Keep An Eye On Kiwanuka (and Strahan)

Giants star defensive end Osi Umenyiora went down this past weekend with a season ending MCL tear, leaving a huge gap at defensive end for the New York Giants. With Justin Tuck replacing the retired Michael Strahan, the Giants are now looking to either veteran Renaldo Wynn, or third year man Mathias Kiwanuka to fill in for Osi. But will a familiar number 92 enter the fray also? Read more

Busy Week Capped Off By Ocho’s Return…

Whether or not Ocho Cinco’s recent appearance at Bengals mini-camp was just a token visit for show, the fact of the matter is that he showed up. This gives his fantasy owners much more trade leverage when trying to deal him this off-season, because - at least for now - it looks like he’ll be back with the Bengals in 2008. Normally, this would have been plenty of headline grabbing news for one week during the NFL off-season, but the release of Cedric Benson and the retirement of Michael Strahan and Jonathan Ogden also impacted the landscape of fantasy football heading into 2008. Read more

Strahan & Benson Out - Tuck & Forte In

Yesterday was a huge news day in the NFL, just another example of why there is no offseason. Giants DE Michael Strahan actually made a freaking decision and decided to call it a career at the age of 36, and a former fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft named Cedric Benson was released by the Chicago Bears, after three disappointing seasons and two arrests in the span of 30 days. Yeah, these stories are interesting, but what fantasy owners really want to know is - what happens now that these guys are gone? Read more

Fantasy Impact: Michael Strahan Retires…

Well, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Giants 36 year old DE Michael Strahan has made up his mind and will announce his retirement from the NFL soon, electing to “ride off into the sunset” after a Super Bowl victory.

Now that Strahan appears to be gone - and we say “appears” because it’s not official yet - fourth year 25 year old DE Justin Tuck will take his starting spot opposite Osi Umenyiora. Tuck had a breakout season in 2007, racking up 65 total tackles and 10 sacks as the Giants third DE/DT. Now that Tuck will have a starting role, we expect him to be a top three fantasy defensive lineman. Umenyiora won’t lose any value, due to the fact that Tuck should demand just as much attention as Strahan did.

Also, keep an eye on SLB Mathias Kiwanuka, who will likely double as the Giants’ third DE in 2008, and if your league scores him as a DL, he’ll have bonus value.

Michael Strahan To Retire…

ESPN’s John Clayton has reported that many people close to the Giants organization and to Giants DE Michael Strahan think that he’ll retire before training camp.

Wow. If he did it before training camp, that’d be nice timing. We could then actually properly evaluate the fantasy impact prior to drafts - and there would be serious fantasy impact.

Justin Tuck would likely become a top three DE, bar none, while Mathias Kiwanuka would rotate from SLB and DE, but potentially be scored as a DE in fantasy leagues, which would help his value.

Jason Taylor Pulling A Strahan?

Is it just me, or does what soon-to-be 34 year old Dolphins DE Jason Taylor is doing feel a lot like what Michael Strahan did last year? I mean, we’re looking at a veteran guy, who is still in phenomenal playing shape, who obviously does not need to attend voluntary workouts, taking a little bit of time off in the off-season towards the end of his career. Is the Taylor situation really that big of a deal? Read more

Giants IDP Update…

Word is that third year LB Gerris Wilkinson is the favorite to start at WLB in Steve Spagnulo’s defense after the departure of Kawika Mitchell. Wilkinson won’t be much a fantasy prospect, but he may contribute enough to be a bye-week fill in for owners in deep leagues.

There’s also been some talk from the Giants organization regarding what will happen to Mathias Kiwanuka if Michael Strahan retires. There’s a good chance he’ll at least split time between LB and DE, but possibly even more to DE full time.

We’d guess that Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck would start, with Kiwanuka playing the third end pass rusher role.

Will Giants Pay Michael Strahan?

Word is that Michael Strahan has some specific contract demands in order to come back and play in 2008. He apparently wants $8 million for next season alone.

While we believe there’s a solid chance he could come back and play again, we know how much the Giants love Justin Tuck - who has rotated from third DE to DT - and want him to take over across from Osi Umenyiora. We hear Mathias Kiwanuka would then be third DE/SLB in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

If we had to make a prediction today, we’d say Strahan is coming back in 2008. He just wants to chill out and make everyone wait out his decision. He’ll be in no hurry until September 1.

Michael Strahan Works Out With Giants…

Well, at their practice facility anyway. Does this sound like a guy who is retiring? We won’t know for sure until late August, but Strahan being seen around the facility recently points fairly strongly to him coming back in 2008.

Strahan Update: Toomer Says He’ll Play…

In an interview today with Sirius NFL Radio, Giants WR Amani Toomer says he’s confident Michael Strahan will return to play in 2008. Well, one teammate says no (Antonio Pierce) and one says yes.

ESPN’s John Clayton says Strahan is 60-40 that he’ll hang it up. We won’t know for sure until September, as no announcement is likely.

Report: Michael Strahan To Retire…

Word is that Giants DE Michael Strahan will hang it up after leading the G-Men to a Super Bowl victory this past season.

Giants LB Antonio Pierce recently told media he believes Strahan will hang it up. If this is the case, expect Justin Tuck to start opposite Osi Umenyiora in 2008, with Mathias Kiwanuka moving back to a third DE role. Really, the Strahan saga will continue until the end of training camp - don’t expect an announcement any time soon.