Kara Durrette/Getty Images The depth was certainly tested often. Young, talented, and unproven was the theme of 2024 for the Cincinnati Bengals cornerback position, a group that has much to prove going forward. Key Players Mike Hilton Cam Taylor-Britt Dax Hill DJ Turner Josh Newton Year In Review Over the summer, the Bengals moved Dax Hill to cornerback and had him compete with DJ Turner for a starting role on the outside. However, it didn’t appear to be much of a competition, and Hill was named the starter. Hill was a bright spot on a gloomy September defense but tore his ACL in early October. Turner stepped in and also looked impressive until he broke his clavicle in mid-November. With DJ out, the defense turned to fifth-round draft pick Josh Newton, who did an admirable job. Oddly, though, all of the problems were on the other side. Cam Taylor-Britt had a number of mental letdowns, particularly early in the season, that cost the team big. Taylor-Britt’s play leveled out by the end of the year, but the first half of the season was a rollercoaster. Mike Hilton was Mike Hilton. He played very well, particularly against the run, and was one of the leaders of the defensive unit. Potential Free Agents Mike Hilton Marco Wilson What to Do Next? This is a huge question. The Bengals have invested a lot of draft capital in this position. They will have to make a decision this offseason on 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill’s fifth-year option. 2022 second-rounder Cam Taylor-Britt is entering a contract year. And then there is 2023 second-rounder DJ Turner looming as well. Every member of this trio has shown promise, but none has shown consistency. Hill was a safety for his first two seasons in Cincinnati. Taylor-Britt was a wild card for the first half of the year. Turner was a promising rookie whose development was thrown off by Hill’s position change and his injury. There is a lot of potential here but also a lot of unknowns. You are tempted to bring back Mike Hilton for some stability, but Hill’s best fit could be in the slot, so maybe that is the way you get the most out of this triumvirate. Josh Newton also has some potential as a slot and looked solid this season, but they still should look to bring in a veteran. A veteran with inside/outside flexibility would be best if they let Hilton go. A lot will depend on new defensive coordinator Al Golden and he’s looking for in the position. He will likely lean heavily on cornerback coach Charles Burks when evaluating the potential of this group. What I would do It hurts, but I would probably let Mike Hilton walk and move Dax Hill inside. I would sign a free agent to play one outside corner position and let Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner compete for the other spot. Josh Newton would be Hill’s backup and the fifth outside cornerback.
Bengals Position Review: Cornerbacks
Silver Minings: Raiders land Sanders in Jeremiah’s 1st mock draft
Shedeur Sanders | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Sanders and Cam Wards could slide a bit according to what Jeremiah is hearing With the 2025 NFL Draft looming, the big question for the Las Vegas Raiders is if they’ll be able to draft one of this year’s top quarterbacks—Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders—with the sixth overall pick. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah released his first mock draft of the offseason and provided some optimism for the Raiders in this regard, pairing Las Vegas with Sanders at No. 6. “Tom Brady, now a partner in the Raiders’ ownership, is someone who would appreciate Sanders’ toughness, accuracy and decision making,” Jeremiah explained. Jeremiah also dropped a couple of interesting pieces of information that will impact the Silver and Black this April, including the fact that his mock drafts are based on what he’s hearing around the league and not his evaluations. “After getting a chance to dig into the class, there are some truly exceptional talents at the top of the group, but it looks like the best value in this year’s draft will be in the range of Picks 20-60,” the former scout wrote. “I see depth at running back, tight end and on the defensive line, but, unlike last year, it’s not a draft chock full of quarterbacks and receivers. We are very early in the process, though. With more tape study, all-star games, the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency still to come, a lot will change between now and the draft.” As such, Jeremiah had the Tennessee Titans taking Penn State edge rusher first overall and Colorado two-way star/Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter going second to the Cleveland Browns while the New York Giants nabbed Ward at No. 3. That’s interesting because Tennessee and Cleveland are also expected to be in the quarterback market. A couple of other notable players who were still on the board for the Raiders were Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (taken eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers) and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (15th to the Atlanta Falcons). However, Jeremiah had Las Vegas addressing the most important position on the field with Sanders. Sanders is at the East-West Shrine Bowl this week but won’t participate in the event’s practices and game, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport and Daniel Oyefusi. The quarterback met with the Titans, Browns and Giants on Friday, but The Athletic’s Tashan Reed reported the former Buffalo had not met with the Raiders. Reed also noted that the club does have “staffers on site”. In Other Raiders’ Links: Free agents to watch: A few players to keep an eye on during the Conference Championship games who fit the Raiders’ offseason needs and will be on the open market this spring. What coaches could Pete Carroll target?: diving into a few offensive and defensive coordinator options in this week’s mailbag column. Why Carroll is right for Raiders: “One of the first things he did with his new players is show them a film touching on the highlights of Seahawks history, from Steve Largent to Jim Zorn to the team that played Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl,” the Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer wrote. “(He’ll have plenty of footage of old Raiders highlights.) When the movie ended and the lights came up, he essentially told his players, ‘Hey, that’s great. We’re going to celebrate that history. But it’s over.’ He took down the old pictures at the facility and started fresh.” Proposed trade for DK Metcalf: “Metcalf has been very vocal about the lack of targets he got this past season with Geno Smith as the quarterback on the Seattle Seahawks,” TWSN’s Marissa Myers wrote. “Metcalf only has one year left on his current deal, and will be looking to go to a situation where he can receive the extended looks.”
Ty Johnson player props odds, tips and betting trends for the Championship Playoff Round | Bills vs. Chiefs
For Sunday’s game, which kicks off at 6:30 PM ET on CBS, bookmakers have installed player prop bets on Ty Johnson. In the AFC Championship Game, Johnson’s Buffalo Bills (13-4) will take on the Kansas City Chiefs (15-2). The game is at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Watch Ty Johnson and the Bills vs. Chiefs on Fubo! Ty Johnson props for AFC Championship game Matchup: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs Time: 6:30 PM ET Date: January 26, 2025 Rushing yards prop: Over 9.5 (-105) Receiving yards prop: Over 6.5 (-125) National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Sunday at 6:24 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Johnson rushing stats and trends Johnson records 12.5 rushing yards per game this season, 3.0 more than Sunday’s prop total. In nine of 17 games so far this season (52.9%), he has rushed for more than 9.5 yards. The average rushing yards prop Johnson has had set this season (10.9) is just a bit below his rushing yard average on the year (12.5). Johnson hit the over on his rushing prop two times in three opportunities this year. He has scored a rushing touchdown in one game. Bills vs. Chiefs stats and trends The Chiefs allow 101.8 yards per game on the ground, the NFL’s eighth-ranked rush defense. The 218.8 yards per game the Chiefs are conceding through the air makes them the NFL’s 18th-ranked pass defense. Offensively, the Bills rank ninth in the NFL with 227.9 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, they rank 24th in passing yards allowed per contest (226.1). The Bills rank ninth in run offense (131.2 rushing yards per game) and 12th in run defense (115.5 rushing yards allowed per game) this season. The Bills are putting up 6 yards per play (seventh in the league), while surrendering 5.8 per play on the defensive side of the ball (21st in the NFL) this season. Watch the NFL on Fubo! Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Bills Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
NFC Championship Game: How to watch Commanders at Eagles
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images Which NFC East team will reach the Super Bowl? The NFC Championship Game is a nightmare scenario for the New York Giants and their fans with two NFC East teams, the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, squaring off for a berth in Super Bowl LIX. The revived Commanders are led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, a player Giants head coach Brian Daboll loved prior to the 2024 NFL draft but that the team had no shot at getting. The Eagles, of course, feature former Giants star Saquon Barkley, who is coming off a historic 2,000-yard rushing season. Both teams appear to be set up to be title contenders for the next few years, complicating the Giants’ efforts to dig themselves out from the bottom of the NFC East. The Eagles are 6.5-point favorites, per FanDuel Sportsbook. Washington Commanders (14-5 – No. 6) at Philadelphia Eagles (16-3 – No. 2) When: Sunday, January 26, 2025 Where: Lincoln Financial FieldGame time: 3 p.m.TV: FOXAnnouncers: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews (field reporter), Tom Rinaldi (field reporter)Radio: Westwood One — Ian Eagle, Kurt Warner, Ross Tucker (field reporter) | Sirius — Commanders, Ch. 226; Eagles, Ch. 225Referee: Shawn HochuliStreaming: NFL appFanduel Sportsbook odds: Eagles – 6.5 | Moneyline: Commanders +235; Eagles -290 | Over/Under: 47.5 (-110) Injury report COMMANDERS OUT: G Samuel Cosmi (knee) QUESTIONABLE: QB Jeff Driskel (illness), DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (shoulder), DT Daron Payne (knee/finger) EAGLES OUT: DT Byron Young (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE: WR Britain Covey (neck), C Cam Jurgens (back)
2025 AFC and NFC Championships: Winners picks, predictions, and odds for Commanders vs. Eagles, Bills vs. Chiefs
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images The NFC and AFC titles, and a spot in Super Bowl LIX, are on the line today. Who will come away with the wins? We make our picks. The NFL’s Conference Championship weekend is here, bringing us the final two games on the schedule before Super Bowl LIX. This year’s conference title games feature a division rivalry in one contest and a fourth playoff meeting in five years in the other. This should be a fun day of football. The first game on today’s schedule features the Washington Commanders visiting the Philadelphia Eagles in the third meeting this year for the NFC East rivals. The Eagles won the first game in Philadelphia, while the Commanders won the second meeting in Washington. How will the third showdown, back in Philadelphia, play out? The night game features the Buffalo Bills, who hope to finally advance past the Kansas City Chiefs in yet another playoff meeting. The Bills lost to the Chiefs in the divisional round last year, in the divisional round after the 2021 season, and in the AFC Championship game after the 2020 season. The Chiefs are looking to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, with just two wins standing between them and another Lombardi Trophy. The Bills won the regular season meeting between the teams – the only real loss on Kansas City’s season having rested everyone in a meaningless Week 18 loss. This is set up to be a shootout between two teams with a lot of history riding on the results. As we do every week, our contributors have made their predictions for both games. Who do we think will win and advance to the Super Bowl? Our picks are below. How can I watch the Conference Championship games? NFC Championship (6) Washington Commanders at (2) Philadelphia Eagles 3 p.m. EasternFOX – Kevin Burkhardt, Tom BradyOnline: FoxSports.com; fuboTV AFC Championship (2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Kansas City Chiefs 6:30 p.m. EasternCBS – Jim Nantz, Tony RomoOnline: Paramount+; fuboTV What are the FanDuel Sportsbook odds? Commanders at Eagles Spread: Eagles -6.5Moneyline: Commanders +220 | Eagles -270Point total: 47.5 Bills at Chiefs Spread: Chiefs -1.5Moneyline: Bills +108 | Chiefs -126Point total: 48.5 All odds are brought to us by FanDuel sportsbook. How did our contributors do for the Divisional Round? Sumeet Jena led the way last weekend with a 3-1 performance. Marek Brave, James McKinney, and I were all 2-2 for the weekend. How are our contributors doing for the 2024-2025 season? James McKinney (196-86)Marek Brave (194-88)Sumeet Jena (191-91)Kevin Nogle (190-92) Conference Championship picks Our contributors primarily make their picks based on the moneyline/straight-up winner for the game. They can, however, make picks against the spread and on the point total as well. You can check out all our picks right here, thanks to the widget provided by Tallysight.
NFL playoff schedule: 2025 Conference Championship start time, odds, TV channel
Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images The NFL playoffs are down to the final four teams standing. Who will win the AFC and NFC championship games? We have what you need to know to watch today’s action right here. The 2025 NFL playoffs are down to the NFC and AFC Championship games. The final four teams will battle today as they decide which two teams will face off in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9. How can you watch today’s games? We have what you need. First up will be the NFC, where an NFC East rivalry adds more intrigue with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line. The sixth-seeded Washington Commanders visit the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in the afternoon game. The teams split the regular-season meetings this year, with both home teams winning. The Eagles beat the Commanders 26-18 in Week 11 in Philadelphia, with the Commanders evening the season series 36-33 in Washington in Week 16. The rubber match between the clubs come with much higher stakes than either of those two meetings. The second game brings us yet another playoff meeting between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. Over the past four seasons, the Bills and Chiefs have met three times in the postseason, twice in the Divisional Round and once in the AFC Championship game – with Kansas City winning all three games. The teams met in Week 11 of the regular season this year, with the Bills winning 30-21; other than Week 18 when the Chiefs rested most of their players, the loss to the Bills was the only blemish on Kansas City’s record this year. We have what you need to know to watch each of the games this weekend. All odds brought to us by FanDuel Sportsbook. NFL Conference Championship Schedule Sunday, January 26 NFC Championship (6) Washington Commanders at (2) Philadelphia Eagles3 p.m. EasternFOX – Kevin Burkhardt, Tom BradyOnline: FoxSports.com; fuboTVOdds: Eagles -6.5 AFC Championship (2) Buffalo Bills at (1) Kansas City Chiefs6:30 p.m. EasternCBS – Jim Nantz, Tony RomoOnline: Paramount+; fuboTVOdds: Chiefs -1.5 Super Bowl LIX Sunday, February 9 AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana6 p.m. EasternFOX – Kevin Burkhardt, Tom BradyNational Anthem: Jon BatisteHalftime: Kendrick Lamar
NFL Conference Championship expert picks: Moneyline, spread, over/under predictions
Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images The POD staff make their predictions for the slate of Conference Championship games in the NFL. Only four teams remain in the hunt for the Vince Lombardi Trophy ahead of the Conference Championship games, and the Pride of Detroit staff have made their picks for each of the contests. No more weekend-long extravaganzas: the NFL will figure out who is playing in Super Bowl LIX this upcoming Sunday. The first matchup is the NFC Championship Game, a third entry this season into the NFC East rivalry between the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. In the primetime slot, the AFC showcases two of the game’s best quarterbacks when Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills travel to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount+. As we have done in past seasons, our staff will be making weekly predictions for every game on the NFL schedule. Each of the Pride of Detroit staff will pick the moneyline (winner of the game, no spread), but some of the members will also pick against the spread and even the over/under lines—there’s an easy toggle button in the widget below to cycle through the settings. You can also check out all of the odds for this week’s games courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Here is who our staff is picking on the moneyline, spread, and over/under for both of the Conference Championship games:
Eagles vs. Commanders NFC Championship Game preview and predictions
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images How are you feeling about this matchup? Positive vibes only. Here are some reasons to feel good about the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Washington Commanders today: The Eagles have Saquon Barkley. He’s unstoppable. And the Commanders’ run defense isn’t good. Jalen Hurts is built for these pressure moments. All the Eagles do under Nick Sirianni is win. Jalen Carter is a game-wrecker going up against a backup guard. A.J. Brown terrorized Marshon Lattimore in Week 16. It took some real fluky stuff for the Commanders to just barely beat the Eagles in the last meeting: Hurts getting knocked out early, Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay having some of their worst games, a touchdown surrendered due to a substitution miscommunication, Jayden Daniels converting a 4th-and-11 scramble through multiple defenders, C.J. Gardner-Johnson getting ejected for trash talking, and a game-winning third down conversion dropped by a wide open DeVonta Smith. The Linc is going to be electric. The Eagles weren’t even supposed to have home field advantage. They were supposed to be playing in Detroit. What a gift. It just doesn’t feel like the Eagles’ story ends here. They’ve been too good of a team all season to lose in this spot. The Commanders will put up a good fight. But the Eagles will win. For more, check out BGN’s weekly NFL game predictions and NFL picks against the spread. Suggested format: Score prediction: Bold prediction: My predictions: Score prediction: 34 to 28, Eagles win in overtime. Bold prediction: Saquon Barkley scores four touchdowns. Your predictions: Scroll down and leave your own score predictions in the comments!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73868932/2184868498.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "The Linc – Saquon Barkley primed to feast on the Commanders’ defense")
The Linc – Saquon Barkley primed to feast on the Commanders’ defense
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Numbers to know ahead of Commanders-Eagles NFC Championship Game – ESPN 137.5 — Throughout his career, Saquon Barkley has feasted against the Commanders’ defense. The Eagles running back averages 137.5 scrimmage yards when playing against Washington. The only player to average more scrimmage yards against a single opponent in NFL history — including the playoffs in 10 or more games — is former Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown (147.9). NFL Conference Championship Games Betting Notebook – PFF Barkley is averaging the most yards before contact per run of any running back in the NFL (2.5), and the Commanders are the only defense in the NFL allowing more than 2 yards before contact per designed rush (2.1). Barkley’s line continues to sit at a ridiculous number, but it’s warranted. This is a great matchup, and Philadelphia will likely continue to lean on a run game that’s been significantly more productive than its passing game. I won’t be betting Barkley’s over or under straight up, but I am interested in pairing the over with the Commanders’ moneyline for inverse correlation in single-game parlays. We saw last week that a home-run hitter like Barkley (Jahmyr Gibbs) can rip off explosives in a losing effort. Plus, the Eagles are unlikely to get into a situation where they’ll turn away from the run. Eagles-Commanders playoff preview: 11 things to watch in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game – BGN 3 – Can the Commanders stop Saquon Barkley? No. Saquon is unstoppable. The Commanders will try their hardest. But their run defense isn’t good: Only six teams allowed more yards per rush attempt this season. Only three teams allowed more rushing yards to running backs this season. The Commanders rank 27th in run defense EPA, 24th in run defense success rate, and 26th in run defense DVOA. And it could be even worse with starting defensive tackle Daron Payne ruled out of Sunday’s game. Saquon Barkley eyes two long-standing NFL playoff records against the Commanders – Inquirer Barkley needs 148 rushing yards to break the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season, set by Hall of Fame Terrell in 1998. That season Davis ran for a total of 2,476 yards counting the regular season, two playoff games and Super Bowl XXXIII (the Denver Broncos had a first-round bye). In two games against the Commanders poorly ranked run defense this season, Barkley rushed for a combined 296 yards, which averages out to 148 yards per game. 3 expert player prop bets to make for Commanders vs. Eagles in the NFC Championship game – NJ.com Saquon Barkley 2+ TDs. Odds: +255 at DraftKings Sportsbook The odds for Barkley as an anytime TD scorer are -225, so being aggressive and betting on more than one TD will provide a better return. The superstar running back can certainly deliver on this wager against the Washington defense. The Commanders allowed three rushing TDs to Detroit last week after allowing 16 during the regular season, which was tied for second-most in the NFL. Barkley rushed for two TDs in both matchups against Washington this season. He also rushed for two TDs last week against the Rams. As we have seen often this season, Barkley is capable of scoring from anywhere on the field, and with Jalen Hurts working through a knee injury, the Eagles may be slightly less inclined to use him as a rushing TD alternative. NFC Championship game – Commanders at Eagles precap – Hogs Haven The Eagles are likely to lean into their dominant offensive line and the legs of Saquon Barkley when they take the field against Washington’s porous run defense. The Commanders, in two games against the Eagles in the regular season, did a good job at limiting Barkley for about 5 or 6 of the 8 total quarters played, but Saquon scored on runs of 23 yards and 39 yards in the final 5 minutes of the game in Philly, and he rushed for 122 yards and 2 TDs in the first half of the loss to the Commanders in Washington last month. It will be important for the Commanders defense to limit the damage inflicted by Saquon for a full 60 minutes. Injuries will increase the difficulty level for Washington today. Specifically, with DT Daron Payne out with knee and finger injuries, the team’s run defense is weakened. On first-and-10 runs this year with Payne on the field, the Commanders had a 64.4% success rate on defense, which was about average. Over 97 first-and-10 carries without Payne, that dropped to 51.6%, which was last in the league. On the other side of the ball, Washington lost RG Sam Cosmi to an ACL injury suffered against the Lions last week. This will create an incredible handicap in controlling Philly’s defensive game-wrecker, DT Jalen Carter, who may be the biggest defensive challenge that Philly will throw at Jayden Daniels & Co. X-Factors on offense for the AFC and NFC Championships – SB Nation The Eagles keep winning primarily because Saquon Barkley is Thanos, and because Vic Fangio’s defense is one of the NFL’s best. That’s great and all, but anybody who doesn’t see the issues with Philly’s passing game is looking at the thing through green-colored glasses. This season, Jalen Hurts has completed 276 of 402 passes for 3,162 yards, 20 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 103.5, which is a career high. Add in Hurts’ 163 carries for 736 yards and 15 touchdowns, and it would seem that all is well. But the tape tells a different story. Hurts has had issues reading route progressions downfield this season, which has always been an issue, but things seem to have decelerated in that regard. Hurts is being used as more of a “game manager” in a pejorative sense. He’s thrown for less than 200 yards in eight full games this season, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is asked week
2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images Could Cam Skattebo be a part of a new “Earth, Wind, and Fire” for the Giants? Do the New York Giants need to add at running back? The answer to that likely centers around Brian Daboll’s vision for the offense as a whole. If the Giants want to use their passing game to dictate the game to the defense, they could be interested in a power back to play opposite Tyrone Tracy when the defense is spread out. In that case, Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo should definitely be on their radar. Skattebo isn’t a dynamic threat out of the backfield, but he’s one of the toughest running backs in the nation to stop when you need that dirty yardage. Prospect: Cam Skattebo (4)Games Watched: vs. Kansas (2024), vs. BYU (2024), vs. Iowa State (2024), vs. Texas (2024)Red Flags: Shoulder (2024) Measurables Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 215 pounds Strengths Best traits Competitive toughness Play strength Contact balance Vision Receiving Skattebo is a physical downhill running back. He’s a straight-ahead one-cut runner who has little finesse in his game. Skattebo has good size at 5-foot-11, 215 pounds with a very powerful lower body which allows him to power through tackles. His game is built around vision, contact balance, play strength, and competitive toughness. Skattebo is a patient runner behind the line of scrimmage and does a great job of following his blockers while giving them time to establish their blocks. He understands how to get in their back pocket before exploding through the hole and to the second level. Skattebo does a good job of tracking and anticipating defenders around the line of scrimmage and making subtle changes to his runs to force poor tackle attempts. Likewise, he’s good about dropping his hips and running behind his pads through traffic. He’s a determined, bloody-minded runner who seems to relish the physical side of the game. He has fantastic contact balance and is able to either bounce off of hits or run through all but good form tackles. Skattebo’s lower body is powerful enough that he’s able to pick up yardage even when defenders are able to wrap up. He also uses his vision to find defenders so he can finish his runs by delivering hits, as opposed to being hit. There were multiple occasions in the tape viewed where he had the opportunity to step out of bounds, but instead turned back inside to hit a defender. Skattebo also has true three-down upside and is useful as a blocker and as a receiver. He’s a very willing blocker who gets after defenders in pass protection and also has the play strength to sustain his blocks. Skattebo is also a capable receiver out of the backfield and also has experience playing out of a wide receiver alignment. He runs his routes well and is a natural “hands” catcher who does a good job of framing the ball and securing it before he turns upfield. Weaknesses Worst traits Athleticism Cutback ability While Skattebo is a punishing runner who’s hard to get on the ground, he’s a limited athlete. He lacks the agility to routinely cut back, and his runs are often over as soon as his feet stop. He also doesn’t have much in the way of explosiveness and needs a runway before he can hit top speed – a top speed that’s also relatively limited. Skattebo’s athletic limitations could limit his overall appeal. Game Tape (Skattebo is the Arizona State running back wearing No. 4) Projection Skattebo most likely projects as a rotational back at the NFL level, though he has starting upside in the right situation. He won’t be a fit for every team and will need to be paired with a blocking scheme that allows him to get north-south as soon as possible. Skattebo doesn’t have the agility and explosiveness to out-athlete defenders or make something out of nothing. However, he should be a reliable runner who can pick up tough yardage and break off long runs if (when) initial tackle attempts fail to bring him down. Skattebo’s upside in the passing game should give him a broader appeal at the pro level, and he could be a weapon for Spread Coast offenses that look to force defenses into smaller sub-packages and use their alignment to spread them out. All in all, Skattebo plays with a fullback’s attitude and there are shades of Marshawn Lynch in his game. Does he fit the Giants?Potentially, depending on their vision for the backfield Final Word: A second-round value
