New York Giants - Fantasy News

Giants at 49ers Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

by Aaron Bowers

11/9/17

NFL

New York Giants

Evan Engram

When the New York Giants travel to California to face the San Francisco 49ers this week, the only thing on the line will be positioning for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Those few individuals that elect to watch this game must be die-hard football fans or rabid fantasy players.

The Giants made the playoffs in 2016, and many league observers expected the franchise to return to the postseason this year. But this team could not be any further from a playoff race.

The New York offense was bad even before Brandon Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr. were lost for the season, and the once-proud defense has almost completely given up, which has been a boon for opposing fantasy players.

Meanwhile, despite being the only team with an 0-9 record, San Francisco’s season is actually going better than expected. The 49ers have hung close in several games, positioned themselves for a high draft pick and traded for a quarterback of the future. Still, the on-field product hasn’t been that pleasant on the eyes.

New York Giants Week 10 Projected Fantasy Points
Eli Manning: 12.5 PFP
Evan Engram: 10.5 PFP
Sterling Shepard: 10.0 PFP
Orleans Darkwa: 9.5 PFP
Wayne Gallman: 6.0 PFP
Aldrick Rosas: 5.5 PFP

San Francisco 49ers Week 10 Projected Fantasy Points
C.J. Beathard: 13.5 PFP
Carlos Hyde: 13.0 PFP
Robbie Gould: 7.5 PFP
Marquise Goodwin: 7.0 PFP
Matt Breida: 5.5 PFP

Start 'Em: Evan Engram (10.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 10.27

Engram is one of the few bright spots of the New York offense. A first-round pick out of Ole Miss, he has been a revelation at the tight end position. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the NFL Combine, and that speed shows up on the field. Though it is almost unheard of for a rookie tight end to produce consistent fantasy value, Engram is in the top 10 at the position in DFP per game. Since Beckham and Marshall went down in Week 5, he leads the team in targets and has averaged nearly 14 DFP per contest. He should be targeted heavily once again against a struggling 49ers linebacker corps.

Sit 'Em: Orleans Darkwa (9.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 7.36

After starting the season as the No. 3 running back for the Giants, injuries and ineffectiveness have elevated Darkwa to the top of the depth chart. Unfortunately, apart from a couple of big plays, he has been just as ineffective as any other Giants running back. He’s scored only one touchdown and has just two games with more than 9.5 DFP. In a completely lost season, New York is trying to figure out what players are worth keeping going into 2018. Wayne Gallman, Shane Vereen and the now-healthy Paul Perkins are all splitting time behind a disastrous offensive line. We’re fading Darkwa at such an optimistic PFP total.

Start 'Em: Marquise Goodwin (7.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 6.03

It’s tough times for the 49ers offense. With Pierre Garcon, Joe Staley and George Kittle out, and C.J. Beathard at quarterback, there just isn’t a lot of fantasy production to be had. However, this sets up to be a good spot for Goodwin, the de facto No. 1 receiver in San Francisco. An Olympic sprinter, Goodwin doesn’t do anything well on a football field except for running fast in straight lines. As the Rams showed last Sunday, that’s all you need to score a touchdown against the Giants. In that game, Sammy Watkins scored on a 67-yard bomb, and Robert Woods wove through an indifferent secondary to score a 52-yard touchdown. Starting New York corners Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins have both been suspended this season for quitting on head coach Ben McAdoo. If there was ever a chance for Goodwin to break out, this is it.

Sit 'Em: C.J. Beathard (13.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 11.13

There aren’t many starting quarterbacks in the NFL as underqualified as Beathard. A third-round rookie out of Iowa, the best thing that can be said about him is that he isn’t Brian Hoyer. He takes an eternity to process the field, throws inaccurate passes and has six turnovers in four starts. What’s not to love? While the Giants defense may be a joke, the 49ers offensive line has been worse. The unit has given up five sacks and 12 quarterback hits per game in the last three weeks, and Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon are coming to town. This is an easy fade on Dober Play Cards this week.