Cruz vs. Nicks (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

This question would have been unthinkable a few months ago. Now, it's thinkable.

And I'm sure many people prefer Cruz. I'm on the fence.

You can also voice your dynasty opinions if you'd like to.

 

[mr roboto]

Nicks in dynasty either PPR or non PPR.

Cruz next year in non PPR. Nicks next year in PPR.

I believe Nicks is a better receiver at getting the ball in double teams. Defenses will start playing Cruz tougher and I'm not convinced he will handle it well.

 

[Raider Nation]

This is also great news for Eli going forward. If the Giants ever somehow got a hold of a ridiculously athletic TE like the Saints and Pats have, he would just about be in the Rodgers/Brees/Brady/Stafford tier.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Who will be selected first is Nicks. He has the track record, and despite being banged up for pretty much the entire year, he had a top 15 WR season. Without looking and thinking Nicks missed a game or 2, I also would guess Cruz didnt have more than 10 catches or so compared to Nicks, which would be surprising considering Cruz was a top 5 WR and Nicks had a "down" year.

Who should be selected first is much closer. I think Nicks' ADP will be late 3/early 4 whereas Cruz will be a solid 5th round pick. Based on that, I think Cruz could be a better value pick, but it will be close because I think Nicks will bounceback in the TD category as he is a beast in the redzone and although they love that fade route to him inside the 5-10 yardline, they still dont throw it enough.

 

[TwinTurbo]

I think the question is why did Cruz get so many targets and will it continue next year. I think he made the most of a unique situation in 2011 but Nicks is by far the better pick for 2012.

The Giants running game was garbage for most of the year and they rank last in the league in rushing yds per game. All NYG RB's averaged less than 4 YPC. Nicks and Manningham were also banged up and the WR's as a group were not really 100% at any point in the season.

Next year if the running game improves and guys like Ballard/Manningham emerge as a more consistent 3rd target in the passing game, then Cruz's opportunities will decline. But Nicks will still be the #1 and get his.

 

[ThePittbully]

In terms of hands, ball skills, and reliability Nicks has nothing on Cruz. Feel free to flame me over that, but it's true. I do think Nicks is still the better Redzone target because of his physical presence and athletic ability.

 

[Kree]

In terms of hands, ball skills, and reliability Nicks has nothing on Cruz. Feel free to flame me over that, but it's true. I do think Nicks is still the better Redzone target because of his physical presence and athletic ability.

So ridiculously wrong in regards to hands and reliability. For the first half the of the year Cruz was making as many bad plays as great plays. Cost us the Seattle game, nearly cost us the Skins game, and dropped too many passes or ran wrong routes at critical junctions. He got better as the year went on, but the only thing Cruz definitely has over Nicks is wiggle and speed. Don't think the nature of Cruz' success is replicable, but he will be a more than adequate WR2 with more attention next year, opening up Nicks again. Eli is getting to the point where he takes advantage of Ds though, so in many weeks it's going to be whichever player the opposition team gives him.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

It depends on ADP for me. If I can get Cruz two or three rounds later then I go with him as a value pick. If they are both going in the 2nd or early 3rd then Ill take a chance on Nicks bouncing back. Afterall Nicks had his breakout last year when Smith was the #1guy and played in the slot. That will be Cruz next year assuming Manninham is back and playing outside in his normal slot.

This will be my same strategy with waiting to take Julio over Roddy, Brown over Wallace, etc. A lot of 1b type WRs in the middle rounds next year.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

This question would have been unthinkable a few months ago. Now, it's thinkable. And I'm sure many people prefer Cruz. I'm on the fence.You can also voice your dynasty opinions if you'd like to.

I watch almost every Giants game since I'm in the market and while Cruz had an amazing season (and I don't want to sell him short at all) but Nicks is still the more impressive player to watch. Nicks did have drop issues this season, but he just looks more dominant on the field and Cruz' big plays sometimes have that "fluky" feel to them. Cruz also played out of the slot a lot this season (when Manningham was healthy) and that's traditionally been a high target position on the Giants, plus the DB covering the slot is generally not as good. Cruz could line up oustide next season, especially if teh Gianst bring back Steve Smith. I think Nicks will be a bargain in drafts next season if he falls because Cruz rises.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

In terms of hands, ball skills, and reliability Nicks has nothing on Cruz. Feel free to flame me over that, but it's true. I do think Nicks is still the better Redzone target because of his physical presence and athletic ability.

I'd reluctantly agree on "hands" (although early in the season Cruz dropped a lot of balls and Nicks just had a down year), - but not sure what you mean exactly by "reliability" or "ball skills". Nicks is the better runner with the ball in his hands and is just is as good or better fighting for the ball (and generally he was matched up with the better CBs). Cruz made plenty of bone head plays early in the year and the Giants were not happy with him - obviously the huge plays later in the year over-shadowed that and I doubt the Giants have any qualms with Cruz. I think his stats will decline next season though for many reasons.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

By "reliability" do you mean injury issues? Because Nicks has them every year. It's a guarantee.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

By "reliability" do you mean injury issues? Because Nicks has them every year. It's a guarantee.

Isaac Bruce used to miss multiple games a year early in his career and then all of a sudden he never missed games. Injuries are seldom "guaranteed".

 

[Shutout]

Cruz and Steve Smith have had these types of years. Lots seemed to go on with the line and running game this past season.

But Nicks is Nicks and will always be the same focal point on this team. And despite injuries the past few seasons, he is always involved when he plays and has put up WR1 numbers.

I'm not saying I dont think Cruz can be the better value (especially if Manningham leaves), but I think Nicks is the safer of the two.

 

[Dought Man]

Nicks had a lot of those end zone fade opportunities taken away from him because Cruz was scoring from 70+ yards out and making those freak plays.

Not saying Cruz won't still be a viable fantasy WR2, but I think Nicks is the guy when push comes to shove. Plays over 50 yards, as we've seen from other guys, are the hardest to count on year to year.

 

[Phlash]

A lot of you are under-appreciative of Victory Cruz. He came into the season later as a starter, and once he solidifed his starting position, he began putting up monster games every week. Was Nicks good? He had a top 15 season, of course he was good. Cruz, on the other hand, was superb. Nearly 1600 receiving yards with most of those yards coming in the latter half of the season... he's poised for a big 2012 I think.

 

[cvnpoka]

I think Nicks' ADP will be late 3/early 4 whereas Cruz will be a solid 5th round pick.

id be giddy to snag both at this spot.

 

[Mango]

Cruz.

During the past season, I've read posts in the Pool pointing to various flaws in Victor Cruz. For instance, the sensational catch against Seattle was a fluke. Or Cruz can't handle the double team. He doesn't run as well as Nicks. He drops too many balls. Other NYG WRs were injured otherwise he would have been anonymous. He's a one-year wonder.

Victor Cruz makes amazing catches (plural); he does it in games and in practice. He's done it against the league's best defenders. He did it in 2010 and 2011 against the Jets. He scores against the double team, often. He breaks tackles, often. I believe he leads the NFL in YAC and if he doesn't, he's #2 or #3; this is no small achievement. He's broken a team record, again no small achievement. Consequently, he's earned the respect of NFL coaches, his teammates and a Super Bowl MVP.

Yet many posters in the Pool remain in disbief. Time to wake up. Victor Cruz is not a fluke. He's a gifted, physically intelligent playmaker, who performed better than Nicks, another gifted playmaker.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Cruz is the answer to both questions. But both will be among the top 10 WRs taken.

 

[Sweetsie]

In terms of hands, ball skills, and reliability Nicks has nothing on Cruz. Feel free to flame me over that, but it's true. I do think Nicks is still the better Redzone target because of his physical presence and athletic ability.

I'd reluctantly agree on "hands" (although early in the season Cruz dropped a lot of balls and Nicks just had a down year), - but not sure what you mean exactly by "reliability" or "ball skills". Nicks is the better runner with the ball in his hands and is just is as good or better fighting for the ball (and generally he was matched up with the better CBs). Cruz made plenty of bone head plays early in the year and the Giants were not happy with him - obviously the huge plays later in the year over-shadowed that and I doubt the Giants have any qualms with Cruz. I think his stats will decline next season though for many reasons.

One of the things Cruz has on Nicks (or anyone for that matter) is his Lateral agility. I think with so many NFL players being so fast this trait can really be a difference maker, just ask L McCoy. On more than one occasion, Cruz was able to move laterally so quickly, he left would be tacklers running into each other like a DD pop warner team. As far as next year, not sure I can decide between the two.

 

[Vision6]

Nicks is criminally underrated.

 

[Kenny Powers]

But both will be among the top 10 WRs taken.

Not so sure. WR is very deep and I could see any top 20 WR finishing top 5 next year really. Its a little different, but in 2010 Lloyd was a top 3 WR that came out of nowhere but was still drafted as a mid-late WR2 this year. I have a feeling most FF sites/leagues will treat Cruz similarly and Id be shocked if he's consistently drafted as a WR1. As for Nicks, he finished outside of the top 10 this year, and seemingly has big competition for targets in Cruz next year, so hard to project him for a huge year in 2012 (as much as I like him). He'll probably sneak into the top 10, but he's not going ahead of Mega/Welker/Fitz/Roddy/Jennings/Smith/Andre and I could easily see some people preferring a few guys in the next tier (VJax/Colston/Wallace/Green/Marshall/Julio) over Nicks.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Nicks imo is one of the most talented WRs in the NFL, but Cruz really showed me hes a top notch WR himself last night. I hadnt got to watch him much this year, but he really put on a clinic against Carlos Rogers, whos a damn good cover corner. They had to double cover him with a safety in the second half and Eli still went to him deep several times. They didnt connect but Cruz almost made two circus catches in the pouring rain and wind. Count me in as a believer.

 

[Payne]

I think Cruz owes Nicks for some of his success. #2 always benefits from a stellar #1.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Seems like they are 1a and 1b to me now. The 49ers had their best cover cornerback on cruz most of the game. After he failed, they had him and a safety rolling coverage.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Cruz looks to me to have "it".

1a/1b secnario for sure, I lean Nicks a bit but wouldnt mind either one on my sqaud

 

[scrumptrulescent]

By "reliability" do you mean injury issues? Because Nicks has them every year. It's a guarantee.

Isaac Bruce used to miss multiple games a year early in his career and then all of a sudden he never missed games. Injuries are seldom "guaranteed".

And again....

Hakeem Nicks was limited to 55 yards on five receptions as the Giants toppled the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Nicks exited early and temporarily with a shoulder injury, but was able to return and finish the game. Victor Cruz (10-142) dominated first-half targets, and the Giants didn't get much going on offense in the second half with punts on nine of their final 11 possessions. Nicks will almost certainly have a better game when the Giants face the Patriots in Super Bowl 46.

I'll take Cruz.

 

[kentric]

I went with Nicks as defences will be less likely to double cover him as often as they did this year as they will also need to give Cruz more respect.

 

[Shutout]

After watching Steve smith have this kind of impact with Eli a few years ago, it makes me want to lean towards Nicks being the better play, year in and year out, etc.

But sometimes teams just have these types of tandems where one seems more big play and the "redzone" guy, and the other is just as productive, but seems to tally the catches and yardage and move the chains.

I could see them producing as Harrison/Wayne or Moss/welker or some of these guys have. Just seems that the riskier player would be Cruz.

 

[fruity pebbles]

After watching Steve smith have this kind of impact with Eli a few years ago, it makes me want to lean towards Nicks being the better play, year in and year out, etc. But sometimes teams just have these types of tandems where one seems more big play and the "redzone" guy, and the other is just as productive, but seems to tally the catches and yardage and move the chains.I could see them producing as Harrison/Wayne or Moss/welker or some of these guys have. Just seems that the riskier player would be Cruz.

Steve Smith was a nice slot receiver but he didn't have quite Cruz's impact. 1200 yards is a far shot from 1550 in 14 games. The ypc was very diff as well, 11 vs 18. Cruz moves all over the place, hes out wide in two WR sets and moves inside on 3+.

 

[Shutout]

After watching Steve smith have this kind of impact with Eli a few years ago, it makes me want to lean towards Nicks being the better play, year in and year out, etc. But sometimes teams just have these types of tandems where one seems more big play and the "redzone" guy, and the other is just as productive, but seems to tally the catches and yardage and move the chains.I could see them producing as Harrison/Wayne or Moss/welker or some of these guys have. Just seems that the riskier player would be Cruz.

Steve Smith was a nice slot receiver but he didn't have quite Cruz's impact. 1200 yards is a far shot from 1550 in 14 games. The ypc was very diff as well, 11 vs 18. Cruz moves all over the place, hes out wide in two WR sets and moves inside on 3+.

I'm looking at this outside a vaccuum. Cruz has the benefit of having Nicks and Manningham on this team. But instead of rattlign on about it for ultiple posts, I'll just say "I see it how I see it" and would take Nicks every time. I think I will be far less likely to be dissapointed.

 

[Phlash]

Cruz as a player is on a whole different level than Steve Smith. Guy has unreal quicks and speed, and his catches are amazing.

He's what Brandon Lloyd was supposed to be earlier in his career.