Kadarius Toney Could Be Dark Horse Rookie of the Year Candidate for Giants
By Peter Dewey
Maybe the New York Giants didn’t need to sign Kenny Golladay to boost their receiving corps.
Golladay has made just 17 catches this season, even with Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard both dealing with injuries. Now, he’s taken a step back to first-round pick Kadarius Toney in the Giants’ offense.
Kadarius Toney: 93.3 receiving grade in Week 5
— PFF (@PFF) October 11, 2021
1st among all WRs ? pic.twitter.com/ZFTmI2M4Ct
Toney started to break out in Week 4 when he made six catches for 78 yards in the team’s win over the New Orleans Saints, but the rookie’s talent was on full display in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Even with Daniel Jones getting injured, Toney finished the game with 13 targets, making 10 catches and turning them into 189 receiving yards. He also had a seven-yard rush.
Kadarius Toney has rare instincts with the ball on his hands.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) October 10, 2021
So few players know this move is where the space is going to be.
Get this guy the ball. Lots pic.twitter.com/yxLyBEXW6S
Toney didn’t just pick up garbage time stats either. He worked against Trevon Diggs, who has six interceptions in five games for Dallas, and was able to create separation pretty easily.
Kadarius Toney put the moves on Trevon Diggs ?
— PFF (@PFF) October 10, 2021
pic.twitter.com/akh70NWrY3
He broke the Giants’ single-game rookie receiving yards record in the loss (previously held by Odell Beckham Jr. who had 185), and he may be New York’s best weapon in the passing game moving forward.
Despite that, Toney is way down the odds list at WynnBET to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award at +5000.
Odds to Win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Ja’Marr Chase: +350
- Mac Jones: +375
- Justin Fields: +700
- Trevor Lawrence: +800
- Trey Lance: +900
- Najee Harris: +1000
- Kyle Pitts: +1800
- Zach Wilson: +1800
- DeVonta Smith: +1800
- Rondale Moore: +1800
- Jaylen Waddle: +2500
- Javonte Williams: +3000
- Chuba Hubbard: +3000
- Kadarius Toney: +5000
Chase has been the best rookie receiver this year, finding the end zone at will, but it shows that there is a path for Toney to win the award if he keeps up this insane pace.
None of the rookie quarterbacks in this year’s class have put up impressive numbers to this point, so there’s a chance a receiver or running back could steal the award with a major season.
Toney has a nice platform to build off of from the past two weeks, and he’s worth a look as a dark horse to become the first rookie wideout to win the award since Beckham Jr. did the same with the Giants.
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