Giants Running Back’s Poor Grade Suggests Big-Time Change in Attack originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The New York Giants were obviously ecstatic with how the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft performed as a rookie.

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But receiver Malik Nabers had company.

Yes, there was another rookie offensive weapon that turned heads as well.

Fifth-round running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. finished with over 800 rushing yards last season and became a key figure in the running back room for the G-Men. Add in his receiving stats, and the Giants’ young runner totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

As good as Tracy was, though, not everyone is as high on the Purdue product.

Two-time All-Pro running back and current NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew ranked the league’s running backs with Tracy slotted as the 22nd best player at his position in the game.

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“Tracy has earned a bigger role in 2025, having stepped up early as a rookie when Devin Singletary missed two games due to injury and ultimately logging 12 starts,” Jones-Drew said. “The second-year pro is flanked by Singletary and do-it-all rookie Cam Skattebo this fall, but even if Tracy’s touch total remains static, I see him improving his efficiency with better quarterback play.”

The Giants have major issues to improve on. New York needs to find a long-term answer at the quarterback psoition, and along the offensive line.

Those problems won’t be solved right away.

Does Tracy’s relatively poor grade suggest that a big-time change is due in the backfield? Jones-Drew writes that he’s “flanked” by two other runners; that’s a poor choice of words that creates the impression that the three of them are standing, side-by-side, in a row or that they are somehow prepped to line up in the same backfield.

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They aren’t “flanking” him. They are trying to take his snaps.

It can be argued that the Giants boast two young foundational pieces for their offense in Nabers and Tracy. But if Tracy is really the 22nd best back in football? No wonder there is a suspicion that changes might be coming in the way head coach Brian Daboll utilizes his backs.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.