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Giants's Draft Report Card

--hidden-- | Drafted Round 21, Pick 419
B+ Grade
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Draft Recap Summary

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Giants Draft Their Way to Mediocrity, Expected to Be Just Good Enough to Miss Playoffs

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In the Rokhed NFL Dynasty league, the Giants made their presence known with a draft performance that can only be described as average. With a draft grade of B+, they managed to secure a projected record of 12-2-0, which is just good enough to land them in 4th place. It seems like the Giants are destined to be the team that everyone forgets about, like that one cousin who always shows up to family gatherings but no one can remember their name. Despite their best efforts, they couldn't quite crack the top 8 teams that make it to the playoffs, leaving them on the outside looking in.

The Giants' draft strategy seemed to be a mix of calculated risks and questionable decisions. Their best pick came at 159 with Kadarius Toney, who was snatched up well below their ADP of 122. It's a small victory, but hey, at least they got something right. On the other hand, their worst pick was made at 119 with Tank Bigsby, who was taken earlier than their ADP of 129. It's like they were trying to prove a point by reaching for a player who probably would have still been available later. And let's not forget the Giants' affinity for a particular team, as they drafted not one, not two, but three players from the same team. It's almost like they were trying to form their own mini-squad within the squad. Who needs diversity when you can have a trio of players from the same team, right? All in all, the Giants' draft performance can be summed up in one word: meh.

ADP Analysis

Pick Number

Bars above zero indicate a pick was selected later than a player's ADP. Bars below zero show players that were taken earlier than their ADP.

Inside the Draft

Player Outlooks

- Round 1, Pick 19 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 23 - 2022 Rank: 1

Fresh off his second Super Bowl victory, second MVP title and his best season since he took the league by storm in 2018, it's easier than ever to declare Mahomes the best quarterback in the NFL. Whether that proves to be true in fantasy football is a different question, but it's tough to bet against Mahomes after throwing for 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns last year. Mahomes' rushing ability isn't the first thing to come to mind when looking at his game, but his ability to add at least 300 yards and a couple touchdowns on the ground provides a meaningful boost to his fantasy output. The departures of free agent wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman shouldn't matter much, especially since the Chiefs reloaded with second-round pick Rashee Rice and quality free agent slot man Richie James. There's also the expectation that Kadarius Toney step up more after the Chiefs acquired him in-season from the Giants in 2022. So long as Travis Kelce is on the field it seems like Mahomes can score points with pretty much any combination of wide receivers.

- Round 2, Pick 39 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 9 - 2022 Rank: 57

After spending the first three seasons of his career stuck in a run-focused Titans offense that didn't always take advantage of Brown's imposing physicality, the 2019 second-round pick got traded to the Eagles and was unleashed on the NFL. He shattered his career highs in both receiving volume and efficiency nearly across the board, and his presence alongside DeVonta Smith on the outside helped quarterback Jalen Hurts blossom into an MVP candidate. After a run to the Super Bowl, Philadelphia was able to avoid significant turnover on the offensive side of the ball, so there's little reason to expect Brown's usage to decline in 2023. On the other hand, there's little reason to expect it to increase either. Hurts' elite running ability puts a cap on the team's passing volume, and Brown still has to split looks with Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, although the team's other skill players didn't get used much as receivers last year. Brown will have to rely on big plays and red-zone targets to post elite numbers again, but he's more than capable of doing so.

- Round 3, Pick 59 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 21 - 2022 Rank: 112

The 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith followed up his strong rookie campaign with an even better Year 2. Rather than being overshadowed by A.J. Brown after he was acquired from the Titans, the different skill sets of the two wideouts proved to complement each other perfectly, and their presence downfield allowed Jalen Hurts to break out and join the ranks of elite NFL quarterbacks. The two receivers saw similar volumes, and while Brown's size and athleticism made him a better deep threat, Smith's sharp route-running allowed him to pick apart defenses in the intermediate parts of the field. The Eagles had little turnover on the offensive side of the ball after their NFC Championship, so Smith's role figures to remain stable in 2023. He should continue to feature prominently in debates about who the best No. 2 receiver in the league is, alongside Tee Higgins and Jaylen Waddle.

- Round 4, Pick 79 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 55 - 2022 Rank: 149

Evans is coming off an odd season. The numbers ended up where they needed to be, as his 1,124 receiving yards were his most since 2019. In addition, his 77 receptions and 127 targets were his most since 2018. With touchdowns being unpredictable, the fact he scored six, which was his fewest since 2017, was understandable. From a week-to-week standpoint, his performance was frustrating. He had eight games with two-to-four receptions. And over his last eight games, he surpassed 60 yards twice. And he really had just two big games all year, though one of those was in Week 17, and it may have helped win leagues, as he surpassed 200 yards with three TDs. With Tom Brady gone and Baker Mayfield in, that may not be optimal. But having shown that he hasn't slowed down entering his age-30 season, if he gets reasonable QB play, he should have a chance for a top-20 season.

- Round 5, Pick 99 - Bye 11

2023 Rank: 119 - 2022 Rank: 242

Taken in the third round out of Memphis in 2020, Gibson found himself falling out of favor with former offensive coordinator Scott Turner last year and was reduced to primarily a passing-down role despite having rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2021. While he's an outstanding athlete with great speed and good receiving skills, Gibson's instincts as a runner have never really developed, and he lost early-down touches to rookie Brian Robinson. Robinson was unimpressive though, and Turner was replaced by former Kansas City coordinator Eric Bieniemy in the offseason. While Gibson's profile more closely resembles the kind of backs who thrived in the scheme Bieniemy brings with him, 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez is also a legitimate threat to claim the starting job, which would once again relegate Gibson to passing-down and change-of-pace work.

- Round 6, Pick 119 - Bye 9

2023 Rank: 133 - 2022 Rank: -

Bigsby was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Jaguars after posting 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns on 540 carries (5.4 YPC) in 35 games over the past three years at Auburn. The 6-foot, 210-pound Bigsby reportedly impressed as both a rusher and pass catcher at OTAs, further entrenching his standing as the top backup to Travis Etienne. While Etienne was a big play machine in his first NFL season last year, he struggled to churn out consistent gains at times, so Bigsby has a direct path to a prominent role in clock-killing situations, which could be plentiful if the Jaguars play up to their billing as favorites in the AFC South. Bigsby will need to hold off RBs D'Ernest Johnson, JaMycal Hasty, Snoop Conner, and Qadree Ollison in camp and preseason, but the rookie is the clear favorite to open his NFL career as the No. 2 option behind Etienne, if not the 1B in a platoon.

- Round 7, Pick 139 - Bye 11

2023 Rank: 134 - 2022 Rank: 298

Johnson was a converted wide receiver when entering the NFL three years ago. Although some fantasy players were excited about his potential, he needed time to fully make the transition. Last year, he finally had an opportunity, and he took advantage of it. He turned 65 targets into a 500-yard season with seven touchdowns. Although his seasonal numbers weren't special, Johnson was a high-floor player for much of the year. He posted at least 40 yards eight times over 16 games. He was a regular visitor to the end zone in Weeks 7-15, when he scored all of his touchdowns for the season in a seven-game span. He also proved to be a big-play producer, as eight of his 42 catches resulted in gains of at least 20 yards. With Derek Carr under center and likely dealing with protection issues, Johnson may directly benefit from the QB's need to get the ball out quickly. Johnson has the potential to finish as a top-12 TE.

- Round 8, Pick 159 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 196 - 2022 Rank: 636

Few NFL players have as much upside intrigue as Toney, but it's also true that few NFL players are half as confusing. It's a given that Toney is a unique, maybe even one-of-a-kind threat when he has the ball, but his durability struggles and mercurial relationship with the Giants made it difficult to tell whether he has anything else to his game. To this point, Toney has never run a legitimate combination of routes, so while he certainly has the athleticism to be an all-around receiver it's not clear whether he'll ever develop the route-running acumen necessary to do so. Now 24, Toney has some but not much time to demonstrate skills growth before we have to stare down the possibility that he simply is what he already is. Even if Toney never improves a bit, though, he should still be a nightmarish after-the-catch threat as an underneath specialist for the Chiefs. The Chiefs want him to step up as their WR1, so if he makes the necessary improvements then the fantasy rewards could be enormous. Very little is truly guaranteed, though.

- Round 9, Pick 179 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 52 - 2022 Rank: 1316

Ford will enter training camp as Nick Chubb's backup after the Browns opted against re-signing both Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson. A fifth-round pick last year, Ford was limited mainly to kick returns as a rookie. However, in 2021 he had an impressive final collegiate season at Cincinnati with 20 touchdowns and more than 1,500 scrimmage yards. Prior to that, Ford played ahead of eventual third-round pick Brian Robinson at Alabama. Ford has average size for an NFL RB at 5-10, 210, and he was clocked at 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash last spring. The Browns seem to be believers, with 2021 sixth-round pick Demetric Felton representing Ford's most serious competition for playing time behind Chubb unless the team signs a noteworthy veteran over the summer.

- Round 10, Pick 199 - Bye 11

2023 Rank: 1193 - 2022 Rank: 99

Four seasons into his career, Franklin had recorded 518 total defensive snaps as compared to 1,272 on special teams. However, star linebacker Shaquille Leonard was lost for the season after only three games due to a neck injury, clearing a path for Franklin on the defensive side of the ball in 2022. That led to a breakout season, as he tallied 167 tackles, three sacks, and six passes defended over 17 games. Heading into 2023, Leonard is still recovering from his injury, and Bobby Okereke departed in free agency during the offseason. Given that, Franklin should be in store for another prominent role during the 2023 campaign and has the chance to solidify his status as one of the better linebackers in the league.

DEF - Round 11, Pick 219 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 204 - 2022 Rank: 66

The Bengals defense had a strong 2022, ranking eighth with 24 takeaways and sixth with only 19 points allowed per game. However, the team lost both starting safeties, Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, during free agency in the offseason. As a result, they will have to rely on 2022 first-rounder Dax Hill and new signing Nick Scott to step up.Additionally, the Bengals have added second-round rookie CB DJ Turner to their secondary. The team's front seven at least looks strong again, which may aid the inexperienced secondary. And from a fantasy standpoint, it helps that the Bengals have an offense capable of providing large leads throughout the season.

- Round 12, Pick 239 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 35 - 2022 Rank: 933

A fifth-round pick last season, Williams broke his foot in preseason and then suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 1 that kept him sidelined until Week 10. When he returned he had an opportunity for touches but didn't show enough to earn a larger role. He had 30-plus snaps in Weeks 11 and 12 and totaled 104 yards on 22 touches, and once Cam Akers got hot down the stretch, Williams was hardly heard from again -- he played zero offensive snaps Week 18. Williams is undersized at 5-foot-9, 194, and not particularly athletic (4.65-second 40, 32-inch vertical and 116-inch broad jump). Nevertheless, he'll compete in camp to back up Akers with Sony Michel and fellow fringe prospects Zach Evans, Ronnie Rivers and Tiyon Evans.

- Round 13, Pick 259 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 205 - 2022 Rank: 426

Parker, who was traded to New England via the Dolphins last April, caught 31 of his 47 targets for 539 yards and three scores in 13 games in his first season with the Patriots. The 30-year-old is the best contested-catch option in New England's wide receiver room, though the presence of two capable pass-catching tight ends in Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki could portend significant role overlap. Parker's key to fantasy success will be to establish better chemistry with Mac Jones in their second year together, thus earning more reliable volume. Even then, JuJu Smith-Schuster profiles as the leader among the Patriots' WR room, while Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne could both realistically be featured more prominently in 2023.

- Round 14, Pick 279 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 143 - 2022 Rank: 619

Kelley held off 2022 rookie fourth-round pick Isaiah Spiller throughout last year, but Kelley was once again a non-factor from scrimmage (4.2 yards per carry, 4.0 yards per target). That makes three years in a row where Kelley was non-viable with his snaps, so you can see why the Chargers signed retread Sony Michel last year to split snaps with Kelley behind Ekeler. Michel is no longer on the team, but Spiller is a year older now and might be better prepared to compete with Kelley for playing time in 2023. Kelley needs to produce better to hold off Spiller for a second year. It's worth remembering that Spiller was regarded more highly as a prospect out of Texas A&M than Kelley was out of UCLA. The Chargers also have enough cap room to add a veteran runner behind Ekeler if they're not pleased with the progress of Kelley and/or Spiller.

- Round 15, Pick 299 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 1203 - 2022 Rank: 148

Jewell was limited to only two games in 2021 due to a torn pectoral, and he appeared to be in for another injury-marred season in 2022. He managed to suit up for only three of Denver's first seven games due to calf and knee injuries. However, he showed exactly what he's capable of when healthy across the second half of the campaign by racking up double-digit tackles across seven of his final nine matchups. All told, he managed a career-high 128 stops and surpassed the century mark for the second time in his career. Jewell is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, and he'll be locked into a starting inside linebacker along fellow prolific tackler Alex Singleton. Assuming health is on his side, Jewell is a decent bet to top 150 tackles to go along with some sacks, pass breakups, and forced fumbles.

- Round 16, Pick 319 - Bye 14

2023 Rank: 500 - 2022 Rank: 197

- Round 17, Pick 339 - Bye 11

2023 Rank: 1844 - 2022 Rank: 250

- Round 18, Pick 359 - Bye 6

2023 Rank: 249 - 2022 Rank: 98

Joseph has attempted an impressive 86 field goals over the last two years while converting 88.3 percent of his chances for the Vikings. Playing on a team that's seen its defense decline over the past couple years, Minnesota is often forced into shootouts, which is always great for kickers. However, the downside can be that when a team trails too much, they have to go for touchdowns over field goals. So although Joseph had seven games with at least nine points, he also had six games with four or fewer points. Although it's unlikely he'll be an elite fantasy option, he's a reasonable option as a top-12 kicker.

- Round 19, Pick 379 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 155 - 2022 Rank: 550

With Jonathan Taylor on the shelf the final four weeks of 2022, Moss rushed for 334 yards and a touchdown on 69 carries, though he was limited to just 12 receiving yards over that span. That strong finish on the ground likely earned Moss a spot on the Colts' 2023 roster after the 2020 third-round pick opened his career with a pair of lackluster seasons in Buffalo. In fact, Moss even entered training camp with a shot at the second spot on the depth chart, which meant taking a lot of snaps with the starters while Taylor missed practice for what seemingly was a mix of contract and injury reasons. The opportunity may have slipped through Moss' hands, however, as a broken arm at the end of July left him with an estimated recovery timeline of six weeks. The Colts, meanwhile, are left with Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull as the top choices to fill in for Taylor.

- Round 20, Pick 399 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 1202 - 2022 Rank: 164

David signed a modest one-year, $1.1 million contract this offseason to remain with the Buccaneers for a 12th NFL campaign. Despite his relatively advanced age and heavy workload during his career, David managed 123 tackles last year -- his most since 2019. He also played more than 1,000 snaps for the third time in the last four seasons, an impeccable record of consistency and availability. It's possible that we see his role shift in 2023, however. Tampa Bay spent a fifth-round pick on SirVocea Dennis, whose instincts make him an ideal player to apprentice with the veteran linebacker. If the team elects to begin the transition this year - a possibility considering the likelihood that the Buccaneers aren't competing for the playoffs -- David's volume would suffer even if his per-play efficiency remains consistent.

- Round 21, Pick 419 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 2066 - 2022 Rank: 709

Uzomah operated as a clear No. 2 option behind Tyler Conklin last season, and there's little reason to project a seachange in 2023. Uzomah is the better blocker of the tandem, though, so even while Conklin runs substantially more routes, it's not as though Uzomah lacks a path to the field. Uzomah's larger frame could better lend to end zone targets from new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, although wideouts Allen Lazard and Corey Davis can also get the job done in that respect. 2022 third-round pick Jeremy Ruckert could also push for more playing time in 2023, though he barely did anything as a rookie.

Team Forecast

Bye Week Points Lost

Points

Each bar represents the total projected season points for each player that's on bye that week. This chart shows any potential bye week issues.

Schedule by Opponent Points

Week

Week-by-week schedule with each opponent's projected season points. This chart shows any difficult or easy stretches in the schedule.

Giants
1. (19) Patrick Mahomes
2. (39) A.J. Brown
3. (59) DeVonta Smith
4. (79) Mike Evans
5. (99) Antonio Gibson
6. (119) Tank Bigsby
7. (139) Juwan Johnson
8. (159) Kadarius Toney
9. (179) Jerome Ford
10. (199) Zaire Franklin
11. (219) Cincinnati
12. (239) Kyren Williams
13. (259) DeVante Parker
14. (279) Joshua Kelley
15. (299) Josey Jewell
16. (319) Jalen Thompson
17. (339) DeForest Buckner
18. (359) Greg Joseph
19. (379) Zack Moss
20. (399) Lavonte David
21. (419) C.J. Uzomah

Best Draft

Best Draft is awarded to the team with the most projected season points based on weekly optimal starting lineups.

League Draft Grades

Draft Day Projected Standings

Draft Day Power Rankings

Power Rankings are based on projected points for the remainder of the season.