Victor Cruz barely missed 1,000 yards last year and finished with only four touchdowns; numbers dramatically down from his previous two seasons as arguably the league’s most dynamic slot receiver. The Giants’ offense struggled all season at just about every level, leading to the retirement of longtime coordinator Kevin Gilbride and a retooling of the offensive line. New York will be hoping that Cruz can return to form and that the Giants can get back to being a prolific passing offense, rather than the turnover machine they were last year.
Fantasy Upside
Cruz has tremendous upside for a guy who is coming off his second straight season with reduced production. New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo will bring the West Coast offense over from Green Bay, a scheme that fits Cruz’s ability perfectly! This system is predicated on getting the ball into the hands of playmaking receivers quickly and allowing them to make plays after the catch. Cruz caught 73 passes last season and has showed a knack for making plays from the slot position, where a lot of his work comes off of slants and post routes anyway. This scheme could be just what the doctor ordered for third year player from Massachusetts.
Fantasy Downside
Cruz is coming off a down year, where he set career lows for yards, receptions and touchdowns. Furthermore, he still has Eli Manning throwing him the ball. If Eli does not get back to his former self and continues to throw interceptions at an alarming rate, then it is very possible the Giants offense continues to stagnate and fails to recover from last season’s debacle. The arrival of rookie Odell Beckham Jr. could theoretically eat into Cruz’s touches as well, though that’s less likely with a talent like Cruz.
Bottom Line
While the Giants offensive players are risky, the new scheme could be a breath of fresh air for some of its playmakers, and Cruz should benefit from the change. We’ll see if he can get back to his breakout 2011 form, when he scored nine touchdowns and had over 1,500 receiving yards, but it’s very likely that he’ll at least manage to get back to solid WR2 numbers on a consistent basis, even if the Giants realize only a modest improvement on offense. As a guy lasting until the fourth round in many drafts, he’s good value, especially in a PPR league, as he’s caught between 73 and 86 passes in each of his three seasons as a pro.
