When the New York Giants parted ways with Odell Beckham Jr. in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, some wondered how they would fair on offense in 2019.
Not long after the trade, the Giants signed Golden Tate to a four-year deal in an effort to help replace Beckham, who averaged over 10 targets per game. But with talents like Tate, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and even Saquon Barkley in the passing game, the Giants will likely become a more balanced offense.
Some would describe Tate as the perfect receiver for Eli Manning, and if the two develop some chemistry in the passing game, Tate could become one of Manning’s go-to targets.
Should that happen, Tate could be a steal for many on their fantasy teams this year. Just two seasons ago, Tate saw the 12th-most targets in the NFL and it’s not crazy to think he could repeat that with the Giants. With the exception of his time with the Eagles, Tate has always had over 20% of his team’s targets in the last six seasons.
C.D. Carter of Sports Illustrated expects more of the same in 2019.
I’m not sure you could convince me he’ll see anything less than 15 percent, and even that seems low for an offense that’s not exactly bursting with great pass-catching options outside Engram. Tate sees more than 100 targets (6.25 targets per game) in six of these nine scenarios, and his projected opportunity tops out at 132 targets, which would have been the 12th most among wideouts in 2018.
The problem, of course, could be Tate’s usage in New York’s offense. The Giants in 2018 were 29th in targets to slot receivers, as Manning once again preferred his outside options. There’s quite a bit of uncertainty about how Tate and Shepard will be used, with some conjecture that Tate’s role might include some action as an outside receiver. So long as his redraft ADP remains depressed, though, I’m bullish on taking him as my fourth or fifth receiver and waiting to see if he commands a healthy chunk of what could (should) be a pass-heavy approach. If he doesn’t—or if the Giants passing offense becomes a horror show—it’ll hardly be devastating for a well-constructed fantasy football team.
It’s a bit early to talk about fantasy drafts, but in terms of value, it seems as though Tate would be a great grab in his eighth round (35th ranked receiver) draft projection.
With the focus on star running back Saquon Barkley, Tate and the other weapons should be able to be highly productive in the passing game.
