Sunday against the New Orleans Saints has the chance to be Kadarius Toney’s biggest showcase yet for the NY Giants
It typically takes three years to fully evaluate an NFL Draft class, or single selection, and for NY Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney, it’s probably a good thing success or failure isn’t judged by the first three weeks.
While Toney’s workload has slowly built over the first month of his maiden NFL season, the University of Florida alum enters Week 4 having only appeared in 70 offensive snaps. Toney’s only been targeted by quarterback Daniel Jones five times, catching four passes for 14 yards.
Simply put, Toney has been a non-factor.
That could change in a big way Sunday in New Orleans against the Saints.
As the NY Giants offense figures out how to be productive through the air with Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton out with hamstring injuries, Toney might finally get the chance to be unleashed.
"“I’m always ready to go no matter where it is,” Toney told reporters Friday. “We could play in the parking lot right there. No matter where it is, I’m always having that same energy, the same juice, so I don’t really feel like it’s based off the situation.”"
Sunday’s situation could see Toney lined up as the NY Giants’ No. 2 wide receiver, perhaps even with the Giants scheming ways to get Toney the ball in the open-field, where he’d have the chance to turn on the jets and flash some of the elusiveness that turned is college film into a highlight reel.
To date, those “wow” moments for Toney have been few and far between.
Now that Toney has gotten up to speed with the NY Giants’ scheme, and gets the opportunity in Shepard and Slayton’s absence, it wouldn’t be surprising if his coming out party comes Sunday afternoon.
"“His role has grown as he’s been on the field more, (been) more available and built in more experience in the system and chemistry,” NY Giants head coach Joe Judge told reporters Friday. “His role has improved every week and increased every week, so we would expect that to be the same this week. He had a good day of practice yesterday for us, so it was encouraging. He’ll be out here today and kind of go back to the game plan with him.“I would expect him to be doing more than what we’ve seen in previous weeks, just naturally, not based on anyone being injured. Just naturally based on his progression within the system.”"
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.