The New York Giants are heading into a huge game this weekend against the Oakland Raiders after winning two straight games and while they have some injuries with Victor Cruz, he is expected to play, but if an unforeseen setback occurs, Jerricho Cotchery, Lance Moore, Doug Baldwin and Cecil Shorts are the top free agents on the market.
Cotchery has been a top target for the Steelers this season and over the past five weeks he has four touchdowns, including three on Sunday against the New England Patriots. He had seven catches on eight targets for nearly 100 yards and that comes a few weeks after his 106 yard performance against the Minnesota Vikings. Cecil Shorts looks to be the top target for the Jaguars going forward with Justin Blackmon done for the season and he has had four solid games in a row with being injured in the Broncos game and now registering a catch, as he has at least 60 yards in four of his last five games, including 10 targets last Sunday and that was with Blackmon playing.
Victor Cruz was limited in practice earlier in the week, but after dealing with a neck injury he looked good to go and did not need to stay out of contact in the practice session. The Giants and Cruz are playing against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday and the team is coming into the matchup after winning two straight games and Cruz is looking like he will be on the field. As long as no set backs or injury reports come out before Sunday, Cruz is looking like a solid stud option. The Raiders had a terrible performance against the Eagles last week, giving up over 400 yards and seven touchdowns to Nick Foles and now Eli Manning and company will try their best to do that as well.
The Raiders secondary has not been performing up to expectations thus far, as the team signed Mike Jenkins and Tracy Porter while also drafting DJ Hayden, but they have not been a stout unit. The Raiders are ranked 26th in the league while giving up 262.6 yards in the air per game and that plays into exactly what the Giants want to do, as they are ranked 13th and have been more of a passing team all season. Cruz has been the most consistent player on offense this season and he has 47 catches for 677 yards this season with four scores.
Cruz made seven catches against the Eagles in the win and had 86 yards and now he has had at least 65 in four of the past five games, including 120 catches for 164 yards against the Chiefs and he is expected to put up more Sunday. The Giants are also possibly going to be without Brandon Jacobs on Sunday, but after getting back Andre Brown, the team could really open up the pass with a solid rushing attack and they could have a sustained ground game for the first time this season. Cruz has been at his best when Eli Manning has time to throw and on Sunday the offensive line will have to make sure that they are solid against the aggressive Raiders front line.
