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Fantasy: 2019 Projections - Who fills the Beckham-sized void for Giants?

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.

With training camps approaching, theScore's Justin Boone is releasing his offensive projections for all 32 teams, including his thoughts on every fantasy-relevant player.

Projections are based on the following point values in PPR leagues:

  • Passing Yards: 1 point per 25 yards
  • Passing TDs: 4 points
  • Interceptions: -2 points
  • Rushing Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
  • Rushing TDs: 6 points
  • Receptions: 1 point
  • Receiving Yards: 1 point per 10 yards
  • Receiving TDs: 6 points
  • Fumbles Lost: -2 points
  • Two-point Conversions: 2 points

2019 Fantasy Projections

AFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
AFC North
BAL | CIN | PIT | CLE
AFC South
JAX | IND | HOU | TEN
AFC West
DEN | KC | OAK | LAC
NFC East
DAL | PHI | NYG | WAS
NFC North
DET | GB | MIN | CHI
NFC South
ATL | NO | CAR | TB
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI

New York Giants

Eli Manning, QB

Fantasy Points 124
Attempts 357
Completions 229
Pass Yards 2440
Pass TDs 13
INTs 11
Carries 11
Rush Yards 24
Rush TDs 0
Fumbles Lost 4
2PT 1

When a team drafts a quarterback inside the top 10, it's only a matter of time before that rookie passer is under center. The 38-year-old Manning has been on a steady decline over the last few seasons, and now - without Odell Beckham Jr. to help raise his performance - a cliff could be coming. This projection forecasts 10 starts for Manning in 2019, with rookie Daniel Jones taking over after the Giants' Week 11 bye.

Quarterback depth: Though neither quarterback is enticing for fantasy, Jones has a chance to be relevant given his underrated rushing ability. Several reports out of camp seem to imply Jones outplayed Manning in OTAs, which wouldn't be surprising, but this won't be an open competition in training camp and preseason, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. If that's true, then Jones will have to wait until later in the year when the Giants are out of the playoff mix.

Saquon Barkley, RB

Fantasy Points 385.2
Carries 276
Rush Yards 1324
Rush TDs 10
Fumbles Lost 0
Targets 125
Receptions 94
Rec. Yards 728
Rec. TDs 4
2PT 1

Barkley has proven himself to be the league's most gifted running back after just one NFL season. As the new focal point of the Giants' attack, the Offensive Rookie of the Year will face a higher degree of difficulty in Year 2 with defenses no longer forced to account for Beckham on the outside. However, the arrival of guard Kevin Zeitler should help bolster the offensive line against those stacked boxes. Normally, fantasy managers would be concerned about the Giants' 2019 win total, which Vegas has set at six games, but Barkley's involvement as a pass-catcher makes him bulletproof.

Running back depth: With the volume that Barkley handles, identifying his immediate replacement could pay dividends later in the season. Paul Perkins was working as the No. 2 back in minicamp. He'll try to hold off last year's backup Wayne Gallman, former Cowboys running back Rod Smith, rookie Jon Hilliman, and fullback Elijhaa Penny. This group lacks a standout, so we'll have to monitor the camp battle throughout August.

Sterling Shepard, WR

Fantasy Points 185.5
Targets 108
Receptions 65
Rec. Yards 936
Rec. TDs 4
Carries 3
Rush Yards 29
Rush TDs 0
Fumbles Lost 0
2PT 0

Shepard has flashed at various points in his three-year career, and he possesses the potential to emerge as a true top receiver, something the Giants are banking on after signing him to a new deal this offseason. The talented young wideout posted eight touchdowns during his rookie campaign in 2016 and set new personal bests with 66 receptions and 872 yards this past season. Shepard's fantasy outlook combines exactly what the fantasy community searches for - talent and opportunity. The broken thumb he suffered early in training camp puts his Week 1 availability in doubt, but Shepard should miss little to no regular-season time. With Golden Tate facing a four-game suspension, Shepard will be a top-36 fantasy receiver.

Golden Tate, WR

Fantasy Points 133.6
Targets 84
Receptions 58
Rec. Yards 554
Rec. TDs 3
Carries 2
Rush Yards 22
Rush TDs 0
Fumbles Lost 0
2PT 0

Tate is five years older than Shepard and looking to rebound from his worst season since 2012. Being suspended for the first month isn't going to help his cause. Tate's skills mesh well with Manning's affinity for throwing short passes, but his fantasy outlook is clouded by the suspension and the competition for targets once he returns cloud his fantasy outlook. When he's on the field, Tate will be a low-upside WR4/flex play who will need significant volume to produce, as he did with the Lions.

Receiver depth: The battle for the Giants' third receiver spot has become even more important with Shepard's injury and Tate's suspension. Corey Coleman will miss the season due to a torn ACL, leaving Shepard, Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, and rookie Darius Slayton to fight it out in a wide-open competition. If I had to push my chips behind one of those wideouts, it would be Slayton, but the real beneficiary of Tate's absence will be tight end Evan Engram.

Evan Engram, TE

Fantasy Points 176.9
Targets 117
Receptions 67
Rec. Yards 773
Rec. TDs 5
Carries 2
Rush Yards 26
Rush TDs 0
Fumbles Lost 0
2PT 0

The chaos in the receiving corps paves the way for Engram to see increased volume. It's possible the third-year tight end leads the team in targets, just as he did during his rookie season while finishing as the TE4 in fantasy. Engram is a top-six option at his position and one of the few tight ends with a shot to challenge the elite three of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Zach Ertz.

Tight end depth: Rhett Ellison is a versatile weapon, but he's not someone who you'll be considering for your fantasy lineup. An injury to Engram wouldn't create another usable fantasy asset at tight end from the Giants. Instead, it would push more targets toward Barkley and the receivers.

2019 Fantasy Projections

AFC East
NE | BUF | NYJ | MIA
AFC North
BAL | CIN | PIT | CLE
AFC South
JAX | IND | HOU | TEN
AFC West
DEN | KC | OAK | LAC
NFC East
DAL | PHI | NYG | WAS
NFC North
DET | GB | MIN | CHI
NFC South
ATL | NO | CAR | TB
NFC West
LAR | SF | SEA | ARI

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