Monday Night Observations

It was disappointing the Giants lost, but I’ll take it. I went 5-0 in the NFFC, as Saquon Barkley got me the 22.6 points I needed and rushed for 81 yards to keep him in the running for my 35:1 rushing yards leader bet, only 24 yards behind Nick Chubb.

The game itself was a tough watch. The Cowboys were by far the better team, getting pressure on Danny Dimes all game, while the Giants got almost none on Cooper Rush, despite No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux making his debut. Apparently, they really missed Leonard Williams who was out with a knee injury.

But I was actually encouraged because Brian Daboll/Mike Kafka delivered just what I had requested:

On the rare occasion his line gives him time, he can look downfield, or he can buy himself time with roll-outs, but on straight drop-backs, they should call as many quick-hitting throws as possible. He has to get used to reading fast and throwing it.

Jones didn’t produce much through the air, but kept drives alive by scrambling deftly for 79 yards and buying time to throw. He did take five sacks and threw the game-sealing pick, but that was desperation time where he had to take a risk. Virually no QB would put up good numbers under that kind of pressure — recall peak Tom Brady with Randy Moss off a 50-TD season, getting 14 points in the Super Bowl against the Giants. If the rush can get to you consistently without blitzing, it’s bleak.

And yet, in part due to penalties and scrambles, that game was close throughout. This bodes well because the Giants should improve on the offensive line as the year goes on, won’t face such tough defenses every week and Jones’ mobility and Kafka’s playcalling should cover the rest. The Giants need Kadarius Toney back or the player that used to be Kenny Golladay because they have no one to stretch the field right now. But that was moot last night as there was rarely time even to look deep.

Cooper Rush was competent again, but he was virtually never under pressure, and his running backs were gashing the Giants all night. I wouldn’t read much into his performance one way or the other.

• Tony Pollard (13-105-0) is fast. It’s easier to be the change of pace guy than the every-down banger, so I don’t think they should make him the feature back, but 10-plus touches per game seem like a no-brainer.

Ezekiel Elliott (15-73-1, 2-1-2-0) looked like the guy he’s always been — not fast, not shifty, but a tough straight-ahead runner. He’ll outearn his ADP at this rate.