Tyrone Tracy Jr. Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Giants RB named 'must-have' fantasy player

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated May 31, 2024 10:22 AM ET

Fifth-round picks rarely hold fantasy value, especially as rookies, but Tyrone Tracy isn’t a typical rookie, and at least one fantasy expert considers him a “must-have” in 2024.

Recently, fantasypros.com asked a group of experts to name one running back outside the consensus top 30 they’d like to have in each of their leagues. Some went with established veterans like Cincinnati's Zach Moss and Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco while others leaned towards younger players like the Saints’ Kendre Miller and Carolina rookie Jonathan Banks.

But Miguel ‘SC’ Romero of Fantasy Football Universe dove deep into the 2024 NFL Draft and named Giants’ rookie Tyrone Tracy as his must-have fantasy running back:

"Tyrone Tracy Jr. at 74 screams value. Yes, the team brought in Devin Singletary too. But Tracy was a former wide receiver before transitioning to running back in 2023. This matters because it is possible he gets third-down work. Plus, it is possible if Singletary does not hold his weight that Tracy steps in without looking back."

Tracy played 38 games as a wide receiver for Iowa before switching to running back at Purdue last season. The 24-year-old running back led the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.3) in 2023 while forcing 46 missed tackles on 113 carries. He led the team with eight touchdowns.

Offensive explosion in Evanston!

Tyrone Tracy is slippery and rips off a 50-yard @HawkeyeFootball TD: pic.twitter.com/13UxduAgXv
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2019

Singletary led Texans running backs with 898 yards last season but scored only four touchdowns. His 216 carries were a career-high, but his 4.2 yards per carry were a career-low. Eric Gray joined the team as a fifth-round pick last year but had just 17 carries for 48 yards as a rookie.

While the team might be hesitant to hand the ball to a late-round rookie, they may have no choice without the services of Saquon Barkley, who signed with Philadelphia in the offseason.

Last year, Barkley ran for 962 yards and six touchdowns with 60 catches for 280 yards and four scores. He also had seven runs of 20 yards or more. Singletary had three such runs and no touchdowns as a receiver in 2023.

More importantly, New York’s 15.6 points per game were second-fewest in the NFL last year. If a player like Tracy can help the team, he’s worth a spot on your fantasy roster.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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