Giants Fantasy Outlook in Week 3: Should You Start Daniel Jones, Darren Waller, Any Running Backs or Wide Receivers

The week 3 Thursday night matchup is an NFC battle between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. There’s plenty of players that fantasy owners roster from those two teams, and many are wondering which ones to start.

Let’s first take a look at the Giants, who come into the contest at 1-1.

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Daniel Jones Fantasy Outlook

Jones doesn’t come into the game with great stats through two weeks, but he’s coming off a much better showing in week 2. Jones completed 26-of-37 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception, but made up for it with 59 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

New York’s offense is a bit banged up coming into the contest, with running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Andrew Thomas all on the injury report. That’s three potential starters down, and with two linemen included, could make life tough on Jones as a passer and runner.

Jones is the 10th-ranked quarterback in our week 3 projections. He’ll be facing a 49ers’ defense that’s allowed 539 yards and two touchdowns through the air in two games. The unit has picked off four passes. San Fran has not faced a true running threat at the quarterback position, and that’s something Jones does fairly well.

Opposing quarterbacks are averaging just 12 fantasy points against the Niners so far.

Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida Fantasy Outlook

The big question for the Giants’ offense is whether or not Barkley will play in the contest. He injured his ankle in week 2 and was expected to be out a couple weeks, but coach Brian Daboll said he wasn’t yet ruling out Barkley on Tuesday. The expectation is for Barkley to not be able to play.

If Barkley is playing, it’d be hard not to include him in your lineup given what he’s proved over his career and so far this season. Barkley already has 155 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 38 touches in two games.

Breida would likely be the lead back if Barkley cannot go. He hasn’t done a whole lot this season, with just 11 scrimmage yards on four touches. 

Breida has played just 18 snaps through two games, so it’s unlikely the Giants ask him to cover 20 touches a game like Barkley often does.

San Fran is a tough matchup for whatever Giants’ backs are out there, only having surrendered 89 yards and one touchdown through two games. Opposing backs have caught 16 passes for 77 yards and a score and are averaging about 22 total points a game.

Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, Jalin Hyatt, Sterling Shepard Fantasy Outlook

While the Giants have a solid stable of receivers at their disposal, none have really established themselves as the lead guy through two weeks.

Hyatt has the lead in receiving yards among wideouts, with 89 on just two receptions. Slayton is at 77 yards, Hodgins has 64 yards and a touchdown and Campbell is at 23 yards on five grabs. Shepard only has 4 yards on one catch.

Slayton has played the most snaps (103), with Hodgins (93), Campbell (92), Hyatt (39) and Shepard (24) behind him. 

Campbell and Hyatt are the only two Giants’ receivers that crack our top 80 in week 3 projections, and they come in 75th and 80th, respectively.

San Fran has allowed 428 yards but no touchdowns to opposing receivers so far. That equates to 44 points in total a game.

Darren Waller Fantasy Outlook

Waller has been the Giants’ best pass catcher so far. He’s reeled in nine of his team-leading 13 targets for 112 yards in two games. Waller has catches on both of his red zone targets, which is tied with Campbell for the team lead.

Waller only trails Slayton by three snaps among all the pass catchers.

The 49ers have allowed just 34 yards and a touchdown on six catches to opposing tight ends in two games, which ends up in roughly eight fantasy points a game.

Waller is the fifth-ranked tight end in our projections.

Graham Gano Fantasy Outlook

Gano has connected on just one of his first three field goal attempts this season, but has gone a perfect 4-for-4 in extra points.

With some of the missing pieces on offense, if the Giants are able to move the ball but not punch the ball into the end zone, Gano could get a few field goal attempts. However, San Fran is a 10-point favorite, and if New York is playing from behind, Gano’s only work might come on extra points.

Gano is the 21st-ranked kicker for week 3. Opposing kickers are averaging six points a game against the 49ers so far.

Giants’ Defense Fantasy Outlook

The Giants will be taking on one of the most-talented offenses in the NFL, which makes this a tough matchup for their defense. San Fran has scored 30 points in the first two games.

The 49ers should pretty much be at full strength given how their injury report looked.

Who Should You Start?

The Giants are not a team that offer fantasy owners a ton of options on a weekly basis. With Barkley’s injury and going up against a good 49ers’ squad, there’s even fewer options.

I think Waller is the top fantasy option on the team this week. He’s going to be the focal point of the offense, even if Barkley plays in a limited fashion. He should lead the team in targets and has the best chance of anyone to score. I like Waller to be involved early and often and for him to soar past his projected numbers.

Jones has a tough matchup and will be missing several starters around him, but I still like him enough to start this week. It’s not going to be pretty all game, but he should pass enough and add enough rushing value that he should finish inside the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks this week. He might have a turnover or two, but his yardage and a couple scores should offset those and still leave you with a good point total.

If Barkley is cleared to play, I think he has to be started given the lack of offensive playmakers the team has. Yes, he’ll be on a snap count if he plays, but he can still produce enough in a limited role to score points for your team. I wouldn't expect more than 15 touches.

There are no other Giants I’d want in my starting lineup. If Barkley misses the game, I don’t think Breida will produce enough in his touches. He should get the most touches among the backs left, but unless he scores a couple short touchdowns, I don't think he'll be all that productive from a fantasy perspective.

None of the receivers have stood out yet, and it’s anybody’s guess as to who the top guy might be in week 3. It's just too big of a guessing game for me to be confident in any of the options.

I like the Giants to find a way to move the ball behind Jones, but think they will be playing from behind, which doesn’t work in Gano’s favor. Given their early season struggles, I also think the Giants’ defense shouldn’t be played.