It wasn't so long ago that the New York Giants had one of the more reliable fantasy defenses. They finished 11th in a ranking system that awarded 1 points for sacks, 2 points for takeaways, and 6 points for defensive/special teams touchdowns in three straight seasons from 2010 through 2012, before slipping to 18th last season.
Could they be on their way back? New York has been busy during the free agency period, adding players to both their secondary (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Walter Thurmond and Quintin Demps) and to their return game (Trindon Holliday). They let Justin Tuck go to the Raiders, but it seems clear they had little interest in bringing him back. The guy they did want to keep, middle linebacker Jon Beason, re-upped with them last week.
New York's pass rush slipped badly the last two seasons: top-6 in sacks four times in five years from 2007-2011, but just 22nd and 25th the last two years. It was confusing, given that New York's personnel there has been fine -- they've still sent out capable pass rushers like Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka and Cullen Jenkins.
The secondary signings suggest that the Giants believe the problem has been less the pass rushers than the coverage in the secondary -- sacks are down because they haven't been able to stick with receivers. That should be different in 2014, to the benefit of the pass rush.
Looking inside the numbers, it's clear there's every reason to think the Giants can return to the top dozen or so fantasy defenses. In most of the key areas, they've been solid almost every year. Better coverage, better sack numbers -- that's all they've been missing the last two years. Don't be surprised if they use their top pick on a pass rusher in this year's draft, either.
Add in the Holliday signing -- he's been one of the league's more dangerous returners the last two seasons, with 6 TDs -- and there's plenty of bounce-back potential. New York has ranked higher than 18th in NFL points (defensive and special teams touchdowns and safeties) just twice in the last six seasons.
New York's ranking in the individual fantasy areas we track over the last six seasons is presented below. Top 10 finishes are in bold.
| SACKS, RANK, 2008-2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 09 | 08 |
| 25 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 6 |
| INTERCEPTIONS, RANK, 2008-2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 09 | 08 |
| 12 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 9 |
| FUMBLES, RANK, 2008-2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 09 | 08 |
| 5 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 30 |
| TAKEAWAYS, RANK, 2008-2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 12-13 | 31 | 19-21 | 2 | 20-25 |
| 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 20 |
| NFL POINTS, RANK, 2008-2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 09 | 08 |
| 18 | 23 | 27 | 31 | 9 | 12 |
--Andy Richardson