The Giants Are Expected To Downgrade Cam Skattebo Today, And I Owe You A Round

Friends, John Harbaugh said this week that there is a point where fumbling affects playing time, per Jordan Raanan. Asked about Cam Skattebo specifically on Friday, he said, "We'll see." When a coach gives that answer about his lead back, he has usually seen plenty already.

This morning, Skattebo managers on X are asking whether they can still start him. I have an answer and a confession, because in July I told you to reach for him.

The Sunday Morning Paperwork

At 8:04 Central, Raanan reported that Najee Harris "is likely to have a larger role with Cam Skattebo downgraded but still part of the mix after the fumbles." He added that all four backs (Harris, Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary) should be active.

A minute later, Jeremy Fowler posted that "Najee Harris is set to start for the Giants". Two minutes after that, Adam Schefter wrote, "Giants expected to change up their RB rotation today".

Earlier, @DDuggan21 heard "it was a pretty even split in reps this week between Skattebo and Harris." He expects "more Harris and less Skattebo than previous weeks" and says Tracy "has reclaimed the third-down RB role".

As I type this, none of it is official, so treat this backfield as a committee.

The Warning Light Was On All Week

Ball security is the one problem a coach can fix by himself in a single week. He hands the ball to somebody else. So a fumble problem shows up in the rotation before it shows up anywhere else, your projections included.

On Oct. 11, Bobby Skinner counted "5 fumbles in 13 games for Cam Skattebo", his rookie year included. On Tuesday, Duggan wrote that Skattebo "hasn't been effective this season (3.6 ypc) and the fumbling issue is a real problem."

On Friday, Duggan posted that he "would be very surprised if Skattebo has the same RB1 workload on Sunday that he's had in the first five games". This morning, Field Yates wrote, "Cam Skattebo’s 4 fumbles this season are a problem."

Every truck I have owned gave me about a week of dashboard light before the shop got involved. This one has been lit since Oct. 11, and Harbaugh was reading it. I call it the warning-light rule, and you may borrow it.

The coach reads the warning light before the projections do.

Then the arithmetic. If all four backs are active, they share one ball, and as Duggan put it this morning, "It’s hard to get four RBs snaps". A committee that size caps everybody in it, including the man with the larger role.

The Other Side Gets Its Turn

Now the evidence against me, printed before Chief can find it. Skinner says "Skattebo is their best RB so you're not going to banish him" and that there is "some level of demotion due to fumble issues for at least one week." Raanan's report keeps him in the mix, too.

Yates says "today is an ideal matchup for this offense to look much better vs. a brutal Saints run defense." Harris has skeptics, and Yates is one: "Najee Harris isn’t a great answer for a stagnant running game". Duggan was blunter in his Tuesday breakdown: "There's just no burst (five carries for nine yards)."

Nobody ran well in the pouring rain against the Commanders last week. Duggan's count during that game had Skattebo at 6 carries for 12 yards, Harris at 3 for 4 and Tracy at 2 for 5. Skinner wrote on Oct. 11 that fumbling "unfortunately became an issue for the entire RB room."

Reading My July Column Out Loud

On July 24, my verdict read: "Buy in dynasty at current cost, and take him in redraft a full round before you are comfortable." The same column's pull quote said, "Fantasy football is mostly the business of noticing what people have stopped talking about."

Nobody has stopped talking about these fumbles. If you took him a round early on my word, I owe you that round, neighbors. I own half of this site and every word of that verdict. I was raised on Browns football, so buying in July and paying in October is the family business.

Chief, he stays on my dynasty roster. And Duggan wrote that line about the other guy: "This could be the opening for Najee Harris against a bad Saints run D". A bad run defense pays whoever is holding the ball, and the coach decides who holds it.

What I Am Doing About It

1. In redraft, Skattebo is a risky flex for me this week. His role is expected to shrink inside a four-man committee, so he starts only over a flex I trust less.
2. In dynasty, I hold him. Skinner calls this a demotion for at least one week. Selling now would be my July mistake in reverse gear.
3. Harris is a desperation flex. The expected larger role and the matchup help him, and the skeptics above still worry me.
4. Tracy is a PPR dart, and Singletary gets no move from me. Third-down work pays a little in PPR. All I know about Singletary's role is that he is expected to be active.
5. For all four, check inactives before lock and keep the parking brake on. Watch the first-quarter rotation before making a trade or waiver move over this news. I revisit the whole backfield after the game.