Fantasy Football Daily - 2022 Franchise Focus: New York Giants

Episode Date: July 4, 2022

Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) invites Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) of The Athletic to discuss the upcoming season for the New York Giants. The Franchise Focus Podcast series is brought to you by Underdog Fantasy (@UnderdogFantasy). New users can sign up to Underdog using promo code FANTASYPTS for up to $100 in bonus cash on their first deposit. Visit fantasypoints.com/underdog for more info. The podcast series is also sponsored by Evan's Sports Cards & Collectibles (@evanscards). Follow @EvansCards on Twitter for weekly updates and card releases, Like on Facebook, and head to evanssportsnj.com for more info, including the always-updated eBay store. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fantasy-points-podcast/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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It's time to the Fantasy Points podcast, brought to you by FantasyPoints.com. Top level fantasy football and NFL betting analysis from every perspective and angle, from numbers to the film room with a single goal to help you score more fantasy points. Welcome back to the franchise focus podcast series here at FantasyPoint.com. This one in particular was hard to come by, but I'm very excited. be welcoming today's guest. His name is Dan Duggan. He covers the New York Giants for the athletic. And well, we're going to talk New York Giants because that's his specialty. Dan, but I'm Joe Owen, by the way. Nobody cares about that, though. You're the star of the show. Thanks for joining us here.

You can follow his work at D. D. D. D. D. Duggan 21 on Twitter and read him at the athletic. Dan, thanks for joining us. I know we've had a little bit of a wild morning here trying to get this thing recorded, but I think we're finally going to work it out. That's August the off season, so the schedule's a little lighter so we can make it work. You are also, by the way, one of the few beatwriters, the NFL beat writers that I have talked to, who is not currently in Europe. Everybody's in Europe. Like, I reached out to somebody who covers the Saints, and he was like, I'm flying to Europe.

I reached out to my buddy who covers the Patriots. He's like, I just got home from Europe. So did you take a vacation this summer? Have you, do you have one planned? I'm actually about to. embark on like a four-week vacation, but not, I'm saying state sides. It's kind of all around the northeast, but I would definitely, this is the time of year where the NFL world unplug, so I'll be taking advantage of that.

Well, good for you. I just got back from Punta Kana, and I brought a frog in my throat back a little bit, so I apologize to all the listeners, but we'll get through this. And I want you all to know that the franchise-focused series of pocketcast is brought to you by Evans, sports cards, and collectibles, the best place for cards, collectibles, autographs, and more. Hence why it's called Evans SportsCard and Collectibles. All of our memorabilia giveaways at Fantasy Points are from Evans, and we always have the latest boxes and releases from Panini, upper deck, tops, and more. And it's a family-owned small business, so it's not a super store.

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and tell them that the guys from FantasyPoint.com sent you. So, Dan, obviously a big offseason for the New York. Giants, massive offseason, bringing in Brian Dable. When you've been watching this team in OTAs and talking to some of the players and some of the coaches, what are some of the biggest changes that you've noticed so far with the Giants on the offensive side of the football? I mean, I think to kind of put it bluntly, they're entering the 21st century, because obviously the knock on Jason Garrett's offense that it was kind of outdated and didn't incorporate

a lot of the more modern wrinkles that you'll see in this offense, whether that's pre-snap motion, where guys are aligned. You know, you didn't even really get to see the full team on the field because guys like Kenny Galdade and Sterling Shepard and Cadarious, Tony, you've spent most of the spring on the sidelines. So you can only imagine when those guys are on the field. But, yeah, Sequin Barkley was lining up all over the place. Wondell Robinson, the rookie was, you know, always in motion, always kind of, you know,

going this way and that. I expect you'll see the same from Tony when he's out there. So it's just, you know, we've seen what the table's offensive look like in Buffalo. so kind of more of the same. But for the Giants, that's really a breath of fresh air because it just was such a stagnant sort of archaic offense under Garrett. Well, I think the big question for the Giants, and we'll get to Daniel Jones and how he'll look in this offense.

But since we're doing a fantasy podcast here, I've got to lead off with Saquan Barkley. It's got to be what does he look like? Where has he been lining up? He said all over the place. We know he's a great receiver. I think getting him in space is so important. And because he's a space runner,

He's an explosive play kind of guy, and he just wasn't creating them last year. Have you seen maybe a little bit of an extra pep in his step from talking to him, watching him in practice? What is the outlook on Sequin Barkley? Yeah, that's a little hard to say because one thing with Sequin, he always kind of says the right thing. If you go back and look at his transcripts, you know, every year, it's been, oh, we have a great team, and I feel great, and his coaches are great,

and you kind of hear the same thing year for a year and your eyes kind of start to gloss over in here now in year five. that being said the fact that it is this different office scheme it does seem like it's well suited to his skill set because even you say he's a great receiver we really haven't seen that to the full extent doesn't feel like even his rookie union like 92 catches so much of that was just check down to third and 17 give it to him the flat he makes like three guys miss and he's still punting so I think what you could maybe see in this offense is like the full display of his receiving arsenal like lining up in the slot running routes not just being like the check down option the flat. I think there'll be a lot more creativity the way they get him the ball, a lot of screen, that type of thing. And as you said, he is such a dangerous player in space. I think it would be a waste of his talents to just, you know, think you're going to make him between the tackles runner. I think at this point in his career, even when he's at his best, that really isn't his strain. So finding ways to get him the ball in space, you know, always should have been a priority.

Sometimes it wasn't always seemed to be the case with past coordinators. But I do think that'll be a big focus of this new regime. And I think one of the things that's super interesting because we're talking about his receiving. Now I want to transition to Daniel Jones. Brian Dables coming from Buffalo, the last couple of years, they've been maybe the overall past heaviest team in the entire NFL. Of course, the big difference is Buffalo has Josh Allen, the Giants have Daniel Jones. If you want to make an argument that's very pro Daniel Jones, two years ago, Josh Allen wasn't Josh Allen the way he is now. Now I think even those who are bullish on Daniel Jones would say he's not as physically gifted as Josh Allen. Very few are, if anybody.

But do you expect the past game? You said they moved to the 21st century here. Is that going to be a focus for the New York Giants this year? Is this going to be instead of two yards in a cloud of dust run Sequin behind center? Could we see them open it up and maybe make the past game the foundation? I would think so. I mean, because certain things are kind of philosophical and sort of, you know, part of your identity, I think, as a coach and a play caller. So, sure, you have to adapt to the personnel you have. But I think that, you know, Brian David, like you said, they were one of the most past happy teams in the NFL. It became more amplified as Josh Allen grew and as I got Stefan Diggs and that's understood.

But I do think, you know, I think that's how he wants to see his offense function. He's, you know, brought him Mike Kafka probably is going to call play. So you bring some of Andy Reed tree. Again, I would think you're going to see a lot of passing, you know, so much depends on. You know, we're talking fantasy, but the offensive line, if that's a better group, I think that gives you a little more freedom to throw the ball because I think a lot of would happen, whereas I'm not giving Jason Garrett a pass by any stretch or Joe Judge. They were so overly conservative because they just had no faith, justifiably so,

that the offensive line could hold up. So you can't run those deep crossing routes that, you know, we see Tyree Kill making catches 30 yards down field and they look great. But you can't really run that if the quarterback can't, you know, get back to the bottom top of his drop without a guy being in his face. So that's certainly something that they have tried to upgrade this offseason. And it can't really be any worse. I know Giants fans have said that year of the year,

but I think it really feels that way this year. So that should free them up to throw the ball a bit more than the head in the past. And just to point out, there is a legitimate shot. This line has four new starters, correct? Yeah, I mean, I think the odds are strong that that will be the case. Andrew Thomas, obviously, is back at left tackle. And, you know, there definitely were signs in year two. And even late in his rookie year that, you know,

he'd be worthy of the top five pick they used on him. Went on got Evan Nia with the seventh pick this year. So there should be your. bookend tackles for the next decade. The only free agent that really spent on was Mark Lewinsky from the Colts. It was just kind of a solid, you know, mid-level start of it. That's still an upgrade for them, a right guy for sure. Center they brought in John Feliciano from Buffalo, who goes way back with the off the line correct Bobby Johnson and Babel and Joe Shane Buffalo, obviously. And then left guard is sort of the one spot that's somewhat up a grab. I think that's

going to be Shane Lemieux, who I guess technically isn't a new starter, but you're talking about a guy who played 17 snaps in the opener last year. And then, you know, was out for the season, with a knee injury. So for all intents of purposes, he's new because he really didn't play much at all last year. Yeah. And then obviously they drafted as a Udu from North Carolina, who could also play guard. So they got a lot of a injection of talent there. But, you know, when you look at, you mentioned Brian Davel adapting to his personnel. And we know, we know what Daniel Jones's limitations are. We're not going to try to compare him to Josh Allen. But when you look at this team, I mean, they're pretty deep at receiver. I know Kenny Galladay was a

big disappointment. Sterling Shepard's coming off the serious injury, but you've got Canary's Tony, Wondale Robinson, and of course, Barclay. I mean, I think it makes sense that they're going to, they're going to throw the ball quite a bit. And I want to focus mostly on Canarius, Tony, and Robinson, because those are the two young guys who, you know, Tony was tantalizing last year, but only in brief spurts. And then we had the weird rumors this off season. Talking about saying the right things. Is that something Tony's doing right now and what coaches are doing about Cadarius, Tony? I couldn't tell you what Cadarious is saying. I think he's spoken since like last November. He's a guy that the Giants. He very much underwraps. He is not a polished presence of the

microphone. All you really get from him is some questionable Instagram posts every now and then. So he's never going to be a team spokesman, that's for sure. But he is a dynamic playmaker. I mean, coaches are saying all the right things about him. But again, the last half said all the same stuff at this time last year and by the middle of the season they're pulling a hair out because he's just a he's a difficult guy to manage um he's not even one of these like big personality guys in the sense of like people might want to compare him to odell because obviously it's another uh talented giant's part to see he's very different um with him too that a lot of the stuff is just getting on the field i mean there's been every reason in the book why this guy has not practiced and played since the moment

they drafted him whether his cleats didn't fit or he held out of oTAs last year as a rookie which never happens and then just a litany of injuries in COVID. And now he's leaked out with a knee surgery this spring, which kept him up the field. So he has just been like a tease and you see the talent. It's obviously undeniable. But the question marks that dogged him through his time of Florida through the draft process, he hasn't quieted those at all in his first year in the NFL, which is why those trade rumors came up.

And I think this is a guy who obviously they'd love to make it work with. But this is a new regime. if things don't go well this year, you know, they no ties to him and it would not shock me if he is on the block next year. Right now it doesn't make sense to trade him. You're getting pennies on a dollar for a guy who is very talented. But he's a guy that, listen, if everything goes right, he could be an absolutely dynamic playmaker and really make this offense go. Just kind of hard to rely on him based on what we've seen from him so far. I mean, I think it's hard to rely on Kenny Goliday as well, but kind of everything's working against him last year.

What are your expectations for him in the new offense? Yeah, I mean, they're low. I can be honest, I'm going to come across very pessimistic, if any fantasy, you know, people who get their drafts. I'm not going to be telling you to go out and grab all the Giants you can. I mean, because getting to God, it really hasn't done it now in two years because he had the hip injury is last year in Detroit, which really limited. I mean, I only played five games that year.

And then it's sort of similar to Tony where it was just like he just couldn't stay on the practice field last year. He even starting in training camp. And then I think he played 13 to 14 games last season, but he was always on the injury report. There's always, you know, pregame workouts to see if you get him play. He just never looked like this explosive number one receiver that you thought you were getting. Now, he's never been a guy who's created separation and been super fast.

So maybe the offense needs to just be tailored to him a little more force and throws to him, let him go use his skills as like a test of catch receiver because that was supposed to be a strength. We just didn't see that last year. But what we did see last year was very underwhelming, obviously a huge contract that I would have to imagine with some truth serum ownership and those who are still here. have some buyers remorse on. I could definitely see the moving on from him next offseason. So it's funny. This wide receiving court that you were saying is it's kind of deep.

It could look a lot thinner in a year. For sure. Things don't go well. I mean, granted, on the flip side, there is talent. So if this offensive scheme and these coaches are able to most of them, yeah, this could absolutely be an explosive wide receiving core. It's just there's so many questions with those two guys in particular and then Shepard coming back from a major injury that it's hard for me to have faith that it's all

going to come together just because last year was such a disaster and it's a lot of the same guys are back. You know, it's kind of funny. I'm looking at the names here and I'm like, oh, you know, there's some talent here. You're the guy who's been in the building and you're like, well, you know. I'm the guy who's done his every offseason with Evan Engron and with Seikwant for like three and four years now. Oh, in April, these guys are like amazing shorts and T-shirt and then you get September and they're on IR or they're not producing. So it's definitely, I will admit, this is this beat has jaded me a bit more than I already was.

So it's just hard for me to get too really excited based on paper and names because it's just, It hasn't come together for this franchise, really in my time on the beat, I joined in 2016, and that was the high watermark and it's been kind of all downhill since then. I know it's kind of tough to get a full read on this because you've only been around Brian Dable and his offense so briefly. But, Dan, one of the things I've been asking all my guests on these franchise focus podcast is maybe a lower end guy who might be a surprise contributor on offense, who we might not be talking about the way we're talking about a Staquin.

Do you have a name on the Giants that comes to mind for that? Yeah, well, it's tough because, you know, there are a lot of bigger names here. So I could go sort of lower level would be like Wondell Robinson, which a guy you've already mentioned. So I don't know if he qualifies, but, you know, the second round picks, I think there'll be some expectations. But especially if Shepard isn't ready for the start of the season and if Tony's kind of in out of the lineup, there's a big opportunity for Robinson. I think when they drafted him, A, there's some surprise because he's so small and he wasn't really projected to the second round pick. But then also it's like, well, doesn't he kind of have a redundant skill set with Tony? and I think, like, you know, Joe Shane's answer was like, so what?

You know what I mean? Like they want to have guys with that type of skill. So you look at Buffalo. They always have like small, shifty wide receivers. Yeah. Like Kansas City, obviously with Tyree Kale and some other smaller receivers that had success with. So they want guys who are kind of multidimensional, can create separation.

It presumably makes life easier for the quarterback if a guy like Robinson is so quick and shifting and can uncover and then get yards after the catch. So I think he's a guy who could have kind of a high volume this year. I think, again, if these guys aren't in the line. of especially, but they'll just find ways to get him the ball. I mean, he put running back in Nebraska for part of his college career. So he's a guy you can just find ways to get the ball to. If you want to go further off the radar, their fourth round pick, Daniel Bellinger,

was running as the number one tight end in the spring. Wow. They have guys like Ricky Seals Jones and Jordan Aiken's, which obviously don't inspire a ton of confidence. So Ballander shows that he's up to the task in camp. You know, maybe he becomes the number one tight end. Now, I don't think that's, he's going to have some monster season. But if you're looking kind of deep, I mean, maybe he's a guy just, you know, falls into a couple touchdowns in the red zone, something like that.

I don't think he's going to be a feature piece of the offense, but he could have a bigger role than maybe you'd expect for a fourth round tight end. His name is Dan Duggan. I want to thank him especially for sticking with us while we had some technical difficulty issues. I'm scheduling 32 of these, Dan. I guarantee that is not going to be the last time that happened. But I appreciate you sticking with it. You need a four-week vacation after doing this and trying to get your microphone to work. but you can follow him on Twitter at D Duggan 21.

Hopefully Brian Dable like makes you a little less jaded about the beat, but it was a fantastic interview, man. Thanks so much for having, uh, for giving us some time. Yeah, absolutely. Thanks a lot, Joe. All right, guys, franchise focus. We're just going to continue soldiering on here over the next four weeks as we head into training camp.

One interview for all 32 teams and you can check out all the articles up at FantasyPoint.com. For Dan Duggan, I am Joe Dolan. Thanks for listening to this. extensive breakdown of the New York Giants, and we'll talk to you very shortly. Thanks for tuning in to this edition of the Fantasy Points podcast. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite platform, and come join the roster at FantasyPoint.com.