Plaxico's Departure Hurts Manning's Fantasy Value

This really should not come as a big surprise to anyone.  After weeks of speculation, with potential jail time looming, the Giants have finally released their star wide receiver, Plaxico Burress. 

For Burress, the story is easy.  If he can avoid jail and a significant league suspension, he has immense fantasy value.  Unfortunately, both of those scenarios coming true is unlikely and he appears to have minimal fantasy appeal for 2009.

For the Giants, things are not so crystal clear.  While they have a number of potential receivers on their roster, the end of last season proved that none can make the offense go like Burress could.  None of them are a true No. 1 option, leaving the Giants to go searching outside the organization.

They could go the draft route, either trading up to the middle of the round or standing pat and hoping one of the potential receivers fall to them.  This route is a definite risk.  Even if they are able to get someone like Heyward-Bey, where is the guarantee that he can be the type of impact receiver that Eli Manning needs? 

They also could go the free agent route.  Torry Holt is still on the market.  There have been rumors of Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards and Tony Gonzalez could be had at the right price.  Any one of these players would significantly help an offense that is now in dire needs of a play maker.

If they fail to do anything, Manning easily falls outside the Top 10 of fantasy quarterback heading into the season.  If they simply depend on the draft, I’d have my reservations returning him there.  If they get one of the proven veterans, he likely slides back into the bottom-half.

This certainly gives us an interesting story to watch over the next few weeks.  Manning’s value is going to be extremely dependent on what happens.

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