Jaxson Dart Named Starting Quarterback for Giants: Fantasy Football Impact for Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and More

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named as the Week 4 starter for the New York Giants. New York is one of six teams to start the season 0-3, and they're to the point where their playoff hopes are already close to being squelched.

There is more that goes into deciding when a rookie QB should see the field, of course, and head coach Brian Daboll saw this as the opportune time to make the move, probably for several reasons. The offense has been abysmal, but Daboll is also likely coaching for his job, something that pulls his interests in different directions.

Let's look at some of the biggest immediate questions that come up with the move to Dart, including what the young quarterback might look like, if the team can turn it around, and what this does from a fantasy football perspective for all Giants players.

Why now?

I touched on this a little in the open. The biggest thing is the ineptitude of the offense. They are right in the middle in terms of both yards per rush attempt and yards per pass attempt; New York is even above average in total passing yards (and below average in rushing yards).

They haven't been scoring points, though, ranking sixth worst. After a 21-6 loss to the Commanders in Week 1, New York put up a big performance in Week 2, eventually losing 40-37 to Dallas in overtime. Week 3 was back to the same struggles, as the Giants fell to Kansas City 22-9.

That second game is great, but they otherwise scored single-digit points in their other contests. While New York left some points on the field by chasing touchdowns late instead of field goals, that came after failing to do anything all game, the reason they had to go for the end zone. The first and third games tell a sad story:

• Week 1: 4.5 yards per pass attempt (would rank last in the league), 3.2 yards per rush attempt (30th), 6 points
• Week 3: 5.0 yards per pass attempt (tied for last), 4.8 yards per rush attempt (a very good number), 9 points

They were able to do some damage on the ground in the most recent game, but the Giants only scored one touchdown. The Week 2 game counts, and New York was very good, gaining 11.0 yards per pass (phenomenal) and 4.0 yards per rush (near average), but we've seen more bad than good from the Giants, and that stretches back several seasons.

While part of the reason for the change is definitely motivated by the play on the field, Daboll's best chance to save his job is to get Dart in the lineup and let management see him excel. If the coach can prove brighter days are ahead with his hand-picked quarterback, it could buy him some time. The problem: that might not come right away.

New York's next five games are against the Chargers, Saints, Eagles, Broncos, and Eagles. New Orleans is an easier contest, but that's otherwise four games against three of the best defenses in football. We often hear of teams trying to ease their young passers in against softer teams, but that's not the case here. Dart will be tested right away.

Can Dart play?

With the caveat that the preseason doesn't count for anything, we've already seen Dart excel on the field. His three performances during the preseason:

• Week 1 @ Bills: 12/19, 154 yards (8.1 per attempt), 1 touchdown, no interceptions or sacks
• Week 2 vs. Jets: 14/16, 137 yards (8.6 per attempt), 1 touchdown, no interceptions, 1 sack
• Week 3 vs. Patriots: 6/12, 81 yards (6.8 per attempt), 1 touchdown, no interceptions, 1 sack

If Dart comes out and does anything close to that in those first five games, we are going to be looking at him as the next great young quarterback. All that work came in relief against backups, and teams don't put their best defensive stuff on film during the preseason, so things will get harder.

If his performance is even just to that Week 3 level, though, which is close to average quarterback play, it's going to have Giants fans celebrating thinking that they have a real franchise QB. He can play, but don't be surprised if the early returns are underwhelming given the competition.

Can the Giants stay in the wild card hunt?

No. The most likely scenario is that New York sits at 1-7 after the stretch of brutal games listed above, ending any hopes they might still have (and possibly Daboll's tenure). If Dart comes out and plays lights out and wins at least half those games, we can look back and say there might be something here, but it just seems too far from the realm of possibility given their subpar roster.

What are the fantasy football implications?

Let's start with the man himself. On top of being able to throw the football, Dart will also use his legs to help the offense, something Wilson can't do nearly as well at this point in his career. Dart was put on the field a few times during the first three games as more of a rushing threat, carrying the ball twice for zero total yards.

In the preseason, Dart ran six times for 52 yards and a touchdown. His status as a relevant fantasy streamer will come because of that potential damage with his legs as much as what he's expected to do throwing the ball. Development in both areas will make him an intriguing fantasy player in the future.

The matchups are going to be the biggest problem. Unless we see him absolutely ball out, the game against the Saints will be the only one in those first five weeks in which Dart is even a feasible player to consider. We can reevaluate after that, but Dart is not a good fantasy pickup right now.

That affects his pass catchers as well. We'll get to Malik Nabers, who is in a league of his own, but the other guys are all off the fantasy radar until further notice: wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton and tight end Theo Johnson. Maybe they have a little value against the Saints, but you can probably find better players that week too.

Nabers is a must-start wide receiver, but I wonder if we'll start to question that during this stretch. That doesn't mean he's not a great receiver but facing the best defenses every week will be a test of his matchup-proof status. Start him tentatively until further notice.

Running back Cam Skattebo is still a startable player, as he will lead the backfield with Tyrone Tracy Jr. out at least a few games. Skattebo will both run and catch the ball, making him a valuable fantasy player who still fits in your lineup in the RB2/flex range.