New York Giants Draft Prospect to Watch This Weekend – Oct. 7
By Sean Dyer
The New York Giants are now 0-4 and a top-ten pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is starting to look more and more likely. A top-ten pick means an opportunity to add a talented player. Let’s look at a college player who could help fix the Giants’ problems next season.
Every Friday, we’ll be giving you a New York Giants draft prospect to watch on Saturday as you psych yourself up for Big Blue football on Sunday! Cause everybody knows, the weekends are for football (just don’t tell your girlfriend or wife).
New York Giants Biggest Need: Running Back
The New York Giants offensive line has not allowed a sack for two straight weeks now. Although that is more a credit to offensive play design, with the Giants getting the ball out of Eli Manning’s hands quickly, the offensive line is not the reason Big Blue lost in Week 4.
New York’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t really be blamed on any one player or personnel group. A few miscues resulted in a team loss.
In the game, however, Paul Perkins went down with a rib injury and Orleans Darkwa was inactive with a back injury.
With Darkwa missing the game, rookie fourth-round pick Wayne Gallman had an opportunity to suit up for the first time in his NFL career. Then, when Perkins went down, Gallman got the chance to log some carries.
Wayne Gallman would turn 11 carries into 42 yards and added two catches for eight yards and his first career touchdown.
Paul Perkins has struggled for much of this year and the Giants don’t seem to see Orleans Darkwa as a feature back. Wayne Gallman could prove to be New York’s running back of the future but only time will tell.
As things stand now, the New York Giants could use a feature running back for the future. After watching Penn State’s Saquon Barkley bring back the opening kickoff and throw for a touchdown last week, we have another top college running back to watch this Saturday.
Prospect to Watch: RB Bryce Love, Stanford (Projected 1st round pick)
If Saquon Barkley has any competition for the Heisman Trophy, it’s Stanford’s Bryce Love. Love has been electric this season and is flying up draft boards and Heisman watch lists.
Last Saturday, Bryce Love broke the Stanford single-game rushing record by running for 301 yards against Arizona State. 301 rushing yards in one game! Are you serious?!
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However, Love is no one game wonder. He already has 1,088 rushing yards in just five games. That’s the fourth-most rushing yards through five games in FBS history!
Most running backs strive to hit 1,000 yards rushing in a season and Bryce Love has done it with more than half a season left.
Love has hit this crazy rushing total in just 98 carries, averaging 11.1 yards per tote. He’s also reached pay dirt eight times.
If there’s a weakness to Love’s game, it’s his lack of contribution in the passing game. On the season, Love has just two catches for five yards.
It, of course, is no surprise that after a 301-yard performance, Bryce Love was named to Pro Football Focus’s Week 5 Offensive National Team of the Week. Love was the nation’s top-graded running back at 93.5 overall.
Bryce Love was also featured on PFF’s All-American Watch team through four weeks. Love’s 89.9 overall grade was just behind Saquon Barkley’s 90.8 for best running back in the nation.
While he doesn’t have the receiving and returning ability that Barkley has, Love has the playmaking ability that the New York Giants backfield is missing.
Next: New York Giants: Three Areas That Need to Improve in Week 5
New York Giants fans should continue to keep tabs on Saquon Barkley. However, if Big Blue starts to win some games and their draft pick moves down in the order, Bryce Love is a great fallback option.
Where to Watch: Stanford Cardinal at 20 Utah Utes
Saturday, Oct. 7 – Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah – 10:15 pm ET on FS1