New York Giants' Week 13 Stock Report

Perhaps someday we’ll look back on the New York Giants’ 20-14 loss to Washington in a critical NFC East game played late in the season, and the performance—or should I say lack of performance—will somehow make sense.

Personally, I’m not counting on that happening, but as they say, you can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube once it’s out.

So as the Giants get ready to square off against the New York Jets in Week 13, a week in which the winner of Sunday’s game will not only determine the reigning champion of the New York metropolitan area but which will also be a boost to each team’s dimming playoff aspirations, let’s begin the spin forward with the weekly Giants stock report.

Stock (Way) Up: WR Odell Beckham, Jr.

Mark Tenally/Associated Press

Odell Beckham Jr. is coming to Revis Island this weekend (assuming Revis Island is open for business).

Besides bringing his take-no-prisoners style of play, Beckham, you might remember, was outspoken following last week’s lackluster effort against Washington, an effort that led to a disappointing loss.

Not only is it going to be fun to watch Beckham put his natural skills on display Sunday against the Jets’ top cornerback, who enters this weekend’s game with a 58.7 NFL rating in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, it should also be exciting to see if some of that excess energy and passion rubs off on a Giants team that was sure lacking in that department last week. 

Stock Down: The Safeties

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

To describe last week’s showing in coverage by the Giants safeties as rough would be putting it kindly.

According to Pro Football Focus, Brandon Meriweather and Landon Collins are both tied for the second-most touchdowns allowed in coverage with four. 

Meriweather in particular had a bad game against his former teammates, allowing all three targets against him to be completed for 78 yards and one touchdown. Collins wasn’t in coverage as much last week, the coaches perhaps realizing that he’s better closer to the box.

In his place, though, veteran Craig Dahl also had a tough time in coverage, allowing two of three pass targets to be completed, including the big late-game third-down pass to tight end Jordan Reed that kept Washington's clock-killing drive alive.

Things aren’t going to be any easier this week. Jets receiver Eric Decker boasts Pro Football Focus’ top receiver rating of 123.5 while teammate Brandon Marshall is tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions (nine) with Odell Beckham Jr. and Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins.

The good news for the Giants safeties—for the entire defensive backfield for that matter—is that Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has a 31.1 percent completion rate on deep passes this season, last among quarterbacks who have taken at least 60 percent of their team’s offensive snaps.

With the Giants defense not coming up with turnovers last week, this week might be a good opportunity to start a new streak, something that has a better chance of happening if the safeties aren’t late with the deep help.

Stock Up: OL Bobby Hart

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

As of late Tuesday night, there was no word from the Giants regarding the status of left guard Justin Pugh (concussion) or center Weston Richburg (high ankle sprain).

Head coach Tom Coughlin, in his Monday conference call with reporters, didn’t exactly sound optimistic of having either back this week, so if his intuition turns into reality, the Giants are likely looking at the same offensive line that finished last week’s game.

Take heart, though (see what I did there?), as not all was bad. Rookie Bobby Hart, who stepped in at right guard after John Jerry had to move from the right to the left side, more than held his own for the most part in his first extensive NFL action.

“He did OK,” Coughlin said. “He had his moments—he had a couple of things that weren’t done the way we wanted to. But he brought energy, and he kept his poise, and he battled, and those were pluses.”

Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed one quarterback hit and was the second-highest overall graded offensive lineman for the Giants, after Geoff Schwartz, whose absence paved the way for Hart to be inserted into the game. 

Again, not bad for a rookie who came into this league as a project.

Stock Down: OT Marshall Newhouse

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse picked a fine time to turn in his worst performance of the season last week, a game in which he allowed all three quarterback sacks, per Pro Football Focus, and was responsible for a team-high nine quarterback pressures.

Head coach Tom Coughlin, remember, is a fan of taking some shots deep down the field. However, the Giants haven’t been able to do that much this year, largely due to the inconsistent play of the offensive line.

Quarterback Eli Manning has attempted just 48 passes beyond 20 yards this season, completing 15 of those for 558 yards.

Unless his offensive line as a whole (and especially Newhouse) gets it together for this week’s showdown against the Jets’ stout defensive front, Coughlin best count his blessings if Manning is able to throw the short passes, let alone the deep balls.

Stock Up: LB Jonathan Casillas

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

In many ways, linebacker Jonathan Casillas is a perfect fit for this Giants defense.

No, he doesn’t have gaudy stats, and he is not going to get his name called multiple times a game, but all of that doesn’t mean he’s not doing his job and doing it well enough to make a tiny bit of difference on a defense that is begging for playmakers.

Last week, Casillas delivered just that. Per Pro Football Focus, he recorded one quarterback hit, knocked down one pass at the line of scrimmage, came up with two stops for zero or negative yardage and added four tackles (three solo) in 38 snaps played.

That’s not a bad day’s worth of work and is something the Giants need more of not just from Casillas, but from the other 10 guys lining up on the defensive side of the ball.

Unless otherwise noted, advanced statistics from Pro Football Focus. 

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.