The 2026 New York Giants will have the same backfield they had in 2025, aside from the addition of fullback Patrick Ricard. Will the Giants be better, worse, or the same at running back during the upcoming season?
Key additions: Patrick Ricard
Key losses: None
The roster: Damon Bankston, Eric Gray, Dante, Miller, Devin Singletary, Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy
*** Rookies in bold
Why they could be better
There are a few reasons they could be better, even with basically the same personnel.
First is the possibility that they could
get a full season out of Cam Skattebo. Despite Skattebo’s recent admission that his rehab from a dislocated ankle and associated injuries is going more slowly than anticipated, Skattebo expects to be ready for Week 1. Skattebo was the team’s leading rusher when he was injured last season, and getting more than eight healthy games from him would be huge. Especially since his run over anything in the way style fits with the power run game John Harbaugh wants.
Second is the presence of Ricard, a six-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro fullback, who followed Harbaugh to the Giants after nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Ricard has made a career out of blasting holes open for running backs, and that is something the Giants haven’t had in their backfield in many years.
Third, the drafting of Sisi Mauigoa. If he plays to his pre-draft scouting report, Mauigoa will be the type of physical, run-blocking force the Giants have not had on the interior of their offensive line.
Fourth, the presence of Greg Roman. A four-time NFL offensive coordinator, Roman is renowned for his ability to design rushing schemes. As a senior offensive assistant likely focused mostly on that, Roman should help the Giants design plays that maximize the abilities of Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary.
Why they could be worse
Tracy is a really good player, but if Skattebo is not the same player he looked like before last season’s serious injury that is a problem for the Giants. Skattebo and Tracy make a nice one-two punch. Tracy and Singletary not so much.
The verdict
The answer depends on Skattebo. If he is healthy, and the player he is expected to be, the backfield and the overall rushing attack should be better. And it should allow the Giants to ask less of quarterback Jaxson Dart in the run game, which would be idea.
If Tracy is the lea back, the running attack will still be fine. It just may not feature as much power as Harbaugh would like.
