The New York Giants offense is a bit of a head-scratcher for fantasy managers everywhere. All offseason and summer, managers wondered who would take over as the lead receiver in this offense. With several options, one of these players was sure to step up and have an impact in the 2023 season, right?
So far, it has been a tight race in New York. Rookie Jalin Hyatt, 2022 breakout Isaiah Hodgins, and fifth-year pro Darius Slayton are all in a tight race for the best fantasy football option amongst Giants wide receivers. Who should you add to your team, and should you be starting any of them this week? Let’s dig in and find out!
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Jalin Hyatt’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Hyatt is a rookie speedster out of Tennessee that the Giants drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Entering the NFL, there were questions surrounding Hyatt’s route tree and footwork, but never a question about his speed. He’s a receiver that can take the top off of a defense.
Coming to New York, Hyatt has already had an impact. He (along with the rest of the Giants’ offense) did nothing in Week 1 in a blowout loss to the Cowboys. But in Week 2, Hyatt caught two passes for 89 yards and sparked the Giants’ second-half comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals.
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In Week 3, the Giants take on the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football. Unfortunately, they’ll be without running back Saquon Barkley, so everyone in the passing game has the chance to make an impact.
My current issue with Hyatt is that he’s not seeing many targets. He’s been thrown to only three times in two games. Being such a bang-or-bust receiver, it’s hard to trust starting him this week, especially against a stout Niners defense.
Isaiah Hodgins’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
In his third NFL season and second in New York, Hodgins is trying to establish himself as a reliable weapon in this offense. And thus far in the 2023 season, quarterback Daniel Jones has looked his way a decent amount.
On the year, Hodgins has eight targets, which he has turned into five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. These numbers may not jump off the page for a two-game total, but in a low-output passing offense the first two weeks, that’s second among wide receivers in catches and yards.
Hodgins came on at the end of last season for the Giants and impressed in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, catching eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. If Jones gets into a groove and starts targeting Hodgins, he could be a solid Flex play for fantasy teams.
Darius Slayton’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Entering his fifth year in the NFL, Slayton has always felt like a player just on the outside of a breakout. In three of his first four seasons, Slayton had over 45 catches and 700+ yards receiving in a season.
But these numbers fall just short of where we want our starting wide receivers to be scoring. Slayton has the occasional 90+ yard game or 10+ point fantasy week, but they are few and far between.
So far in 2023, Slayton leads the WR room with 11 targets, six catches, and 77 yards receiving. Again, these totals are less than exciting, and it’s hard to have confidence in starting Slayton based on these outcomes. But if the Giants’ offense gets going, having the top wide receiver option on the team is always a good place to be for a fantasy manager.
Which of the Giants’ WRs Should You Start?
Honestly, it’s hard to suggest starting any of these three in Week 3. New York’s offense has been extremely slow to get going in 2023. Through six quarters of football to start the year, the team hadn’t scored a point.
Although the team finally broke out in the second half of Week 2, and Barkley is out in Week 3 with an injury, Hyatt, Hodgins, and Slayton are all very hard to warrant starting.
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If your team is injury-riddled — which is totally possible with the way the start of 2023 has been — you may be forced to look at one of these players in a Flex position. If you have to choose just one, give me Slayton. He’s seen the most targets and catches for the team and has the highest chance of at least pulling in some points.
But when push comes to shove, I’d be benching any of these three in Week 3.