The New York Giants had their collective hearts broken Sunday in their 27-26 loss against the undefeated New England Patriots, and fantasy owners who were relying on the team’s running backs suffered a similar fate.
New York was 24th in the league in rushing yards per game coming into Sunday’s contest, and the running backs combined for 70 yards against New England. It makes sense for the Giants to throw the ball (sixth in the league in passing attempts entering Week 10) with a weapon like Odell Beckham Jr., but that doesn’t help fantasy owners who started Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen or Andre Williams.
Here is a look at the totals for each as well as some reactions:
The most important development for fantasy owners was the fact that Jennings tallied double-digit carries for the fifth time in six games. His 11 carries, compared to four for Vereen and two for Williams, were a clear indication that he is the primary ball-carrier in the New York rotation (Orleans Darkwa had five), which automatically means Jennings has some value.
Still, Jennings has not topped 63 rushing yards a single time all season, and he is not a major part of the aerial attack (one game with more than 50 receiving yards). He also hasn’t tallied a rushing touchdown since Week 1.
Jennings is not a viable fantasy starter at this point unless you are desperate for running backs because of injuries or bye weeks.
Vereen has topped 25 rushing yards only one time all year, and that was because he busted a 39-yard carry against the Dallas Cowboys.
He provides most of his fantasy value as part of the passing attack, with three touchdown catches on the season and three separate games with at least 60 receiving yards. He is also fresh off a 52-catch season in 2014 and a 47-catch season in 2013, so catching passes is nothing new for Vereen.
While the receptions are encouraging in a lackluster New York backfield, it is difficult to trust a running back who has 31 combined rushing yards over the past three weeks. What’s more, he doesn’t have one game with more than six carries all year.
Don’t start Vereen.
Williams is the least trustworthy fantasy option among New York’s running backs at this point, largely because he has not followed up his solid rookie campaign with impressive numbers.
He ran for 721 yards and seven touchdowns in 2014, and many expected him to build on that this year. Instead, Williams has a single touchdown in 2015 (which came back in September against Washington) and 58 measly rushing yards in his past six outings (9.67 yards a game).
He also has only one catch all year as a non-factor in the New York passing attack.
Williams has become an afterthought in the Giants offense and should not be a fantasy option heading into the season’s stretch run.
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Rashad Jennings
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