Fantasy football players who took a chance drafting New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo will be thrilled with the latest report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo ahead of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“We thought Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo would be used in some short-yardages and special packages, but last week 35 snaps, 52% of the plays from the offense for the Giants,” Garafolo reported (1:17 mark). “The most among any running backs. Look for him to get even more tonight against the Chiefs and moving forward. Skattebo has taken the lead in that backfield.”
It was fair to assume Tyrone Tracy Jr. would be New York’s primary running back heading into the season.
After all, the Purdue product impressed as a rookie in 2024 with 1,123 yards and six touchdowns from scrimmage. He seemed primed to see even more opportunities in his second season, especially since Skattebo was a fourth-round pick and not a first- or second-rounder.
Yet Skattebo has 13 carries to Tracy’s 15 through two games and was on the field more for the Week 2 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie also found the end zone against Dallas and had two catches for 14 yards.
In perhaps the best news for fantasy players, the touchdown came from just one yard out. If Skattebo is going to be the one seeing goal-line opportunities, he will be far more viable as a weekly starter.
At this point, neither running back has been excellent. Skattebo is averaging 3.2 yards per carry to Tracy’s 2.6, and the offense has largely relied on Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers to make plays through the air.
But Skattebo was a dominant college playmaker who tallied 1,711 rushing yards, 605 receiving yards and 24 total touchdowns while leading Arizona State to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance last season.
The more opportunities he receives, the more likely it is that he finds some of that form that made him so unstoppable with the Sun Devils. And if he does, he will be a serious fantasy football weapon throughout his rookie campaign.
