NFL Player Props: Kenny Golladay can do well in the Big Apple
Kenny Golladay goes to a new team and a very different offense in 2021 but can he exceed the expectations of the Sportsbooks? Neil Monnery takes a look at the markets…
I can still recall the howls of derision from NFL fans when Dave Gettleman took Daniel Jones over Dwayne Haskins in the 2019 NFL Draft. Haskins had the raw talent everybody said. Jones was a safe pick that would never turn into anything more than that.
Well a couple of years later I had to Google what Haskins is doing now having been outright released by the Washington Football Team (he’s the third-string QB on the Steelers for the record) and Jones is still QB1 for the Giants. That draft was abject for QBs being Kyler Murray but the pick Gettleman made is looking ever so slightly better with time.
Fast forward to today and we are about to see whether Daniel Jones is the long-term QB in the Big Apple. They have paid the big bucks for Kenny Golladay to come in play like a WR1.
The former member of the Detroit Lions surpassed the 1050.5 yards number with SugarHouse in NJ in both his previous two seasons where he’s been active all season long. His 2020 campaign was curtailed by a hamstring injury and it must be admitted that on paper - the drop-off between Matthew Stafford and Daniel Jones throwing him the ball is significant.
Stafford has moved out west this year and is one of the favorites to win the MVP award following his switch to the Rams. Daniel Jones is still a work in progress and that progress is tied to the fortunes of what has been a porous offensive line throughout his time in New York.
Rob Sale has come in to coach that unit up and this is his first stint at the NFL level following a career in the collegiate ranks. This is a huge job as not only do they need to give Jones time in the pocket, they need to open up those lanes for star running back Saquon Barkley.
It just feels as though everything is in place in terms of the Giants offense being at worst league average but it all comes down to the o-line. Saquon is back. Daniel Jones should be a bit better. Golladay is very good if the ball is thrown anywhere near him and the likes of Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Evan Engram are serviceable players in their positions.
I have no doubt whatsoever that if the Giants can improve their play along the offensive trench then Golladay clears the 1050.5 yard mark. That is just a 62 yard a game average for 17 games. Easy enough to do when you are a legit WR1. With talk of a more vertical offense coming out of training camp then I’m going to risk it for a biscuit and take the over but we’ll know pretty soon if that was a bad call.
Pick: Over on the Kenny Golladay receiving yards market (1050.5 yards) at -112.