Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 9th, 2022, 9:30 am EST
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
Betting Odds: GB -9.5, 41 o/u total via oddhsark.com
Network: NFL Network
Writer: Dustin Ludke (@TheDunit13 on Twitter)
New York Giants
Quarterback
Daniel Jones (Sit, QB2)
Daniel Jones has not been a complete dumpster fire this year. On the year he has 3 passing touchdowns and 2 interceptions and added two rushing touchdowns in Week 4, which he left with an ankle injury. There is optimism he can play in Week 5 considering he went back into the game after Tyrod Taylor left with a concussion. Going against a Packers defense that is only giving up 12.52 fantasy points to the quarterback position (26th overall), it will be a tough task for Jones even if he is fully healthy. He hasn’t yet thrown for over 200 yards in a game and, aside from his two rushing touchdown days in Week 4, hasn’t cracked into our QB2 range of scoring. The lack of receiving weapons and the emphasis on running the ball have limited Jones. These limitations have curtailed his interception but also hinder his upside. You can’t trust a healthy Danny Dime so you certainly can’t trust him banged up
If Jones can’t go, Tyrod Taylor is the backup, but is going through the concussion protocol.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley (Start, RB1), Matt Breida (Sit), Gary Brightwell (Sit)
The dream of a full season of a healthy Saquon Barkley lives on for another week. So far through the 2022 campaign, Barkley has led the league in yards and attempts (463 yards, 84 attempts). He is single-handedly leading the Giants to a 3-1 start and if not for the undefeated Eagles, they would be atop their division. Barkley is averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Barkley has also factored into the passing game which while being anemic thus far still affords Barkley 17 targets on the season, which equals 4.2 per game. There hasn’t been anyone pushing for carries other than Barkley, whether that’s head coach Brian Daboll choosing to just run Barkley or inefficient work from Matt Breida and almost no work for Gary Brightwell. Week 5 sees the Giants facing the Packers. The Green and Gold have given up the 19th most points to the running back position (15.75) according to fantasydata.com. The Packers did just give up a combined 152 yards to the Patriots’ combo of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. It’s a week where we expect Barkley to be his normal RB1 and the other two are not startable. If you are looking for a handcuff, I think Breida is the guy right now but don’t be surprised if in a few weeks that turns into Brightwell.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
David Sills (Sit), Richie James Jr. (Start, FLEX), Daniel Bellinger (Sit), Tanner Hudson (Sit)
It’s been talked about everywhere the issues with the Giant’s wide receivers. Sterling Shepard went down with a knee injury which just adds to the list of alignments with Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson. It’s unclear if Robinson or Toney can make it back in time for the early London game. I suspect they will be held out one more week. The Giant’s leading receiver in yards this season is Richie James Jr. with 155. It’s not the type of numbers that make you excited. If you are looking for someone to start from that offense, James may be it. It’s been a rotating cast and no one has set themselves apart. David Sills has had weeks where he was getting target but nothing more than a very low FLEX play. Darius Slayton finally caught a pass in Week 4 but despite playing on 60% of the team’s snaps only ran 14 routes. It was tied with Sills for most of the week by a wide receiver. I’m avoiding the giant’s wide receivers unless I’m completely desperate, even then I might look elsewhere. They are facing the Packers who gave up 18.95 points to the wide receiver position making them 23rd on the list. Not a great match-up. When the top receivers will have to deal with Rasul Douglas and possibly the returning Jaire Alexander scare me off. The tight ends for the Giants led the team in routes run in week four with Tanner Hudson running 18 routes. He only saw 2 targets and could only haul in one for 18 yards. Daniel Bellinger only ran eight routes but caught all three, managing a meager 23 yards. It’s a situation to avoid especially with Jones being banged up behind center.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers (Start, QB2)
Tossing two touchdowns in the past three games. Seems like Aaron Rodgers might be getting back to his MVP ways. Despite all the talk about the wide receivers and his lack of trust in them, Rodgers is still averaging passes on 55% of the team’s plays. Rodgers needs to limit the turnovers, as he’s had at least one per game when you count fumbles. The offensive line has been better as of late only allowing one sack in each of the last two games after allowing seven in the first two. The Giants surprisingly pose a somewhat tough matchup for Rodgers. They are only allowing 13.8 points to the quarterback position, which puts them just outside the top 10 fewest. Rodgers is still a start every week as he can go nuclear at any point. Given his propensity to be in the limelight, he might just ball out in England to show the world he still has it.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones (Start, RB2), A.J. Dillon (Start, FLEX)
This could end up being one of the shortest sections I ever write. Start Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. They are both receiving double-digit carries every week. Both are getting playing time in both negative and positive game scripts. They are both worked into the passing game. You have such tremendous upside if one were to go down. With Jones being an every-week RB2 and Dillon being one of the safest flex plays in the league, you can’t miss out. The Giants are middle of the road in giving up 21.18 points to the running back position. It’s a very even matchup for the Packers running back duo. They have struggled to get into the end zone but if they are producing safe and solid fantasy numbers without scoring, the sky is the limit for them.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Allen Lazard (Start, WR2), Romeo Doubs (Start, WR3), Christian Watson (Sit), Randall Cobb (Sit), Robert Tonyan (Sit, TE2)
The New York Giants are giving up the least fantasy points to the wide receiver position in the league. It was a shocking stat when I saw they are only giving up 23.65. The Packers come into the London game trying to find a group of receivers that can earn Rodgers’s trust and produce for fantasy managers. Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb are the two “veterans” of the group. Cobb seems very situation dependent, only running 18 routes compared to Lazard who ran 36. Lazard tied for the team lead in targets with eight. It seems you can start Lazard as a WR2 which he was the past two weeks. Cobb is a sit despite having Rodgers’s trust. Rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson will be looking to put their names out there in a worldwide viewing game in London. Doubs comes in having scored in the past two games and seeing eight targets in each. He is right up there with Lazard running 35 routes on his 36 snaps. Watson scored on a rushing play this past week but only ran seven routes. His low volume makes him extremely touchdown dependent but should still be rostered in case there is a change of who is out there more. I believe you can start Doubs as a solid WR3 with an upside if he scores. Watson is a sit for me currently. Even with his rushing touchdown, he failed to make it into the WR3 scoring range. The Giants are only giving up 8.48 points to the tight end position so I’m sitting Robert Tonyan even after he scored this past week. He only saw two targets for 22 yards so without that touchdown he wouldn’t even be a TE2.