The player who may not start but will still make a major impact on offense is RB Cam Skattebo.
John Schmeelk: Fact – The way the NFL works, there is going to be someone on offense over the course of the season that goes down with an injury and misses substantial time. Whoever the backup is that has to step in for that player will inevitably be the answer here, but there’s no way to know who that is going to be. Given that, Skattebo is a logical choice. Due to how much time he missed in the summer, I would expect him to be brought along slowly as part of the running back rotation. Once the coaches and trainers deem him ready to go with a full workload, I expect him to be a big part of the offense. I still think Tyrone Tracy Jr. will get the majority of the backfield snaps, but Skattebo’s strength, contact balance, short area quickness and excellent receiving skills should make him a weapon in short yardage and on passing down that could really help the offense.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – To Schmeelk’s point in the first statement, the third tackle is one of the most important roles on the team. We’ve seen what happens when Thomas gets hurt. The game of musical chairs begins and things start to unravel. A silver lining to Thomas missing the offseason is that the unit practiced all spring and summer without him – in case they have to again in the fall. That’s why the signing of James Hudson III was so important.
Matt Citak: Fact – It seems like some of the post-draft buzz surrounding Skattebo has died down a bit due to the injury that sidelined him for a big chunk of training camp. The rookie was able to get back on the field in time for the preseason finale, and while he only played a handful of snaps, the fact that he was healthy enough to take the field was a big step for the 23-year-old. Skattebo was right up there with Ashton Jeanty as the most explosive play-makers in all of college football last year. He showed some flashes of that dominance early in training camp, and I have a feeling that once the season begins, it won’t take long for him to remind people just how good of a back he is.
The player who may not start but will still make a major impact on defense is DL Chauncey Golston.
John Schmeelk: Fact – I thought about really taking the cheap way out and selecting Abdul Carter here since he might not technically start on the first snap of every game, but he will play a starter’s share of the snaps so I’ll look elsewhere. I don’t think I can select anyone besides Golston, whom the Giants brought over in free agency. The plan was for him to have a big role as the third edge player and part-time defensive lineman/pass rusher, but that was before Abdul Carter landed in the Giants’ lap with the third overall pick. Golston has length, power and athleticism to be difficult for guards to block when he lines up inside as a pass rusher. The Giants will try to figure out very creative ways to get him on the field in different spots depending on the down and distance. I think we could see a lot of five-man pass rush situations with Brian Burns, Golston, Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux lining up with their hands in the dirt and Abdul Carter standing up in different spots as a fifth pass rusher on second and third and long. It would be a nightmare alignment for opposing offensive lines to have to block.
Dan Salomone: Fact – Defenses are at their best when they can send wave after wave of defensive linemen. Golston fits that role perfectly. He has the versatility to line up anywhere up front and the size to swat some passes at the line of scrimmage, which was another emphasis for the defense.
Matt Citak: Fiction – I do think Golston is being overlooked as a key contributor on the defense, but the non-starter that will make the biggest impact on the unit is Roy Robertson-Harris. The veteran defensive lineman is massive, coming in at 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds. While he’s been in the league since 2016, he’s never had the opportunity to play with as much talent as the Giants currently have on the defensive front. Early in training camp, defensive line coach Andre Patterson spoke about how Robertson-Harris still has untapped potential, despite going into Year 9. If there’s one coach that can get the absolute best out of the lineman, it’s Patterson. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Robertson-Harris eventually earns the starting spot next to Dexter Lawrence.