Eric Gray DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Running back Eric Gray showed the New York Giants that their investment in him is starting to pay dividends in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year back had a breakout performance, totaling 98 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice. Gray's night was highlighted by a stunning 48-yard touchdown run that had echoes of his college days and reminded fantasy managers why the Giants took a flier on him in the fifth round last year. But it wasn't just the flashy run; Gray also showed versatility by adding 46 receiving yards on top of his 52 rushing yards, making him a dual-threat weapon. His second score, a gritty one-yard plunge, sealed the victory and might have sealed his spot as a serious fantasy option moving forward. With Devin Singletary as the starter for now, Gray's emerging role could make him a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, especially if the Giants look to lighten Singletary's workload.

New York Giants running back Eric Gray saw a lot of run with the first-team offense during organized team activities on Thursday, leading the New York Daily News' Pat Leonard to put Gray as the team's RB2 behind starter Devin Singletary. In addition, the Giants waived/injured Gary Brightwell, a sixth-round pick in 2021 by the previous regime, on Thursday. The G-Men are facing life without Saquon Barkley in 2024. Singletary is likely to lead this backfield, but he's never been a workhorse back in the NFL and will certainly cede backfield touches in his first year in the Big Apple. Gray was a fifth-rounder in 2023 and had only 23 touches for 70 yards on 65 offensive snaps a year ago. Given the lack of competition behind Gray, he's a good bet to see a significant boost in touches in Year 2. He'll be a handcuff option for Singletary owners in deeper fantasy leagues.

New York Giants running back Eric Gray has a clear path to a bigger role in New York's backfield in his second season in the league now that Saquon Barkley is no longer in town. The Giants signed Devin Singletary to be their No. 1 back, but he's never been the top dog and there will be room for carries for other backs now that Barkley is out of the picture. The Giants haven't signed any other veterans and didn't take a RB in the draft until selecting Purdue's Tyrone Tracy in the fifth round, which is the same spot Gray was taken in 2023. The 24-year-old had 23 touches for 70 yards in 13 games as a rookie last year, but his production should go up considerably in 2024 as long as he stays healthy. Gray won't necessarily be a draft target in standard 12-team leagues, but he'll surely be a waiver-wire target if Singletary misses time with an injury.