Unsettled spots dominate the New York Giants’ preseason finale against New England, with the cornerback two role still wide open between Deontay Banks and Cordell Flott, injuries muddying the race and a possible rotation looming. Banks’ draft pedigree may edge him ahead, but the door remains ajar for a Banks-Flott rotation as the staff weighs live reps over practice footage. At quarterback, Jackson Dart sits QB2A and Jameis Winston QB2B as the Giants contemplates emergency scenarios and mopup duty, a decision that could limit Dart’s real-game snaps early.

Special teams and offensive line are also in flux: return duties could tilt toward Gunnar Olszewski or Oshaki-style options after Bryce Ford Weaton’ injury, while Evan Neil and Greg Van Roten battle for the right-guard spot with Evan Neal’ starter role in sight. Jaylin Hyatt faces a make-or-break chance to prove his summer growth, and the interior line rotation remains a live option. The Patriots game adds a final, decisive data point as the roster countdown begins, with the team projecting around a 53-man makeup and early-season wrinkles we haven’t seen in the preseason.

Patricia Traina dives into an early 53-man Giants roster projection ahead of Thursday's preseason finale against the New England Patriots, laying out a precise depth-chart picture that hinges on a near-term plan rather than long-term cap gymnastics. The quarterback group stands as a three-man rotation with Wilson, Winston, and Dart, while the backfield expands to four after Cam Scataboo’s return. At tight end, four are kept: Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Thomas Fedoni II, and Greg Doulick, with Manhurz on the outside looking in.

Wide receivers are pared to a six-man group featuring neighbors, Slayton, Robinson, Hyatt, Bo Collins, and Marett, while the offensive line sticks to nine and the defense to tight seven-man front structures in different phases. Dexter Lawrence anchors the DL with a handful of pass-rushers, and Dane Belton plus Cavon Wallace anchor the safety corps, complemented by a six-man cornerback unit and a stout return game battle. The show also weighs waiver-wire intrigue, including Tommy DeVito’s potential path if he clears waivers, and Bellinger’s pay-cut scenario as the team negotiates its 53-man entry point.

Two joint Giants Jets practices yielded clear fantasy angles. Giants offensive line depth showed progress on day two with Evan Neal back at guard and a more cohesive run game, even as Thomas and Luminar missed action. Dexter Lawrence II anchored the interior, strengthening run defense, while Dane Belton began to flash as a versatile subpackage piece. Jalin Hyatt offered burst potential but struggled to separate consistently amid a deep Giants WR corps, and Sauce Gardner’s absence on day two gave Giants’ receivers extra looks in the interim.

Defensive wrinkles emerged for New York, with Belton sliding into the slot and safeties like Belton and Dexter Lawrence guiding the coverage. Jets blitzes and edge looks varied, though their secondary depth was tested without Gardner. The positional fragility around the Giants' O-line depth and corner depth remained a theme, while Hyatt’s development and Belton’s role stood out as potential fantasy pivots as the preseason unfolds.

Overall, expect Giants to lean on interior run-stopping and Belton’s hybrid role to maximize defensive versatility, while Hyatt and the receiver group compete for snaps. Jets will rely on a developing secondary and creative blitzes, with Gardner’s health a key variable for their defensive ceiling. Main takeaway for fantasy: monitor OL health, Belton’s slot usage, Hyatt’s development, and Gardner’s practice availability as the summer progresses.

Jackson Smith-Njigba’s sophomore surge is at the center of this breakout wave, with last season’s 100 catches, 1,130 yards and six touchdowns highlighted as a blueprint for a bigger role in Seattle. His route discipline and occasional big play ceilings make him a compelling late-second-round target in full PPR leagues, and even in standard formats his steady targets could carve out weekly WR2 value. Ricky Pearsall and Drake London add depth to the wider-receiver landscape, while Brandon Aiyuk, George Pickens and Nico Collins illustrate why mid-round gambles can pay off when offenses tilt toward high-usage receivers. The conversation also weighs in the SF trio (Aiyuk/Juwan Jennings/Pickens) and the Panthers’ young targets, with McLaurin and London viewed through the lens of rising offenses and quarterback development. The throughline is clear: in a crowded fantasy WR market, identifying the clearest path to target volume and yards is how you separate solid flex plays from true week-to-week difference-makers.

London, Pearsall and London’s fellow breakout candidates are framed as potential season-changers in their respective offenses, while the SF group (Aiyuk/J Jennings) remains steady but dynamic enough to vault into weekly top-15 consideration if injuries or scheme shifts create clearer routes. Nico Collins is evaluated as a mid-round floor-raiser with upside in a Texans system that could funnel heavy targets to his wings, and Jalin Hyatt enters the mix as a late-round flyer with big-play upside in a revamped receiving corps. The episode also delves into the evolving role of a slot-friendly presence like Drake Maye’s receivers in Carolina and the importance of late-round darts in high-variance offenses to crack fantasy top-24 impact at the right moments.