Darius Slayton

Slayton started 24 of 30 games his first two seasons despite being a fifth-round pick in 2019, combining for 1,491 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 15.2 yards per catch. He then fall out of favor and down the depth chart in 2021, before being revived in 2022 -- 724 yards on 71 targets, with 11 starts in 16 games -- under new coach Brain Daboll. Slayton wasn't even a volume receiver in college at Auburn and is unlikely to become ever one in the NFL, but he's been a capable field-stretcher for most of his career while making good on his 4.39 40 time for the 2019 Scouting Combine. He does have snap competition this year, with fellow 2022 starter Isaiah Hodgins returning, Jalin Hyatt drafted in the third round and free-agent signing Parris Campbell potentially getting a chance to play outside at some point. Slayton re-signed with the Giants on a two-year, $12 million contract, but there's no guaranteed money in the second season and only $4.9 million guaranteed at signing -- slightly more than Campbell got but still not a huge commitment.

With the Giants' wide receiver corps hit hard by injuries last season, Slayton had a chance to break out after two promising campaigns. Instead, he missed four games himself and finished with the worst season of his career, catching just 26 of 58 targets for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Poor quarterback play was partly to blame, but the passing game could be improved in 2022 under a new system and with the return of Daniel Jones from a neck injury. Still, Slayton isn't high on the depth chart and could have to compete for scraps with newcomer Wan'Dale Robinson, among others, making him mostly an afterthought in fantasy drafts.

After a stellar rookie year, Slayton had a disappointing second season, in part because the Giants could not generate big plays as an offense. He still managed 15.0 YPC (8th among the league’s 90-target wideouts), but only 7.8 YPT, as he caught only 50 of his 96 targets. At 6-1, 190, Slayton has only average size, but he ran a 4.39 40 and showed explosiveness and route-running skills in his first two seasons. The problem for Slayton in 2021, however, is the arrival from Detroit of Kenny Golladay, who is also a downfield threat and was paid to be the team’s top target. The arrival of 20th overall draft pick Kadarius Toney and the presence of slot man Sterling Shepard also crowd the wide receiver field, and even unreliable tight end Evan Engram should siphon targets. Add star tailback Saquon Barkley returning to health following last year’s season-ending ACL injury, and it’s hard to see where Slayton gets enough volume to be a difference-maker this year.

Slayton vastly outperformed his fifth-round draft slot last year, posting 15.4 YPC and 8.8 YPT and scoring eight touchdowns despite not seeing heavy snaps until Week 6. At 6-1, 190, he has average size but legitimate deep speed (4.39 40), and he caught three passes of 40-plus yards on only 84 targets. Slayton also posted elite athletic marks at the 2019 NFL Combine with a 40.5-inch vertical and a 135-inch broad jump, and he was far more polished as a route runner than the league realized on draft day. He'll have to share Daniel Jones' passes with Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram, but Tate turned 32 in August, Shepard has struggled with concussions and Engram has been injured frequently in his young career, i.e., Slayton has a good chance to emerge as the team's most reliable pass catcher. It's unclear how offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will run the Giants offense - he was mostly run-oriented in Dallas but threw more often after Amari Cooper arrived in the second half of 2018 and all last year. The Giants' run-pass split likely will depend in large part on Jones' development and, of course, game flow.

Taken with the 171st overall pick in the 2019 draft, Slayton is an athletic prospect that could work his way into the No. 3 receiver role. At 6-2, 190, Slayton has decent size and 4.39 40 speed. He's also athletic -- his 40.5-inch vertical and 135-inch broad jump are both elite -- but journeymen Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler also are in the mix. Even if Slayton were eventually to win the role, he'd still be fifth in the passing-game pecking order behind Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate (suspension), tight end Evan Engram and tailback Saquon Barkley.