3 NY Giants players with the most at stake vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As the NY Giants open the second half of the season, several players have much to prove against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both for the short and long-term future
The NY Giants open the second half of the season, and emerge from the bye week, on the fringes of the NFC Playoff picture but face a daunting task of upsetting Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
Beyond making a push for the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2016, several players across the roster have much at stake over the final eight games, beginning Monday, both in terms of a role this season and spot on the team in the future.
While it remains to be seen exactly who will be the NY Giants’ general manager this offseason, it would behoove several players to put out quality film, beginning this week, either to make a push for a more significant role or job-security in 2022 and beyond.
Here’s a look at three NY Giants players, including Daniel Jones, with the most at stake this week:
NY Giants WR Kadarius Toney
Toney has flashed some tantalizing moments of explosiveness during his rookie campaign, but at times it has been a real struggle to get the ball into the hands of the NY Giants’ first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Against the Las Vegas Raiders, for example, despite playing 55 percent of the NY Giants’ offensive snaps, Toney was targeted only once, took one handoff, and was involved in a trick-play where it seemed he was going to throw a pass.
For a player with Toney’s speed and explosiveness, for him only to be targeted an average of just over five times per game speaks both to Toney’s struggles creating separation and the offense’s inability to maximize his best traits.
If Toney is going to dispel any early notion that he is more gadget-player than a game-altering weapon, a big game against a Buccaneers’ passing defense that has allowed 35 plays of 20 yards or longer so far this season, would certainly be a step in the right direction.