The New York Giants' running back room was a mystery all offseason. With three talented backs, four after the Najee Harris signing, it was impossible to predict what factors would determine the final pecking order. Would it be physicality, explosiveness, pass blocking, familiarity?
The answer? None of the above. John Harbaugh showed that he values trust above all else in Week 1 with his usage of Devin Singletary. The veteran took on the RB2 role behind Cam Skattebo despite spending much of the offseason on the roster bubble.
When asked about Singletary, Harbaugh said, "The biblical word is 'faithful.' You can trust him. You can believe that he's going to be doing the right thing, as best he can to the best of his ability."
John Harbaugh's faith in Devin Singletary shows why Tyrone Tracy Jr. is fading
The differences between Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr. tell you all you need to know about what Harbaugh wants from his running backs. Tracy Jr. is by far the more explosive back. He had 19 carries of ten or more yards last year to Singletary's six. It's easy to see that whenever Tracy Jr. touches the ball he brings a burst that the rest of New York's backs lack.
But his consistent issues with fumbling and pass protection make him unreliable. He fumbled in Big Blue's first preseason game and got Jaxson Dart blown up with a protection mistake in the second. After his fumble in Week 1, it wouldn't be surprising to see him banished to special teams for the rest of the year.
As electric as he is with the ball in his hands, the Giants can't count on him to avoid game-breaking mistakes.
Against the Cowboys, Singletary took his six carries for just 16 yards. He was effective as a receiver, even scoring a touchdown, but his rushing efficiency was nothing to write home about.
Since November of 2024, Singletary has only had two carries of 15 or more yards. But he also hasn't fumbled since 2024, and he's the best pass-blocking back on New York's roster. The 29-year-old isn't going to win many games for you, but he's not going to be the reason you lose.
It's becoming clear that Harbaugh puts a premium on that kind of reliability. Singletary was on the field in key moments against the Cowboys, and we expect him to continue to play an important role for the rest of the season.
Unless Tracy Jr. can win Harbaugh's trust back, though, he might fall to the bottom of the depth chart.
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