What We Saw: Week 11

Lions @ Giants

Final Score: Lions 31, Giants 18

Writer: Erik Smith (@ErikSmithQBL on Twitter)

Detroit Lions

Quarterback

Jared Goff: 17/26, 165 Yards | 4 Carries, -1 Yards

Jared Goff took a hit on the opening drive for a roughing the passer penalty that extended a three-and-out and led to a Lions field goal. On the next drive, he was fortunate to extend a drive on a screen pass where the wide receiver made a play, and then Goff had a first-down scramble wiped out by a penalty. It was a slow start for the Lions’ offense, and Goff was asked to make very few plays outside of distributing the ball on screens.

Goff had two potential passing touchdowns tackled just inside of the one-yard line, hurting his fantasy performance. He had a near interception on a really poor attempt after Jones’ second turnover, but he was bailed out and it fell incomplete. On 3rd and 7 he fired inaccurately over the middle for a quick three-and-out. Goff’s limits are shown anytime a play is needed outside of structure, as a 3rd and 3 rollout saw him simply fire the ball out of bounds as opposed to making a play. He later forced a ball into double coverage that could have easily been an interception.

Overall, Goff ran the offense that was built around the running game but made very few plays to show any meaningful development as a difference-maker at the position.

Running Back

Jamaal Williams: 17 Carries, 64 Yards, 3 TD

D’Andre Swift: 5 Carries, 20 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 12 Yards | 1 Fumble (Recovered)

Justin Jackson: 9 Carries, 66 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 11 Yards

All three running backs saw a touch on the opening drive, and D’Andre Swift added a couple of touches in the red zone on a drive that stalled for a field goal. His next opportunity came later in the second quarter on a nicely designed play, as Swift lined up as a wide receiver, motioned across the formation, and caught a pass for 10 yards. He fumbled at the end of the play but recovered himself, though he lost the first down in the process. He received a carry on the ensuing 3rd and 1 out of shotgun on an outside run, and Swift tried to stay patient but was unable to convert the first down despite some space to make a play.

We don't mess around 😈

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/6TT3VKdmbm

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 20, 2022

Swift sometimes lined up as a wide receiver in the red zone, including on a drive that ended with a Williams rushing touchdown. Swift had his best run of the day early in the second half, on a toss out of I-formation that was well blocked. He was able to flash his speed and lowered his shoulder at the end of the run. He promptly was replaced by Williams. Swift finally received a late goal line series, and after bouncing his first run outside for an unsuccessful conversion, he was given the ball the very next play for a late rushing touchdown to ice the game. Swift looked healthy in this one, but this backfield has devolved into a three-man committee.

Jamaal Williams scored his first touchdown of the day off a short field after a Daniel Jones turnover, rushing the ball up the middle out of a jumbo formation with power. Williams had a nice patient run on the next drive that went for over ten yards where he found the outside and broke contain for a first down. Williams scored his second touchdown after Jackson had a few touches in the red zone, converting a 1st and goal from the two-yard line out of a shotgun run. Williams then scored his third touchdown of the day after St. Brown was tackled at the one-yard line and the Lions rushed to the line of scrimmage and Williams punched it in on the ground. Williams is generally the preferred early-down and goalline back, though all three backs seem to rotate in any situation, including third downs.

Hat trick for @jswaggdaddy❗️#DETvsNYG | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/hGgZRzLuKd

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 20, 2022

Justin Jackson for some reason has chosen to wear number 42 this season, giving him the appearance of a fullback. He bounced one run early on that he shouldn’t have, resulting in a short gain, and then later received a few plays on a red zone series. He was also returning kicks and had a nice return to start the second half. When the blocking was there, Jackson hit the hole hard and ran fast, and was a legitimate part of this rotation. Jackson had most of his yardage on a big run late in the game that nearly went for a touchdown, as backfield motion drew the defenders’ eyes away from him and he shot through the line for a nice run.

Wide Reciever/Tight End

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 1 Carry, 4 Yards | 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 76 Yards

Kalif Raymond: 1 Carry, 7 Yards | 7 Targets, 3 Receptions, 33 Yards

Brock Wright: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards

Tom Kennedy: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 13 Yards

DJ Chark: 1 Target

Amon-Ra St. Brown was quiet early on, though he did catch a pass inside the ten-yard line but was not a threat to score on the play. His first big play came on a chunk gain on a 2nd and 2 play-action where he crossed the field and Goff found him wide open. Later that drive he caught a screen pass near the end zone, though the play was called back on a block in the back. Goff went right back to him on the next play, however, and St. Brown took a five-yard route and broke a tackle, turning it into a gain of an extra ten yards on top. In the second half, St. Brown received another designer play in the red zone, and was tackled inside the one-yard line, just missing a touchdown. St. Brown was the Lions’ best pass-catcher and easily could have scored a touchdown with his red zone opportunities.

Kalif Raymond did an excellent job on a 3rd and long screen where he fell to the ground on the catch, but got back up and darted for a long first down. He later had a chunk play on a wide-open reception over the middle of the field.

One of Brock Wright‘s conversions came on a 3rd and 2 play action in the red zone, and he was tackled just short of a score but did convert the first down.

DJ Chark‘s only target was deep downfield into double coverage on a poor pass from Goff that should have been intercepted. He played just 11 of 67 snaps on the day in his first game back from injury. Look for his snaps to increase going forward.

New York Giants

Quarterback

Daniel Jones: 27/44, 341 Yards, TD, 2 INT | 7 Carries, 50 Yards, TD

Daniel Jones led the Giants to a nice touchdown drive early in the first quarter that featured multiple play-action rollouts to get Jones on the move. Jones capped the drive with a rushing touchdown on a designed quarterback sweep, where Barkley was used as the lead blocker.

Okayyyyyy DJ!!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Vsc6n2ESDt

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 20, 2022

On the next drive, Jones found a bunch of room on a read option run as the defense swarmed Barkley and he took the ball himself outside. Later on a 2nd and 17, Jones did a nice job going through his progressions from the pocket and hitting Golladay for 13 on what appeared to be his third read. He converted the ensuing 3rd and 4 on another quarterback keeper. Jones threw a poor pick in the second quarter where Aidan Hutchinson dropped into a zone from his rush position and Jones threw it right to him, completely missing the rookie pass-rusher in his read. It was off of an under-center play action and I wonder if he struggles when turning his back to the defense.

.@aidanhutch97 showing off the 👐#DETvsNYG | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/O8KnGmY4Sb

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 20, 2022

He would get his next chance with not much time remaining in the half, backed up on the Giants’ side of the field, and it was encouraging to see the coaching staff let him drop back and sling it. After two dangerous plays, he hit Robinson for a nice 3rd and 10 conversion on the sideline as he escaped the pocket and threw on the run.

Jones threw his second pick of the day on a poor overthrow after finding some success throwing to Slayton. The interception came on 4th down, so the aggression downfield was acceptable, but he sailed the ball on his target for an easy interception. On the next drive, he missed Robinson on the run for a potential big play downfield. Jones did lead the Giants on a scoring drive with strong running, including a 4th and 1 conversion. He was by far their best rushing option on the day, and should remain a fantasy asset due to his work on the ground.

Running Back

Saquon Barkley: 15 Carries, 22 Yards | 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards

Matt Breida: 3 Carries, 13 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

Saquon Barkley‘s first carry of the game went for -3 yards in what would be a sign of things to come. Detroit swarmed him early, and he had an attempt near the endzone on the opening drive only to be vultured by Daniel Jones on the next play. The Giants continually ran Barkley into the teeth of the Lions’ defense throughout the first half, and the only success came when Jones kept the ball himself. The Giants continued to run the ball out of shotgun and Barkley continued to get stuffed, even giving him an attempt on a 3rd and 5 in the second half that had no chance. There wasn’t a ton of creativity in getting the ball to Barkley in this one, it was all read options from the shotgun. It would be good to see more creativity in the passing game as teams key in on this rushing attack.

Matt Breida did a nice job converting a 4th and 1 on a jet sweep, and on the same drive got loose for a wide-open reception on 3rd and 8. Breida frustratingly (for Barkley managers) capped off a scoring drive with a short rushing touchdown out of a zone-read play.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Wan’Dale Robinson: 1 Carry, 4 Yards | 13 Targets, 9 Receptions, 100 Yards

Darius Slayton: 10 Targets, 5 Receptions, 86 Yards

Richie James: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 48 Yards, TD

Kenny Golladay: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 29 Yards

Isaiah Hodgins: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 29 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

Lawrence Cager: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 20 Yards

Wan’Dale Robinson made his mark on a reception in the second quarter, running behind the line of scrimmage on a play action and catching a short pass, flashing his speed and acceleration as he shot upfield away from the bigger bodies at the line of scrimmage. Robinson was targeted over the middle on an ensuing 3rd and 5 for an incompletion, though there was some contact from the defender that could have been a penalty. He capped the first half with a sideline catch on 3rd and 10 and a chunk gain over the middle on the next play. He was a constant part of the short passing and option game. Unfortunately, Robinson was injured on a nice one-handed reception to start the fourth quarter and did not return. The knee injury is feared to be serious and would be a big blow to this Giants’ passing game. NOTE: Robinson did indeed tear his ACL and will be out for the season.

Darius Slayton had a tough catch for a first down on a play-action bootleg and was the intended target on Jones’  first interception. He later just missed a connection on a downfield target. Slayton had a nice conversion on 3rd and 4, breaking in, then out for a wide-open reception on a nice route. Slayton continued his nice route-running on a downfield catch as Jones was backed up in his own endzone, leaning inward before breaking out for a solid gain. Slayton’s one blemish was a drop on a short pass to start a drive in the fourth quarter. Later in the game, he had a nice back-shoulder reception downfield. I came away from this game impressed with Slayton’s route-running.

Daniel Jones 24-yd pass to Darius Slayton#Lions 31 #Giants 12 4th pic.twitter.com/JrcjJuraNx

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) November 20, 2022

Isaiah Hodgins has a nice gain wiped out early by an unnecessary offensive pass interference by a teammate. He then had a 3rd and 3 conversion wiped away by an illegal downfield penalty on the same drive. Hodgins had a first down conversion over the middle in the second half that finally stood and then a reception on an in-breaker later on in the fourth. Unfortunately, Jones went back to him on the next play and Hodgins had a poor fumble to all but end the game for the Giants on a short reception.

Richie James caught his first pass on a wide-open crosser after Robinson left with his injury. He saw much of his production in garbage time, including his touchdown on a shallow crosser.