NY Giants: 5 Offensive Breakout Candidates for 2021

Dante Pettis – WR

Elsewhere in the receiving corps, Dante Pettis presents an interesting case.

Though Pettis only played in two games with the Giants in 2020, he made his presence known in both — something one would expect from a big-time playmaker.

In his two games, he caught four passes on five targets for 76 yards and one touchdown. Not a bad way to get your coaches attention.

What’s more, three of his four receptions garnered first downs, which is an arena the Giants desperately need help in. And even more impressive, the average QB rating when Dante Pettis is targeted is 158.3.

Though that averaged is buoyed by his limited presence, it’s telling that that number is high. When he’s on the field, he makes his quarterback better, thus making the team better.

Pettis was on the field for the Giants for only 29 offensive plays, five of which he was targeted. But one of those plays in particular showed his potential.

With under a minute to play in the first half, Daniel Jones completed a deep ball over the middle to Pettis, who hauled it in for a 33 yard touchdown. The deep ball is something no defenses feared when playing the Giants; Jones was 32nd in the league for longest pass (53), and he was 31st in the league in adjusted net yards per pass attempt (4.92).

The hope is that Pettis, who at 6’1” is no taller than Slayton, can present an additional weapon to open up the field for Daniel Jones.

The worry with Pettis stems from his time in San Francisco. After a solid rookie campaign in 2018, his numbers plummeted in 2019 — the only year on record he wasn’t placed on IR. And in five games with the 49ers in 2020, a team decimated by injuries to their offense, he only had one target to his credit.

But the Giants saw something in him. And in his limited playing time for New York, Dante Pettis showed why he should be included in the offensive game plan going forward.