ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler has named the New York Giants as a playoff sleeper team.
The New York Giants are kicking off the John Harbaugh era with a Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants have a strong young core in place, and with Harbaugh taking over as the head coach, they could surprise some teams this season.
Harbaugh comes over with a great track record during his time with the Baltimore Ravens, which included a Super Bowl title.
ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler agrees with that, as he named New York as he named New York a playoff sleeper team.
"An NFL truism remains that you win with line play, and the Giants have that," Fowler said. "They finally found an offensive line combination that works, resulting in a top-five rushing offense last season. Dart is widely viewed as a QB with an upward trajectory. Add the John Harbaugh confidence boost and Nabers' imminent return, and New York might have something."
Dart is coming off a solid rookie year, as he completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 487 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe 23-year-old is an ascending player, and star wide receiver Malik Nabers is returning to the team after tearing his ACL early in the 2025 season. In 2024, Nabers had an impressive rookie season, finishing with 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.
Nabers proved to be one of the best receivers in the league in his rookie year, and if he's healthy, he could reestablish himself in that conversation.
He will be the top weapon for the Giants' offense and could form a strong connection with Dart.
In the run game, New York will lean on running back Cam Skattebo, who was productive in his rookie year before going down with an injury. In eight games, Skattebo rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns, along with 24 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns.
With the talent on their roster, the Giants are poised to be more competitive in the 2026 season and could make a push for the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
