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March 22, 2025

Famous Jameis joins the Giants

Lots of fantasy goodness on tap

Jameis Winston has signed with the Giants, and this is exciting for a lot of reasons. Here are some of them.

First and foremost, despite the very meager salary by NFL quarterback standards (2 years, $8 million), I think there's a pretty good chance he'll open the year as the starter. The contract is worth "up to" $16 million, which probably means he'll make more money if he actually starts some games. And given the team's likely other options, I think he will be starting some games.

They will not be signing Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, or any other elderly veteran. Some are saying the small size of the Winston deal doesn't prevent them from bringing in one of those guys, but it would make zero sense to have multiple quarterbacks on the roster with a foot in the grave in NFL terms.

(Side note, I think this move indicates Rodgers has made his decision, and will likely be signing with Pittsburgh. It was reported yesterday that he was visiting with the Steelers, and I can't imagine any reason for that to happen beyond inking a deal in the next day or two. The next domino to fall, presumably, will be Wilson signing with Cleveland, but that seems less certain. All I'm confident of is that those guys will not be joining Winston with the Giants.)

New York will certainly draft a quarterback. They're picking No. 3, and there appear to be three potential first-round quarterbacks: Cameron Ward (probably No. 1 overall), Shedeur Sanders (definitely going in the top 10, perhaps No. 2 overall) and Jaxson Dart (No. 3 seems high and probably is, but at this time last year no one thought Michael Penix and Bo Nix were going in the top 12, and the Giants had some success with another Ole Miss quarterback in the past). Somehow, some way, one of those quarterbacks will be holding up a Giants jersey five weeks from now.

But the general consensus with these rookies is it would be better if they were not starting in Week 1. Enter Winston.

Certainly, Winston's game will be a huge departure for what the Giants have been sending out in the Brian Daboll era. Over the past three seasons, Winston has started 10 games (I'm ditching one he was knocked out of) for the Saints and Browns. He's been about the most productive passer in the league in that timeframe.

The table shows all quarterbacks to start at least 10 games in a season in each of the past three years, sorted by passing yards per game. The only quarterback to average more yards per game in any of those seasons was 2022 Patrick Mahomes.

Included also in the table are the per game passing numbers for the quarterbacks to start for the Giants the past three years. With the exception of Tyrod Taylor, who in retrospect the Giants really should have brought back last season, you'll find all of those guys down at or near the bottom of the table. None of them but Taylor averaged even 215 yards per game.

QBS PER GAME, 2022-2024, 10+ STARTS (AND GIANTS QBS)
YearPlayerGSYdsTDIntYards/GTD/GInt/G
2022Patrick Mahomes, K.C.1752504112308.82.40.7
22-24Jameis Winston, N.O-Cle.927501614306.01.81.6
2024Joe Burrow, Cin.174918439289.32.50.5
2022Joe Burrow, Cin.1644753512279.72.20.8
2022Justin Herbert, LAC1747392510278.81.50.6
2022Tom Brady, T.B.174694259276.11.50.5
2023C.J. Stroud, Hou.154108235273.91.50.3
2022Tua Tagovailoa, Mia.133548258272.91.90.6
2024Jared Goff, Det.1746293712272.32.20.7
2023Tua Tagovailoa, Mia.1746242914272.01.70.8
2023Jared Goff, Det.1745753012269.11.80.7
2023Tyrod Taylor, NYG5134153268.21.00.6
2022Josh Allen, Buff.1642833514267.72.20.9
2023Brock Purdy, S.F.1642803111267.51.90.7
2022Kirk Cousins, Min.1745472914267.51.70.8
2023Dak Prescott, Dall.174516369265.62.10.5
2024Baker Mayfield, T.B.1745004116264.72.40.9
2023Matthew Stafford, LAR1539652411264.31.60.7
2023Patrick Mahomes, K.C.1641832714261.41.70.9
2022Jared Goff, Det.174438297261.11.70.4
2024Tua Tagovailoa, Mia.112867197260.61.70.6
2024Brock Purdy, S.F.1538642012257.61.30.8
2022Matt Ryan, Ind.1230571413254.81.21.1
2023Gardner Minshew, Ind.133305159254.21.20.7
2024Geno Smith, Sea.1743202115254.11.20.9
2024Sam Darnold, Min.1743193512254.12.10.7
2023Josh Allen, Buff.1743062918253.31.71.1
2022Geno Smith, Sea.1742823011251.91.80.6
2023Trevor Lawrence, Jac.1640162114251.01.30.9
2024Kirk Cousins, Atl.1435081816250.61.31.1
2022Jalen Hurts, Phil.153701226246.71.50.4
2024Patrick Mahomes, K.C.1639282611245.51.60.7
2024Lamar Jackson, Balt.174172414245.42.40.2
2023Jordan Love, G.B.1741593211244.61.90.6
2022Jimmy Garoppolo, S.F.102437164243.71.60.4
2022Trevor Lawrence, Jac.174113258241.91.50.5
2023Geno Smith, Sea.153624209241.61.30.6
2023Justin Herbert, LAC133134207241.11.50.5
2022Dak Prescott, Dall.1228602315238.31.91.3
2023Baker Mayfield, T.B.1740442810237.91.60.6
2022Jacoby Brissett, Cle.112608126237.11.10.5
2024Matthew Stafford, LAR163762208235.11.30.5
2022Russell Wilson, Den.1535241611234.91.10.7
2022Derek Carr, L.V.1535222414234.81.60.9
2023Sam Howell, Was.1739462121232.11.21.2
2023Joe Burrow, Cin.102309156230.91.50.6
2023Lamar Jackson, Balt.163678247229.91.50.4
2024Aaron Rodgers, NYJ1738972811229.21.60.6
2023Derek Carr, N.O.173878258228.11.50.5
2024Justin Herbert, LAC173870233227.61.40.2
2023Jalen Hurts, Phil.1738582315226.91.40.9
2024Kyler Murray, Ari.1738512111226.51.20.6
2024Jordan Love, G.B.1533892511225.91.70.7
2024Russell Wilson, Pitt.112482165225.61.50.5
2024Bo Nix, Den.1737752912222.11.70.7
2023Aidan O'Connell, L.V.102218127221.81.20.7
2024Josh Allen, Buff.173731286219.51.60.4
2024C.J. Stroud, Hou.1737272012219.21.20.7
2023Desmond Ridder, Atl.1328361212218.20.90.9
2022Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1736952612217.41.50.7
2022Baker Mayfield, 2TM102163108216.31.00.8
2022Kyler Murray, Ari.112368147215.31.30.6
2024Derek Carr, N.O.102145155214.51.50.5
2024Drew Lock, NYG5107165214.21.21.0
2022Mac Jones, N.E.1429971411214.11.00.8
2022Ryan Tannehill, Ten.122536136211.31.10.5
2024Jayden Daniels, Was.173568259209.91.50.5
2024Caleb Williams, Chi.173541206208.31.20.4
2022Davis Mills, Hou.1531181715207.91.11.0
2024Daniel Jones, NYG10207087207.00.80.7
2023Zach Wilson, NYJ11227187206.50.70.6
2023Joshua Dobbs, 2TM1224641310205.31.10.8
2022Andy Dalton, N.O.142871189205.11.30.6
2023Russell Wilson, Den.153070268204.71.70.5
2024Trevor Lawrence, Jac.102045117204.51.10.7
2022Kenny Pickett, Pitt.12240479200.30.60.8
2022Daniel Jones, NYG163205155200.30.90.3
2024Bryce Young, Car.122403159200.31.30.8
2023Justin Fields, Chi.132562169197.11.20.7
2024Jalen Hurts, Phil.152903185193.51.20.3
2023Mac Jones, N.E.1121201012192.70.91.1
2024Drake Maye, N.E.1222761510189.71.30.8
2022Lamar Jackson, Balt.122242177186.81.40.6
2023Tommy DeVito, NYG6110183183.51.30.5
2023Bryce Young, Car.1628771110179.80.70.6
2024Will Levis, Ten.1220911312174.31.11.0
2023Kenny Pickett, Pitt.12207064172.50.50.3
2022Marcus Mariota, Atl.132219159170.71.20.7
2022Davis Webb, NYG116810168.01.00.0
2024Anthony Richardson, Ind.111814812164.90.71.1
2023Daniel Jones, NYG690926151.50.31.0
2022Justin Fields, Chi.1522421711149.51.10.7
2024Tommy DeVito, NYG225700128.50.00.0

Malik Nabers? Darius Slayton? Wan'Dale Robinson, Tyrone Tracy and whatever the team comes up with at tight end? Those guys are going to be part of more yards and touchdowns than they have been since Eli Manning was shoved into retirement.

The other key fantasy takeaway, of course, is the appeal of defenses to face the Giants this season. There was a pretty good chance the Eagles and Cowboys would be ranked in the top 10 for the upcoming season anyway, and the Commanders also have some potential (adding former Niner and Jet Javon Kinlaw to the middle of their defense will help). All of these teams will look especially good against a quarterback who averaged 1.6 interceptions in his starts the past three seasons.

I know: he's not getting paid a ton. New York will probably add a top rookie. But even with that in mind, good chance Winston is a first half of the season starter. Good for New York's skill players around him, and good for the opposing defenses.

--Andy Richardson

Jameis Winston
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