The Giants have had a disappointing start to the 2020 season in the opening four weeks, starting 0-4 and ranking last in points scored with just 47. But could second-year receiver Darius Slayton provide some upside for fantasy managers in the coming weeks?
Pursuing a Giants player? Yes, I know, but hear me out…
Darius Slayton had a stellar rookie season, reeling in 48 catches from 84 targets, recording a total 740 yards, and eight touchdowns in 14 games. The former Auburn receiver who was taken in the 5th round of the 2019 draft, made the most of his opportunities, leading the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. The main question coming into the 2020 season was whether he could make another leap and cement himself as the clear number one receiver with Daniel Jones under center.
Slayton started the year on fire, posting 102 yards and two touchdowns from six receptions in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the opening weekend. But the following three weeks have been disappointing for fantasy managers, with Slayton recording a combined 134 yards, and the offense as a whole stuttering to a halt. The Giants currently rank 27th in the league in passing yards so far this year and dead last in receiving touchdowns with just two – the two Slayton reeled in versus the Steelers.
If we’re being kind, the schedule has been far from easy for the G-Men. After the Steelers, the Giants faced the Bears, 49ers, and Rams, all of whom rank in the bottom six for fantasy points allowed to the wide receivers this year, according to FantasyData.
Slayton now ranks as the WR25 in half-PPR scoring so far this year according to FantasyData, although this is largely due to his blow-up game in week 1. One clear positive, however, is that his peripheral numbers look fairly promising. In each game this season he has seen at least six targets, which only occurred in six of the 14 games he played last season. In total he has seen 29 targets in 2020, just one behind Evan Engram, who leads the team. With Saquon Barkley out for the season and Sterling Shepard currently on injured reserve with a toe injury, Slayton should continue to see plenty of targets.
Another positive is that the schedule is beginning to open up after a tough start. This week’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, for example, is mouth-watering. The Cowboys rank second in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers and have allowed a total of 12 receiving touchdowns already this year – just one behind the league-leading Atlanta Falcons with 13. The Cowboys just gave up a staggering 49 points to the Browns, two more points than the New York Giants have scored in their first four games COMBINED…so hopefully this bodes well for Daniel Jones and company this coming Sunday.
After this week’s matchup with Dallas, the Giants’ schedule continues to open up, with (hopefully) more competitive games against the likes of Philadelphia, who they will play twice before their week 11 bye.
