The NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy drafts are in full swing. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
Below, I take a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the New York Giants’ backfield.
New York Giants Backfield
This is a pivotal season for the Giants. Head Coach Brian Daboll was given another year after a lot of speculation around his job security. The team drafted superstar EDGE Abdul Carter and who they hope is their quarterback of the future, Jaxson Dart. The team also brought in a veteran presence, both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, to provide stability at the quarterback position. After years of instability at that position, the Giants’ offense should look better. They found a star in wide receiver Malik Nabers, but a more under-the-radar find was Tyrone Tracy Jr. at running back.
Tracy was a fifth-round pick last season, but because of the Giants’ poor season and how exceptional fellow rookie Malik Nabers was, Tracy wasn’t as talked about as he should have been. Despite being in a terrible offense as a rookie, Tracy ranked 15th in the NFL in rushing yards once he took over the RB1 role from Devin Singletary. Singletary was getting a majority of the carries for the first month of the season, but was not able to provide any explosiveness to the offense. Tracy proved to be a solid down-to-down back, as well as a threat in the receiving game. In the new-look Giants offense, Tracy should find even more success with a better run/pass balance.
Running Back Handcuffs: Devin Singletary or Cam Skattebo
Behind Tracy in the backfield, the veteran Devin Singletary is RB2 on the depth chart. Singletary had a strong couple of seasons in Buffalo and Houston, but was never an elite running back. Last season, he was not up to the task of carrying the load as the primary back for the Giants. This backup role should suit him much better. Singletary is a viable option whenever Tracy needs a rest, but he is unlikely to play any significant role in the offense. Singletary has a clear ceiling, and it is nowhere near the ceiling of Tracy or even rookie running back Cam Skattebo.
Cam Skattebo was a sensation who took over the college football world for a time last season. Ashton Jeanty put up the huge numbers and finished second in the Heisman Trophy race. Jeanty, among others, was also considered a much more “NFL-style” running back, which is why Skattebo didn’t go until the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Skattebo ended up finishing second in the nation in rushing last year, behind only Jeanty, and had some highlight reel runs that could go toe-to-toe with any great college running back. Skattebo is a bruiser of a runner, and his passion for the game is infectious. He has a big personality and loves playing football, something that can’t be quantified in a box score.
Skattebo’s attitude immediately endeared him to Giants fans. He had been performing well during the summer and it looked like he could start the season in the RB2 role. Unfortunately, he suffered a minor leg injury that kept him out of the first preseason game and the last several weeks of training camp. The Giants are hoping to get him back to see some preseason action over the next couple of weeks, but that could hurt Skattebo’s role early on in the season. However, long-term, Skattebo has a real chance to surpass Singletary on the depth chart. Singletary provides no real value in the fantasy market, and the real handcuff worth taking a shot on is Skattebo. If Tracy got injured, the Giants would likely want to see what they have in Skattebo and give him a real shot. That makes him the ideal handcuff selection, especially in dynasty leagues.
