Jaxson Dart enters 2025 with a real shot at QB1 for the New York Giants, backed by veteran Russell Wilson and a patient depth chart featuring Jameis Winston. Dart’s summer pedigree is undeniable: 26 of 35 for 320 yards with three total TDs, including a seam pass to Greg Dulcich. The Giants’ schedule is brutal early, with six of the first eight opponents previously in the top seven for pass defense. If Wilson struggles, the door for a midseason Dart ascension—potentially around Week 7—grows wider, reshaping QB/rookie development dynamics and fantasy upside for Giants pass-catchers. The broader context adds intrigue: Dart’s Offensive Rookie of the Year odds sit at +2700, while the media narrative buzzes about a possible redshirt year vs. a fast-tracked transition. Week 1’s tough test against Mahomes and a prime-time Week 6 clash with the Eagles will mark early storytelling arcs for a franchise hoping stability finally arrives at the most important position.

In parallel, the room includes Wilson’s veteran presence, Jameis Winston’s experienced floor, and Abdul Carter’s disruptive upside on defense, all while Lil’Jordan Humphrey provides a show-me connection for Dart and a potential fantasy pivot. Dart-to-Dulcich moments signal the rookie’s late-season ceiling, even as the Giants’ road map remains testing. The narrative isn’t just about Dart’s growth; it’s about whether New York can thread development with real on-field results in a calendar heavy with elite defenses and big-name opponents.

Jaxson Dart’s first Giants camp is buzzing as Zach Pascal raves about his talent and infectious energy. Dart’s swagger and decision-making has teammates believing, with Pascal highlighting the rookie’s ability to spark the entire offense through throws, runs and nonstop preparation.

The camp narrative centers on Dart’s sharp pre-snap reads, illustrated by a sail concept touchdown connection and a flat-pump mid-throw progression that opened the middle-out target. This has the receiver group ready, knowing the ball could come on any route at any moment.

Coaches and veterans alike have grown more confident in Dart. Mike Kafka and Brian Daboll emphasize Dart’s command, pocket quickness, varied arm angles and leadership. The energy is contagious among pass-catchers like Juice Wells Jr., Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Beaux Collins, who feed off a quarterback they believe in.

For fantasy, the early chatter suggests a late-round dart throw with real upside if the reinforcement of Dart’s rushing floor and offense rhythm translates week to week. If the Giants sustain this momentum, Dart-led drives could turn a shallow pass-catching corps into a sneaky streaming option as the season approaches.

Jaxson Dart could open the Giants’ rookie season as the starter, with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston already in the fold as mentors and veterans behind him. Chase Daniel’s strong public push adds intrigue to New York’s QB hierarchy, but all signs point to Winston backing up Wilson in Week 1, leaving ample preseason opportunity for Dart, especially against the Jets. Dart’s last-weekend showing was eye-catching: he went 12-for-19 for 154 yards and a score, highlighted by a 29-yard TD to Lil’Jordan Humphrey that helped push the lead in Buffalo. The performance has fantasy believers buzzing about the upside of a rookie with pro-caliber arm talent, mobility, and the ability to read and check at the line.

Daniel’s praise underscored the darts-in-the-pocket moment: he cited how Dart flashed decisiveness under pressure, used a quick release, and showed a knack for the second-quarter strike. While the Giants aren’t rushing a Week 1 transition, the narrative arc is clear: if Dart continues to refine his timing, anticipation, and pocket presence, the path to a real late-season fantasy pivot becomes more plausible. The Jets tune-up on Saturday remains a critical data point for Dart’s immediate fantasy outlook, while Winston’s role keeps the floor steady for Wilson’s season-long floor and upside.

For fantasy managers, the takeaway is twofold: Dart’s ceiling is real if he seizes the occasion, and the current plan in New York is to preserve Wilson and Winston early while monitoring Dart’s development behind them. The Dart-Wilson-Winston dynamic is a story to watch each week, with rehearsal games offering a blueprint for potential two-quarterback schemes, or even a seasonal sprint if Dart climbs the depth chart.

Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason brings another full slate of exhibition games that fantasy players will want to watch closely. Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel gets a bigger stage as Shedeur Sanders nurses an injury and the Browns push to settle a crowded QB room. Jaxson Dart’s return with the Giants offers a real data point behind Russell Wilson, while Caleb Williams makes a first live look in Chicago under Ben Johnson’s system. The Saints’ quarterback duel (Spencer Rattler vs Tyler Shough) and the Colts' Richardson-vs-Jones storyline tighten the grid for September, and Williams’ Bills-tested debut looms as a potential fantasy catalyst. Across these matchups, late-week rosters battles and injury status will shape streaming and stash decisions for fantasy rosters.

Expect Week 2 to sharpen the late-round quarterback calculus: which backups hold real upside if injuries strike, who emerges as a Week 1 week-to-week fixture, and how much workload the coaching staffs allocate to these competitions. The narrative centers on data points you can translate into fantasy equity—what drives per-game upside, what signals risk, and which backfields or read-options could surprise during the early going.

Jaxson Dart delivered a standout preseason debut for the New York Giants, completing 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 24 yards. The 28-yard strike to Lil'Jordan Humphrey flashed timing and touch under pressure, and Dart looked comfortable in the pocket with athleticism to extend plays. After Week 1 of the preseason, Dart was ranked No. 1 among rookie quarterbacks by CBS Sports, praised for his poise against Buffalo’s starters and his ability to drive scoring drives in the first half. The performance fueled optimism around the Giants’ quarterback room, which already features Russell Wilson, and stoked conversations about Dart potentially becoming the long-term answer in a franchise that moved up to draft him at No. 25 in 2025. Yet the moment remains games-only in the eyes of many observers, with coach Brian Daboll navigating Wilson’s veteran presence and the path to a starter’s role for a rookie who called the game “mid” postgame. The takeaway for fantasy watchers: if Dart locks in the job, his rushing ability and growing comfort could lift his upside in the Giants’ offense, but a crowded quarterback room and ongoing development curve add substantial risk and uncertainty.