The Jaxson Dart era is starting with the New York Giants.
The team announced Russell Wilson is being benched after three games, with the rookie first-round draft pick (No. 25 overall) will make his much-anticipated full game debut vs. the Chargers in Week 4.
The initial matchup against a 3-0 Los Angeles team coming to New York is daunting, but there's no doubt the Giants' offense needed a spark after Wilson's awful prime-time showing against the Chiefs in Week 3. Dart comes with some statistical upside, given his willingness to scramble for big yardage and aggressiveness in throwing downfield.
With QB injuries plaguing fantasy football early, here's exploring when Dart can be a starting option in that realm and what the initial impact will be on the Giants' key young offensive skill players.
TOP FANTASY PICKUPS: Week 4 waiver wire
When can you start Jaxson Dart in fantasy?
The Chargers gave up a big fantasy passing performance to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 1, but they contained both the Raiders' Geno Smith and the Broncos' Bo Nix to fewer than 200 passing yards in Weeks 2 and 3.
The Chargers, however, allowed Mahomes to rush for 57 yards and have given up 110 total on the ground when including Smith and Nix. Dart taking off and running would be his best early ticket to fantasy success. But given how tough Los Angeles has been elsewhere on QBs, Dart should be sat in Week 4.
Watch out, however, for Week 5. On top of some hurting QBs, the Bears (Caleb Williams), Packers (Jordan Love), Steelers (Aaron Rodgers), and Falcons (Michael Penix Jr.) all will have a bye, making the available pool thin for streaming. Two-QB and superflex leagues will make it imperative that Dart is acquired with Wilson gone.
Dart is worth a waiver wire pickup in regular-to-deep one-QB leagues for sure, ahead of Week 4.
He can be started in a favorable matchup in New Orleans in Week 5, also not far from his old college stomping grounds at Ole Miss, the hometown of Giants and Ole Miss legend Eli Manning. Dart can compile enough passing and rushing to have a breakout game through typical rookie ups and downs, but the Saints present the first right time to think about playing him.
SET YOUR LINEUPS: Week 4 Fantasy QB Rankings
What does Jaxson Dart mean for WR Malik Nabers in fantasy?
Wilson was known for being too discerning and hesitant in his later years when considering throwing downfield. He was more calculated vs. extending plays with his athleticism and letting it rip, tied to decline in legs and arm because of age.
Nabers had one big game with Wilson, torching the Cowboys for 9 catches for 137 yards and 2 TDs in Week 2 on 13 targets. But in the other two games combined (vs. the Commanders and Chiefs), Nabers had 7 catches for 84 scoreless yards on 19 targets.
Nabers was getting frustrated and will accept the change of having a young gunslinger again. Dart will make mistakes throwing to Nabers, but he also will hit more times in big plays and giving him more chances to make them, even when the coverage is tough.
Nabers gets a huge initial bump against the Chargers' secondary. Consider Nabers thrived with lesser veterans in 2024. Dart is a much more talented rookie with a bigger arm than any of their QB optiosn from last season when Nabers went off as a rookie first-rounder.
LAST WEEK’S RECAP: What happened in fantasy Week 3 | Week 3 Injuries
What does Jaxson Dart starting mean for RB Cam Skattebo in fantasy?
Dart, Nabers, and Skattebo, the dynamic rookie fourth-round running back from Arizona State, form the new core "triplets" of the Giants' offense going forward.
Skattebo got his big chance when Tyrone Tracy suffered a shoulder injury Sunday night against the Chiefs. He turned that into 10 rushes for 60 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 6 of his 8 targets for 61 yards, giving him 121 scrimmage yards.
Dart should also boost Skattebo by using him often as a checkdown receiver and security blanket on shorter routes. He can also unlock Skattebo more with his own designed QB running and also be more willing to stretch the field passing to help open up running lanes. Skattebo can be started as an RB2 or FLEX while Tracy is out and beyond. His production value also increases with Dart.
Nabers gets a huge initial bump against the Chargers' secondary. Consider Nabers thrived with fewer veterans in 2024. Dart is a much more talented rookie with a bigger arm than any of their QB options from last season, when Nabers went off as a rookie first-rounder.
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