NEW YORK, N.Y. – When Cam Skattebo broke out in 2024 to help lead the Arizona State Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff, an immediate NFL comparison surfaced: Austin Ekeler.
The 5-foot, 11-inch Sun Devil will take his physical, bowling ball-physique cross-country after being drafted by the GMen in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s only one inch taller than the Chargers and Commanders veteran, and the two are separated by 15 pounds.
Skattebo helped lead Arizona State to the College Football Playoff due to his three-down skill set as an early-down bruiser and pass-catcher. While picking up 1,711 yards on the ground, he added 605 yards on 45 catches (13.4 yards per catch).
It wasn’t that long ago that Ekeler finished at the top of the NFL in total touchdowns, using a combined rushing and receiving total to reach 20 and 18 scores, respectively, in 2021 and 2022. Skattebo finished with 25 (three receiving) touchdowns in his final collegiate year. Per Giants.com, Skattebo was the first college player since Christian McCaffrey to total 1,500+ rushing yards and 500+ receiving yards in a season (2015).
“He’s tough as nails. You can use him a variety of ways,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said after this year’s draft concluded. “Pass game, he can catch, he can run routes, he can throw the ball, as you’ve seen on one of those, and he’s got very good vision and quick feet.”
CAM SKATTEBO FANTASY OUTLOOK
Skattebo (23) joins a young backfield, currently with Tyrone Tracy Jr. as the starter, and veteran Devin Singletary as his backup. The two are 25 and 27, respectively, but off paper, it’s not all cut and dry.
After letting Saquon Barkley walk in free agency, New York signed Singletary to a three-year, $16.5 million contract to be the team’s starter. He quickly took a backseat to Tracy Jr., who nearly doubled Singletary’s yardage total last season and scored more touchdowns than his elder.
But that’s a one-year sample size.
Skattebo has described himself as a physical, downhill “get-to-the-zone” back, something that Singletary does not fit the mold of. He is also a plus-pass catcher who can play all three downs.
It also differs from Tracy Jr.’s skill set, which is elusive and athletic.
Because of that, Tracy Jr. and Skattebo should be in a battle for the starting role during camp, in an improved offense led by Russell Wilson and/or Jaxson Dart.
WHEN TO DRAFT CAM SKATTEBO IN 2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL?
Taking the bet that Skattebo jumps Singletary on the depth chart makes a smash option in rookie drafts and for a late-round flyer in other formats. Not to mention, should New York cut Singletary, it will save $6.2 million against the salary cap and a salary of nearly $5 million.
Taking it one step further, the Giants obviously felt running back was a position of need in order to draft depth at the position one year after drafting Tracy Jr. in the fifth round, and signing a veteran.
While Tracy Jr. doubled Singletary’s yardage totals, he still averaged less than 50 yards per game. That’s the nitty gritty details that show a competition for the starting role brewing.
Bleacher Report described Skattebo as a bulldozer, while CBS Sports used the word gritty, like every other white skill position player. And hey, multiple outlets compared him to McCaffrey – that RSJ can agree with – but for pizzazz, went Ekeler.
Should Skattebo prove the Giants need his physicality and variety of skills to move the chains and put points on the board, the elusive former Sun Devil could be a draft day steal.
Right now, Skattebo settles at RB30, nine spots ahead of the ECR, on The Wolf’s 2025 Fantasy Rankings.
