If the NY Giants’ offense is as prolific as many believe it will be after signing Kenny Golladay and Saquon Barkley returning, the competition for team MVP could be stiff
There is little question that the NY Giants will be fielding a more talented roster in 2021 than the organization did in 2020.
That’s inevitable after being one of the league’s biggest spenders in free agency, and with one of the NFL’s premier running backs anticipated to return.
Whether the additions of wide receiver Kenny Golladay, John Ross, and rookie Kadarius Toney along with Saquon Barkley returning from a torn ACL are enough to both elevate quarterback Daniel Jones’ play and lift the NY Giants back to the NFL postseason remain to be seen.
But, with so much firepower on offense, this should be a bounce-back year for New York and several players might have a legitimate case by season’s end as the Giants‘ MVP.
Here’s a look at three players who have a legitimate chance to be the NY Giants’ team MVP in 2021
3) WR – Kenny Golladay
This season is all about the NY Giants evaluating whether Daniel Jones has what it takes to become an elite franchise quarterback, and one of the game’s premier passers.
That’s the only reason the NY Giants went out and signed Golladay, drafted Kadarius Toney, and added veterans John Ross and Kyle Rudolph … To significantly bolster Jones’ supporting cast, to facilitate his development while hoping to increase their win total along the way.
Golladay represents the most gifted, and accomplished, wide receiver that Jones has ever worked with. If Jones is going to make the leap that many hope that he will in his third season, and great quarterbacks tend to in their second, Golladay will play a vital role.
If Golladay surpasses 1,200 receiving yards and touches double-digit touchdown receptions, not only is he going to garner consideration as the team’s MVP, but the NY Giants’ offense might just prove to be prolific enough to lead a return to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
2) QB – Daniel Jones
This might be now or never time for Danny Dimes.
Young quarterbacks such as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and others made great leaps in their second seasons, and that’s the kind of step the NY Giants invested so many resources in the offensive skill positions this offseason to hope the former No. 6 overall pick in the NFL Draft makes in his third.
Jones has been just average through his first two seasons, tossing 35 touchdowns to 22 interceptions while regressing dramatically in 2020. But, it is difficult to envision him not playing better with so much talent around him.
The combination of a more dynamic supporting cast, and the pressure to win now, should be enough for Jones to improve. If he doesn’t, the clock could start ticking on the NY Giants eyeing a young quarterback to replace him, far sooner than anyone would have ever expected in 2019.
1) RB – Saquon Barkley
Even with Golladay’s arrival, and the expectations on Jones’ shoulders, the NY Giants’ offense is going to funnel through Barkley.
Barkley’s health and durability will linger over this season as the biggest question mark facing both the organization and the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, when it comes to determining the running back’s future.
As a rookie, Barkley produced over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage, but in an offense that will likely utilize him equally as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and as a runner, he could eclipse those numbers if he’s able to avoid another significant injury, like the torn ACL that ended his season in Week 2 of the 2020 campaign.
There’s a chance that the NY Giants will only go as far as Barkley can take them in 2021, especially if the commitment both to the running game, and using the ground attack to open up the passing game in 2020 were any indication. That bodes well for Barkley being the Giants’ most prolific weapon.
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL