Player Spotlight: Eli Manning (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

2007 Player Spotlight Series

Over the course of the offseason, we will be evaluating a multitude of players at every fantasy position. One such way we go about that is through the Player Spotlight series. Think of the Spotlights as a permanent record on some of the more intriguing players for the upcoming season. Each Spotlight will be featured in an article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Player Page Link: Eli Manning Player Page

Each article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide sustainable value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsBest of Luck and ENJOY!

 

[shadyridr]

IMO Eli will never make the leap to stud QB. He is what he is. A solid, middle of the pack starting NFL QB. IMO hes a QB2 for fantasy football purposes and may sneak into the bottom tier of QB1s. He has some good receivers to throw to in Plax and Shockey but not alot of depth behind them. He loses his stud RB Barber so defenses have less to key on. And the offensive line is declining. That being said the Giants defense could be very bad this year leading to Eli throwing the ball more. But facing tough defenses in Dal, Phi, and Was twice each will keep his TD passes low and INTs high.

3600 yds, 18 tds, 15 ints

 

[Blackjacks]

The Giants aren't going to be very good this year with the loss of Barber and the oline losing some talent as well. That being said The Giants are improving their skill players for Eli to work with. With the drafting last year of Sinorice Moss and this year Steve Smith to go with Toomer and Burress Eli has a good corp of 4 wr's. Adding Shockey in the mix and he definetly has the weapons. Now back to the retirement of Barber, while I think it will hurt the Giants team I think Manning will put up better #'s due to the lack of running game.

I do however worry about his leadership skills. The guy is just afraid to take a hit. To be honest he looks like a (p)-wussy out there.

You look at the first 7 games of the season last year and Eli was on fire, while his wr's were healthy. The Toomer injury definelty set him back alittle.

first 7 games 17.3 points a week (With Toomer)

last 9 games 11.8 points a week (Without Toomer)

Eli has the weapons this year so we'll see

I'll project him for

3800 yards

27 td's

 

[nygiants56]

The Giants aren't going to be very good this year with the loss of Barber and the oline losing some talent as well. That being said The Giants are improving their skill players for Eli to work with. With the drafting last year of Sinorice Moss and this year Steve Smith to go with Toomer and Burress Eli has a good corp of 4 wr's. Adding Shockey in the mix and he definetly has the weapons. Now back to the retirement of Barber, while I think it will hurt the Giants team I think Manning will put up better #'s due to the lack of running game. I do however worry about his leadership skills. The guy is just afraid to take a hit. To be honest he looks like a (p)-wussy out there.You look at the first 7 games of the season last year and Eli was on fire, while his wr's were healthy. The Toomer injury definelty set him back alittle.first 7 games 17.3 points a week (With Toomer)last 9 games 11.8 points a week (Without Toomer)Eli has the weapons this year so we'll see I'll project him for 3800 yards27 td's

Eli was good, largely due to Tiki Barber's presence. now, its a completely different story. 8-9 man fronts. Package blitzes. etc. Eli will see everything AND the kitchen sink,this season. he'll be lucky to get 3400 yards, and just 20 TDS..he'll also toss anywhere between 17-20 INTS, if not more.3400/17 TD/ 19 INT..too risky a pick , relative to where he'll be drafted, IMO...

 

[rzrback77]

Excellent post above by Blackjacks. I see a banner year for Eli Manning. The team has kept viable receiver weapons Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey, and Amani Toomer. The previous two years they have added Sinorice Moss and Steve Smith. Their offensive leader Tiki Barber has retired so they will have to look elsewhere for offensive punch. I like the sound of those recceivers and Eli Manning more than Jacobs and Droughns.

Oh yes, their defense has gone downhill, not what is needed for NFL success, but it sometimes is a key ingredient for increased passing production.

Eli Manning has 3762 passing yards and 24 TDs in 05 and regressed in 06 to 3244 yards, but maintained the 24 TDs.

I see a nice increase for Manning and the passing game for the NYGiants in 07:

Eli Manning 325 completions out of 540 attempts (60.2%) for 3800 yards (7.04 ypa) and 26 TDs with 18 ints. Not much running, 40 yds and no TDs.

A solid bargain in the second tier of the quarterbacks drafted.

 

[BigRed]

IMO:

- OL is worse

- Receiving - Burress is looknig not amazing but pretty reliable. Nobody else is, really. Shockey is overrated and is always getting nicked up.

- Running, huge huge loss in Barber. Jacobs isn't chopped liver but can he even come close to replacing Barber?

Good QB2, sure wouldn't want as QB1 - might get away w/it if your running game is really really good.

 

[Mapmaker]

I'm not a fan .... sorry

318/3250/21/16

 

[videoguy505]

Plax is a big head case for a WR1, and Manning's skills haven't progressed very far since he's been a starter, he's still making bad decisions. A clear avoid this year.

 

[softball]

IMO Eli will never make the leap to stud QB. He is what he is. A solid, middle of the pack starting NFL QB. IMO hes a QB2 for fantasy football purposes and may sneak into the bottom tier of QB1s. He has some good receivers to throw to in Plax and Shockey but not alot of depth behind them. He loses his stud RB Barber so defenses have less to key on. And the offensive line is declining. That being said the Giants defense could be very bad this year leading to Eli throwing the ball more. But facing tough defenses in Dal, Phi, and Was twice each will keep his TD passes low and INTs high.3600 yds, 18 tds, 15 ints

I agree with most of your post, well done. I would add that Shockey was also hurt last season and that removed another weapon from his offense during the second half of the season. JS' ankle was pretty screwed up.I like Eli to be a 12 team starter so I'll bump him up a bit to 3750 yards, 22 TDs and 18INTs

 

[-OZ-]

3,885/22/22

 

[KING]

it's sink or swim time for eli. not only will he have to carry the load for this team, but he's going to have to become a leader as well. he's going to have to keep his 2 prima dona's focused, and productive on a weekly basis. i guess i'll take the upside with him.

560 320 3800 27td 19int and 30 60 2.0 1

 

[Tau837]

Plax is a big head case for a WR1, and Manning's skills haven't progressed very far since he's been a starter, he's still making bad decisions. A clear avoid this year.

 

[lionsroar]

I like 3600 yards with 23/20

 

[Blackjacks]

His #'s are similiar of his brother's in Peyton's 1st 2 years in the season.

1st year as full time starter

Peyton 3739 passing and 26 td's

Eli 3762 passing and 24 td's

2nd year " "

Peyton 4135 and 26 td's

Eli 3244 and 24 td's

Now granted 900 yards is a wide margin but I see similiar #'s here between the Manning brothers.

I don't think Eli gets alot of respect, which is good for owners' targeting him, but the guy has had 24 td's in both year as a full time starter and passed for over 3,000 yards in both years as well, not bad. He finished 4th and 11th in those 2 years.....again not bad. I don't understand with the retirement of Barber and the D getting weaker people see Eli not putting up better #'s this year. Now I'm just talking fantasy here. He hasn't shown me alot on the field as a leader to this point but I see this being a big year for him for fantasy and NFL perspective.

 

[Tau837]

His #'s are similiar of his brother's in Peyton's 1st 2 years in the season. 1st year as full time starterPeyton 3739 passing and 26 td'sEli 3762 passing and 24 td's2nd year " "Peyton 4135 and 26 td'sEli 3244 and 24 td'sNow granted 900 yards is a wide margin but I see similiar #'s here between the Manning brothers.I don't think Eli gets alot of respect, which is good for owners' targeting him, but the guy has had 24 td's in both year as a full time starter and passed for over 3,000 yards in both years as well, not bad. He finished 4th and 11th in those 2 years.....again not bad. I don't understand with the retirement of Barber and the D getting weaker people see Eli not putting up better #'s this year. Now I'm just talking fantasy here. He hasn't shown me alot on the field as a leader to this point but I see this being a big year for him for fantasy and NFL perspective.

I think this is a poor comparison. If you don't want to compare their rookie seasons because Eli was not a full time starter, fine, but don't compare Eli's second year to Peyton's rookie season. The appropriate comparison IMO is to compare their second and third seasons:Eli:

| 2005 nyg |  16 |   294   557  52.8  3762   6.8  24  17 |	29	80   1 || 2006 nyg |  16 |   301   522  57.7  3244   6.2  24  18 |	25	21   0 |

Peyton:

| 1999 ind |  16 |   331   533  62.1  4135   7.8  26  15 |	35	73   2 || 2000 ind |  16 |   357   571  62.5  4413   7.7  33  15 |	37   116   1 |

IMO Eli is clearly inferior to Peyton. That in and of itself is no crime - who isn't inferior to Peyton? But to suggest Eli is in any way close to Peyton is way off base IMO.Eli supposedly entered the league ready and was not pushed immediately into the starter role. He has always been on a team with good offensive talent around him. Yet he has a career completion percentage of 54.1% and career ypa of 6.3. He has not cut down his interceptions. From watching him, he doesn't seem like a good leader and doesn't seem like he is able to stand and deliver when he knows he will get hit. The back to back 24 TD seasons and the fact that he has thus far been durable are the only positives I can see. I want no part of him unless he can be had later than I expect.

 

[Construction Man Jim]

Through the first eight games each of the past two seasons Eli has put up 3662 yards, 30 TDs, 14 INTs and a QB Rating of 86.6.

Yes he needs to be more consistent and prove he can do that over an entire season but the talent is unquestionably there.

I think if you can get a QB with legit 30 TD upside in the 9th or 10th round that's excellent value.

2005

258 Att

133 Comp

51.6 %

1,811 (226.34) Yds

15 TD

5 INT

85.6 Rate

2006

261 Att

160 Comp

61.3 %

1851 (231.34) Yds

15 TD

9 INT

87.5 Rate

Totals through first 8 games 2005-2006

519 Att

293 Comp

56.5%

3662 Yds

30 TD

14 INT

86.6 Rate

It's also worth noting that Eli has won 19 games over the past two seasons. Only Peyton (26) and Brady (22) have won more. Palmer, Brees and Hasselbeck have also won 19.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Manning just isn't that good. His numbers are inflated (again) because he never gets hurt and faces easier than average schedules. He's not one of the better fantasy QBs when he's on the field against average defenses. His raw numbers hide how mediocre a fantasy player he really is.

 

[Blackjacks]

Manning just isn't that good. His numbers are inflated (again) because he never gets hurt and faces easier than average schedules. He's not one of the better fantasy QBs when he's on the field against average defenses. His raw numbers hide how mediocre a fantasy player he really is.

These aren't good defenses?18 points vs. Indy

27 points vs Philly (and 2 14 points games)

22 points vs Seattle

15 points vs Atl

15 points vs Dallas

14 points vs Jax

19 points vs Dallas

17 points vs Carolina

The wierd thing is his bad games are against bad teams

10 points vs TB

11 points vs Hou

10 points vs Tenn

6 points vs NO

avged 11.5 against Wash

These are the games that hurt him.

I would also say that playing Philly, Dallas and Washington 6 times a year is no picnic,

The NFC East is 2nd to the AFC North as the hardest division to play against IMO.

Eli has taken his team to the playoffs 2 out of 2 years. He needs to become more consistant I agree but I really feel this is his year to shine,. I know I have him so I'll call myself a homer but I paid alot of $$$$

to get him cause I believe he'll be a top 5 guy this year.

I do however agree with the statement someone said about lacking in his leadership skills and kind of looking like a panzy (sp) out there like I stated in my first post.

 

[Tau837]

Eli has taken his team to the playoffs 2 out of 2 years.

IMO Tiki deserves more credit than Eli for taking the Giants to the playoffs those 2 seasons. If they make it this year without Tiki, I think Eli will definitely deserve some credit.

 

[Construction Man Jim]

Manning just isn't that good. His numbers are inflated (again) because he never gets hurt and faces easier than average schedules. He's not one of the better fantasy QBs when he's on the field against average defenses. His raw numbers hide how mediocre a fantasy player he really is.

You say "never gets hurt" like it's a bad thing... Where is the SoS data from last year? I thought the Giants had a pretty tough schedule.

 

[Blackjacks]

Eli has taken his team to the playoffs 2 out of 2 years.

IMO Tiki deserves more credit than Eli for taking the Giants to the playoffs those 2 seasons. If they make it this year without Tiki, I think Eli will definitely deserve some credit.

I want to say say the Giants made the playoffs 1 out of four years after the went to the superbowl in 2000 with Tiki and without Eli.

 

[Tau837]

Eli has taken his team to the playoffs 2 out of 2 years.

IMO Tiki deserves more credit than Eli for taking the Giants to the playoffs those 2 seasons. If they make it this year without Tiki, I think Eli will definitely deserve some credit.

I want to say say the Giants made the playoffs 1 out of four years after the went to the superbowl in 2000 with Tiki and without Eli.

For the record, Tiki was the feature back 2 seasons before Eli's rookie year. They made the playoffs 1 of those 2 seasons. Eli has been there 3 seasons, and they made the playoffs twice. Bottom line is that Tiki was All Pro in 2005 and made the Pro Bowl last year, while Eli has done neither yet in his career.Are you really taking the position that Eli was more important to the Giants offense than Tiki over the past two seasons?

 

[Blackjacks]

Eli has taken his team to the playoffs 2 out of 2 years.

IMO Tiki deserves more credit than Eli for taking the Giants to the playoffs those 2 seasons. If they make it this year without Tiki, I think Eli will definitely deserve some credit.

I want to say say the Giants made the playoffs 1 out of four years after the went to the superbowl in 2000 with Tiki and without Eli.

For the record, Tiki was the feature back 2 seasons before Eli's rookie year. They made the playoffs 1 of those 2 seasons. Eli has been there 3 seasons, and they made the playoffs twice. Bottom line is that Tiki was All Pro in 2005 and made the Pro Bowl last year, while Eli has done neither yet in his career.Are you really taking the position that Eli was more important to the Giants offense than Tiki over the past two seasons?

Eli has been the starter for the season for 2 years and they have made the playoffs 2 years. I think you are trying to put words in my mouth with your statement. I never said Eli was more important to the offense than Tiki was. I was just stating the fact that Eli is 2 for 2 while being the starter. However if I had to take the stance that Eli had a more important role on the team I could. Very simply when Eli plays good...usually the Giants win. I think you can look at his stats and when he had a good game the Giants are impressive. So when looking at it that way I could say Eli had a more important jopb than Tiki. Did Tiki carry the Giants in alot of their games, yes. All I'm stating is the Giants became alot better team once Eli was under center. I believe Tiki was the primary running back since 2000. I know Dayne got carries but Barber was definetly the guy.

2000 NYG 16 213 1006 4.7 78 8 38 5 3

2001 NYG 14 166 865 5.2 36 4 40 3 1

2002 NYG 16 304 1387 4.6 70 11 67 5 5

2003 NYG 16 278 1216 4.4 27 2 66 6 5

2004 NYG 16 322 1518 4.7 72 13 77 5 2

2005 NYG 16 357 1860 5.2 95 9 72 1 1

2006 NYG 16 327 1662 5.1 55 5 78 3 1

Career 154 2217 10449 4.7 95 55 490 32 19

2000 NYG 16 70 719 10.3 36 1 29 1 0

2001 NYG 14 72 577 8.0 44 0 30 2 0

2002 NYG 16 69 597 8.7 38 0 23 4 1

2003 NYG 16 69 461 6.7 36 1 26 3 1

2004 NYG 16 52 578 11.1 62 2 18 0 0

2005 NYG 16 54 530 9.8 48 2 20 0 0

2006 NYG 16 58 465 8.0 28 0 23 0 0

Career 154 586 5183 8.8 87 12 227 12

That's alot of touches for a split guy. Also if you want ot pick on Eli for having some bad moments and poor descions how bout we look at Tiki's fumble totals. I believe those have a direct reason for why the Giants missed the playoffs a couple of times.

Sorry, this is an Eli post and I'm going off track. If you ask me who was the MVP for the Giants last year I'll say Tiki all day but I think the Giants need Eli to be the MVP to take the next step.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

He's finished the past two seasons in the top 5 for QB's with regards to passing TD's

An excellent #2

 

[tommyk7]

He's finished the past two seasons in the top 5 for QB's with regards to passing TD'sAn excellent #2

Keep in mind that the NYG are using OC Kevin Gilbride for the first time to design the offense and to call plays.When Gilbride became a first-year OC at Buffalo, he turned first-year Bills QB Drew Bledsoe into a fantasy stud and Eric Moulds and Peeless Price almost had 200 combined receptions and 20 combined TDs. Oh, and Travis Henry had his best year as a pro.Gilbride fell out of favor with the Bills after that year, but in his first year as OC he has shown the ability to take advantage of mismatches and boost a QBs production.

 

[Tau837]

He's finished the past two seasons in the top 5 for QB's with regards to passing TD'sAn excellent #2

Keep in mind that the NYG are using OC Kevin Gilbride for the first time to design the offense and to call plays.When Gilbride became a first-year OC at Buffalo, he turned first-year Bills QB Drew Bledsoe into a fantasy stud and Eric Moulds and Peeless Price almost had 200 combined receptions and 20 combined TDs. Oh, and Travis Henry had his best year as a pro.Gilbride fell out of favor with the Bills after that year, but in his first year as OC he has shown the ability to take advantage of mismatches and boost a QBs production.

And what did Gilbride do with his other teams in his first year as OC?

 

[tommyk7]

And what did Gilbride do with his other teams in his first year as OC?

1990: Oilers: #2 in NFL in points scored, passing attack ranked #1 in the NFL in att, comp, yards and TDs. 1996 (2nd year at expansion Jacksonville): #3 in NFL in total yardage, #1 in passing yards.1999: Steelers: On a defensive team with no QBs, Gilbride was forced to coach a rushing attack that became a top-5 rushing team in the 2nd year.Gilbride's resume is certainly mixed, but with a decent QB and WRs he has coached offenses to post huge numbers at Buffalo, Houston and Jacksonville.Gilbride is not a new hire with the Giants; he has been QB coach for Manning since his rookie year.Anyway, there is no way to predict the numbers for Manning under Gilbride - but Gilbride and Manning have spent the past six months going over videotapes of the 2006 season. There is no question that the dedication by Manning to improve is there.