New York Giants Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Tyrod Taylor was carted off the field yesterday after he hurt his knee but he reportedly avoided ligament damage and is considered day-to-day with a patellar tendon contusion. If he misses any time, it would put rookie Nathan Peterman under center again, who will reportedly try to throw fewer than five interceptions in the first half. He didn’t throw any in relief of Taylor this weekend and fortunately for the Bills, they’ll be taking on one of the worst secondaries in the league when they host the Colts on Sunday. They’re giving up the most yards per attempt (8.3) while giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to QBs and ranking 13th in total interceptions (10). They were without their best corner, Rashaan Melvin (hand), in Week 13 and Blake Bortles tore them up, completing 74% of his passes for 309 yards and two scores. Melvin isn’t expected back this week and fellow starting CB Pierre Desir left Week 13 early with a shoulder injury. That could leave them with Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore on the outside, who would rank 99th and 111th in PFF coverage grades if they qualified. On top of that, the Colts are 29th in adjusted sack rate and generally struggle to apply pressure on QBs. It’s going to be incredibly hard to trust Peterman and his pass-catchers if he starts but this matchup is worlds apart from his debut against the Chargers. Travaris Cadet is in the concussion protocol. He handled seven touches on Sunday. Mike Tolbert missed the past few games but he’s expected to return to practice this week. If both players end up out, it would open up a monster workload for LeSean McCoy. On the defensive side of things, CB Tre’Davious White is in the concussion protocol after taking a late hit from Rob Gronkowski. He’s had a fantastic rookie season, currently ranking fifth in PFF coverage grades and 13th in cover snaps per reception (14.5) while boasting a 51% catch rate. He’d primarily see Chester Rogers if he suits up, so his absence would be an upgrade for the receiver. Outside of one explosive game against the Steelers - when a huge chunk of his 6/6/104/1 line came on a 61-yard TD - he’s been relatively quiet, failing to top 35 yards or score. In another blow to their run defense, DE Shaq Lawson was carted off with an ankle injury. He’s PFF’s 31st-ranked edge defender against the rush and ranks 18th at his position in run-stop rate. His absence would help Frank Gore.

Matthew Stafford has a bruised throwing hand which shouldn’t prevent him from playing this weekend against the Buccaneers, whose defense is allowing the second-most yards per attempt (7.9) and fifth-highest completion percentage (67%). Stafford is eighth among quarterbacks with 7.8 ypa but he’s taken the second-most sacks (38) as he’s playing behind the 24th-ranked offensive line in pass blocking efficiency. Both RT Rick Wagner and RG T.J. Lang exited Week 12 early which is bad news considering they have the 9th and 5th-best pass blocking grades at their respective positions (per PFF). Fortunately for Stafford, Tampa Bay is dead last in adjusted sack rate (per FO).

Zach Ertz will have to the clear the concussion protocol after being forced from Sunday night’s game early with a head injury. That makes him questionable for Week 14. Last time he missed a game, Brent Celek played 81% of the snaps and Trey Burton played 70% and they ran routes on 35% and 38% of their plays, respectively. They both saw four targets but Burton was the only one to find the end zone. They’ll have a tougher matchup for TEs this time around when they visit the Rams, whose defense is allowing the sixth-fewest PPR points to the position while ranking fifth in DVOA.

Delanie Walker sprained his ankle on a touchdown grab and is considered day-to-day. He played well Sunday, catching all five of his targets for 63 yards the aforementioned score. Per usual, the Titans pass-catchers suffered because Marcus Mariota only threw the ball 23 times. They're running the sixth-fewest plays per game this season (60.6). DL DaQuan Jones has been placed on IR after he suffered a biceps injury Sunday. He had been playing well, racking up 3.5 sacks over the past two games. On the season, he posted the 12th-best run-stop rate among interior defenders. His absence will be an upgrade for Adrian Peterson in Week 14 if the running back is able to return from a neck injury.

C.J. Fiedoworicz could be done for the season after he suffered another concussion Sunday. The last one forced him to the IR and it’s his third since the preseason. With Braxton Miller also forced from the game with a concussion, Bruce Ellington dealing with a hamstring issue, and Will Fuller still sidelined, TE Stephen Anderson saw 12 targets and turned them into five catches for 79 yards and a score. The Texans are running out of people to throw the ball to; depending on how the injury situation shakes out, Anderson could be in line for another heavy workload against the 49ers this weekend. With all of their injury troubles at safety, San Francisco has struggled defending the position recently, allowing the fifth-most PPR points to TEs over the past four weeks. Of course, DeAndre Hopkins will continue to pick up a massive workload no matter what – he saw 14 targets last game – and the 49ers are 27th in WR1 DVOA.

Ravens CB Jimmy Smith tore his Achilles’ tendon on Sunday. He’d been dealing with a sore Achilles for most of the season, often missing practices to rest it. He’ll now miss the rest of the year, which is a big blow to the Ravens secondary. Per PFF, he was allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per route (0.15) heading into Week 13. Rookie CB Marlon Humphrey will join Brandon Carr in the starting line up in place of Smith. He’s seen as many targets as Smith (40) in a little over half the snaps and he’s held receivers to fewer receptions (20 to 23) and yards (282 to 292). Similar to Smith, he hasn’t been charged with a touchdown and he’s picked off two passes (Smith has three). We’ll find out what he’s made of next weekend when he’s set to face Antonio Brown most of the game.

Dolphins CB Cordrea Tankersley suffered shoulder and ankle injuries Sunday but he was able to return the game. The team said they’ll go easy on his this week and the Sun Sentinel believes his status is uncertain. The Dolphins are set to face Tom Brady and the Patriots this weekend, so if they have to dig to into their bench, it would help New England’s passing game. Considering the Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points to QBs over the past four weeks and rank 31st in pass DVOA, it’s already a tremendous spot for the Pats.

Rams LB Alec Ogletree injured his elbow but he believes he’ll be ready to play the Eagles this weekend. He’s one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the game; he’s recorded the fifth-best pass rushing productivity rate among linebackers while recording the third-most pressures (17, per PFF). He would be very useful this weekend considering the Eagles offensive line is sixth in pass-blocking efficiency. They allow a high-percentage of pressures to be converted into sacks though. They’ve been charged with the tenth-most sacks (18) and rank 17th in adjusted sack rate (per FO).

Bears DL Mitch Unrein left Week 13 with a knee injury. He’s posted the ninth-best run-stop rate this season among interior defenders, so his absence next week would be a boost for Joe Mixon. The rookie runner impressed last week against a tough Browns run defense, picking up 114 yards and a TD on the ground. Although he’s last among qualifiers in PFF’s elusive rating (22), he was seventh in Week 12 (59.4). He also added three catches for 51 yards. On the season, his yards per route run would be fifth-among RBs if he qualified (1.83). The Bears are 14th in receiving RB DVOA but have held the position to the fifth-fewest receiving yards this season (34.3/g). Chicago also lost LB Pernell McPhee, PFF’s 49th-ranked edge defender in run defense, and LG Kyle Long to shoulder injuries. Chicago’s backup guards have performed poorly this season, so if Long misses time it’s a downgrade for their pass-protection and ground game. The Bengals defensive line is 18th is adjusted sack rate and 30th in adjusted line yards.

Chiefs DL Allen Bailey injured his knee Sunday, forcing him from the game. He hasn’t had a strong year and he’s earned PFF’s 105th interior defender grade. C Mitch Morse was carted off with a foot injury. He’s been battling foot problems all year and he’s the 29th-ranked center by PFF grading among 36 qualifiers.

Falcons LG Andy Levitre is dealing with a triceps injury. He’s PFF’s 16th-ranked guard this year and he’s allowed the eighth-fewest pressures at his position (12). With the Saints and the third-ranked defense in adjusted sack rate headed to town, Levitre’s presence could really help quarterback Matt Ryan.

Giants RT Chad Wheeler, Justin Pugh’s backup, suffered a concussion Sunday. Bobby Hart, PFF’s 68th tackle among 80 qualifiers, filled in for him. It’s possible Pugh will be able to return this weekend. As a unit, the Giants are 15th in adjusted sack rate and they’ll be taking on a Colts defense that’s 29th in the metric.

The Giants will be without two of their starting cornerbacks as Apple and Janoris Jenkins (ankle, IR) are both out. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Ross Cockrell will be the starting CBs against a Raiders squad missing Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. DRC and Cockrell have earned PFF's 40th and 73rd coverage grades, respectively. Seth Roberts and Cordarrelle Patterson are in line for solid target bumps, as is tight end Jared Cook. Of course, the Giants are notoriously poor at defending tight ends - they've given up the most PPR points to the position - so Cook figures to be a popular option in DFS today. Harrison's presence will be a downgrade for Marshawn Lynch, he's PFF's top-graded run defense grade among interior defenders. Still, Lynch may be used as a workhorse back again this week with Oakland in must-win mode. The Raiders ran him out there for 75% of the offensive snaps in Week 12 and gave him a season-high 29 touches. He returned 110 total yards and a score. The Giants have given up the third-most rushing yards to RBs over the past four weeks (120.7/g).

Harrison's status is important considering he's PFF's top-graded interior defender against the run and he's posted the fifth-best run-stop rate at his position. If he's unable to suit up, it would be an upgrade for Marshawn Lynch, who played a season-high 75% of the snaps last weekend and returned his best game of the season - 110 total yards and a touchdown on 29 touches. While the Raiders mostly managed his reps all season, they're in must-win mode down the stretch sitting at 5-6. That could continue to elevate Lynch's workload going forward. He flashed two-touchdown upside two games ago and he's fifth in the league in rushing attempts inside the five-yard line. While the Giants crumbled over the past four weeks, they allowed the tenth-most PPR points to RBs and the eight-most TDs to the position (0.75/g).

Jenkins will undergo ankle surgery today, ending his season. Jenkins was the best corner on the team, so his absence will certainly be a downgrade for this pass defense the rest of the way. They'll visit the Raiders this weekend as eight-point underdogs with Oakland implied to score 25 points. Quarterback Derek Carr will likely be without his top two receivers, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, setting up nice spots for Cordarrelle Patterson and Johnny Holton on the outside. Of course, the Giants are now infamous for their inability to guard tight ends. Jared Cook flopped last week against the Broncos but he should see a nice volume of targets in one of the best matchups a tight end could ask for. Seth Roberts will be the de facto number one receiver but he'll have the tougher spot against Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who's surrendering the seventh-fewest yards per cover snap when lined up inside (0.84, per PFF). Despite both Crabtree and Cooper leaving Week 12 early, Roberts only saw three targets in a tough matchup with Chris Harris.

With RT Justin Pugh questionable for Week 13, the Giants will be thin on the right side of their line this weekend. As a unit, the Giants are 21st in pass blocking efficiency and they've been charged with the second-most sacks (22). They'll have a terrific matchup against the Raiders, whose defense ranks dead last in adjusted sack rate (per FO). Even with a banged-up line, Eli Manning could find time in the pocket. The Raiders are 31st in WR1 DVOA and 30th in TE DVOA, setting up nice spots for Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram.

Long has been battling a quad injury for weeks which will require surgery. His backup, Chase Roullier, has a hand injury and is questionable for Washington's Thanksgiving date with the Giants. Fortunately for the Redskins, the Giants haven't had a productive pass rush this season; they're currently in dead last with 14 sacks. They haven't had a strong run defense either, ranking 22nd in adjusted line yards and 27th in rush DVOA heading into Week 11. They were able to contain Kareem Hunt to 73 yards on 18 carries though, as they got some key defenders back in the lineup. Samaje Perine will be the workhorse back for Washington with Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley both out. He had his best game of the season last week, crossing 100 yards and scoring - both firsts of his career. He's a much better deal on DraftKings this week at $5.0k compared to $7.2k on FanDuel and he currently projects as our RB7 in points-per-dollar.

Pugh left Week 10 early with a back injury. Bobby Hart, PFF’s 67th-ranked tackle, will continue to fill in while Pugh is sidelined. It’s a slight downgrade for the Giants offense but Pugh has also scored poorly this season. Running back Orleans Darkwa has taken over the Giants backfield and logged 16 touches against the 49ers last Sunday. He's now averaging 5.1 yards per carry heading into a Week 11 showdown against a Chiefs run defense currently 31st in adjusted line yards (4.71, per FO). The Chiefs pass rush is 22nd in adjusted sack rate but they could still find success against a Giants offensive front that's been charged with the sixth-most sacks this season (17, per PFF).

Devonta Freeman suffered his second concussion of the season against the Cowboys Sunday. Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported the running back isn't expected to be cleared in time to play next Monday night and added it's possible he'll be out for an extended period of time. That will give Tevin Coleman the start against the Seahawks, whose defense is limiting RBs to the fourth-fewest PPR points. He turned a season-high 21 touches into 85 yards and a score against Dallas in Week 10. On the season, he’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry and 8.1 yards per target. Generally speaking, he’ll carry plenty of upside in the featured role, but he’ll have a tough matchup this week.

Marcus Mariota is dealing with non-throwing shoulder and ankle injuries heading into a Thursday night matchup with the Steelers but he's fully expected to play. It's a difficult spot considering the Steelers are fifth in pass DVOA and holding QBs to the third-fewest fantasy points this season. However, with injuries to CB Joe Haden and S Mike Mitchell, the matchup will be a bit easier than it looks on paper. The Titans are 7.0-point road dogs, which could force Mariota to the air often. He attempted a season-high 44 attempts in Week 10 and finished with 256 yards and a score. On the season, he's 18th with 7.19 yards per attempt and 29th in touchdown passes (7). He's added three scores on the ground though and picked up at least 24 rushing yards in five games. He was expected to be more involved as a runner this past weekend and he followed through with 51 rushing yards. Delanie Walker suffered a wrist injury Sunday but still led the team with six receptions and 63 yards. He's also expected to suit up against the Steelers, whose defense continues to shut down tight ends. They were second in DVOA heading into the week and limited Jack Doyle to a 2/9/0 line on five looks. They're now third in PPR points allowed to the position.

Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery both left Week 10 early. Jones is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain and he’s expected to miss 3-6 weeks while Montgomery re-aggravated a rib injury and could also miss some time. That leaves Jamaal Williams as Green Bay’s featured back. He ended up seeing 21 touches Sunday but only managed 74 scoreless yards. Next week he’ll face a Ravens defense giving up the third-most rushing yards (110.8/g) and ninth-most rushing scores (0.7/g) to RBs. Brett Hundley tweaked his hamstring during the game which is something to keep an eye on this week.

Will Fuller is dealing with cracked ribs. Although it’s nothing too serious, Fuller will be sidelined for at least one game. Bruce Ellington will serve as the WR2 behind DeAndre Hopkins while Fuller is down. He managed to pick up eight targets and caught Tom Savage’s lone touchdown. Hopkins piled up 14 looks and will undoubtedly continue to be a target monster. With Savage under center, he’ll continue to have some efficiency problems though – he’s only caught 43% of his passes the past two games – and he won’t have as many scoring opportunities. C.J. Fiedorowicz could also benefit from Fuller’s absence. He saw six looks in his first game since Week 1 but he only caught two for ten yards.

Rob Kelley was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain and a grade 1/2 MCL sprain. It’s not clear how long he’ll be out for but it’s highly doubtful he’ll be able to suit up this weekend against the Saints. That should elevate Samaje Perine to the early-down role with Chris Thomspon mixing in for carries while continuing to handle the bulk of the passing downs. Both backs tallied nine carries and Thompson attracted seven targets. Week 11 isn't a bad matchup for Thompson. In addition to the Saints ranking 28th in rush DVOA, they’ve given up the second-most receptions and sixth-most receiving yards to the position. On top of that, Thompson will have a friendly $5.4k price tag on DraftKings this week, possibly the cheapest he'll be the rest of the season. Given the spot and his ability to generate huge plays, Thompson is shaping up to be a solid DFS play in Week 11. Ryan Grant entered the concussion protocol. Despite the receiver leaving early, Terrelle Pryor didn’t see a single target and was out-snapped by Maurice Harris, who made a terrific touchdown grab. It’s possible Harris operates as the WR3 if Grant is out, it’ll be something to monitor this week.

Allen Hurns injured his leg late Sunday and is in danger of missing Jacksonville’s Week 11 matchup with the Browns. Should he sit, it would be a nice boost for Marqise Lee, who caught a touchdown for the second straight game. Dede Westbrook could be activated for the first time this season and may immediately step into a sizable role if Hurns is sidelined.

Jacoby Brissett has entered the concussion protocol. He’ll have an extra week to clear it with the Colts on a bye. If he’s able to play in Week 12, he’ll have a terrific matchup with the woeful Texans pass defense.

Steelers CB Joe Haden has a non-displaced fibula fracture and S Mike Mitchell is dealing with an ankle injury. Fortunately, Haden’s injury won’t require surgery but he’s expected to miss up to six weeks due to the injury. He was having a really strong season, his absence will undoubtedly be a downgrade for the stout Steelers secondary. Coty Sensabaugh played poorly in place of Haden, allowing a 3/83/1 line on four targets. He’ll primarily battle Rishard Matthews on Thursday night. The receiver was second on the team with five catches and 50 yards in Week 10 but he was out-targeted by Corey Davis 10-7 in the rookie’s first game since Week 2. Davis will have his hands full with Artie Burns, who’s 19th in cover snaps per reception (14.1, per PFF), which could encourage Marcus Mariota to send more passes in Matthews’ direction.

Jets CB Morris Claiborne re-aggravated his foot injury causing him to leave Week 10 early. He’ll have a bye to rehab this week. If he’s able to return for their Week 12 matchup with the Panthers, Claiborne will likely shadow Devin Funchess around.

Adam Jones is in the concussion protocol. Although he’s picked up PFF’s 100th cover grade, he’s limiting receivers to a 50% catch rate and 0.85 yards per cover snap which would be 19th if he qualified. He’d primarily line up across from Demaryius Thomas in Week 11 if he plays. Although Thomas tends to be Brock Osweiler’s favorite target, Emmanuel Sanders picked up a team-high 11 looks against the Patriots due to his more favorable matchup with CB Malcolm Butler – he finished with a 6/137/0 line. Sanders would arguably have the better spot again going up against Dre Kirkpatrick, PFF’s 104th cover corner, who’s allowed 1.06 yards per cover snap (43rd).

Cowboys LB Sean Lee injured his hamstring Sunday and could miss a couple of games. It would be a huge loss for Dallas as Lee is playing well this season, earning PFF’s tenth-best linebacker grade. His 11.9% run-stop rate would be good for second at his position if he qualified. His absence would open up a better matchup for the stable of Eagles backs. It’s not yet clear if Jay Ajayi will take over the featured role this week after he logged 17 snaps in his first game with the team. That situation will be worth watching during the week.

Browns LB Jamie Collins suffered a torn MCL and is out for the year. His 9% run-stop rate would be tenth among linebackers if he qualified. His absence will be a little boost for Leonard Fournette. Cleveland’s run defense was the top-ranked unit in DVOA and second in adjusted line yards (per FO) heading into the week but they allowed Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick to combine for 5.8 yards per carry on Sunday with both managing runs of 20+ yards. Fournette is coming off his worst game of the season in which he turned 19 touches into 46 yards against a much worse Chargers run defense. He’ll have a tough spot to bounce back but his volume should remain high.

Giants RT Justin Pugh left early with a back injury. If he misses any time, Bobby Hart, PFF’s 67th-ranked tackle, would continue to fill in. It’s a slight downgrade but Pugh has also scored poorly this season. Running back Orleans Darkwa has taken over the Giants backfield, logging 16 touches against the 49ers. He's now averaging 5.1 yards per carry heading into a Week 11 showdown against a Chief run defense currently in 30th in adjusted line yards (4.66).