Giants burning fantasy question:Which wide receiver will have the most draft value?
Giants top five fantasy players
When the Giants released Plaxico Burress, they lost the unquestioned top option in their pass attack.
That's not an understatement, either.
From 2005-2007, Burress accounted for 53 percent of the team's receiving yards and 62 percent of the team's receiving touchdowns among his fellow Big Blue wideouts. That made him a real asset, not only for the Giants and Eli Manning but for fantasy owners as well.
While the team was linked to potential offseason deals that involved Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards, the Giants ultimately balked on a trade and instead selected North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks and Cal Poly's Ramses Barden in April's NFL Draft. Both are talented and have upside at the NFL level, but fantasy leaguers can't expect them to fill Burress' void.
In fact, the player most likely to open the season in his old spot in the offense is Domenik Hixon.
A veteran out of Akron, Hixon is an athletic player who has shown flashes of potential in the past. He seems destined to see more targets this season and will be well worth a late-round selection as a fantasy reserve. He also has some low-end sleeper across the board.
However, owners should temper their statistical expectations for Hixon.
While we project him to open as the starter and see increased numbers, Hixon has little chance to replace Burress' level of production. Instead, the Giants will continue to lean on Brandon Jacobs and the run while spreading the football around in the passing game.
Nicks, whom the team hopes will become the heir apparent to Burress, will no doubt see his share of opportunities to produce. The rookie could even pass Hixon on the depth chart if he peforms well.
Steve Smith, our projected starter opposite Hixon, figures to see added targets in a possession receiver role and could have added value in PPR leagues.
The third spot on the depth chart figures to be a competition between Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham, but neither warrants serious consideration in most drafts.
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