Rueben Randle

After four inconsistent years in New York, Randle got a look from Philadelphia, but was cut in August. Randle's year-end numbers always look better than they are because he has a knack for producing in the season's final weeks, usually after fantasy owners have left him for dead, or during Week 17 when it doesn't count. Still, in NFL terms, Randle averaged an efficient 14.0 YPC and 8.9 YPT while scoring eight times. At 6-2, 208, with 4.55 speed, Randle has decent size, but he's not fleet of foot, and he's not especially agile, athletic nor quick.

With Hakeem Nicks signing in Indianapolis, and Victor Cruz tearing his patellar tendon in Week 6, Randle had a big opportunity to step up last year, and he did — in Weeks 16 and 17. Before then, Randle managed a meager 648 yards on 108 targets (6.0 YPT) and two scores. The 12 catches on 19 targets for 290 yards and a touchdown he put up while on fantasy league waiver wires fixed his cosmetic numbers (7.4 YPT, 938 receiving yards) considerably, but it's hard to tell whether they portend anything for 2015 with Cruz slated to return near the start of the season and complement the team's star, Odell Beckham Jr. At 6-2, 208, and with 4.55 speed, Randle's a half-step slow and about 10 pounds too light to be a typical top option, and his focus and rapport with Eli Manning have been inconsistent during his three seasons in the league. Still, Cruz is not a sure thing to return for Week 1, and even if he does it's unclear if he'll have his pre-injury quickness and burst. Randle should have one more opportunity to carve out a significant role before the Giants look elsewhere.

In a disastrous season for the Giants passing game, Randle showed some promise in Year 2. He averaged 14.9 YPC and 7.7 YPT and had 16 of his 79 targets go for 20 yards or more (T. 15th). That’s more than Brandon Marshall (164 targets), or Pierre Garcon (181 targets). Still there were times where Randle and Eli Manning had poor communication, including a play against the Bears that resulted in an easy pick six. At 6-2, 208 and with average speed (4.55 40) for his size, Randle could replace the departed Hakeem Nicks as a red-zone option (not that Nicks was much of one last year.) But the Giants still have top target Victor Cruz, drafted Odell Beckham with the 12th overall pick, and Jerrel Jernigan, who came on strong late in the year, is still around.

Randle made the most of his 32 targets as a rookie, averaging 9.3 YPT and 15.7 YPC. With Domenik Hixon now gone, Randle slots in as the team's clear No. 3 wideout behind only Victor Cruz and the injury-prone Hakeem Nicks. At 6-3, 208 and with good speed, Randle can make plays down the field, and he's also well suited for red-zone work. In fact, seven of his 32 looks were in that area, four of which were from inside the 10. There's some breakout potential here, especially should one of the Giants' starters miss any time.

With Mario Manningham leaving via free agency, the Giants will need to find a new No. 3 receiver. Randle, the team’s second round pick, has a good chance to secure the role. At 6-3, 208 and with good speed, Randle slid in the draft due to work ethic concerns, something that will either bury him under disciplinarian coach Tom Coughlin or be overcome. The Giants passing game generated the sixth most yards in league history last season, and starter Hakeem Nicks has had durability issues in the past and is nursing a surgically repaired foot that might threaten his status for Week 1. Randle – should he hold off Ramses Barden and Jerrel Jernigan – has some upside in this environment.