There are several storylines about the New York Giants heading into next season, but one that stands out is how Cam Skattebo will perform in year two after an impressive rookie campaign.
Skattebo’s first season was cut short by a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8 vs the Eagles, leaving Big Blue fans wondering how Skatt will respond and whether he can pick up right where he left off before his injury.
ESPN recently polled executives, coaches, and scouts around the league and released their Top 10 running back rankings based on the results. Skatt did not crack the list heading into next season, but one of FanSided’s very own believes the 24-year-old will prove the doubters wrong in 2026.
Cam Skattebo could crack ESPN's top running backs list by 2027
Wynston Wilcox of FanSided reacted to ESPN’s recent Top 10 running back list and singled out Skattebo as one of five players he predicts will crack it by next season, along with Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Ashton Jeanty, and David Montgomery.
Wilcox says the Giants need Skattebo to step up in 2026, especially with Malik Nabers' status up in the air as he recovers from a torn ACL last season. That uncertainty puts pressure on the second-year running back to carry this offense if Nabers misses time.
It will be difficult for Skattebo to finish as a top 10 running back in the league, but it’s not impossible. Let's not forget he had 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns, plus 207 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 24 receptions, in eight games before a season-ending ankle injury.
The most important thing for Skattebo this season is staying healthy, because that is what will separate him from the rest of the league. We know what Skatt can do when he is on the field and the impact he can have on this offense. He is very valuable to the Giants, and they can’t afford to lose him with Nabers already sidelined.
We can expect John Harbaugh to implement a run-first offense, as he did with the Baltimore Ravens, when the game plan centered around Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. If that is the case, Jaxson Dart and Skatt could have a similar impact on the field and take a second-year leap together.
Obviously, not everybody can crack ESPN’s Top 10 running back list next year, but if the Giants want to return to their winning ways, we can expect Skattebo to be on that list this time next year, along with several other accomplishments, such as Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
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