The New York Giants will be without Victor Cruz on Thursday in Week 3 against the Redskins, but the team is hoping he can return in Week 4. The Giants have solid fantasy football options for Eli Manning, with Odell Beckham, Rashad Jennings, Larry Donnell, Shane Vereen, Andre Williams, Rueben Randle and Larry Donnell as potential starters for NY.
Cruz has been sidelined since the preseason for the Giants and that came after he missed most of last season with a knee injury. Cruz was making strong progress through the summer from his knee injury, but then a calf injury popped up and he has been on the sidelines since then. Cruz did not play in the preseason and he missed the first two games for the Giants and now he will be out for Week 3. According to Pro Football Talk, Cruz will not play Week 3, but he is making progress, as he was running on grass and has been "pain free" in practice.
The New York Daily News reports that Cruz was running on grass for the first time since his calf injury this week in practice. Cruz also added to reporters that he was not dealing with any pain in his calf anymore and that the "swelling was down" on the leg. Cruz is reportedly "close" to coming back for the Giants and it won't be too soon for the team, as they desperately need another playmaker on offense.
The team had Preston Parker as the third wideout with Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle, but he was dreadful over the first two weeks, dropping five passes. The short week into Thursday night football made it nearly impossible for Cruz to play, but the Giants are hoping that he can go in Week 4. Cruz has been making progress and the team is being cautious with him coming back from knee surgery and this calf injury. Cruz has been ruled out for Week 3, but the long layoff into Week 4 could be just what he needs to get back onto the field.
Eli Manning has been very good at times this season and very bad at others, including at the end of the Falcons game and the Cowboys game, both losses for the Giants. But Manning has put up some solid numbers and against a shaky Redskins defense he has the chance to bounce back. Players like Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle are solid options at WR with Parker gone, while Donnell had a strong game last week and could build on that after scoring a touchdown and making four catches.
The running game needs to be much better and Rashad Jennings could get the chance to get going, as he has had just 64 yards in the first two games. Shane Vereen is a strong PPR option and he has also been solid rushing the ball when he gets the chance. Vereen had eight catches for 76 yards last week and he will be expected to serve in a similar role when the team takes on the Redskins. The Giants have been a mess, but they now have the chance to turn it around against Washington.
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