The NY Giants come into Week 12 after losing to the Patriots before the bye week and as they take on the Redskins, Hakeem Nicks will make his debut alongside Odell Beckham, Rueben Randle and Dwayne Harris for Eli Manning. The Giants lead the NFC East heading into the week and a win over the Redskins will keep the team in first place.
The Giants signed Hakeem Nicks last week after news came out that Victor Cruz would have season-ending surgery on his calf and he now adds some extra depth to the WR group. Cruz had been out all season while working his way back from the calf injury and he announced on Bleacher Report that he would have surgery, putting him on the sidelines until 2016 at the earliest. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports first reported that the Giants would bring their former wideout back and now Nicks joins Odell Beckham, Rueben Randle and Dwayne Harris as the main options for Eli Manning in the passing game.
Nicks previously spent the beginning of his career with the Giants and had back to back 1000 yard seasons in 2010-11, but he left in 2014 as a free agent and signed with the Colts. Nicks had 38 catches for 405 yards last season for Indy and he signed with the Titans this year but did not make it into the regular season with the team. Nicks can help make up for Cruz being out all year and he could be a solid deep league sleeper option for fantasy owners.
Nicks has played with Manning for years and they previously had strong chemistry and the Giants are hoping that Nicks can pick up on that in Week 12 against the Redskins. Harris has been stepping up this season with Cruz out and he should still get work at receiver even with Nicks coming in. Harris has been one of the best special teams players in the league this season and he comes in to Week 12 with 25 catches for 304 yards in 10 games. Last week Harris had six catches for 82 yards and a TD against the Patriots.
Odell Beckham has had another strong season for the Giants and he is coming into Week 12 with 63 catches for 863 yards and eight touchdowns. Beckham could see some looser coverage if Nicks can get things going and the Giants will try and work the ball to him in against the Redskins. The Giants are leading the Redskins in the NFC East at 5-5, with Washington and Philadelphia at 4-6 and the Cowboys at 3-7 after winning Sunday.
Nicks helps replace Cruz and now the future could be a bit uncertain for the receiver, as Cruz now has missed 20 straight games for the Giants and will be out for the rest of 2015. Cruz's contract has no more guaranteed money on it and a pay cut could be coming for the receiver. If Cruz doesn't want to take a pay cut he could be released, but right now no decisions have been made. GM Jerry Reese spoke about the situation and said to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News that the situation "will take care of itself."