Fantasy Football: Analyzing the Downside for Each Relevant Rookie Running Back
Wayne Gallman, New York Giants
Downside: Pass-catching potential
Pre-draft, the Giants' key running backs -- Paul Perkins and Shane Vereen -- had an average weight of about 200 pounds. The backfield got a little heavier when the team selected 215-pound Wayne Gallman in the fourth round.
He's a physical runner, which is what the Giants desperately needed to address in the draft. And with new weapons like Brandon Marshall and rookie tight end Evan Engram, the Giants could provide decent scoring opportunities for a bigger-bodied guy.
But Gallman is "not ready for NFL pass protection duties yet," and his receiving production profile at Clemson was lacking, having gobbled up just a little over 5% of the team's catches last year and just 3.31% of their receiving yards. Those are both below-average marks.
Those two things combined mean Gallman just won't be on the field for third downs this season, or at least to start the season. That'll naturally limit his fantasy potential, especially in PPR formats.