While big-name receivers like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Will Fuller only got one-year deals on the free-agent market, former Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Kenny Golladay was ranked by CBS Sports' Pete Prisco as the best wideout available, and he cashed in with a four-year, $72 million contract from the New York Giants. The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated a 30 percent jump in the 2021 playoff chances for Big Blue with Golladay after finishing 6-10 last season. At William Hill Sportsbook, the Giants are still +525 long shots to win the NFC East.
Golladay, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, had his first 1,000-yard season in 2018 with Detroit, catching 70 balls for 1,063 yards and five scores. He was named a Pro Bowler in 2019 when he caught 65 passes for 1,190 yards and an NFL-leading 11 touchdowns.
He became only the fourth NFL player since 1990 to have an 18.0-yard receiving average and 11 receiving touchdowns in a season. Golladay also joined Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and John Jefferson as the only players since the merger with 160 receptions, a 16.5-yard receiving average and 19 receiving touchdowns through 42 career games played.
Alas, Golladay was limited to just five games in 2020 due to a hip injury, which may have factored in why the Lions didn't simply slap the franchise tag on him. Still, no receiver is better with the tough catches. Golladay has had the second-most difficult targets on average among all receivers since entering the NFL in 2017. His new starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, has thrown into tight windows at the second-highest rate since 2019.
Last season, the Giants ranked 31st in both yards per game (299.6) and points per game (17.5 ppg). With the addition of Golladay, plus free-agent receiver John Ross (Cincinnati) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota) on top of the return from injury for Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley, who was limited to just two games in 2020, the SportsLine Projection Model projects the G-Men to average around 21.0 points per game in 2021. That's the second-biggest increase in the NFL behind Cincinnati's plus-4.5 points.
The model still only gives Big Blue a 20.7 percent chance at winning the NFC East but bumped the Giants' playoff chances from 20.3 percent to 26.7 percent. Their win total rose from 6.1 to 6.5, and that's on the 16-game schedule. The NFL is expected to officially announce each team's 17th game next week. If reports are accurate, the Giants would visit the Miami Dolphins in that game, and Miami is where Fuller signed.
The Golladay addition also will affect what the Giants do with the No. 11 overall pick in next month's draft, with most around the team now expecting New York to focus on defense there.
Giants' 2021 opponents (without 17th game yet)
Home: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Carolina, Las Vegas, Denver, Los Angeles Rams
Road: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago
| NY GIANTS | WIN | WIN% | DIVISION | PLAYOFF | CONF | CHAMP |
| Before | 6.1 | 38.10% | 16.00% | 20.30% | 0.50% | 0.20% |
| w/Golladay | 6.5 | 40.60% | 20.70% | 26.70% | 0.80% | 0.30% |
| Difference | 0.4 | 2.50% | 4.70% | 6.40% | 0.30% | 0.10% |
Looking for the best picks against the spread, sharp action on the total and props you can take to the window? Join Jonathan Coachman on the Early Edge as he speaks with SportsLine's top handicappers to preview every day's biggest games. We promise to keep it short, sweet and to put some green in your pocket. Early Edge is under 10 minutes and in your feed every single day by 11 AM ET. Download right here or wherever you get your podcasts.
