While many are bitter with NY Giants’ tight end, Evan Engram, for his 2019 fantasy football performance, don’t let that dissuade you from selecting him in 2020.
By now, we all know the story on NY Giants’ tight end Evan Engram; uber-talented, a positional matchup nightmare, but a guy who seems to just can’t stay healthy.
Even so, at the young age of 25, he has a long career ahead of him and the NY Giants are hoping his nagging injuries over the past two years were more bad luck than anything – something that’ entirely possible.
Should we see Engram play a full 16 game schedule, you could make the case based off his prior numbers and projections that he is a clear-cut top-five fantasy tight end, and as he gets even better entering his prime he could even possibly crack the top three – he has those type of dynamic skills.
Simply put, when he’s been on the field he’s been highly productive. If you project his numbers as if he had played 16 games in his first three years his numbers would average out to 72 catches, 831 yards, and 6 touchdowns – in other words, elite fantasy numbers for the position.
Interestingly enough, Engram is one of only six players in the NFL to have played at least 8 games in a season and been targeted at least six times 100% of the time in all of his games played in those years.
Lineups.com – a popular fantasy football ranking site – has Engram ranked all the way down at TE #9, so there could be some serious return on value should you take a risk on him.
In terms of strategy, it might be wise to wait out the initial run on elite tight ends and wait to try to snag him in the middle rounds, as he has the potential to put up similar numbers as the top guys in this new offense where he will be much more of a focal point.
Not having a true #1 WR will help Engram
Further helping the Evan Engram sleeper cause is the fact that the NY Giants currently don’t have a true #1 wideout, or any big-bodied wideouts, either. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has always had amazing success with his tight ends and I’d have to imagine he’s licking his chops to get his hands on Engram.
With Levine Toilolo signed to be the blocking tight end, Engram will be free to do what he does best – create mismatches by being too big for defensive backs and too fast for linebackers. An offensive mind as sharp as Garrett’s should easily find ways to exploit that.
You can expect Engram to be lining up in a much higher different variety of places on the field to maximize those mismatches as Toilolo will have his back holding down the fort on the offensive line during two tight end sets.
Without a true #1 WR, Garrett may look to make Engram the focal point of the passing offense and give him major red zone opportunities which is a huge plus for potential fantasy owners.
So, while this article will probably be met with a bunch of, “Yeah, but he can’t stay healthy,” that doesn’t mean he can’t in 2020 and have a huge breakout year.
I’m betting that he will, and that any fantasy football player that grabs him will be very happy to have done so.