PFF names Wan’Dale Robinson as Giants’ 2024 breakout candidate

2023 is still ongoing — for four teams, anyhow — but the rest of the NFL is preparing for the upcoming 2024 season.

Pro Football Focus is staying ahead of the curve by identifying one early breakout player for each of the 32 NFL teams for 2024.

For the New York Giants, PFF’s Jonathan Macri chose third-year wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.

After tearing his ACL in his rookie season, Robinson returned as a more stable part of the Giants offense in 2023. His 76 targets tied for the team lead with Darius Slayton despite appearing in two fewer games, and he finished with the fourth-highest catch rate (78.9%) among the league’s wide receivers (min. 20% of targets). The Giants currently have five pending free agents at the position heading into the 2024 offseason, which could allow Robinson to contribute even further in Year 3.

All true. Robinson seemed to be the Giants’ go-to guy after tight end Darren Waller went out with a hamstring injury. Why they are picking Robinson to be a ‘breakout’ player when his role appears to be a short-to-medium yardage option (his YPR average was just 8.8 in 2023 and scored just one touchdown) could be a stretch.

Although Macri does make a few good points about the Giants’ 2024 wide receiver room, they don’t actually don’t have five impending free agents.

Parris Campbell is not returning, Sterling Shepard could likely retire, Gunner Olszewski is basically a returner and Isaiah Hodgins is restricted.

The depth chart will have Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, and Robinson penciled in as starters with Bryce Ford-Wheaton and recently signed Chase Cota behind them.

Many expect the Giants to select a wide receiver early in the draft, possibly in the first round, so Robinson may actually see his targets reduced in 2024, especially if Waller stays healthy for the entire season.