Giants 20, Commanders 12 (Giants covered +4.5, U40.5)

Pregame: After meeting just two weeks ago, the Giants (7-5-1) and Commanders (7-5-1) are hopeful to not have this game end in a tie too, as a win is very crucial for both team’s playoff hopes. Both teams would love to walk away from the Sunday nighter with a victory to set themselves up accordingly for a playoff berth. There is not a massive amount of fantasy implications in this matchup, but there is a player or two on both sides of the ball that will greatly influence how those matchups will play out in the first round of the fantasy playoffs.

Postgame: The Giants were able to finally get themselves going after going four straight weeks without a victory.  With the win, they advance to 8-5-1 and are hanging onto the second wildcard spot. The Commanders also are hanging onto a wildcard spot after this game even with them falling to 7-6-1 on the year. One of the three wildcard spots is already locked in for the Cowboys, so both of these squads will need to find a way to win games going down the stretch.  As for fantasy, there was only one high-quality performance in this game for each team, with a handful of players the hurt their GMs in a very crucial first-round matchup of the fantasy playoffs. 

Giants

RB

Saquon Barkley: 

Pregame: Barkley will look to bounce back after laying an egg last weekend against the Eagles. His performance in Week 13 against these Commanders was not the greatest, but he was able to find the end zone and salvage his week. Saquon rushed for 63 yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts, adding five receptions for a mere 18 yards. Barkley has been tremendous this year and should once again should be the focal point of the Giants offense.

Postgame: Barkley was able to put together a very fine game against the Commanders on Sunday night.  He racked up 87 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts, hauling in five of his eight targets for 33 yards.  His ability to consistently find the endzone has been keeping his fantasy GMs very happy this season. He finished the first round of the fantasy playoffs as the RB7. 

WR

Darius Slayton: 

Pregame: Slayton was well on his way to becoming a reliable fantasy asset, but that came to a screeching halt last weekend against the Eagles. Slayton was able to have a decent game two weeks ago when these two squads squared off, hauling in six of his eight targets for 90 yards. He should be a decent option for fantasy GMs on Sunday night, with a WR2/3 being in his range of outcomes.

Postgame: Definitely not a great performance from Slayton, but at least in PPR leagues he didn’t burn his fantasy GMs too badly.  He finished the first game of the fantasy playoffs with five receptions on seven targets for 23 yards.  The yardage was brutal, but at least it was five receptions.  If fantasy GMs were able to survive the week, they will be hopeful for a much better performance in Week 16. 

Richie James: 

Pregame: James has stepped into a prominent role on this offense with so many of the other Giants’ WRs being injured. He finished Week 14 as the WR15, grabbing seven receptions on nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. However, James was held to only 20 yards on three receptions in the Week 13 matchup between these two. He is a quality streaming option in all formats, but starting him would take some courage.

Postgame: After a few weeks of jumping into the fantasy limelight, James finally came back down to earth.  He was only able to rack up 42 yards, hauling in 4-of-5 receptions. This offense doesn’t have much juice lately and the majority of it goes through the hands of Barkley. 

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Commanders

RB

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