Rizzla discusses the puzzling addition of Golden Tate by the New York Giants, and takes a look at the fantasy context.
In a move that proves that Dave Gettleman is a man without a plan, the New York Giants have agreed to terms with Golden Tate. According to NFL.com Tate signed a four year, $37.5 million dollar deal with $23 million in guarantees (top ten in NFL guarantee wise).
This is a truly head scratching and perplexing move for the New York Football Giants. As anyone not living under a rock knows they jettisoned Odell Beckham Jr., theoretically to save money and then proceeded to overpay a 30 year old slot receiver who lasted this long into free agency for a reason. On the field Tate does fit with Eli Manning’s declining arm strength. Tate leads the NFL in screen passes since 2010 (183). #FreeSaquon
Fantasy Context:
Golden Tate fell ass backwards into a wonderful situation for himself. He gets two and half years of guarantees, and gets to play with a rapidly declining QB who will have no choice but to make use of his skillset. On top of skillset the money here suggests Tate will step in as the top target, and to make matters even worse his arrival kicks Sterling Shepard to the outside. Consider Tate a borderline WR2 with significant higher end WR2 upside. An 80-1,100-5 season could be in the cards as Tate is seemingly locked into a high volume slot/horizontal role.
Saquon Barkley will likely lose some short area work to Golden Tate. Already destined to see heavier boxes with OBJ out of town, Barkley now has to contend with a receiver who makes his living at, or behind the line of scrimmage. The actual numbers of receptions and targets he loses is up for debate, but somewhere in the realm of 15-20 seems likely. Barkley remains the consensus top running back, but that could change if the Carolina Panthers or Dallas Cowboys fail to add a rookie this offseason.
Sterling Shepard hype, we barely knew you. Hopefully you dynasty owners sold high while you could, and as we suggested. Shepard goes back to a number two role and may fall to number three after the draft. When one considers that Saquon Barkley is likely to see more targets and receptions once again this year, this addition is a major blow to his fantasy stock. Consider Shepard an upside WR4 with a WR5 floor.
Evan Engram, much like Sterling Shepard loses a ton of value with this move. Engram is a talented tight end who should be used more, and one would argue he should be ahead of Shepard in the target pecking order. With Tate also occupying the middle of the field and soaking up over 100 targets Engram falls back down to a third tier TE1. Hopefully forward thinking dynasty owners used the last couple of days to sell high. I know I did.
Eli Manning sees a more stable floor but it still a QB3. Avoid if you can. If you play in superflex or a two QB league, hopefully you do not need to start him.
