Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 5th, 4:25 PM ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Betting Odds: LV -1.5, O/U 37 via OddsShark
Network: Fox
Writer: Nick Beaudoin
New York Giants
Quarterback
Daniel Jones (Start, QB2)
After missing three games with a neck injury, Daniel Jones practiced with “no limitations” on Wednesday, signifying his expected return on Sunday. His timing couldn’t be better for a struggling Giants team that just lost backup QB Tyrod Taylor to a rib injury, in what was dubbed by a QBList colleague as “The worst full game of football I have seen in my entire life”. Somehow, between the return of Jones, the Halloween firing of HC Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler, and the second-ever start of rookie Aidan O’Connell, the Giants head to Las Vegas as +1.5 underdogs. Pretty impressive stuff.
The Giants’ offensive line has been miserable all season, allowing the second-most sacks of any team in the league. There is some optimism that LT Andrew Thomas (who missed seven straight games) and RT Evan Neal (who missed the last two) could both be available this weekend, which would be a tremendous boost to Daniel Jones’ lifespan. However, with top receiving option Darren Waller now expected to be out “weeks” rather than “days,” Jones will be facing an uphill battle. The Raiders are top-10 in fantasy PPG to opposing QBs, and have two CBs ranked in PFF’s top-23 at the position. Jones always has rushing upside, which helped vault him into the QB9 overall last season, but the Giants have a team implied-point total of just 18.25 on Sunday, making him a stream-worthy QB2 at best in his return this week.
Seems like Saquon Barkley is happy to see Daniel Jones back🫶
pic.twitter.com/YF2LLKj2QT— CJR Sports (@Sports_CJR) November 1, 2023
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley (Start, RB1), Matt Breida (Sit)
Saquon Barkley is the heart and soul of this offense, still finishing as RB13 last week in a horrible, rainy game, against a great defensive front, with a third-string QB at the helm. Keep an eye on his status after being “limited” on Wednesday due to an ankle issue, but if he plays, he is a must-start RB1 against a Raiders front ranked bottom-5 in PPG to opposing fantasy RBs.
Matt Breida played only 11% of snaps last week, receiving five touches for 17 yards. As long as Saquon is healthy, he is not in fantasy consideration.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Darius Slayton (Sit, FLEX), Wan’Dale Robinson (Sit, FLEX), Jalin Hyatt (Sit), Isaiah Hodgins (Sit), Parris Campbell (Sit), Daniel Bellinger (Sit)
Darius Slayton led the team last week, playing 99% of snaps and finishing the OT game with one reception for -2 yards on two targets. This game can realistically be thrown out, but despite being on the field the most of all Giants WRs this year, Slayton has not been a consistent option for fantasy managers. Jones returning to action is definitely a boost to his stock, but even out of the five games that Jones was available, Slayton was only able to reach FLEX status (6+ PPR points) twice. In fact, his single-game high this season is just 11 points. CBs Marcus Peters and Nate Hobbs are both rough matchups for Slayton this week, so I’m fine sitting him, despite his big-play upside.
Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) remains limited on Wednesday, which is likely just maintenance as he still recovers from last year’s torn ACL. Robinson was able to play a season-high 80% of snaps last week, but like the rest of the offense, was unable to do much with his opportunities. Wan’Dale plays 80%+ of his snaps in the slot, which does not bode well at all against PFF’s 20th-ranked CB Nate Hobbs. Wan’Dale’s low ADOT volume could bring him into FLEX status, but with one game above 40 yards this season, I’m happy to wait another week to see how this offense does.
Jalin Hyatt has been slowly emerging as a deep threat in this offense, playing 55% of snaps over the past four weeks. He has “broken out” twice this year, with games of 89 and 75 yards to the Cardinals and Commanders respectively. However, those both came as the result of big plays, and were against two of the worst passing defenses in the league. Outside of that, he has four games with zero receptions, and a high of 21 yards in the other two. The Raiders are top-5 in PPG to fantasy WRs, so there’s no need to take the shot on Hyatt this week.
Isaiah Hodgins and Parris Campbell are both seeing the field, but are doing next to nothing while on it.
In the absence of Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger is the sleeper in this receiving core. Bellinger showed promise as a rookie before his season was derailed by injuries, and was a popular late-round target in Dynasty leagues before the Waller signing. He was on the field for 89% of snaps last week, which was second only to Slayton, and has the potential to succeed with Jones’ return. There’s no way I’m starting him this week, but he is a potential deeper-league and Dynasty name to watch if Waller ends up on IR.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterbacks
Aidan O’Connell (Sit, QB2)
Rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell will be thrust into the spotlight on Sunday, taking on a Giants defense ranked eigth in PPG to opposing fantasy QBs. This news comes on the heels of the Raiders’ dysfunctional franchise firing both its’ HC and GM, and promoting their LBs coach as the Interim HC.
O’Connell looked like a rookie in his first start (against the Chargers in Week 4) spending most of the day under duress, getting sacked seven times, and was unable to get much going outside of short passes to Josh Jacobs, who led the team in rushing and receiving. There is plenty of talent around O’Connell to propel him into QB2 status this week, but I’m happy to look elsewhere this week, with a brand new HC and QB given just four days to game plan.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Start, RB2), Zamir White (Sit), Ameer Abdullah (Sit)
Although Josh Jacobs has not been the dominant RB1 he was last season, he is still an elite talent, averaging 77% of snaps on the season, and currently ranked RB17 in PPG. Jacobs is one of few RBs in the league who does not share a backfield, and should be in line for a solid day against a Giants defense ranking bottom-seven to opposing fantasy RBs. In O’Connell’s last start, Jacobs was also hyper-targeted, turning eight receptions into 81 yards on 11 targets. Jacobs is a safe RB2 this week, with RB1 upside if the young QB chooses to check down even half as much as he did in his last outing.
Ameer Abdullah played 22% of snaps last week, turning one rush and one reception into 19 yards, while Zamir White played 2% of snaps, earning zero touches. Neither are on the fantasy radar this week.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Davante Adams (Start, WR2), Jakobi Meyers (Start, WR3), Hunter Renfrow (Sit), Michael Mayer (Sit)
Davante Adams managers have ridden a roller coaster of emotion the past few weeks. The trade deadline has come and gone, and those who drafted him are now riding him into the sunset. Adams was visibly frustrated on the sidelines last week and likely does not want to be a part of a rebuild, but he is one of the game’s greatest players, and has shown he can succeed with any and every QB he’s ever played with. Last time we saw O’Connell, Adams was targeted 13 times, turning eight receptions into 75 yards. If you have Davante, you’re starting him, and can expect O’Connell to pepper his No. 1 receiver with targets again this week.
Davante Adams might be demanding a trade on the flight home before the deadline tomorrow after what happened tonight. pic.twitter.com/W1KKvwPC48
— King of Phinland🐬👑 (@KingOfPhinland) October 31, 2023
Jakobi Meyers took the biggest hit in O’Connell’s last start, converting two receptions into 33 yards on four targets. Meyers does most of his work in the intermediate part of the field, and against the Chargers’ defensive line, O’Connell was granted no time to let these plays develop. This week may be a different story, as the Giants defensive line comes in tied for last in the league in sacks. There is reason to believe their connection can build this week, but my expectations are tempered until I see it. PFF still ranks Meyers with favorable matchups, and he should be in your lineup against the Giants.
Hunter Renfrow has become a non-factor in this offense, and will not be in consideration for fantasy lineups anytime soon.
Michael Mayer has come back to earth the past two weeks, combining three receptions for 32 yards. The second-round rookie may have a promising future, but until we see it consistently, it’ll be a situation best to avoid. The Giants are 12th in PPG to opposing TEs, for whatever it’s worth.
– Nick Beaudoin