Cam Skattebo absolutely exploded for the New York Giants in Week 7, racking up a monster 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against the Texans in their 27-21 win. That kind of performance usually screams “must-add,” right? Well, pump the brakes a little bit, because while that stat line looks fantastic, the real story in the Giants’ backfield is way messier than it appears.
The Giants’ Backfield Chaos You Need To Understand
Skattebo went off, no doubt about it. He even hauled in one reception to boot. But here’s the kicker: he was splitting touches pretty evenly with Tyrone Tracy Jr. until Tracy unfortunately left the game with an injury. Then, Devin Singletary jumped into the mix. So, that massive performance from Skattebo? It came during a game where the backfield rotation was in total flux. My best guess is that if Tracy Jr. is healthy after the Giants’ bye week, Skattebo is right back to splitting carries.
And while 124 yards is impressive, you can’t ignore the context. This was, by far, the best performance by the Giants’ run game all season long. It’s awesome if you can slot Skattebo in as an RB2 or maybe a flex going forward, especially after a showing like that. But honestly? I wouldn’t expect this game to catapult him into that “must-start” territory week after week. It just feels like there are too many moving parts for sustained elite production.
Shadowed Receivers and Likely’s Fading Targets
It wasn’t all good news for pass-catchers, either. Nico Collins, for example, just had his second straight game with only five targets for the Texans. In Week 7, those five targets turned into a measly 2.6 PPR fantasy points against the Giants. Remember Week 6 when Travis Hunter shadowed him? Well, Deonte Banks did the same thing in Week 7. I’m telling you, that’s no excuse! Quarterback C.J. Stroud also didn’t have his best day, going 17-28 for 153 yards and two touchdowns. I think you’d be smart to buy low on Collins right now, but with a firm expectation that he’s a WR2 for the rest of the season. You just can’t treat him like a WR1 anymore.
Then there’s Isaiah Likely over in Baltimore. Since J.J. McCarthy took over in the fourth quarter of Week 6, Likely’s target share has dropped to 15.9%. You know who McCarthy *is* targeting a lot? Malik Nabers, of course. But also Malachi Fields, who’s rocking a 22.7% target share with McCarthy under center. Right now, it’s clear: those targets are coming at Likely’s expense.
The Return of a Saints’ Workhorse
Not everything is doom and gloom. Looking ahead to Week 9, there’s some serious good news for Saints fans and fantasy managers alike. Travis Etienne is eligible to come off IR then, right after the Saints’ Week 8 bye. This team cannot run the football, we saw that again in their 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh. They desperately need Etienne to inject some life into that run game. If he’s back in Week 9 as expected, I think he’s a decent RB2 going forward, and that could be a huge boost for teams in need.
So, as we head into Week 8, the fantasy landscape is still a wild ride. Can Skattebo carve out a consistent role amidst the Giants’ backfield carousel? Will Nico Collins shake off those shutdown corners and live up to his potential? And perhaps most importantly, will Travis Etienne return to power the Saints’ anemic run game and become the dependable RB2 so many fantasy managers desperately need? Only time, and Week 8’s chaos, will tell.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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