Wow... Watching this game is actually part of my job. Sometimes my job isn't as glamorous as it would appear from the outside.
Limited notes here from a limited game, but I have at least one big statement to make and a few player notes to consider.
As for the game overview itself... It was the Giants' second team versus what I think is the Dolphins' second team, but Miami is so awful that I can't tell if their second team is their fourth team or a pickup squad from a local park or what it is. I can just tell you it's bad. It's so bad that I think I'm going to put everything Miami on the no-fly list/the no-fantasy-want list.
I'm still interested in Malik Willis (8-10 for 85 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 3-21-0) for the price because of his running ability in a four-points-per-pass-TD league setup, but I'm pretty much folding on everything else. Miami has taken on so much bad salary cap expense this year that they literally can't field a functioning NFL team. It's kind of embarrassing. A bad offensive line and no WR weapons is going to lead to defenses setting up their strategy to just stop De'Von Achane (did not play) and dare Willis to try to beat them... And he's not going to be able to be a star with that offensive line, that coaching staff, and those awful wide receivers. I think he will run his *** off and give good fantasy numbers, but it's not a guarantee...and everything else around him does not look good.
The Giants do have depth of talent, so they easily spanked the Dolphins here. It was no great feat per se, because beating Miami's backups is almost like beating a non-top-25 college team.
Player Notes...
-- I'm leading off with a note that by now I'm sure you've seen or read already, but just to make sure it's noted because I had it ranked as the number one FF impact item from this game: Devin Singletary (8-40-0, 0-0-0/0) started in the backfield for the Giants, and then Tyrone Tracy Jr. (5-12-0, 1-4-0/1) came in. That's a big deal because it confirms the loss of faith in Tracy, and it also backs up the theory that Najee Harris was brought in because they're losing faith in Tracy. And it is not that they're losing faith in Cam Skattebo.
And for his part, Tyrone Tracy Jr. came into the game and not too soon after botched a handoff and fumbled it away in the red zone to the Dolphins. Tracy needs a fresh start, and he will get that fresh start via cut or trade within the next week or so.
I don't think Brian Daboll is a huge fan, so he's not likely going to the Titans to follow his old coach. My nickel bet is the Giants GM puts in a good word for him with his old pals in Buffalo and a cheap trade happens, sending Tracy there looking for that fresh start. If Tracy gets outright cut and can go anywhere he wants, then I think he'll consider going to the Dallas Cowboys as well...a good spot for Tracy, plus he can try to come back and haunt the Giants down the line.
-- The second biggest fantasy impact item/note I have from this game is Miami rookie WR Kevin Coleman (0-0-0, 2-32-0/5) got the majority of the work in this game from the absolutely feeble passing game of the Dolphins... And whatever fantasy analysts were running around trying to claim this guy as a sleeper and was a great pick for Miami--terrible work again. I don't see it at all—didn't see it before the draft, didn't see it after the draft, and definitely didn't see it here. He's not a zero; he's just one of the most forgettable WR talents you'll come across. He's got good hands, but he doesn't create separation for himself naturally, so it's gonna be a special challenge for him to get open at the highest level.
-- Because the Dolphins' starting offense and lack of depth and lack of talent is going to negatively impact so many things, I'm just not interested in whoever wins the #2 RB situation between Jaylen Wright (6-9-0, 0-0-0/0) and Ollie Gordon II (3-7-0, 0-0-0/0). I love Ollie, but this situation is ridiculous. It's not gonna help Achane either. Best case scenario for Ollie Gordon II is he gets cut or traded somewhere where they value him, but more likely he'll be sitting on the bench for Miami or cut and drifting around the league with no place to call home.
-- The Giants' kicking competition is going down to the wire. I still think Sauls is their best option, but Dominic Zvada has been challenging him hard... And the Harbaughs love Michigan things. It's still too close to call.
-- I just have to note that Jameis Winston (15-21 for 150 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 1-11-1) started this game, and that was probably the biggest reason why the Giants smacked the Dolphins around. Winston plays preseason games like they're Super Bowl games, and his energy is infectious. His pitch-and-catch work with Darius Slayton (0-0-0, 4-58-0/6) just roasted Miami and their backup player defense. There aren't too many backup QBs with the talent and overall package of leadership that Jameis Winston comes with. What a luxury for the Giants.
-- Odell Beckham Jr. (0-0-0, 2-17-0/4) worked some with Winston as well, and I gotta say I saw OBJ catch a little short pass and then try to dodge around the would-be tacklers, and OBJ still has that agility. He doesn't have the physical toughness or will to compete like he had back in the day. He's now more of a good athlete past his prime that's made a ton of money, so he's not all that interested in getting hit by anybody. With Calvin Austin III getting hurt and gone for the season following this game, I think OBJ is definitely making the roster.
===========================
