It’s Week 1 of the NFL’s regular season, and it’s also the start of Fantasy Football! Ahead of Sunday’s divisional matchup, here are the three best New York Giants‘ fantasy options for Week 1.
There’s plenty to look forward to as the first Sunday of NFL Football commences in Week 1. The New York Giants kick-off 2019 on the road against their divisional rival Dallas Cowboys. With Ezekiel Elliot back in action for Dallas, its a battle of the league’s two premier rushers with Saquon Barkley looking to pick up where he left off for New York.
Here’s hoping for a big divisional win for New York on Sunday, and there are plenty of options for those seeking a first win for their fantasy teams. Here are the three best Giants fantasy options on Sunday.
Saquon Barkley
No surprise here, if you were lucky enough to draw the top overall pick you likely ran with second-year Giants running back Saquon Barkley. And truth be told, absolutely no one should be questioning your reasoning. Saquon is the likely unanimous top pick in fantasy football this year, and last season’s track record provides the justification.
In his rookie season, Barkley ranked second among all running backs in fantasy points, ranked third with 15 rushing touchdowns and second with 1,307 rushing yards. By season’s end, Saquon averaged 18.4 fantasy points per game (fantasydata.com). A year ago, Dallas ranked 21st in rush defense, allowing opposing backs an average of 103 yards per game (teamrankings.com). As the focal point in the offense, expect Saquon to have a big day on Sunday.
Evan Engram
The offseason moves and how the roster has taken shape has all the makings of an Evan Engram breakout season (if he can stay healthy). Saquon Barkley cannot carry the load by himself, Odell Beckham Jr. is gone, and Golden Tate won’t see action until Week 5. Expect the offense to revolve heavily around Evan Engram through the first quarter of the season, starting on Sunday in Dallas.
Engram has averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game in his young career, but his two highest fantasy games a season ago came against the Cowboys (coincidence? I think not.) Evan Engram racked up 16.8 fantasy points in the season finale against Dallas last season, going for five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown (fantasydata.com). Expect Engram to be New York’s fantasy breakout candidate of 2019.
Aldrick Rosas
We’ve all had those fantasy moments where low and behold, its the kicker that seals the deal and helps come away with a close fantasy football victory. Come Week 1, that very well could be Aldrick Rosas. Rosas has been automatic for the New York Giants this preseason, converting all five field-goal attempts and all ten of his extra points (NFL.com/stats).
The Giants are the underdogs for a reason, and there’s the likelihood that they’re able to march down the field and yet get stalled near redzone territory. Have no fear, Rosas will be here to save the day. You may love them or hate them, but if kickers are part of your fantasy league make sure you have someone you can trust. For Week 1, in Aldrick Rosas we trust.