NFL-Giants: NY Giants football news

Fantasy Football Preview: Where To Get Your G-Men

Fantasy football draft is one of the best times of the year for the fan who likes to show off his skills at being a general manager, or something like that at least. The most integral part in having a winning team, for the most part, is to have a good draft. It may seem tempting to take Giants players with early picks in a honorable act of being a homer, but the smart thing to do is to take the best players available. This guide will tell you where to take your favorite Giant fantasy studs.

Tiki Barber – He was one of the best all-around backs in the league last year and there is no reason for fantasy owners to see a change coming. The Giants will most likely boast a powerful offense and Tiki will help anchor the load. While it is hard to take him too early, DO NOT pass up Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, or Ladanian Tomlinson for Tiki. Anywhere after that is a good.

Consensus – Tiki is a early to mid first-round pick. He can go as high as fourth in any draft.

Jeremy Shockey – What makes the Shockster so appealing to fantasy owners is how much better his production is than other competing players at his position. He is clearly the second best tight-end in the fantasy game today, next to Antonio Gates who is playing with a question mark quarterback this season (and we all saw how that went with the promise of Todd Heap when Kyle Boller stepped in.) That being said, a good wide receiver or running back will be much more valuable than any tight end in most cases (Gate’s had one freak season that made him the exception), so don’t draft Jeremy too early.

Consensus – Jeremy is probably a good pickup in the middle of the fourth round, if no other good skill players are available. He is a steal by the time it gets to the middle and later parts of the fifth round however, even if it is unlikely that he will be unselected by that point.

Plaxico Burress – There is no doubt that Plaxico is a talented and good NFL wideout. But his production has not been what a top fantasy receiver talent should be producing. Regardless of the reasons, the touchdowns have just not been there for Plax. His career high in a year in this category is seven. While it seems that Burress may finally enjoy double-digit scores this season, don’t pass up proven guys for him.

Consensus – A highly durable wide receiver, important at this position, Burress is a good option for owners in the late fourth and early fifth round.

Eli Manning – Eli started off last year posting some of the best fantasy numbers of any player at any position in the league, but a rough ending left question marks for fantasy owners. Inconsistent play never bodes well for a player in the fantasy realm, and Eli has a lot to prove. If he can toss at least a pair of touchdowns most games while keeping the interceptions down, which he is fully capable of in his offense and with his skills, then he is a fantasy stud and owners who draft him look like geniuses. But he still should not be taken too early; the only quarterback who should be is his brother.

Consensus – Quarterbacks are a weird position in fantasy football, I have won with less than average ones helming my fantasy teams. Any passer can have a miracle day on almost any given Sunday, including those found in free agency. Eli is a good early sixth-round pick but you are taking a risk by taking him earlier.

Those are the only four Giants players that should be considered being taken in the first six or seven rounds. Moss, Toomer, Feely, and the defense can all be taken with later selections (with Moss being the lowest picks as drafting rookies at any position outside running back is usually a bad idea early.)

But feel free to choose fantasy players wherever you want, you are the GM after all! Just remember to have fun, because that is what fantasy season is really all about!