Jerrel Jernigan is a playmaking, undersized receiver now entering his fourth season in the league as a third round pick out of Troy. He’s fast and has done some spot duty in the return game during his time in New York, but the Giants are hoping he can build on last season as a receiver, when he caught 29 passes for 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Fantasy Upside
New Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo is installing the West Coast offense, which is ideal for a player like Jernigan, who can make plays after the catch. He has more explosiveness and upside than Mario Manningham, who he’s fighting for playing time, and shiny new rookie Odell Beckham Jr. has been nursing a hamstring injury, meaning Jernigan has a shot to compete for snaps this year.
Fantasy Downside
Jernigan has yet to distinguish himself, and he’s very small at 5’8 and under 190 pounds. Additionally, he has limited upside with the top two receiver spots set in New York between Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle. Even if Beckham Jr. doesn’t get healthy, Jernigan will still be battling for only the WR3 spot in the offense. His skill set is also similar to that of Cruz and Beckham Jr., making it less likely he’ll stand out on the roster.
Bottom Line
Jernigan has some upside, particularly if injuries strike the Giants receiving corps again this year. However, he’s unlikely to exceed his totals from last season given his place on the depth chart and is not worth drafting to your fantasy roster at this time.
