The New York Giants will pay at least $10.5 million to start a veteran quarterback for just three games, as Head Coach Brian Daboll announced the Giants are turning to rookie Jaxson Dart following an abysmal start to the season.
Dart, the No. 25 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, had a strong preseason and was supposed to learn from Russell Wilson. But after Wilson was on his way to career lows in completion percentage (59%) and QB rating (78.5) through three games this season, the tides turned.
Daboll, who drafted Dart, is going all in on “his guy” in a move that will make or break the bridge to saving his job. But more importantly, can we trust Jaxson Dart’s rest of season fantasy outlook?
Jaxson Dart Shatters the Ole Miss Record Book
Jaxson Dart became the third Ole Miss quarterback ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, joining legends Archie and Eli Manning. During his Rebel career, Dart threw for over 10,000 yards and 72 touchdowns, added nearly 1,500 rushing yards, and set school records for total offense, passing yards, yards per attempt, and wins by a starting QB.
Known for his dual-threat ability and leadership, he left Oxford as one of the most productive and successful quarterbacks in program history. He was a three-year SEC starter who stood out because of his accuracy and confidence at all three levels. Him sporting a good vision for taking off was a bonus.
Scouts praised his availability – he played in every game for his three seasons at Mississippi – as well as his touchdown-to-interception ratio, his success managing games and his ability to get his offense out of trouble, whether on the ground or in the air.
A Glimpse of Things to Come? Dart Makes a Preseason Splash
That held true when fans saw Dart play in preseason.
Dart finished the preseason with a 113 quarterback passer rating and helped lead the Giants to a 3-0 record, the opposite of where the team’s record sits so far this year.
He threw three touchdowns in three games without tossing an interception. He also accounted for 372 yards through the air on 32 of 47 passing and 52 on the ground (six carries) that he capped off with one rushing score.
His stats likely make some shrug their shoulders, but some of his success didn’t appear on the stat sheet.
He looked uncomfortable at times in the pocket, as expected, but took smart shots downfield, found success making throws on the run and targeted multiple receivers.
Nabers, Skattebo to Help Dart in Transition
Roto Street Journal did a “winners” and “losers” of Russell Wilson’s signing in March, and just about every winner ended up a loser and every loser ended up a winner.
But that analysis actually helps show what fantasy managers can look forward to with Dart and the offense.
Wilson was better than 50% on deep ball throws in 2024, tallying 851 yards and eight touchdowns on throws of 20 or more. That’s part of the reason that makes his inability to connect with wideout Malik Nabers so baffling.
Nabers ranked first in his draft class in deep receiving grade (97.8, Pro Football Focus), but only caught seven balls of 20 or more yards as a rookie.
We saw what the duo was capable of when the Giants narrowly lost in overtime to Dallas, but aside from Week 2, New York couldn’t score in double digits.
Dart will also have rookie running back Cam Skattebo at his disposal.
RSJ speculated New York could draft a back after starter Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s numbers were below average in his rookie campaign.
After taking over the starting role in Week 5 of 2024, he had seven games of 50 yards rushing or less.
Meanwhile, Skattebo was the only offensive bright spot for New York in Week 3, scoring the team’s only touchdown and leading the team in receiving yards against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
Finally, Wan’Dale Robinson should also serve as a reliable safety blanket for Dart. The target share was there with Wilson, as well as previous recent Giant quarterbacks, so Robinson’s PPR fantasy value should again be on the rise.
Jaxson Dart Fantasy Outlook: A Savvy Waiver Wire Stash
Dart isn’t a Waiver Wire must-add by any means, but with ongoing quarterback injuries and the possibility of managers playing in SuperFlex, stashing him in an extra bench spot is not out of reason. But, if you’re shooting for unknown upside in an offense that has a solid supporting cast, Dart is available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues.
Dart could realistically have a rough start in the NFL, facing an undefeated, dominant Los Angeles Chargers team on Sunday and top-10 defenses in four of the next five weeks. He and the Giants will get Philadelphia twice, Denver and San Francisco across that span.
Daboll is hoping the move turns around his success in New York. He has won more than six games just once in more than three seasons as the head coach of the Giants.
