Anyone who has played even a single season of fantasy football knows what happens to best laid plans.
It’s not always the early picks that come back to bite you. A failure to properly draft depth, especially at receiver, often proves to be the death blow for many a fantasy team.
With less than three months until the 2026 NFL season kicks off, GMEN HQ is previewing the New York Giants players who could land on your fantasy football roster.
Today, we continue with veteran receiver Darius Slayton, who missed offseason workouts following sports hernia surgery.
However, Slayton is expected to be ready for training camp, and the Giants desperately need him at full strength.
Should you draft New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton in fantasy football?
When building your preseason fantasy football strategy, I personally suggest focusing more on context than ADP or projected points.
With that said, I personally wouldn’t consider drafting Slayton until the final rounds — and even then, I’d be extremely hesitant to add him.
Slayton can be a fine depth receiver for the actual Giants. In an ideal world, he’s Jaxson Dart’s third or fourth preferred option among the receivers and tight ends.
But from a fantasy perspective? The thought of voluntarily picking Slayton doesn’t sit right with me.
The biggest knock against Slayton is the same as it has been his entire career: drops and ball control.
At least with someone like Marvin Harrison Jr., you could argue the raw talent and his potential to be the Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver outweigh the drops (although Michael Wilson and Trey McBride are far safer options for Jacoby Brissett, but that’s another conversation entirely).
And, by the way, don’t let Malik Nabers’ knee tempt you into taking Slayton.
Dart is far better off relying on Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, and the running back duo of Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. in Nabers’ potential absence.
As for Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III, neither turned heads during OTAs, which worries me from a fantasy perspective.
Remember, this is solely a fantasy football discussion. Mooney could dominate during training camp and earn a Week 1 starting role, as could Austin or rookie Malachi Fields.
Mooney also has the benefit of having played for Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy in Chicago.
Honestly, outside of Nabers, Odell Beckham Jr. might be the best Giants receiver worth taking in your fantasy football draft.
And, yes, I’m saying that after being vocally against the Beckham signing.
That should say everything about Slayton’s fantasy stock.
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