The New York Giants made a big splash when they acquired tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders. If healthy, the Giants will get one of the league’s best tight ends, giving Daniel Jones a premier passing target.
ESPN listed their ’30 most important players in fantasy football who changed teams or re-signed during the offseason.’ Waller is projected to improve his stock with his move to Big Blue.
Darren Waller traded to Giants
Fantasy impact: PositiveThis supremely talented tight end moves to an offense in desperate need of playmakers. Waller might return to 90-plus receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards, even with Daniel Jones at QB. Waller is that good and the rest of the Giants — none of whom hit 60 catches or 750 receiving yards last season — do not stand out. Waller just needs to stay healthy, which should be the bigger concern. Still, he can be a top-five TE — even in this offense.
If the Giants get anything close to the player Waller was in 2019 and 2020, it will drastically change and improve their offense.
Waller will join an arsenal of weapons that includes Parris Campbell, Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, who was also named on ESPN’s list.
Darius Slayton re-signs with Giants
Fantasy impact: NeutralNew York’s receiving yards leader (with only 724) returns and, while Slayton has yet to catch more than 50 passes in any of his four NFL seasons and he has scored only seven touchdowns over the past three campaigns, perhaps the best is yet to come. The Giants have added TE Darren Waller, but that may actually help the team’s wide receivers. Slayton will compete with Isaiah Hodgins and Parris Campbell for targets.
Former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also made the list following his deal with the Baltimore Ravens — a contract that was too rich for the Giants’ blood.
Talent-wise, Waller is joining a similar quarterback/running back combination that he had with the Raiders. However, the effect of Mike Kafka running the offense could be the X-factor in getting the most out of Waller.
The Giants are excited to experiment with their new tight end within their offense.
