The New York Giants hope that Victor Cruz can return after the bye week coming up, as the receiver has been out all season while dealing with a calf injury. The Giants have the Patriots in Week 10 and players like Shane Vereen, Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham are solid fantasy start options Sunday and this comes as Jason Pierre-Paul has returned for the Giants.
Cruz has been working to come back all season and he has yet to take the field for the Giants in 2015. Cruz suffered a serious knee injury last year and rehabbed from that through the offseason and he appeared ready to return in the preseason before suffering a calf injury. According to Pro Football Talk, Cruz said to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News that returning after the bye week in Week 11 is a "promising date" for him to come back (meaning a Week 12 return).
Cruz was nearing a return for Week 4 of the season, but when the wide receiver tried to participate in practice, he aggravated his calf injury and did not end up playing. Cruz received extra treatment and an injection for his injury and he said that he no longer is feeling pain in the calf. The last MRI that Cruz had showed no serious damage and that could set up Cruz to return after the bye. The Giants would love to have Cruz back, even in a limited capacity, as that could help open things up for Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham for Eli Manning.
The Giants offense has been pretty productive this season and Manning is having a strong year and having Cruz back on the field would be a positive development. Manning has 19 touchdowns and six interceptions this season and is completing over 65 percent of his passes and he has helped keep the Giants in contention for the playoffs in the NFC East. Getting Cruz back for the final run of the season would be big and that could come after Jason Pierre-Paul made his return for the team.
Pierre-Paul had been out while dealing with a contract issue following his hand injury from the summer, but the Giants and JPP finally agreed to a deal and he was able to play Sunday. The Giants used JPP on the majority of the defensive snaps in the game and while he did not register a sack, he had two tackles and pressured Jameis Winston multiple times. The Giants pass rush has not been consistent this season and having Pierre-Paul back helps depth, especially with Jonathan Hankins dealing with an injury, as he is out for the season with a torn pec.
Shane Vereen and Rueben Randle have played well in recent weeks and those players are solid fantasy options in Week 10. Randle and Vereen each had touchdowns on Sunday and with Cruz still out and Odell Beckham usually blanketed in coverage, Randle has been getting the chance to make plays. Vereen is a threat out of the backfield and has been strong for PPR league owners this season.
