Projections (9/02/03)

Passing Stats

Rush Stats

Receiving Stats

Fantasy

Change

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Yds

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Int

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#fname# #lname#

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Totals

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Quarterbacks
Starter - Kerry Collins
Backups - Jesse Palmer, Jason Garrett

Starting Quarterback: Several years ago, Kerry Collins had many personal demons in his life that affected him both on and off the field. It looked as though he was on the fast track out of the NFL but was able to get control of his life and has been very solid over the last few seasons. He set personal highs last year in completion percentage (61.5%) and passing yardage (4073) and really took control on the football field. Kerry Collins especially shined last year when Head Coach Jim Fassel took control of the play calling in November. The quick-release offensive attack excelled over the second half of the season. Collins threw 14 touchdown passes during the last eight games and really looked good for the team. He will be a serviceable starting fantasy quarterback and a really good backup for the 2003 season.

Backup Quarterback(s): Jesse Palmer has a lot of talent but is behind he durable Collins and has little fantasy worth for this season. He will eventually get a shot to show his stuff in the NFL and will do well when that time arises. He only threw 4 passes a season ago.

Update - 8/28: Collins is the obviously starter here, but there is a battle going on for the backup job. Actually, the Giants want Palmer to seize that role, but he's falling far short. Garrett could take it.

Running Backs
Starter - Tiki Barber
Backups - Dorsey Levens, Ron Dayne
Fullback - Charles Stackhouse

Starting Running Back: Tiki Barber returns for his fourth season as the Giants main running back, after totaling 112 yards per game the past three years. Over that span, the five foot ten, 200 pound Barber rushed for 4.8 yards per carry to go along with 23 scores. After Jim Fassel began calling the plays for New York in week nine, Barber had the most productive stretch of his career: For ten games (including the playoff loss to San Francisco), Barber ran for 997 yards and ten TDs. After years of being an explosive change of pace back, Barber finally showed his goal line prowess: Five times last year he ran it in from the one, and had ten touchdowns from six yards out or less. The Giants love running Barber when they reach the opponents goal line: He led the league in number of carries from inside the ten (thirty-seven) and three (seventeen) yard lines. Barber runs, catches and scores, making him a solid late round draft pick in most leagues. While he is often nicked up and listed on injury reports, Barber has only missed two games the past three years.

Backup Running Back(s): At 33, Levens is no longer a star every down back. While he has had no fantasy value the past three seasons, Levens was effective in spurts for the Eagles last year: he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on seventy-five carries. Expect Levens to be used sparingly (but could see some goal line action), and won't hold much real value if Barber remains healthy. The other backup is first round bust Ron Dayne, who has found himself in Jim Fassel's dog house. Dayne has no fantasy value right now, and shouldn't be drafted unless his situation drastically changes.

Fullback(s): Despite great size (6-2, 250), Stackhouse has yet to become the dominant blocker the Giants envisioned. He has good hands, but will hold little fantasy value on a team loaded with talent at the skill positions. Barber was most effective running out of the lone back formation, where he ran for 563 yards on 103 carries.

Update - 8/28: Do-everything Barber is still the #1. After a slow start in New York, Levens looks to be pulling away from Dayne in the race for the #2 RB spot.

Wide Receivers
Starters - Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard
Backups - Tim Carter, Ron Dixon, David Tyree

Starting Receiver(s): Despite playing in a major market, Amani Toomer remains relatively unrecognized despite consistently ranking among the league's most productive receivers. Last year (his 7th season) Toomer set career highs in receptions (82), yardage (1,343 yards, good for 2nd in the NFC), touchdowns (8), and yards per reception (16.4). From a fantasy standpoint, Toomer finished the year ranked 6th, and it was his third top 15 ranking in the last four years. Few receivers have been as consistent (four straight 1,000 yard seasons, at least 5 touchdowns per season) and there is little reason to expect much of a drop off this year given Toomer's conditioning and his rapport with QB Kerry Collins.

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Ike Hilliard re-signed with the team after an injury riddled season saw him produce just 27 receptions, 386 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hilliard and the team are saying all the right things about his return. For as underrated as Amani Toomer may be, Ike Hilliard may be equally overrated. In his six seasons with New York, he's never broken 1,000 yards receiving. He's seen his receptions and yardage drop consistently for four years running, and Hilliard has failed to stay healthy for three straight seasons. Luckily the Giants have fantastic receivers at the TE and RB positions to pick up some of the slack.

Backup Receiver(s): Ron Dixon and Tim Carter may be high on promise, but neither has shown the consistency to be starting receivers on a playoff caliber team. Ron Dixon, entering his 4th year, must prove two things to the coaches. 1) That he can stay healthy and 2) That he's more than a speedster with questionable hands. When you catch 22 receptions and just 2 touchdowns in a season, and that is more than double the prior year's performance, there is a long way to go. Tim Carter, who tore his Achilles in November, is also expected to be brought along slowly. Rookie David Tyree is the favorite to land the fifth receiver job, and he is expected to make an immediate impact on special teams.

Update - 8/28: A healthy Ike Hilliard may be a difference maker this year, with Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey commanding double teams. In the Jets/Giants preseason game, Hilliard should have removed all doubts of any lingering injury concerns, when he broke off an 88-yard touchdown reception on route to a seven reception, 150 yard game. The expected battle for the WR3 position between Tim Carter and Ron Dixon was over almost before it began. Tim Carter, showing no ill effects from an Achilles injury last year, has clearly outplayed Ron Dixon. Dixon has been so lackluster in his work ethic and attitude that there is widespread speculation he may be cut during final roster paring.

Tight Ends
Starter - Jeremy Shockey
Backup(s) - Marcellus Rivers
Last season Giant tight ends combined to catch 98 balls. Backup Dan Campbell (22 catches) headed off to New Orleans in the offseason. This leaves starter Jeremy Shockey (74 catches) as the man in New York. Shockey was third last season in fantasy points by a tight end behind Todd Heap and Tony Gonzalez, but may easily be the number one tight end this season. New York went out of their way to get Shockey the ball as much as possible last year running plays especially for him. Consider that Shockey was only a rookie last season and the skies the limit. Add in a few more scores (only 2 last year) and Shockey appears a lock to lead all tight ends in fantasy points.

Update - 8/28: Jeremy Shockey suffered a broken rib in the Giants second preseason game. He will miss the remainder of the preseason but is expected to return to practice on Monday. He is not a lock to play the opening regular season game, but the team does feel like he will.

Place Kicker
Mike Hollis, Matt Bryant: Hollis had a decent year in Buffalo and should easily replace Bryant. Only negative is that Hollis has trouble getting kickoffs deep. The Giants have come forward and said they don't want to carry two kickers. Bryant missed some big-time kicks at the end of the season last year. This battle could last into the preseason with a viable fantasy starter being named just before the start of the regular season.

Update - 8/28: The kicking battle in New York is still too close to call. Coach Fassel says that performances in the final preseason game will be a huge factor in who wins the job. The problem for Hollis is that he likely will not play due to a sore back from an attempted special teams tackle. Bryant has a real chance to take this job.

Offensive Line
C-Chris Bober; G-Rich Seubert; G-Tam Hopkins; T-Luke Petitgout; T-Barrett Brooks
After last season there is little doubt that offensive line couch Jim McNally is the best in the business. On paper this offensive line should be atrocious, but they played well above their head and that is thanks to one man, their coach. Not much to say about this collection of average blockers. Give McNally a raise… a BIG RAISE!