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Factoid

NY Giants

New York receivers short on accolades, but with quiet production

The common assumption is that the Giants will be adding a wide receiver or two in the offseason, be it by draft, free agency or both. But while that’s probably the case, I don’t think their receiving corps is quite as awful as most paint it be. They got unusually good production from some seemingly modest wide receivers last year.

Isaiah Hodgins for one. Plucked off Buffalo’s practice squad, Hodgins played well enough in the second half of the season that they signed him to a contract extension last week. He has limited speed, but he was playing well enough at the end of the year that I don’t think it’s a given that he’ll be beat out by whatever receiver they might pick in the second or third round.

And the Giants got equally surprising production out of Richie James. They made him their slot receiver for the final third of the season, and he helped get them into the playoffs with reliable production out of that position.

James caught 57 of the 70 passes thrown his way last year, which translates to an unsual 81 percent completion rate. In the last 10 years, only two receivers with at least 50 catches have finished seasons with a higher completion rate.

I’m not suggesting that James will be the next Julian Edelman or Wes Welker, but he’s going to make their roster, with the potential to play some in the slot. The Giants were thinking Wan’Dale Robinson (a second-round pick last year) would be their slot receiver, but he tore his ACL in Week 11. James gives them the luxury of not having to rush Robinson back.

CATCHING 75 PERCENT OF TARGETS (last 10 yrs)
YearPlayerNoYardsAvgTDTgtPct
2018Michael Thomas, N.O.125140511.2914785.0%
2021Rondale Moore, Ariz.544358.116484.4%
2022Richie James, NYG5756910.047081.4%
2018Tyler Lockett, Sea.5796516.9107081.4%
2022• Greg Dortch, Ari.524679.026481.3%
2019Michael Thomas, N.O.149172511.6918580.5%
2021Hunter Renfrow, L.V.103103810.1912880.5%
2020Curtis Samuel, Car.7785111.139779.4%
2021Kendrick Bourne, N.E.5580014.657078.6%
2020Chris Godwin, T.B.6584012.978477.4%
2022• JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.C.7893312.0310177.2%
2020Davante Adams, G.B.115137412.01814977.2%
2021Chris Godwin, T.B.98110311.3512777.2%
2017Golden Tate, Det.92100310.9512076.7%
2020Cole Beasley, Buff.8296711.8410776.6%
2022• Cooper Kupp, LAR7581210.869876.5%
2016Cole Beasley, Dall.7583311.159876.5%
2020Stefon Diggs, Buff.127153512.1816676.5%
2016Michael Thomas, N.O.92113712.4912176.0%
2021Cooper Kupp, LAR145194713.41619175.9%
2020JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.978318.6912875.8%
2020Tyler Lockett, Sea.100105410.51013275.8%
2015Doug Baldwin, Sea.78106913.71410375.7%
2017Ted Ginn, N.O.5378714.847075.7%
2014Brandin Cooks, N.O.5355010.437075.7%
2014Jarvis Landry, Mia.847589.0511175.7%
2015Jamison Crowder, Was.5960410.227875.6%
2021Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det.9091210.1511975.6%
2015Keenan Allen, S.D.6772510.848975.3%
2016Doug Baldwin, Sea.94112812.0712575.2%
2015Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.109121511.1914575.2%
2020Julio Jones, Atl.5177115.136875.0%
2020Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.544097.617275.0%
2016Adam Thielen, Min.6996714.059275.0%
2016Stefon Diggs, Min.8490310.8311275.0%

The Giants also have Darius Slayton, who’s got more ability to run downfield routes than either Hodgins or James.

I expect the Giants will add one more notable wide receiver, and that should give them enough a strong enough position group for the kind of offense Brian Daboll is trying to run.

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index