Instead of trading a bunch of draft picks for either Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards, the Giants elected to address the need to replace Plaxico Burress via draft. Nicks is a solid possession receiver and should see the field with regularity in 2009. Of course, the Giants have spent several draft picks on receiver in recent years -- Steve Smith (2nd round), Sinorice Moss (2nd), Mario Manningham (3rd) -- and they also added Domenik Hixon, so it's really tough to tell how everything shakes out as of now. They'll be hoping Nicks develops into their go-to guy in the future, but the transition to that role in the pros will take more than a season. Let's check out the fantasy spin on the passing game after the jump.
Eli Manning: He doesn't have near as much value as he did entering last season with Amani Toomer and Burress, and the team will continue to lean on the running game with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. The fact of the matter is that last year Eli was in the mid-teens in fantasy points last year (variations due to different scoring systems), and that was with a half-season from Burress. His name and leadership have much more sparkle than stat-lines. He's a QB2 in normal-sized leagues, and adding Nicks to the mix doesn't really do a ton to change it -- at least not this season.
Nicks: He's got too much talent to be ignored, but we aren't expecting a huge season here. Not just yet. As stated above, the Giants are still going to be moving the chains via the ground-game. When they do throw, Smith will play the possession receiver and Hixon will be the deep threat. Expect Nicks to get plenty of looks as the possession option, and some from the slot, but he'll be learning this year. I've seen him compared to Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Roddy White, so he's definitely worth a look in keeper leagues. In yearly formats, he's a late-round flier with the potential to pay modest dividends, but nothing more.
Smith: He's not going to blow by anyone, as his longest catch was only for 30 yards last season. He did catch 57 balls, and the departures from last year's receiving corps will mean an increase in targets. He's worth a look in PPR (point-per-reception) leagues, as it's possible he grabs 65-70 catches this season. His yards per catch is pretty low, though, and he rarely finds the end-zone (once in 21 career games). If you don't get points for his receptions, you're looking at 4-6 points a week. I'll pass.
Hixon: This 24 year-old screams upside. He'll be the Giants outside deep threat -- and Nicks can't take away looks from this role, because he's a possession receiver -- and he started to show consistency late last season. In his last six games, he had 28 catches for 341 yards. That prorates to a full season of 75 grabs and 909 yards. I like some growth and a few more scores for him, now that he's unchallenged as the starting receiver who can beat guys deep. I could see 75 catches, 1,050 yards and 5 touchdowns. Grab him late and slot him as a WR4 to begin the season.
Moss and Manningham: They'll each get looks in the slot, but won't be worth using with any regularity in fantasy football.
