The New York Giants had one of the NFL’s more intriguing but injury-ravaged offenses in 2025. Jaxson Dart showed legitimate promise as a rookie, starting 12 games and producing 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 487 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns. His mobility gave him a strong fantasy foundation, even as the Giants struggled to sustain offense after injuries depleted their top skill players.
Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL and additional knee damage in Week 4, while Cam Skattebo suffered a season-ending dislocated ankle in Week 8. The Giants finished 4–13 and moved on from Brian Daboll after the season.
New York hired John Harbaugh to lead its reset, bringing in one of the NFL’s most accomplished active coaches. Harbaugh won six division titles and one Super Bowl during his Baltimore tenure, and he hired Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator for 2026.
If Nabers and Skattebo return healthy, the Giants have an intriguing young core around Dart. The offense remains more of a high-variance breakout candidate than a proven fantasy environment, but Dart’s rushing, Nabers’ target upside, and Skattebo’s physical running style give New York several players worth monitoring closely before drafts.
John Harbaugh, Year One: Fixing What Daboll Broke
Harbaugh arrives from Baltimore with a reputation for organizational discipline, player development, and building physical football teams. He hired Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator and Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator, giving the Giants an experienced coaching staff around Jaxson Dart.
New York used the fifth overall pick on Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, then selected Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick acquired from Cincinnati in the Dexter Lawrence trade. Mauigoa is a major investment in protecting Dart and improving the offensive line, while Reese adds a premium young defender to replace some of the impact lost when Lawrence departed.
The Giants also signed former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, giving Harbaugh a familiar offensive weapon. Wan’Dale Robinson departed in free agency, increasing the opportunity for Likely and the remaining pass catchers to earn targets. New York plays its home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Fantasy football implications: Dart’s health is a major 2026 variable after he underwent five concussion evaluations as a rookie and missed two games with a diagnosed concussion. Harbaugh’s experience managing mobile quarterbacks could encourage Dart to reduce unnecessary hits, which may preserve his availability even if it slightly lowers his rushing volume. 1588
Harbaugh’s arrival is a positive development for the Giants’ offense, but do not treat it as a guarantee of fantasy improvement. Dart, Nabers, Skattebo, and Likely all have more stability and developmental support, yet their fantasy outcomes will still depend on offensive-line improvement, health, target distribution, and Nagy’s play-calling.
Jaxson Dart: The Most Underrated QB in Fantasy Football
Dart averaged 22.4 fantasy points per game in 12 starts in 2025 — a pace that would have ranked QB8 for the full season. He did that without Malik Nabers for 13 of 14 games. Jaxson did it throwing to Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton as his top receivers. He rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in seven of his twelve starts. His current ADP is QB12-13 — a significant discount given his per-game production. Multiple analysts have compared his trajectory directly to Drake Maye — a physical, dual-threat sophomore entering his first year with a real coaching staff and a true alpha receiver.
Fantasy verdict: High-upside QB1 going at QB12-13 price. Dart is one of the best values at the position in 2026 drafts. Because Harbaugh is expected to reduce his designed rush rate while preserving scramble efficiency, his passing stats should improve dramatically. Furthermore, Nabers returning gives Dart a legitimate WR1 for the first time in his career. Draft him in the middle rounds and enjoy the upside.
Malik Nabers: The Injury Risk With WR1 Ceiling
Nabers tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee during Week 4 of the 2025 season, ending his sophomore campaign after four games. The injury came after an outstanding rookie year in which he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s most heavily targeted young receivers.
Nabers underwent reconstructive knee surgery in late October and a follow-up procedure in April to remove scar tissue that had caused stiffness. Giants general manager Joe Schoen expressed optimism in June that Nabers could be ready for the season opener, but by training camp he stopped short of guaranteeing a Week 1 return. Nabers has progressed to running, cutting, sprinting, and individual work, but his medical status remains a major preseason storyline.
Fantasy verdict: Nabers is a high-risk, high-reward WR1. His current ADP around the late second or early third round reflects both his proven target-command upside and the uncertainty around his recovery. 1613 Wan’Dale Robinson’s departure leaves meaningful target volume available, but Nabers should be projected as the Giants’ primary receiver—not as the automatic recipient of every vacated target. Monitor his practice participation and any Week 1 availability updates before selecting him at a premium draft cost.
Cam Skattebo: The Running Back Who Earned His Spot
Cam Skattebo emerged as one of fantasy football’s most productive rookie running backs before a season-ending right-ankle injury in Week 8 of 2025. In seven full games, he averaged 19.1 PPR points per game, which ranked 10th among running backs. He totaled 410 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 101 carries, while adding 24 receptions for 207 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Skattebo’s injury was severe, involving an open ankle dislocation, a tibia fracture, and significant ligament damage that required emergency surgery. His recovery has been encouraging: he participated in minicamp work, returned to 11-on-11 drills, and has taken part fully in training camp. He is currently expected to be available for Week 1, but his workload should be monitored closely after such a significant injury.
Fantasy verdict: Skattebo is a high-upside RB2 with RB1 potential if he regains his pre-injury role and maintains a large share of the Giants’ backfield work. He is currently a third-round fantasy option in many 12-team PPR drafts. His role appears secure, but he should not be treated as completely free of competition or injury risk. Draft him for volume and touchdown upside, while accounting for the possibility that New York manages his workload early in the season.
Isaiah Likely: The Breakout Tight End
Isaiah Likely arrives in New York after four seasons in Baltimore, where he frequently played behind Mark Andrews but still produced 135 receptions, 1,568 yards, and 15 touchdowns in 63 career games. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end has strong run-after-catch ability and now enters his first season with a clear path to a primary tight end role.
The Giants signed Likely to a three-year deal worth up to $40 million, signaling their intention to feature him more prominently than Baltimore could. He has drawn frequent targets from Jaxson Dart during spring and training-camp practices, a positive early sign even though camp usage does not guarantee regular-season target volume.
Fantasy verdict: Likely is a late-round TE1 sleeper with top-10 upside. He is commonly drafted around TE13–TE14 and near the ninth or 10th round, making him a better value target than a fifth- or sixth-round selection. His strongest path to a breakout is an expanded role, continued chemistry with Dart, and early-season uncertainty around Malik Nabers’ knee recovery. If Nabers misses time, Likely could see more targets, but he should not be assumed to become the Giants’ primary receiver by default.
2026 New York Giants Schedule
The Giants open with back-to-back primetime home games — Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 and Monday Night Football at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. The bye falls in Week 8 — a well-timed midseason rest. New York has four primetime games total. The schedule closes with back-to-back rivalry games at Dallas in Week 17 and home against Philadelphia in Week 18.
| Week | Opponent | Location | Day/Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys | Home | Sun 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 2 | Los Angeles Rams | Away | Mon 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 3 | Tennessee Titans | Home | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals | Home | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 5 | Washington Commanders | Away | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 6 | New Orleans Saints | Home | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 7 | Houston Texans | Away | Sun 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 8 | BYE WEEK | — | — | — |
| 9 | Philadelphia Eagles | Away | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 10 | Washington Commanders | Home | Thu 8:15 PM | Prime |
| 11 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Home | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 12 | Indianapolis Colts | Away | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 13 | San Francisco 49ers | Home | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 14 | Seattle Seahawks | Away | Sun 4:25 PM | — |
| 15 | Cleveland Browns | Home | Sun 1:00 PM | — |
| 16 | Detroit Lions | Away | Mon 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 17 | Dallas Cowboys | Away | Sun TBD | — |
| 18 | Philadelphia Eagles | Home | TBD | — |
Fantasy note: The Week 8 bye is perfectly placed before the fantasy playoff push. Back-to-back primetime games in Weeks 1-2 give the Giants maximum national exposure to open the season. The NFC East closing stretch — at Dallas (Week 17) and home against Philadelphia (Week 18) — defines the division race.
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FAQ
Who is the New York Giants head coach in 2026?
John Harbaugh is the Giants’ head coach after Brian Daboll was fired during the 2025 season. Harbaugh brings six AFC North division titles, four AFC Championship Game appearances, and one Super Bowl championship from Baltimore. Matt Nagy is New York’s offensive coordinator.
Is Jaxson Dart a good fantasy quarterback in 2026?
Dart is a strong value at his QB12-range ADP, with top-10 upside if his rushing workload remains intact and Nabers returns healthy. His concussion history, a new coaching staff, and uncertainty around Nabers’ recovery prevent treating a top-10 finish as a certainty.
Is Malik Nabers worth drafting in fantasy football?
Yes, as a high-risk, high-reward WR1. Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus in Week 4 of 2025. The Giants have expressed optimism about a Week 1 return but have not committed to it, so availability and early-season workload remain uncertain. He is appropriately valued around the late second or early third round, not as a risk-free WR1.
Is Cam Skattebo healthy for 2026?
Skattebo is trending positively after his severe 2025 ankle injury and participated in minicamp drills. He is expected to be available for Week 1, but fantasy managers should continue monitoring preseason workload reports. He projects as the lead back, though “unquestioned” is too strong after a serious injury and under a new coaching staff. His ADP is generally in the fourth round, around RB18–RB19, making him a high-upside RB2 with RB1 potential rather than a guaranteed high-end starter.
Is Isaiah Likely worth drafting at tight end?
Likely is a late-round TE2 with top-10 positional upside, suitable for managers who wait at tight end or pair him with another inexpensive option. Do not pay a fifth- or sixth-round price for a player whose regular-season target share remains unproven.
Does New York play internationally in 2026?
No, but they do have four prime time games.
What is the New York Giants’ bye week in 2026?
Week 8.
What stadium do the Giants play in?
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — shared with the New York Jets.
How long has Commish Kit been making fantasy football draft boards?
Since 2002 — Commish Kit started in Daly City, California, and moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, making 2026 its 24th season in business.
