gashed on the ground lately. Washington tallied 135 rushing yards against them last week, while Dallas shredded Philadelphia for 204 rushing yards in Week 7.
Given the lack of trust that Harbaugh has shown in Singletary and the running backs overall, there is a bit of a limited ceiling for his output. However, you cannot replace the value of not having many other options to hand the ball to. Don’t expect Singletary to rank among the leaders in rushing production this week, but he should be in line for double-digit touches against a vulnerable defense, and there is a clear path to more than 15 fantasy points.
