News Giants Team Notes

[New York Giants]

New York Giants waive edge defender who started vs. Green Bay Packers

The New York Giants on Monday waived edge defender Tomon Fox, the fourth time Fox has been waived by the team this season.

Each time Fox has been waived, beginning when cuts were made from 90 players to 53 at the end of the presseason, he has been re-signed to the practice squad. It seems likely that will happen this time, as well.

With Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined with a shoulder injury and Abdul Carter benched at the beginning of the game for disciplinary purposes, Fox started Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. He played 11 snaps.

Fox has been a Giant since making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He has played in 32 career games with two starts. This season, he has made two tackles in four games.

The move gives the Giants an open spot on their 53-man roster. Could they use it on either defensive tackle Elijah Chatman or wide receiver Dalen Cambre, the two players elevated from the practice squad vs. the Packers? Could they make a waiver claim? Do they have something else in mind?

We will find out.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-york-giants-roster/145520/tomon-fox-waived-53-man-roster

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants double-digit underdogs to Detroit Lions in Week 12

The 2-9 New York Giants, with a five-game losing streak and an interim head coach in his second week on the job, will be double-digit underdogs when they go on the road in Week 12 to face the Detroit Lions. FanDuel Sportsbook has the current line 10.5 points.

The Giants won in two of Jaxson Dart’s first three starts, teasing the possibility that things were finally beginning to change for a team that has done far more losing than winning over the past 15 years. Since then, though, that hope has been dashed.

A five-game losing streak rife with defensive failures, an injury to Dart and the firing of Brian Daboll leave the Giants once again playing meaningless games and fans focused on the NFL Draft order long before the season is over.

The Lions (6-4) have not exactly been lighting the world on fire. Expected to be a Super Bowl contender, Detroit has lost two of its last three, is in third place in the NFC North, and would miss the playoffs if they started today.

Be sure to follow Big Blue View all week as we get you ready for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET game.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-digit-underdogs-nfl-week-12-gambling-betting

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants’ RB Tyrone Tracy: Interim HC Mike Kafka ‘energized’ players

Tyrone Tracy runs with the ball Sunday vs. Green Bay.

New York Giants’ running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. reminded people around the NFL of an important fact against the Green Bay Packers. He reminded people that while the Giants are missing Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, they’re not completely out of offensive weapons.

After all, Tracy was a 1,000-yard player himself last year, despite not being a significant part of the offense until Week 5.

And he echoed his 2024 performance against the Packers. Last year he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 7.5 yards per reception. Against the Packers, Tracy averaged 4.6 yards per carry and an impressive 12.8 yards per catch on 19 carries and 4 receptions.

Tracy noted on Tuesday that interim head coach Mike Kafka stressed energy in the team’s practices leading up to the game.

“That was kind of one of his [Mike Kafka’s] things going into the week was just playing, leaving no doubt and just playing with a lot of energy,” Tracy said. “We had some of the practice players on the sideline and the way we practiced this week was, or last week, was a little more energized and that’s just based off of Kaf and how he wanted things ran in practice. It carried over to the game. And I think it was very evident just by the energy, offense, defense, special teams that everyone had.”

It was a fine performance, and almost enough to come up with an underdog victory. But even so, Tracy is less concerned with his individual numbers as he is with how he’s contributing to the team.

“I mean, it’s very simple for me. I’m a team player,” he said. I want whoever’s out there, whether it’s me, Motor [Devin Singletary], Skatt [Cam Skattebo], EG [Eric Gray], Turbo [Dante Miller], like whoever it is, like I want them to do good. I really don’t care to have all the touches, all the touchdowns. That’s not really my MO. I’m just a big dude that, whoever’s in the RB room, if you’re out there on the football field, you’re producing, whether again I don’t care what your name is.

“I’m just trying to go out there for my team in a good situation,” he added. “And at the end of the day, numbers look better when you have Ws on your side. So, when I can help my team win, that’s when numbers will matter. Because if you really think about it, like I think I had like 88 yards, something like that. Eighty-eight yards looks really good when you have a W to sit back on. Or 50 yards really looks good when you have a W to sit back on. But when you have 150 yards, but you lost the game, like, yeah, you had a good individual performance, but you’re still coming home with an L and you’re feeling sorry the next day. So, I would much rather have a W than any individual stat.”

Tracy might not be interested in individual stats, but he had a couple highlight plays, most notably a 20-yard catch-and-run to convert a third-and-long and keep the Giants’ drive alive.

He walked the media through the play, making sure to credit both his blockers and the play design.

“In that play it was two screens,” he said. The first screen was just a little chip screen. But I knew I, the dude across me, 56 [Green Bay Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper], I believe, he had me man. So, when he was following me out, I knew I had a blocker coming as well to get the play started. And he got him just enough so that obviously he didn’t blow me up, but I knew it was a chance that I would get hit. So, I was really preparing myself either to make a move or to make him miss or just to break the tackle, regardless of what was going on. But the first thing is always the first thing is to catch the ball.

“But after I caught it and made a miss,” he continued, “I see GVR [Greg Van Roten], Jon Runyan in front of me. So now, I have to get the play started. Now, it’s really just up to me and my instincts and really just doing what I do with the football. I cut back. GVR had a nice little chip block on D-lineman that was kind of trying to chase me down. But then, yeah, the rest of it was really just very instinctive. It wasn’t really any thinking, really, just because everything’s moving so fast. There’s really no time to think because, mind you, like they’re trying to get me down, I’m trying to get yards. And then I think it was like third-and-12, I believe, or 3third-and-13, something like that. So in my head, I’m just trying to get 12, 13 yards just so our offense can stay on the field. Everything else after that is a bonus. Obviously, I’m doing my best to try to score a touchdown. But however many yards I get over 12, 13 was a good play for me.”

Tracy finished the game on a high note as well, with a gritty 17-yard run the final time he touched the ball.

Tracy mentioned that practicing with increased energy — and carrying that into the game — was a focus for Mike Kafka as head coach. One of the things to watch is how the return of Jaxson Dart (who is in the concussion protocol as of this writing, but could be cleared to play against the Lions) impacts that energy level. Nobody will mistake Jameis Winston for a “low key” player, but Dart’s ability to extend plays and pick up yards with his legs adds an extra dimension to the offense. The Giants are simply different with Dart on the field, and his play has a way of injecting extra energy into the team.

“Obviously, Dart’ss’ legs are an asset to our offense,” Tracy said. “So, I definitely think with him coming back, I think that his legs will help us in certain areas of the field and he’ll help us get out of certain situations.”

Tracy wants the rushing load to be on Singletary and himself, though he also acknowledges that Dart can add a further dimension to the Giants’ offense.

“Going forward I definitely do think that me and Motor, the way we run and how we complement each other throughout the game and just how the flow of the game and how it goes and how it’s really easy between us two,” he said. “I definitely do think that game really, we kind of asserted ourselves I guess you can say, but at the same time Darts’ legs are going to be an asset.”

While we don’t know for certain, it seems likely that Kafka will limit the designed quarterback runs when Dart returns.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...c-mike-kafka-impact-running-game-sam-skattebo

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants at Detroit Lions, NFL Week 12 2025: Everything you need to know

The New York Giants will seek to end a pair of ugly losing streaks on Sunday when they travel to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions.

The 2-9 Giants have lost five straight games this season. Over the past two seasons, they have lost 11 consecutive road games. Their last victory away from MetLife Stadium came in Week 5 of the 2024 season, a 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

The 6-4 Lions have lost two of their last three games. FanDuel Sportsbook, though, lists Detroit as 10.5-point favorites to get back on track.

The game will mark Mike Kafka’s second as interim head coach replacing Brian Daboll. It could also feature the return of Giants’ rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who missed Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a concussion.

The Lions are fourth in the NFL in points scored, averaging 29.2 per game. That is quite a challenge for a struggling Giants’ defense that is 29th in points allowed at 27.3 per game.

Follow this StoryStream for all the news, opinions, and analysis as we get you ready for NFL Week 12.

• NY Giants’ defense has been a disaster: How did it get this bad?
• New York Giants double-digit underdogs to Detroit Lions in Week 12

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-week-12-matchups-news-analysis-previews-odds

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants’ Abdul Carter ‘took ownership’ for missed practice, moved on

Abdul Carter of the New York Giants is on to the Detroit Lions.

Carter, the rookie edge defender who was disciplined last Sunday for missing a walk-through and spent part of his time since then defending himself, did not use that exact phrase in speaking to media on Wednesday. That, though, was the message.

“I took ownership for it. We’ve moved on from it,” Carter said. “We’re focused on this week, so that’s what I’m trying to focus on.”

Has it been a difficult week for the 21-year-old?

‘It hasn’t been that tough for me,“ Carter said. ”I’m a very privileged person, a very blessed person. I’m trying to take advantage of my opportunity that I have. So, it hasn’t been that tough for me.“

What about people questioning his commitment?

“I love the game. I feel like that’s known. I feel like there’s no need to prove that,” Carter said. “But like I said, I’m going to continue getting better, continue to keep learning, trusting my teammates, them trusting me. We’re going to figure it out.

Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has just a half-sack in 11 games after being ballyhooed as the next Micah Parsons. Carter has 35 quarterback pressures this season, just two behind Brian Burns for the team lead. Burns, though, is second in the league behind Myles Garrett with 13.0 sacks.

“The season’s not over yet. I feel like it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. So, I’m going to finish strong,” Carter said. “I try not to focus on the numbers aspect too much. I feel like I’ve always said I’m more about winning and how the team is doing. So, if the team is doing good, I’m doing good. If the team is doing bad, then I’m not feeling good.”

The Giants are 2-9 and obviously have not done well.

“Losses are lessons,” Carter said. “Nothing good comes easily … nobody likes to lose, but I feel like you’ve got to learn from losing so you can win.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...discipline-reaction-nfl-week-12-detroit-lions

 

[New York Giants]

Giants-Lions questions, answers: When is 6-4 something to be mad about?

The New York Giants and Detroit Lions operate on different NFL planets. The Lions are a team with Super Bowl aspirations where good isn’t good enough. The Giants are a perennially bad team again searching for a head coach where good looks like a pipe dream.

To learn more about the Lions, we turned to SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit for this week’s ‘5 questions’ segment. Ryan Mathews fills us in.

Ed: A 6-4 record sounds fantastic to Giants fans. It’s not where Lions fans hoped their team would be. How would you describe the season for Detroit thus far?​

Ryan: It helps to keep things in perspective because it wasn’t all that long ago when the Lions were one of those teams who always found themselves at the bottom of the standings, looking up at all the success of the teams in their division, conference, and league in general. Things used to be real bleak, but in the here and now, at 6-4 with seven games remaining, it just doesn’t feel enough for a football team that came so close to climbing the mountain in 2023, but failed to plant their flag. The injuries caught up to them last year in the first round of playoffs, and expectations for this year remain contending for a Super Bowl, but at 6-4 and currently out of a playoff spot, the frustration is starting to percolate. With just seven games remaining, the Lions’ most important game is the next one on their schedule, so don’t expect them to come into this game looking ahead to their Thanksgiving Day matchup with a divisional opponent in the Packers–Campbell will have their heads on straight and focused on the task at hand.

Ed: Dan Campbell took over offensive play-calling There has been one good game with him in that role, one not so good. Reports have been that he intends to keep doing so. Do you believe that will be the case?​

Ryan: That genie’s already out of the bottle, there’s just no way you can go back to John Morton calling plays at any point this year. It was clear that Campbell was making this decision to try and spark some rhythm and consistency for a group far too talented to be underperforming the way they were. In Campbell’s defense against the Eagles, the Lions were 0-5 on fourth down, but it wasn’t all on the playcalling–there were at least a couple of plays where some simple execution would have resulted in the drive continuing or points going on the board.

Ed: If you could take one player off the Giants’ roster and put him in Detroit’s lineup, who would it be Why?​

Ryan: The Lions would certainly benefit from someone like Andrew Thomas lining up at left tackle. Detroit’s offensive line has taken a significant step back from last year, and some of that was out of their control. Center Frank Ragnow retired, and the original plan was for rookie Tate Ratledge to take over that spot, but the team quickly pivoted to veteran Graham Glasgow taking over the middle of Detroit’s offensive line early in training camp. If Thomas was a part of this lineup, they could have potentially moved Taylor Decker to left guard and had a bigger, stronger lineup up front–granted that’s a lot of projection considering Decker hasn’t played guard in his NFL career, but it’s something that’s been discussed as he’s aged.

Ed: The Giants are 2-9, having lost 5 straight and are double-digit underdogs. Is there anything about New York that concerns you?​

Ryan: As I’ve touched on a bit, the offensive line has been an area of concern for the Lions, and the Giants’ defensive front is about as talented as it gets. Detroit will have their hands full all across the front with someone like Dexter Lawrence creating issues in the middle to all the pressure they can bring off the edge with the likes of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and rookie Abdul Carter all posing a threat to throwing the Lions’ offense off-schedule and behind the sticks–a place no offense likes to be, but the Lions have especially struggled with this season.

On offense, the prospect of having Jaxson Dart back for this game creates a challenge Detroit has handled better this year than they have in past years–stopping running quarterbacks–but he gives them a better chance of winning than Jameis Winston or Russell Wilson would against this Lions defense.

Ed: This could be a “get right” game for Detroit. If the Giants are going to have a chance to win what are they going to have to do on each side of the ball?​

Ryan: Excuse me for speaking out of turn, but I don’t get the sense this Giants team is as bad as their record indicates. They’ve lost four games this season where they’ve had a lead going into the fourth quarter, so that doesn’t always fall on the shoulders of the players–that’s as much an indictment on the coaching staff as it is their roster, and maybe that’s why ownership decided to fire Daboll after that loss to the Bears.

If the Giants can generate pressure up the middle in pass-rushing situations, Jared Goff’s lack of mobility will rear its ugly head and make things especially difficult for the Lions’ passing attack. The Giants seem to really struggle defending the run (32nd in run defense DVOA), but if they can keep the Lions from getting into comfortable spots on second and third downs, it’ll give the Giants those opportunities to get into those obvious pass-rushing situations where they can tee off.

On offense, the Giants are going to need to look for chances where Dart can create chunk plays–be it with his legs or his arm. Detroit does a pretty good job stopping the run, so scheming up some explosive plays and scoring points early will not allow the Lions to dictate the pace of the game. That will be critical for the Giants to keep themselves in the game until the end.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...nswers-dan-campbell-detroit-lions-nfl-week-12

 

[New York Giants]

Fantasy Football 2025: Week 12 preview – Start/sit and more

Welcome to Week 12! The season is flying by, and for most fantasy leagues, only three weeks remain before the playoffs start in Week 15. Week 11 was among the lowest scoring weeks of the season, in part due to a slew of in-game injuries. Hopefully you scored enough to stay in the playoff hunt.

A quick thought before we get started — The Lions, Ravens, and Seahawks are all capable of scoring points in bunches, and all three were largely stifled by a very stout defense last week. This week, the Lions host the 2-9 Giants, the Ravens host the 2-8 Jets, and the Seahawks visit the 1-9 Titans. I think all three will score 30+ points. Plan accordingly, fantasy managers.

A second quick thought – There are multiple injury situations to monitor this week. Make sure you follow the news heading into the games and adjust accordingly.

Stats of the Week:

• Over his last seven games, Matthew Stafford has 22 TD passes and zero INTs.

• The Titans are 4-23 since they fired Mike Vrabel. The Patriots are 9-2 since they hired Mike Vrabel.

• Last season, the Chiefs were 12-0 in one-score games, including playoffs. This season, they’re 0-5 in those games.

• Myles Garrett has 10 sacks over his last three games and leads the NFL with 15. He needs eight sacks across his final seven games to break the NFL record of 22.5 (shared jointly by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt).

• Garrett is the first player to record at least 12 sacks in six straight seasons (previous high: Lawrence Taylor, five). Sacks became an official stat in 1982.

• The Broncos lead the NFL with 49 sacks. No other team has more than 34.

• On Sunday, five NFL teams scored the winning points on the final play of the game (CAR, CHI, DEN, HOU, and MIA). That ties the NFL record for the most in one day.

• Jacoby Brissett completed 47 passes (on 57 attempts) against the 49ers on Sunday, setting a new NFL record for completions in a game.

• Jared Goff entered Week 11 leading the NFL in completion percentage, at 74%. Goff completed just two of his final 18 pass attempts on Sunday night against the Eagles. He no longer leads the NFL in completion percentage.

• Dan Campbell’s Lions turned the ball over on downs five times on Sunday night at Philadelphia.

Fantasy Stat of the Week: Each of Lamar Jackson (4.7 fantasy points) and Justin Herbert (3.3 fantasy points) put up the worst fantasy score of his career on Sunday (excluding injury-shortened games).

Week 12, here we go!

Bye Weeks: DEN, LAC, MIA, WAS

Week 12 Rides, Fades, and Sleepers

For those who are familiar with this column, you know the drill. For everyone else: The Rides, Fades, and Sleepers is an analysis of players that I think are primed for an especially strong or poor performance, often as compared to consensus expectations. This isn’t a straight-up Start/Sit exercise. As a general rule, start your studs. I’ll rarely list the most obvious names at a position as “Rides” because those players are almost always expected to have strong performances. You don’t need me or anyone else telling you to start Josh Allen, Jonathan Taylor, or Trey McBride. While this analysis is intended for season-long play, it works for DFS formats too. Half PPR scoring and Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) are used for the column.

Each week, I’m picking a Ride, Fade, and Sleeper of the Week. The rules: The Ride of the Week can’t be a truly elite option, the Fade can’t be someone who nobody is starting anyway, and the Sleeper must be from down in the rankings.

My Rides, Fades, and Sleepers hit a bump in the road in Week 11, after a couple of stellar weeks. I did have Fade calls on Sam Darnold and Jared Goff, but had a bunch of notable misses. It was a weird week. You can check my work here: Week 11.

Ride of the Week: Travis Etienne (@ ARI). I haven’t mentioned Etienne much this season, but he’s been a steady producer. He’s the RB13 on the season and has found the end zone three times in the last two weeks. What’s especially intriguing this week is the potential absence of Bhayshul Tuten (ankle), who has been playing about a third of the snaps. The Cardinals are also a favorable matchup. Their defense has allowed the eighth most fantasy points per game (FPPG) and 13 total TDs to opposing running backs. They’ve totally fallen apart the last two weeks, with the Seahawks and 49ers both torching them for 40+ points. Etienne is managing a shoulder issue, but assuming he’s good to go, get Etienne in your lineup and enjoy.

Fade of the Week: Ashton Jeanty (vs. CLE). It’s been a disappointing season for Jeanty, who has only topped 15 fantasy points once all season. Hopefully you listened to me in the preseason when I said he was grossly overpriced. Anyway, if you needed him to have a big game on Monday night to get a win, his seven yards on six carries probably wasn’t what you were looking for. He did catch a season-high six passes, so maybe we’ll see more of that. The Browns’ defense is no joke and has allowed the sixth fewest FPPG to opposing running backs, and just five total TDs to the position. You might not have a better starting option, but I wouldn’t expect a big game.

Sleeper of the Week: Noah Fant (vs. NE). Most fantasy players don’t need to dig this deep at TE for a starter. For those who are in need, continue reading. Fant hasn’t done a whole lot this season, but he did have a season-high six targets against the Steelers on Sunday. With Ja’Marr Chase serving a one-game suspension and the Bengals likely to be playing from behind, I like Fant’s chances to see plenty of targets. New England has allowed a league-high 69 receptions to opposing tight ends. If you need a tight end streamer, you could do worse than Fant, who should outperform his TE19 ranking.

Quarterback:

Elite options this week – Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, and Patrick Mahomes; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Jared Goff (vs. NYG). Goff and the Lions are going to want to get the stink of that Sunday night game off them as quickly as they can. Lucky for them, they’re back home, indoors, and facing a weak opponent. Big Blue can rush the passer, but they’ve allowed the third most FPPG, and 19 passing TDs, to opposing quarterbacks. Goff should rebound, and excel in the home dome this week.

Brock Purdy (vs. CAR). The Panthers haven’t been an especially good fantasy matchup for quarterbacks, but I like what I saw out of Purdy last week and will gladly list him as a Ride, at home in prime time, in a game San Francisco needs badly. He’s got most of his weapons healthy, those weapons are very good, and the 49ers are too banged up on defense to stop anyone. Expect another good outing for fantasy.

Other QBs ranked inside the Top-15 this week who I think can beat their weekly ranking: Sam Darnold (@TEN) who like Goff should bounce back from a sub-par outing, and Jacoby Brissett (vs. JAC). Both have favorable matchups.

Sleepers:

If you need a second quarterback in a Superflex, or a Bye-Week streamer for one of the quarterbacks who is injured or on a Bye, the options this week aren’t great. Bryce Young (@SF) is always hard to trust, and I don’t like chasing his best performance of the season. With that said, I think you can roll with him at the 49ers, who are decimated on defense and just allowed Jacoby Brissett’s record-setting day. They’ve allowed the sixth most FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, and a whopping 21 passing TDs. Just check to make sure Young (ankle) is good to go.

Others to consider: Trevor Lawrence (@ARI), Tyler Shough (vs. ATL), and Aaron Rodgers (@CHI, and like Young, make sure he’s playing).

Fades:

Daniel Jones (@KC). Jones only has one game with fewer than 15 fantasy points this season, so I wouldn’t shy away from him if you need him. I just don’t like the matchup this week. The Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory at 5-5 and need this game a lot more than Indy does, and I think their defense will come to play, in front of their noisy home crowd. KC has allowed the sixth fewest FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, and just nine passing TDs (tied for best in the league). On the flip side, they’ve allowed QBs to score five rushing TDs which is the most of any team, which is a plus for the mobile Jones. Jones is outside my Top-12 QBs for the week.

Baker Mayfield (@LAR). Never count out Baker. Like Jones, I wouldn’t get cute by starting an inferior QB over him. I’d just manage expectations this week, and especially with Tampa still so short-handed at receiver. The Rams have been a bad matchup all season, which peaked last week with their four-INT obliteration of Darnold. For the season, L.A. has allowed the sixth-fewest FPPG to opposing quarterbacks. Baker hasn’t had a Top-5 weekly finish all season and I think he’ll be outside the Top-12 this week.

Others: Lower-ranked quarterbacks that you might be considering, but who I’d avoid in Superflex this week, include Davis Mills (vs. BUF), Tyrod Taylor (@BAL), Geno Smith (vs. CLE), J.J. McCarthy (@GB), and Kirk Cousins (@NO).

Running back:

Elite options this week – Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, and James Cook; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Three must-starts this week: Derrick Henry (vs. NYJ), Kyren Williams (vs. TB),and Saquon Barkley (@DAL). None of these three have put up enough huge weeks to be listed along with the elite options, but they all have great matchups this week. The Jets, Cowboys, and Bucs are all Bottom-10 in terms of FPPG allowed to opposing running backs.

Will TreVeyon Henderson continue as the lead back with Rhamondre Stevenson returning this week? Will it be a true timeshare? It’s hard to know what Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels are going to do, but I think you have to roll with the rookie after his massive breakout the last two weeks. It’s also the single best matchup out there, as the Bengals have allowed the most yards and FPPG to opposing RBs, and 15 total TDs to the position (tied for most).

Others ranked inside the Top-30 this week who I think have a good chance to outperform their rankings make up a big group: Rico Dowdle (@SF), Woody Marks (vs. BUF, who allow the second most FPPG to opposing RBs and just got absolutely lit up by Devon Achane and Sean Tucker in Weeks 10 and 11), Ken Walker III (@TEN), Alvin Kamara (vs. ATL), David Montgomery (vs. NYG),and Aaron Jones, Sr. (@GB).

Sleepers:

File this one under “duh”: If any of Trey Benson, Josh Jacobs, and/or Jaylen Warren, are not able to suit up this week, then Bam Knight (vs. JAC), Emmanuel Wilson (vs MIN), and/or Kenneth Gainwell (@CHI), respectively, are clear starts who fall somewhere in the RB2 range, with Gainwell having RB1 upside. Even if those starters do play, the backups mentioned might have Flex appeal as the starter could be limited or eased in.

Rhamondre Stevenson (@CIN) is ranked as the RB50 this week and that’s too low. There should be enough to go around against the Bengals’ porous run defense and especially if the Patriots are cruising with a lead. I think Stevenson can be flexed this week in his return to the lineup.

Sean Tucker (@LAR) is ranked as the RB30 this week, and while it’s a very bad matchup (the Rams have allowed the third fewest FPPG and just three total TDs to opposing RBs), I think you can roll with him as a low-end RB2 or Flex with Bucky Irving again ruled out.

Others to consider if you’re stuck at RB: Zach Charbonnet (@TEN), Kyle Monangai (vs. PIT), and Tyler Allgeier (@NO), all of whom are getting decent run as backups and are threats to score TDs each week. All have pretty good Week 12 matchups.

Fades:

Breece Hall (@BAL). This call hit last week, so I’ll run it back. Baltimore has gotten much tougher on defense as they’ve gotten healthier. Since allowing 44 points to the Texans in Week 5, the Ravens haven’t allowed an opponent to reach 20 points, and I don’t expect the Jets to be the ones to stop that streak. I do think New York’s offense will improve with Tyrod Taylor, and I wouldn’t necessarily bench Hall. I just don’t like the matchup or upside.

Chase Brown (vs. NE) should see enough volume as both a runner and receiver that I wouldn’t sit him, but just know what he’s up against. The Patriots have been the single worst matchup for RBs all season. They’ve allowed the fewest rushing yards and FPPG and just three total TDs to the position.

I’ll fade both Giants’ RBs (@DET). They’re sharing the work, and even if Jaxson Dart is back as expected, I think this is a very tough spot overall for the struggling G-Men. They’re likely to be chasing points, which could limit rushing attempts (other than for Dart). The Lions are stingy and have allowed the second fewest FPPG to opposing RBs.

Rachaad White (@LAR) is a Fade for me, even with Bucky Irving missing another game. Sean Tucker has passed him and it’s a bad matchup.

Wide receiver:

Elite options this week – Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Rashee Rice, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Tee Higgins (vs. NE). He might see a lot of Christian Gonzalez, but with Ja’Marr Chase out and the Bengals almost certain to be chasing points, I like his chances to see double-digit targets. He brings a four-game TD streak into this game.

In the same contest, give me Stefon Diggs (@CIN). The Bengals have been a lot better against WRs than RBs or TEs, but I’ll still go with the Pats’ #1 option in a game where they should be able to move the ball at will.

Davante Adams (vs. TB) only had one catch for one yard last week, but thankfully it was in the end zone. Adams has seen at least six targets in every game this season and his red zone usage – tops in the NFL – has simply been astounding. The Bucs are a neutral matchup, but when you’re the runaway league leader with 24 red zone targets, and your quarterback is Matt Stafford, the matchup almost doesn’t matter.

I was on Tet McMillan (@SF) as a sleeper last week and it hit, so let’s stick with him, this time as a Ride as he’s ranked much higher. The 49ers couldn’t contain Michael Wilson last week, and I’m sure the Panthers took note. San Francisco’s banged-up defense has allowed the second most receiving yards and seventh-most FPPG to opposing wideouts.

It’s been ugly more often than not, and that includes Week 1 when the Eagles beat the Cowboys 24-20, but give me both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith (@DAL). The Cowboys’ defense is better than it was earlier in the season, but they’ve allowed the most FPPG and TD catches (17) to opposing wideouts, and this game could see the Eagles finally come out of their shell with some downfield throws. It’s hard to have any confidence in the Eagles’ passing game, but if there was ever a week for it to happen, it’s this week.

Other WRs ranked inside the Top-25 this week who have favorable matchups, and/or who I’m just high on for the week include Jameson Williams (vs. NYG), Zay Flowers (vs. NYJ), Michael Wilson (vs. JAC), and Chris Olave (vs. ATL).

Sleepers:

I hit big on a few wide receiver sleepers last week, including (notably) Michael Wilson as a deep sleeper. So let’s try for some repeat success.

Darnell Mooney (@NO) hasn’t done much this season, and Kirk Cousins has played poorly in his last half-dozen or so starts going back to last season. Drake London is going to miss this week, and that puts Mooney in the WR3/Flex conversation.

The Rashid Shaheed (@TEN) bomb TD is coming. I just don’t know when. I’ll gamble on this week.

Other WRs ranked outside the top-25 this week that I think you can plug into lineups if you’re in need include Tre Tucker (vs. CLE), Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte (@CIN), Andrei Iosivas (vs. NE), and Luther Burden III (vs. PIT).

Want deeper sleepers? Isaiah Hodgins (@DET), DeMario Douglas (@CIN), Adonai Mitchell (@BAL), and Chimere Dike (vs. SEA, assuming he plays) are all long-shot dart throws who might be better tries in DFS than season-long formats.

Fades:

George Pickens (vs. PHI) is having a great season, and I wouldn’t bench him. But I wouldn’t look for big production against Philadelphia, as they’ve been a bad matchup for perimeter receivers and especially in recent weeks. Only Denver has allowed fewer than the five TD catches that Philly has yielded to opposing wideouts.

Xavier Worthy (vs. IND) has been an auto-sit for me. He only has one Top-20 weekly finish, is getting very few running plays, and hasn’t topped six fantasy points in four straight games. He also tweaked his ankle last week.

I’m not recommending any Bills WRs (@HOU) this week. It’s a bad matchup (HOU has allowed the third fewest receiving yards and fourth fewest FPPG to opposing wideouts), it’s a Thursday night which often means suppressed scoring, and it’s hard to know which Buffalo wide receiver, if any, will step up week to week.

Other WRs ranked inside the Top-30 who I’m lower than consensus on this week include Michael Pittman, Jr. (@KC) and Romeo Doubs (vs. MIN).

Tight end:

Elite options this week – Trey McBride, George Kittle, and Brock Bowers. The analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Stick with Travis Kelce (vs. IND). Kansas City desperately needs this game, and that means plenty of Kelce is likely. Kelce has double-digit fantasy points in five of his last six contests, including a season-high 19.7 last week. It’s also a great matchup, as the Colts have allowed the third most receiving yards and FPPG to opposing tight ends. Ride the old guy with confidence.

Hunter Henry (@CIN) only has one game all season with double-digit fantasy points, but he’s an absolute smash this week. The Bengals have been a bonanza for opposing tight ends all season. In addition to allowing the most receiving yards and FPPG to the position, the 12 TDs they’ve yielded to opposing TEs are five more than anyone else. Start Henry if you have him.

Kyle Pitts (@NO) has been dreadful for the past month or so, but his one good game came in Captain Kirk’s lone start, where he had nine catches in a losing effort vs. Miami. With Drake London out, I expect heavy volume from Cousins to Pitts again this week.

Other TEs in the Top-12 who I think have a good shot to outperform their weekly ranking this week: Mark Andrews (vs. NYJ) and Theo Johnson (vs. DET).

Sleepers:

The Falcons have been terrific against tight ends, but that won’t stop me from recommending Juwan Johnson (vs. ATL). Across Tyler Shough’s first two career starts he’s got a 15% target share, 123 receiving yards, and a TD in each game. He’s clearly got the rookie’s trust and I’ll ride that trend in a tough matchup.

If your starter is on a Bye or you’re otherwise in need, here are other tight ends ranked outside the Top-15 this week that I think are worthy of consideration: A.J. Barner (@TEN) and Mason Taylor (@BAL).

Fades:

Jake Ferguson (v. PHI) is having an outstanding season, with six Top-10 weekly finishes at the position. He isn’t a player you’re going to sit, but beware of his prospects this week. The Eagles have allowed the second fewest receiving yards and FPPG to opposing tight ends, and just one TD to the position (tied with Buffalo and Atlanta for the fewest). Ferguson was held in check (5-23-0) in the Week 1 contest at Philadelphia.

No change this week. T.J. Hockenson (@GB) is still an every-week Fade for me. He has only finished inside the Top-15 TEs once this season, and J.J. McCarthy isn’t inspiring confidence.

Dalton Schultz (vs. BUF) has been a viable play for the past month for those who’ve needed him, and Davis Mills has been better than expected. But this week the matchup is brutal. The Bills have allowed the fewest catches, yards, and FPPG to opposing TEs, and as noted above, just one touchdown. Schultz is ranked as the TE13 this week and I don’t see that kind of outcome as likely.

I’ll take another pass on Luke Musgrave (vs. MIN). He hasn’t been all that involved in the offense since Tucker Kraft went down. He only played 35% of the snaps against the Giants in Week 11, and hauled in just one reception.

PK and D/ST Streamers (ranked outside the top-12 for the week): See my Week 12 Waiver Wire column.

Good luck in Week 12!

***This column appears each Thursday right here at Big Blue View. Each Monday, my Waiver Wire column appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly Prop bets of the week for the Giants, also right here. ***

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...tball-2025-week-12-preview-start-sit-and-more

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants’ QB Jaxson Dart OUT vs. Detroit Lions in NFL Week 12

New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka announced Friday morning that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is still in the NFL concussion protocol and is out for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Dart suffered his concussion Week 10 against the Chicago Bears and missed last week’s 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Jameis Winston started at quarterback for the Giants, and will do so again on Sunday.

Dart suffered his concussion when he was hit while running with the ball and fumbled in a loss to the Bears. That game, which was the team’s fourth straight loss, was the final one before Brian Daboll was fired as head coach.

The Giants anticipated that Dart would be able to play this week, but he repeated steps in the concussion protocol on Wednesday and Thursday and will not clear the protocol this week.

Winston went 19 of 29 for 201 yards with an interception and a fumble against the Packers.

The Giants’ only two victories this season have come with Dart at quarterback. They are 2-5 in his starts, 0-4 with either Winston or Russell Wilson behind center.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...e-ruled-out-detroit-lions-concussion-protocol

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants’ QB Jameis Winston surprised at start, but ‘ready for it’

Jameis Winston did not expect to be getting the call to start at quarterback for the New York Giants this Sunday against the Detroit Lions, which he will now that Jaxson Dart has been ruled out with a concussion.

Like most everyone else, Winston figured that Dart would clear the league’s concussion protocol after the rookie took the majority of first-team reps in practice throughout the week.

“I just found out,” the 11-year veteran told reporters in the Giants’ locker room on Friday afternoon. “I just knew I had to be ready. Whatever is required for me to be ready, I’m ready for it.”

Dart will now miss a second straight game after leaving a Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears when he suffered his concussion.

“I prepare every single week,” Winston said. “You’re saying the life of being a backup, this is the life of being an NFL quarterback. Staying ready so you don’t have to get ready.”

Winston played his first snaps as a Giant last week, going 19 of 29 for 201 yards with an interception and final-play fumble in a 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

“I believe I’m ready regardless,” Winston said. “Whatever this team needs me to do, I’m ready to do it. Regardless of he’s like, Jameis, you’re going to be number two, Jameis, you’re going to be number three, I’m ready. I’m preparing for whatever.”

Interim head coach Mike Kafka has confidence that Winston will be ready.

“The beauty of Jameis, the beauty of our group on offense and defense and special teams is our guys prep. They put the work in. They’re preparing themselves to play. Whether they’re a practice squad guy or they’re a backup in a primary role, they’re preparing and they’re asking questions and they’re detailing out their work throughout the work week,” Kafka said. “So, no surprise to me that Jameis is ready to go. I have full confidence in him, just like I did last week, and we’ll just keep on carrying on and Jameis will carry the torch for the group.”

Winston thought Dart “looked good” during practice this week.

“He’s a young superstar, so I know he’s going to be ready to go. I’m ready to go. We’re all ready,” Winston said.

Regardless of who is or is not playing, Winston said the Giants just want to win a game.

“The fact that I’m possibly getting (wide receiver) Darius Slay (Slayton) back is something that I’m excited about. Just to have another target available, because I think of what (wide receiver) Isaiah (Hodgins) did last week, being here for 48 hours and coming in to get some catches,” Winston said. “But these guys are excited, man. What we’re looking for is we’re searching for our first road win and we’re searching for our first win in a very long time. So, our intention is focused on that, not on who’s playing and who’s getting reps. It’s about, man, how can we beat the Detroit Lions?”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...rotocol-jameis-winston-starting-detroit-lions

 

[New York Giants]

NFL Week 12 betting advice: Giants-Lions picks and props

Welcome to the New York Giants betting angle, Week 12 edition. Each week, I’m giving you my three favorite wagers for that week’s New York Giants game. My one rule: I won’t ever give you wagers that are less than -120. No gimmies here.

The 2-9 Giants head to Detroit this week riding a five-game losing streak. For the second straight week, they’re facing an NFC North team with Super Bowl aspirations who just got shut down in prime time the week before by the Eagles. I don’t see that as a good thing.

Detroit was held to nine points last week – the only time they’ve been held under 13 points since a 24-6 loss to Dallas in October 2022. They’re a different bunch of big cats in their home dome, and I think Dan Campbell’s team will be looking to take out their frustrations on a weaker opponent.

The Giants continue to play hard and haven’t been blown out much despite their rigorous schedule. Mike Kafka will be coaching his second game, and for the second time it will be Jameis Winston calling signals for Big Blue, as Jaxson Dart remains in the concussion protocol and will look to return next week at New England.

The line on FanDuel is DET -12.5, with a game total of 49.5. The line moved a full two points on Friday morning when it was announced that Dart would not be playing.

My picks were 0-2 last week, with one bet refunded due to injury (Josh Jacobs rushing prop). After a hot stretch, I’ve gone cold the last few weeks. Maybe just bet the opposite of what I recommend, and pretty soon you’ll own that yacht you’ve been dreaming about.

Here are this week’s picks. All lines and odds are from FanDuel and are as of Friday, November 21.

1. First Half spread LIONS -7.5 (+105). It’s a big number for 30 minutes of football, but I like this action at plus-money. Lost in Detroit’s offensive futility last week, which included five turnovers on downs, is that the Lions’ defense was almost as good as Philadelphia’s and held the home team to just 16 points. Jameis Winston threw several passes last week that easily could’ve been picked, and I don’t think he’ll be as lucky this week. Look for Detroit’s D to get some stops or turnovers early, while their big-play offense rolls them out to a decent lead. I’m staying away from the full-game spread which is susceptible to a back-door cover, but I think Big Blue is going to be overmatched right out of the gate. The Lions lead the NFL with nine first quarter TDs. Give me this first half line all day.

• Jameis Winston OVER 33.5 Pass Attempts (+105). I’ll take another bet at plus-money. This is also a big number, but Winston attempted 29 passes last week in a one-score game where the Giants’ offense was able to stay pretty balanced for most of the game. I think 40+ attempts while the Giants chase points is realistic this week, unless New York really can’t sustain any drives.

• Lions OVER 31.5 points (-106). The number is big again, but clearly, I’m not scared by big numbers this week, or correlating all my bets on the game going a specific way. I’m confident, even with Detroit’s offensive line pretty banged up. Two trends I like here: First, over their last five contests (all losses), the Giants are giving up over 30 points per game; and second, in the game after each of their prior three losses, the Lions have won by at least 15 points. I’m staying away from Detroit player props, but I’m all-in on a big day from their offense and defense, and on the team posting a large number.

Those are the picks for Week 12. Good luck with your wagers!

Do you play fantasy football? Check out my Week 12 Fantasy Preview, with start/sit advice, matchup analysis, and more, right here at Big Blue View.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...2-betting-advice-giants-lions-picks-and-props

 

[New York Giants]

Roster moves: NY Giants add third running back to 53-man roster

The New York Giants are activating running back Eric Gray from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List and adding him to their 53-man roster for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Gray has missed the entire season due to a knee injury.

The Giants have been operating without a third running back on the roster since Cam Skattebo was lost for the season with a dislocated ankle.

Gray was a fifth-round pick by the Giants in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Giants also placed rookie tight end Thomas Fidone II on injured reserve with a foot injury. A seventh-round pick, Fidone played 14 offensive snaps and 80 special teams snaps in seven games. He did not have a pass reception or even a target.

Placing Fidone on IR leaves the Giants with 52 players on their active roster, one short of the 53-man limit.

The Giants are elevating wide receiver Dalen Cambre and linebacker Swayze Bozeman from the practice squad. Both are special teams contributors.

The Giants had previously ruled quarterback Jaxson Dart (concussion), cornerback Paulson Adebo (knee), and edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) out of Sunday’s game.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...t-thomas-fidone-injured-reserve-53-man-roster

 

[New York Giants]

Giants-Lions, NFL Week 12: Live in-game updates, scores, discussion

The New York Giants, without rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart for a second straight week, invade Ford Field on Sunday to face the Detroit Lions in an NFL Week 12 matchup. The Giants are 2-9 and trying to snap a five-game losing streak. The Lions are 6-4, currently on the outside in the battle for NFC playoff spots.

The Giants are massive 13.5-point underdogs, per FanDuel Sportsbook. The line was 10.5 points on Friday before Dart was unexpectedly ruled out as he has not yet passed the NFL’s concussion protocol. The Giants will have veteran Jameis Winston at quarterback for the second consecutive game, with Russell Wilson backing him up.

Keep it here for in-game news, score updates, highlights, discussion, and more. Ed will be updating over on Bluesky if you are interested in following him over there.

In-game updates​

The Lions won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Giants receive the opening kick-off.

Eric Gray back to return the opening kickoff with Gunner Olszewski.

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) November 23, 2025

Jameis Winston’s pre-game speech:

Jameis Winston's pregame speech pic.twitter.com/bU0R3nLGgc

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 23, 2025

New York Giants inactives​

CB Paulson Adebo | Knee
QB Jaxson Dart | Concussion
Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux | Shoulder
OT James Hudson
WR Jalin Hyatt

• Giants-Lions by the numbers: Matchups along the lines might be crucial
• Giants vs. Lions, Week 12: How to watch, stream, listen, wager
• Roster moves: NY Giants add third running back to 53-man roster
• Giants-Lions pre-game analysis: Jaxson’s Dart well-being is top priority

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/game-da...eek-12-live-in-game-updates-scores-discussion

 

[New York Giants]

What did we learn from the Giants’ 34-27 loss to the Lions?

If there was one game I had chalked up as a loss for the 2025 New York Giants before the season even began, it was this road trip to play the Detroit Lions. The Lions are loaded and were a preseason favorite to contend for a Super Bowl berth. They’re a very physical team and bullied the Giants when they last played in 2022. The Lions lost both coordinators in the off-season, though, and they found themselves on the fringe of the playoff hunt at 6-4 entering the game. Still, with Jaxson Dart not yet cleared to return and a jayvee starting secondary and linebacking corps, the Giants figured to be raw meat for the Lions.

Well, surprise, surprise, this was anything but a blowout. But no surprise: Another blown 10-point fourth quarter lead and another loss. The Giants are nothing if not consistent. What did we learn from the Giants’ 34-27 overtime loss to the Lions?

Is the Giants’ next head coach already the head coach?​

The feeling is that Mike Kafka has little chance to be selected as the Giants’ next head coach once the season ends. One problem is, the other contenders are flunking the interview already. Last week Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was supposed to strut his stuff against the Giants’ offense, and the Giants, without their starting quarterback and best wide receiver, moved the ball well despite a fierce wind and they almost won. Next!

This week, it was former Giant Kelvin Sheppard trying his luck as defensive coordinator against the Giants’ offense under more clement conditions, and the Giants racked up 399 passing yards and 122 rushing yards. Next!

I can quibble with some of Kafka’s tendencies as a play caller. In particular, the Giants’ offensive line is not great at run blocking overall, and Kafka, when deep in his own territory, seems to have this tendency to run the ball on first and second down and get the Giants’ offense into third-and-long situations. In his defense, the Giants do seem to eventually wear out opposing defenses and run a lot more effectively in the second half. Other than that, though, Kafka is a fairly aggressive play caller. In the absence of his best offensive players, he dialed up some creative plays today, including the never-before-seen Jameis Winston-handoff-to-Gunner Olszewski-pass-to-Jameis TD play. It made people forget about the earlier toss-to-Devin Singletary-toss-back-to-Jameis-39 yard TD pass to Wan’Dale Robinson.

You can disagree with his strategy late in the fourth quarter when the Giants had fourth-and-goal at the 6-yard line and chose to go for the TD to ice the game rather than kick the field goal to go up six points and force Detroit to score a TD to win outright. In fact, the right answer is not obvious. Here are two different analytics tools, one from Ben Baldwin of rbsdm.com and the other from ESPN Analytics. They come to different conclusions about the right call:

Wildly different recommendations from @ben_bot_baldwin and ESPN Analytics for the 4th & 6 decision pic.twitter.com/7nqkM8pY3s

— Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) November 23, 2025

Of more importance for a head coach, Kafka seems to have motivated this team to play hard despite the season having been lost weeks ago. He appears to be in control on the sideline, and his calm demeanor contrasts with that of his predecessor. The Giants’ offense, arguably without its three best skill players, is putting points up every week against supposedly tough opposing defenses. In the locker room, there are small signs that Kafka is trying to change the mood and emphasize accountability. The defense is at least mixing things up more, if not necessarily being more effective.

Eventually he is going to have to start winning games to have any chance to return. If he doesn’t, though, he might get a head coaching position elsewhere.

Take my rushing defense – please​

For the third time this season, the Giants’ defense allowed an opponent to rush for more than 200 yards (237 by the Lions today; the others were the opener in Washington and the loss in Philadelphia). They have only held an opponent under 100 yards rushing twice all season. Jahmyr Gobbs by himself had 219 rushing yards today, including a 49-yarder for a TD in the fourth quarter and a 69-yarder for the winning score in overtime.

It’s a consistent problem with this team. Gibbs was untouched on his 69-yard TD run up the middle to open overtime. On his earlier 49-yard TD run, Gibbs got through the Giants’ defensive line without being touched, then Dane Belton took a poor angle as Gibbs burst through the line and was easily shed by Gibbs, then Cor’Dale Flott couldn’t play off his block and lay a hand on Gibbs, and then the bigger Jevon Holland couldn’t play off his block and was barely able to touch Gibbs on the way to the end zone.

You may notice that I didn’t mention the off-ball linebackers. They were about as off-ball as you can be – they didn’t get within two yards of Gibbs as he got through the line and split them. Here’s a quick quiz: Tell me the last time a Giants’ linebacker made a great play. I’m not sure I know the answer.

Going back to the fourth-and-6 decision, both fourth down bots agreed on one thing: Whatever choice Kafka made, the Giants had no worse than a 67% chance of winning the game. For the Baldwin bot, even failing on fourth down, the Giants had more than a 50% chance of winning. Neither bot seems to properly account for the Giants’ awful rush defense, nor do they account for the gods who decree that whenever the Giants need an opponent to miss a last minute kick from as long as or longer than they have ever made one, they make the kick.

Make no mistake, the defense, and especially the run defense, is the main reason the Giants are 2-10. You can blame that on the predictability of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, although it seemed to me that he played less man and more zone today and blitzed a little more often than he had recently. Maybe you can blame it on a pass defense that has been wracked with injuries and wasn’t playing great to begin with. Nothing, though – nothing – has caused this team to be 2-10 instead of 7-5 and in the playoff hunt more than the run defense. How much of it is the coaches, how much the players, and how much the injuries, is hard to say. What I will say, though, is that it’s long past due that Joe Schoen begin to take the linebacker position seriously.

Sign Jameis Winston to a long-term contract​

If the Giants can’t win, at least are we not entertained? There are few quarterbacks more fun to watch than Jameis Winston. All indications are that he is a great teammate. More importantly, though, the man can play. Yes, he throws interceptions, and he threw one today, but the guy can move an offense. He makes all the throws, he can read defenses, he competes like crazy, he’s a leader, and he will do anything to win.

Winston threw for 366 yards against this Lions defense that was third best in the NFL in passing yards allowed coming into the game. He did this for a team that had no true WR1 on the field. He had completions of 30 yards or more to four different receivers today (Wan’Dale Robinson, Theo Johnson, Tyrone Tracy, and Isaiah Hodgins), in addition to having a 33-yard TD reception himself.

Winston does not get the respect he deserves. It’s not his fault the Giants lost the last two weeks. He did everything he needed to do to secure the win, and the defense, as usual, gave it away.

Theo Johnson and Darius Alexander are becoming threats​

There’s been some frustration on these “pages” (including from me) about Theo Johnson’s dropped passes since he became a Giant, and rightfully so. The one in Philadelphia on third down early in the season when the game was still competitive and the Giants were driving arguably turned that game around…not that I think the Giants were going to win, but they at least had a chance at that point. Coming into today, Johnson’s four drops were tied for fifth among tight ends, which doesn’t sound great for your TE1. It’s worth noting, though, that among the four who had more drops were Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, and rookie sensation Tyler Warren. So maybe we’re being a little hard on Theo. In support of that sentiment, Johnson’s 5 TDs were also tied for fifth most in the NFL with George Kittle and Mark Andrews.

Sunday, Johnson had three catches for 77 yards. That’s not just a move-the-sticks player, that’s an offensive threat. In the last three games, Johnson has caught 13 balls in 17 targets for 188 yards. He may finally be starting to mature into the player the Giants thought he could be.

Another player who got noticed for the right reasons today was rookie Darius Alexander. Alexander’s run defense hasn’t been up to par, but his pass rush is starting to come around. Alexander had two sacks Sunday to give him 2.5 on the season. Coming into today, only two other rookie IDLs had as many as three sacks. Alexander came out of the MAC Conference and thus didn’t play against the toughest competition. It’s probably a significant adjustment for him going up against NFL offensive linemen. It’s possible, though, that the Giants have something here.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...learn-from-the-giants-34-27-loss-to-the-lions

 

[New York Giants]

Shane Bowen fired: New York Giants replace defensive coordinator

The New York Giants have — finally — fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

After the Giants blew a lead and lost a game for the sixth time this season on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, interim head coach Mike Kafka decided to move on from the heavily-criticized Bowen.

Bowen was hired by former coach Brian Daboll before the 2024 season to replace Wink Martindale, a popular, extremely aggressive coordinator. Bowen’s more conservative, four-man rush philosophy is a sharp contrast to the “pressure breaks pipes” blitz-oriented schemes Martindale employed in two seasons with New York.

The Giants have lost five games this season in which they held a double-digit lead. Sunday’s game marked the third straight week and fourth time this season the Giants failed to hold a fourth-quarter lead.

Bowen was hired after a stint as Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator with the hope that he could help the Giants’ run defense. New York is last in the NFL in run defense, giving up 5.5 yards per attempt. In 2024, they finished 24th in that category.

After co-owner John Mara expressed dissatisfaction with the defense at the end of last season, the Giants added safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo in free agency, and drafted edge defender Abdul Carter No. 3 overall and defensive tackle Darius Alexander in Round 3.

Despite those moves, the Giants are one of the worst defenses in the league.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...45187/shane-bowen-fired-defensive-coordinator

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants release placekicker who missed 3 extra points in 2 weeks

The New York Giants have terminated the contract of placekicker Jude McAtamney from their practice squad. McAtamney, a second-year kicker from Rutgers, missed three extra points in two weeks while subbing for an injured Graham Gano earlier this season.

When Gano returned from his first injury, a groin issue, McAtamney was released and re-signed to the practice squad.

When Gano was forced to go to injured reserve due to a herniated disc in his neck, the Giants promoted veteran placekicker Younghoe Koo from the practice squad, bypassing McAtamney.

The Giants also recently added rookie placekicker Ben Sauls to their practice squad, making McAtamney superfluous.

The Giants replaced McAtamney on the practice squad with tight end Maxamilian Mang, another player with an international exemption allowing the team to keep a 17th player on a 16-man practice squad.

Mang, from Potsdam, Germany, played college football at Syracuse. He is is 6-foot-6, 263 pounds. He caught only nine passes in 63 games at Syracuse. Mang was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts after the 2025 NFL Draft. He was released from the Colts’ practice squad last week.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...signing-roster-moves-practice-squad-ben-sauls

 

[New York Giants]

Eli Manning a Hall of Fame semifinalist, but won’t be a Hall of Famer

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has advanced to the semifinal round in the voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the second straight year he has reached that stage.

Let’s be honest, though. Manning is not going to be part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Nor is he likely to be part of any Hall of Fame class in the near future.

That is because Pro Football Hall of Fame bylaws limit the selection to between four and eight new members each year. The competition for that limited number of gold jackets is even tougher than it was a year ago when Manning did not make it past the round of 15 semifinalists.

That is largely because two first-time eligible quarterbacks, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, are likely to garner more support from Hall of Fame voters than Manning. Ben Roethlisberger is eligible for the first time in 2027. Tom Brady in 2028. Both of those quarterbacks will also get in before Manning.

Many Giants fans, of course, won’t want to hear that. It is, though, the truth. Manning likely doesn’t get real consideration until that logjam of quarterbacks breaks.

Here is what Hall of Fame voter and long-time NFL writer Gary Myers told Big Blue View last year after Manning was eliminated by the voting committee in last year’s cut from 15 to 10 semifinalists.

“To get selected in the future, the voters must get past that Manning was never All-Pro or regular season MVP and realize he played when those spots were not so available playing in an era with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Eli’s record was just .500, but Dan Fouts was only two games over .500 and Warren Moon was only one game over .500 — but neither made it to the Super Bowl. In fact, Moon never made it to a conference championship game. Fouts and Moon were each first ballot Hall of Famers.”

Among the 49 members of the selection committee, there are many who don’t believe Manning is a Hall of Famer at all. That’s hard to fathom for a quarterback who engineered two of the most incredible Super Bowl victories of all time, but it is true.

I have posted these quotes from Mike Tanier’s ‘Too Deep Zone’ Substack before, but they need to be repeated:

“Get back to me in five years,” one selector told me flatly. “Seriously, we got a lot of guys to get into the Hall of Fame. And he can wait.”

“Somebody’s gonna have to convince me that he belongs in the Hall of Fame at all,” another selector said.

Other selectors were less emphatic, though no less critical.

“I think he’s a Hall of Famer, eventually,” said one. “If we are talking seven or eight years from now, and we’re talking about putting Eli Manning in the Hall of Fame for two Super Bowl MVPs and creating some of the greatest moments in the history of the game, I’ll buy that. That’s cool.

“But don’t try to tell me that he is one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-hall-of-fame-vote-class-of-2026-semifinalist

 

[New York Giants]

Andrew Thomas is playing well, but the NY Giants tackle is unimpressed

New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas has played some of his best football since 2022 after returning to the lineup this season following a 2024 Lisfranc injury. Thomas, though, believes he still needs to get better.

“Right now it’s a double-edged sword. I’m grateful to be out there. Obviously, I missed a lot of ball, so it’s fun being out there with my teammates, but the other part of that is obviously I hate losing, and then I would say just personally I’m not at the level that I want to be at,” Thomas said. “So I’m striving every day while I do film, trying to figure out what I can do more on the practice field just to get to the elite level.”

Thomas has given up just one sack in 10 games and is the fifth-ranked tackle in the NFL, according to the Pro Football Focus grading system. Color him unimpressed with his own work.

“I would say it’s just the nature of the position. It’s not just one play where you make a splash play and you’re a top player. You have to play 60, 70 snaps, being consistent each and every down,” Thomas said. “I expect to play better, and I’m going to play better.”

Despite years of criticism directed at the offensive line, Thomas said the group has taken a noticeable step forward.

“We’re playing well, but obviously not well enough to get the results we want,” he said. “It’s a team sport. It takes everyone. If we have to do more, we have to find a way to do more to get the wins.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-well-but-the-ny-giants-tackle-is-unimpressed

 

[New York Giants]

Giants-Patriots NFL Week 13 betting odds: New York a heavy MNF underdog

The New York Giants, to no one’s surprise, are more than a touchdown underdog to the New England Patriots for their NFL Week 13 Monday Night Football game in Foxboro, Mass. FanDuel Sportsbook currently has the Giants as 7.5-point underdogs, +340 on the Moneyline, with the Over/Under set at 46.5 points.

The Giants are 2-10, have lost six straight games, have lost 12 consecutive road games dating back to last season, have an interim head coach entering his third game, an interim defensive coordinator in his first week, and as of this writing quarterback Jaxson Dart has yet to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Interim head coach Mike Kafka fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after Sunday’s 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. Kafka elevated outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen to that role.

The Patriots leads the AFC East by 2.5 games over the 7-4 Buffalo Bills. They have won nine straight games under new head coach Mike Vrabel.

The game will kick off on ESPN at 8:15 p.m.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...3-betting-odds-new-york-underdog-patriots-mnf

 

[New York Giants]

NY Giants coach Mike Kafka unfazed by the President calling him ‘crazy’

It isn’t every day a football coach, especially an interim one, gets called “CRAZY” by the President of the United States. That is what happened to Mike Kafka of the New York Giants on Sunday when he made a hotly-debated fourth-down decision late in an overtime loss to the Detroit Lions.

Asked about being harpooned by the President, Kafka didn’t seem to mind the second-guess. Rather, he seemed to enjoy the attention.

“This is one of the coolest things that, I mean just for me, being in this position, you get the opportunity to make tough calls. For me, that’s awesome. I love it,” Kafka said. “You get it down the wire, two-minute, end of game, when you got to make a tough call, that’s where, to me, I feel like that’s a huge responsibility and something I enjoy doing, I like being that point person to do that.

“So, everyone’s going to have an opinion. That’s okay. That’s okay. I’m going to do the best I can for myself, for the team first, to give us an opportunity to win the game. And whatever that call, whoever it was, a player, a coach, my aunt and uncle, my dad, like I heard it from everybody. And that’s okay. They can have their opinions, and I respect that. But I’m going to do what’s best for the team, try to do what’s best for the team.”

Kafka wants an aggressive “let’s go win it” mentality.

“Whether it’s winning the game on the last play of the game, being aggressive, going for two if we get an opportunity, whatever that situation is, that’s where we got to thrive and that’s where we got to turn the table in terms of our team is when it’s nut cutting time, when it’s time down at the end of the game, when we got to make a play, we’re going to be aggressive to go make the play to win it,” Kafka said. “And I want our guys thinking that way. I don’t want our guys thinking like, hey, we shouldn’t do this or do that. Like, let’s go win it. And that’s going to be our mentality.

“So when we get down there, that’s really how we’re prepping. That’s how we’re practicing. And that’s how we’re talking with the players. That’s a language that we’re using across really the organization and across the team.”

Mike Kafka was asked about the President being critical of not kicking a field goal in the 4th quarter vs. the Lions:

"You get the opportunity to make tough calls. For me, that's awesome. I love it. And whatever that call, whoever it was, a player, a coach, my aunt and uncle, my… pic.twitter.com/LkUYxWK29W

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 26, 2025

Kafka downplays Malik Nabers’ criticism​

President Trump wasn’t the only high-profile person to criticize Kafka’s end-of-game decision-making on Sunday. Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers, on IR with a torn ACL, tweeted and quickly deleted comments wondering if the Giants were actually trying to lose the game.

“I didn’t see the tweet,” said Kafka, adding he has not spoken to Nabers about it.

“I didn’t see what he said, so I don’t necessarily have a comment on it, but I just, I think players can obviously respond any way they want to anything they want,” Kafka said. “But if it’s something that’s detrimental to the team, we’ll address it in-house and talk through it and move on.”

Kafka did also reveal that Nabers is back with the team as he continues to rehab from his knee surgery. He had spent the first few weeks rehabbing in Dallas.

What is the plan for Jaxson Dart?​

Somewhat like last week, the Giants are in limbo at quarterback. Jaxson Dart is practicing, and he was a full participant on Wednesday, but still has not cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol. Kafka said both Dart and Jameis Winston will get reps until the Giants get clarity from the independent neurologist on whether or not Dart will be cleared to play.

Kafka was clear that Dart will play against the New England Patriots on Monday if he is cleared in time.

“If he’s ready to play, like just any player, if they’re ready to play, then we have a plan for him, then we’ll put him in,” Kafka said.

“He saw the doctors the doctors that he needed to see last week, and he’ll see the doctors that he needs to see this week and just continue to keep on progressing through.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-mike-kafka-reaction-malik-nabers-jaxson-dart

 

[New York Giants]

Fantasy Football 2025: Week 13 preview – Start/sit and more

Welcome to Week 13, and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend filled with the four Fs: Family, Friends, Food, and Football. There’s so much pro and college football on tap over the next five days that for some people out there, football is definitely the “F” word this week. For the rest of us who can’t get enough pigskin to go with our Thanksgiving meal and ensuing leftovers, buckle up!

The fantasy playoffs start in two weeks, so it’s officially crunch time – hopefully all your teams are still in it. This is a challenging week for fantasy managers. On the plus side, no teams are on Bye for the first time since Week 4. But on the minus side, while nothing is better than wall-to wall football, the schedule is staggered, with three games Thursday, one Friday, and then the usual Sunday and Monday games. That kind of spread schedule makes it hard to set lineups around players who are not certain to play.

Stats of the Week:

• The Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens lost a combined 11 games last season. Through Week 12, they’ve already lost a combined 14 games this season.

• Jaxon Smith Njigba is averaging 119 receiving yards per game and that puts him on pace to become the first player in NFL history to crack 2,000 receiving yards in a season. Calvin Johnson holds the current record at 1,964 yards (2012, 16 game season).

• JSN has 1,313 receiving yards and that accounts for 47% of his team’s total. If that holds for a full season it would be the highest such percentage in the Super Bowl era. He’s also the first player in NFL history to record at least 75 receiving yards in 11 straight games.

• The Giants have lost five road games this season where they had a double-digit lead.

• Jahmyr Gibbs has scored 44 touchdowns in 43 career games played (regular season). I can do this math in my head — that’s more than one per game.

• Dak Prescott is 36-9 as a starter vs. the NFC East and has racked up 19 straight wins at home vs. division foes.

• Myles Garrett has 13 sacks over his last four games, a total that would tie him for the league lead if he had no other sacks. Guess what? He has other sacks. He has 18 on the season, and only needs five sacks across his final six games to break the NFL record of 22.5 (shared jointly by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt).

• George Pickens has more receiving yards this season than all Steelers’ wide receivers, combined.

• Will Reichert is the first kicker in NFL history to hit four FGs of 59+ yards in a season.

• The Colts and Eagles were both held scoreless for the entire second half plus overtime of their Week 12 losses (to KC and DAL, respectively).

• The Colts have played two consecutive games that went to overtime.

Fantasy Stats of the Week:

• Over the last three weeks, Lamar Jackson is the QB27, at 10.2 fantasy points per game (FPPG), while Justin Jefferson is the WR42, at 7.0 FPPG.

• The Giants and Lions combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense in Detroit’s 34-27 overtime win. Jameson Williams – who played the entire game — had zero of those yards, and zero fantasy points.

Week 13, here we go!

Bye Weeks: NONE

Week 13 Rides, Fades, and Sleepers

For those who are familiar with this column, you know the drill. For everyone else: The Rides, Fades, and Sleepers is an analysis of players that I think are primed for an especially strong or poor performance, often as compared to consensus expectations. This isn’t a straight-up Start/Sit exercise. As a general rule, start your studs. I’ll rarely list the most obvious names at a position as “Rides” because those players are almost always expected to have strong performances. You don’t need me or anyone else telling you to start Jahmyr Gibbs or Trey McBride. While this analysis is intended for season-long play, it works for DFS formats too. Half PPR scoring and Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) are used for the column.

Each week, I’m picking a Ride, Fade,and Sleeper of the Week. The rules: The Ride of the Week can’t be a truly elite option, the Fade can’t be someone who nobody is starting anyway, and the Sleeper must be from down in the rankings.

My Rides, Fades, and Sleepers were pretty solid in Week 12. You can check my work here: Week 12.

Ride of the Week: Mark Andrews (vs. CIN). Andrews only has one game with more than 35 receiving yards this season, he’s been very TD-dependent for his fantasy value, his all-world QB is struggling and hasn’t thrown a TD pass in his last two games, and the Ravens’ offense is not why the team has won five straight games (that’s putting it mildly). Sounds bad. So why pick Andrews? First and foremost is the matchup. The Bengals have allowed the most catches, yards, and FPPG to opposing TEs, and the 13 TD catches they’ve surrendered to the position is the most through 11 games in NFL history. It’s also a home holiday game in prime time, with the Ravens needing to get things going against what might be a resurgent offense with Joe Burrow back. The easiest way for Lamar to get it going is via Mark Andrews. Book it.

Fade of the Week: Justin Jefferson (@SEA). Not only am I not listing Jefferson among the elite options at WR, but I’m going two steps further and making him a Fade. Jefferson is supremely talented, and that makes him almost impossible to sit. Elite players often hurt you more than lesser talents, for that very reason. You can bench Kyle Pitts or Nick Chubb, no problem. But you used a first rounder on JJ and that creates a real dilemma when it goes completely south. Well, I think you can legitimately consider benching him this week, depending on your other options. Historically bad quarterback play from J.J. McCarthy (who might be the worst “9” since Revolution #9) is killing his value. I don’t think a potential switch to an undrafted rookie making his first start (Max Brosmer) is going to be a big difference-maker, and especially on the road in a hostile environment against a very good defense. Seattle has allowed the fourth fewest receiving yards to opposing WRs. I get it. You’re ignoring me and starting him. Good luck.

Sleeper of the Week: Kenneth Gainwell (vs. BUF). I don’t expect another 122 yards from scrimmage like last week, but with Jaylen Warren not at 100% Gainwell is seeing more run, and he’s been highly productive when given the chance. His passing game usage (13 catches across the last two games) is a huge plus, and so is the matchup. The Bills have allowed the third most FPPG and most rushing TDs to opposing backs. I also think that if Mason Rudolph is under center again, there will be plenty of dump-offs and screens. Gainwell is live as a Flex play this week.

Quarterback:

Elite options this week – Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson (I know, I know, but it’s the Bengals – start him as you normally would), Jalen Hurts, Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, and Patrick Mahomes; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Quarterbacks (beyond the elite choices above) ranked inside the Top-15 this week who I think can beat their weekly ranking include: Justin Herbert (vs. LV, and Herbert is coming off the worst fantasy performance of his career – the reeling Raiders are a perfect spot for a rebound), Bo Nix (at WAS), the red-hot Jacoby Brissett (@TB), and Jordan Love (@DET). All have favorable matchups this week. The Lions, Bucs, and Commanders are all in the Bottom-7 in terms of FPPG allowed to opposing QBs.

Sleepers:

If you need a second quarterback in a Superflex, or a Bye-Week streamer for one of the QBs who is injured or on a Bye, the options this week are just OK. Whoever starts for the Giants (Jaxson Dart or Jameis Winston) (@NE) offers decent upside, as the Giants have been scoring a lot more points than expected all season. Trevor Lawrence (@TEN) should put up some points, and you’ll have to live with the turnovers. Tua Tagovailoa (vs. NO), Tyrod Taylor (vs. ATL), and a suddenly viable Cam Ward (vs. JAC) are also worth considering if you’re in need.

Fades:

Daniel Jones (vs. HOU) was a fade for me last week and it didn’t totally hit (16.8 fantasy points, well below his average but still OK), but I’ll run it back in another tough matchup. He hasn’t cracked 18 fantasy points in three straight games, so the early-season shine is wearing off a little. The Texans can make any QB look bad (just ask Josh Allen) and have allowed the fewest FPPG and total TDs (11) to the position.

I’d wait a week on Joe Burrow (@BAL). He hasn’t played in two months and is a notoriously slow starter. Also, while the Ravens were a great matchup early in the season when they were missing multiple defensive starters, they haven’t allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points since Week 5. Add in that Tee Higgins is out, and that Burrow probably won’t run much, and I’ll pass.

I don’t feel good about Caleb Williams (@PHI) this week. The Eagles’ defense at home is stingy (they held the Lions to nine points two weeks ago), and this is the kind of big spot where he generally hasn’t stepped up.

Others: Lower-ranked quarterbacks that you might be considering, but who I’d avoid in Superflex this week, include Marcus Mariota (vs. DEN, if he’s the starter), Brock Purdy (@CLE, who has allowed the sixth fewest FPPG to opposing QBs), Kirk Cousins (@NYJ), Bryce Young (vs. LAR), Shedeur Sanders (vs. SF), and Aaron Rodgers or Mason Rudolph (vs. BUF).

Running back:

Elite options this week – Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, Devon Achane, Derrick Henry, and James Cook; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Four must-starts this week: Travis Etienne (@TEN, allowing the fourth most FPPG to opposing RBs), TreVeyon Henderson (vs. NYG, allowing the most rushing yards, second most FPPG, third most rushing TDs (12), and most total TDs (16) to opposing RBs), Kyren Williams (@CAR), and Jaylen Warren (vs. BUF, allowing the third most FPPG and most rushing TDs (14) to opposing RBs. Good backs with good matchups? Sign me up.

Others ranked inside the Top-25 this week who I think have a good chance to outperform their rankings include: Saquon Barkley (vs. CHI), R.J. Harvey (@WAS), Breece Hall (vs. ATL), Woody Marks (@IND), Ken Walker (vs. MIN), and Quinshon Judkins (vs. SF, assuming he’s good to go).

Sleepers:

If any of Trey Benson, Josh Jacobs, or Omarion Hampton isn’t able to return this week, then Bam Knight (@TB), Emmanuel Wilson (@DET), and/or Kimani Vidal (vs. LV)all fall somewhere in the RB2 to Flex range. Even if those starters do play, the backups mentioned might have Flex appeal as the starter could be limited or eased in. The above is also true with respect to the Tampa situation, so if Bucky Irving doesn’t return, then either or both of Sean Tucker and Rachaad White can be flexed as it’s a very good matchup (sixth most FPPG allowed to opposing RBs).

Kyle Monangai (@PHI) is ranked behind D’Andre Swift this week, but should he be? He got more touches than Swift last week for the first time (when both were healthy), which might have to do with Swift losing a fumble. He has a TD in three straight games.

Others to consider if you’re stuck at running back: Devin Neal (@MIA), Bhayshul Tuten (@TEN), Tony Pollard (vs. JAC), Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. NYG), Raheem Mostert (@ LAC, but only if Ashton Jeanty is out), and Tyler Allgeier (@NYJ). All except Mostert have very good Week 13 matchups.

Fades:

D’Andre Swift (@PHI) is a tough call for me this week. I think he’s still the first stringer in Chicago despite last week’s usage, but Monangai seems to be the preferred option at the goal line, and while Swift is the better pass-catcher, there haven’t been a lot of throws to the backs. It’s also not the best matchup.

You’re starting Javonte Williams (vs. KC), but he has cooled off considerably since his hot start (10 fantasy points or less and zero TDs across his last three games) and the Chiefs are allowing the fourth fewest FPPG to opposing RBs. They’ve also yielded the fourth fewest total TDs (six) to the position.

Rico Dowdle (vs. LAR) is another back who has cooled off after a torrid stretch, and he’s also yielding a bit more of the work to Chuba Hubbard lately. On top of that, it’s a brutal matchup, as the Rams have allowed the second fewest FPPG and just three total TDs to opposing RBs.

David Montgomery (vs. GB) has been a Fade for me multiple times this season. He’s TD-dependent and has only found the end zone once in his last six games. Also, the split with Gibbs is different this season, and especially lately. Montgomery has just 11 carries over the last two contests. He also did very little in the Week 1 matchup with Green Bay (4.3 fantasy points). Fade.

I’ll fade both Giants’ RBs (@NE). It’s the single worst matchup for running backs, and while big Blue has been able to run the ball, this time might be different. New England has allowed the fewest rushing yards and FPPG to opposing RBs.

Bucky Irving (vs. ARI) has a great matchup,but given how long he was out, I don’t know how big his role will be in his first game back. You’ve waited impatiently, and I get the desire to plug him in, but I wouldn’t expect a normal workload.

Wide receiver:

Elite options this week – Puka Nacua AND Davante Adams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb AND George Pickens, Rashee Rice, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Four fairly obvious Rides (for me) this week: Jaylen Waddle (vs. NO), and in the same game Chris Olave (@MIA), A.J. Brown (vs. CHI), and Ladd McConkey (vs. LV). All except Olave have good matchups and all should see plenty of targets. That includes Brown, who hit as a Ride for me last week. I think he’ll be a bit more reliable week-to-week going forward.

Other WRs ranked inside the Top-30 this week who have favorable matchups, and/or who I’m just high on for the week include Wan’Dale Robinson (@NE), Michael Wilson (@TB, to keep it going as a heavy-usage option until Marvin Harrison, Jr. is back), Stefon Diggs (vs. NYG), and Khalil Shakir (@PIT).

Sleepers:

I’ve hit on a bunch of wide receiver sleepers two weeks running, so let’s try for more.

Darnell Mooney (@NYJ) hit for me last week, and with Drake London out and a decent matchup on tap, let’s do it again.

Christian Watson (@Det) is ranked outside the Top-30 WRs this week and I think that’s too low. The Lions gave up 10 plays of 20+ yards to the Giants last week, and big plays are Watson’s specialty. Detroit has yielded the sixth most FPPG to opposing WRs. Romeo Doubs is also worth considering if you’re in need, as the Packers are going to need to throw in this one.

Other WRs ranked outside the Top-30 this week that I think you can plug into lineups if you’re in need include Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington (@TEN, allowing the fourth most FPPG to opposing WRs) and in the same game, Chimere Dike (vs. JAC), Andrei Iosivas (@BAL), and Quentin Johnston (vs. LV).

Want deeper sleepers for DFS, of if you’re truly stuck? Darius Slayton (@NE), DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte (vs. NYG), John Metchie III (vs. ATL, and he has TDs in back-to-back games), and Malik Washington (vs. NO).

Fades:

D.K. Metcalf (vs. BUF). He hasn’t had more than five catches or 50 yards in four straight contests, and the one thing that’s usually his strong suit (TDs) hasn’t been there either, as he’s been kept out of the end zone in those games too. Maybe he’s overdue, but the Bills aren’t all that generous. I’m not a big believer in “projected fantasy points” that you see on the major platforms and I rarely look at them. More often than not, all they do is predict you right into lineup mistakes. But it’s worth noting that Metcalf has only hit his “projected points” three times in 11 tries. He’s been an overrated fantasy option all season.

Michael Pittman, Jr. (vs. HOU) is having a really good season. This matchup scares me though. The Texans have allowed the third fewest FPPG to opposing WRs and are especially strong against perimeter receivers.

If you’ve been waiting patiently for either Brian Thomas, Jr. (@TEN) or Terry McLaurin (vs. DEN), I’d continue waiting, even if they play. First off, it hasn’t been good for either one when they’ve been healthy, so it would be nice to see it first. The Jaguars now have lots of other options in the passing game who are producing. And the matchup for McLaurin is as bad as it gets. Denver has allowed the fewest FPPG and just two TD catches to opposing WRs which is by far the lowest total in the league. While we’re here, I think Deebo Samuel Sr. is also a tough start this week, although he should see volume.

Other WRs ranked inside the Top-30 and/or who’ve been starting options for much of the season and who I’m lower than consensus on this week include Emeka Egbuka (vs. ARI), Rome Odunze (@PHI), Jordan Addison (@SEA), Keenan Allen (vs. LV),and Ricky Pearsall (@CLE).

Tight end:

Elite options this week – Trey McBride and George Kittle. The analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Stick with Travis Kelce (@DAL). He tends to show up when the spotlight is the brightest, and this game could break the record for TV ratings in the regular season. Kelce is quietly the TE5 on the season, at 11 FPPG. Not his best season by a long stretch, but if this is his swansong, it’s been pretty good. Ride the old guy with confidence.

Dallas Goedert (vs. CHI) has been quiet since the Week 9 Bye, but I like his chances to get it going again this week. The Bears’ linebacking corps is decimated with injuries, and that should lead to some open throws to a very good weapon that Philly needs to involve more.

Other TEs in the Top-15 who I think have a good shot to outperform their weekly ranking this week: Juwan Johnson (@MIA) and Brenton Strange (@TEN, and at TE15 on the week, he might be better listed as a sleeper).

Sleepers:

Taysom Hill (@MIA) led the Saints in carries after Alvin Kamara left last week’s game with an injury. He’s the ultimate boom/bust play, but he could easily get a goal line carry or two.

Isaiah Likely (vs. CIN) has been hugely disappointing since his return from a foot injury that kept him out for the first month or so of the season. If he’s ever going to get it going, it’s this week, with the best possible matchup for tight ends. If you’re desperate, he’s not the worst dart throw.

In the same game, Mike Gesicki (@BAL) has capitalized on a Tee Higgins absence before, and is another decent long-shot play.

Other TEs to consider if you’re stuck: Gunnar Helm (@JAC), Evan Engram (@WAS), and Dawson Knox (@PIT).

Fades:

Tyler Warren (vs. HOU) is tough to sit after the season he’s had so far. And I’m not suggesting benching him. I’d temper expectations, though. The Texans have allowed the fourth fewest FPPG to opposing TEs, and this could be a low-scoring game for Indy.

In a similar vein, Colston Loveland (@PHI) has been coming on very strong the last month – so strong that Chicago’s decision to draft him ahead of Warren no longer looks completely insane. I’d consider sitting him this week. Philadelphia has allowed the second fewest yards and FPPG, and just two TDs, to opposing tight ends.

Other Fades of TEs you might be considering: Kyle Pitts (@NYJ, and I just can’t go there any more, even with Drake London out), T.J. Hockenson (@SEA, and he’s been an auto-fade for me the entire season), Steelers’ TEs (vs. BUF, allowing the fewest catches, yards, FPPG and just one TD to opposing TEs), Zach Ertz (vs. DEN), and Mason Taylor (vs. ATL, allowing the third fewest FPPG to opposing TEs, and just one TD as well).

PK and D/ST Streamers (ranked outside the top-12 for the week): See my Week 13 Waiver Wire column.

Good luck in Week 13!

***This column appears each Thursday right here at Big Blue View. Each Monday, my Waiver Wire column appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly Prop bets of the week for the Giants, also right here. ***

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...tball-2025-week-13-preview-start-sit-and-more