New York Giants Week 17 Stock Report

In just a few short days, the curtain will mercifully close on the 2015 New York Giants campaign. The team is missing the playoffs for a fourth straight season while posting a losing record for a third year in a row.

Shortly after the final piece of equipment is put away, team co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin will stand before the media and try to explain what happened in a season that, once again, went horribly wrong.

Will those speeches reveal any changes?

Certainly it’s hard for ownership to justify keeping the status quo, regardless of what gratitude or sentimental feelings the two co-owners might have toward Coughlin and/or Reese, who did win two Super Bowls together.

On the other hand, when something is broken, it has to be addressed. There's no disputing that for four years, the Giants have been a broken team that is in dire need of fixing.

We’ll find out what, if any, changes are coming soon enough. Until then, let’s take one last look at the weekly in-season stock report.  

Stock Up: RB Rashad Jennings

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Ever since ditching the four-man running back committee, the Giants' running game has come alive.

In the last three games, New York has recorded 244 rushing yards, 17.4 percent of its season total thus far.

A big reason for that success has been Rashad Jennings, who, barring anything crazy happening between now and Sunday, will have completed his first 16-game season of his career.

According to the Giants weekly game release, after maxing out at three carries four times this season (Weeks 1, 6, 10 and 11), Jennings has received no less than 14 carries in each of the last three games, posting averages of 3.7, 6.7 and 5.3 yards per carry.

That kind of production makes the decision to use the larger committee for as long as the coaches did even more maddening and makes one wonder what might have been for this offense had they only realized the error of their thinking a lot sooner.  

Stock Down: WR Rueben Randle

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

For every good play that Rueben Randle has made, such as the 72-yard touchdown reception against Minnesota last week, he has countered with something that ultimately hurts the team.

Per Pro Football Focus, Randle has now taken sole possession of first place for the number of times (four) he’s been the intended target on a pass resulting in an interception.

If that’s not frustrating enough, in the last three seasons, Randle has been the intended target on 17 of the Giants' interceptions, a figure that is simply inexplicable.

Randle will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. While he has the measurables and the talent to be something special, the fact that he still cannot seem to get completely on the same page with his quarterback is disturbing and is one that will likely spell the end of his time with this team.   

Stock Up: OL Bobby Hart

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

While there is little doubt that the Giants will need to yet again tinker with their offensive line, it looks as though they might just have to worry about one position: right tackle.

That’s because rookie Bobby Hart, chosen in the seventh round of this year’s draft, has played well when given opportunities.

According to Pro Football Focus, in 155 offensive snaps, Hart has allowed just one sack and a total of 11 pressures, which is not bad at all.

With starting right tackle Marshall Newhouse a question mark to play Sunday—he suffered a concussion last week—Hart can continue to prove that he belongs out there, as he has shown throughout the season that he can play either guard or tackle.

Moving forward, if the Giants decide that Geoff Schwartz and his $4.908 million cap figure is too much to carry, look for Hart to be in the mix at right guard, with right tackle likely a free-agent target.

If the Giants retain Schwartz another year, then figure Hart will probably have the inside edge on the right tackle spot once the competition for jobs commences in the spring.

Either way it would be hard to not see this young man in the starting lineup next year, given how well he’s looked in his limited opportunities so far.

Stock Down: QB Eli Manning

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

For the most part, quarterback Eli Manning is Mr. Reliable.

Last week’s game created one of those rare times where his performance just wasn't up to par, however, and it goes beyond the interceptions he tossed.

There was the delay-of-game penalty he drew when he appeared to lose track of the clock while playing the chess match, (this turning a third-and-manageable into a third-and-long).

There was also the miscommunication with center Weston Richburg, who sent the ball back to Manning before he was ready for it. 

Manning is still better than the majority of quarterbacks in the league right now. And yes, other than Odell Beckham Jr., he really doesn’t have a consistent receiving threat he can turn to.

However, there are times when Manning has contributed to his team’s poor play this season with these rookie-like mistakes, which a 12-year veteran shouldn’t really be making at this point in his career.

Stock Up: Head Coach Tom Coughlin

Andy Clayton-King/Associated Press

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
But more, much more than this
I did it my way.

(Frank Sinatra, I Did It My Way)

This Sunday, there is a very good chance that head coach Tom Coughlin will be coaching his final game as a member of the Giants. 

Whether you liked Coughlin or hated him, whether you agreed with everything he did or disagreed, he did things his way—the right way.

Was he perfect? No. But then who is?

With Coughlin, you knew what you were getting each week, each year, and although the results didn't show it these last four seasons, it would be hard to dispute the impact Coughlin has made on this franchise. 

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.