Giants vs. Rams Week 6 preview: Everything you need to know for gameday
Devontae Booker #28 of the New York Giants runs the ball against the Denver Broncos in the first half at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 12, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Jim McIsaac
RAMS (4-1) at GIANTS (1-4)
MetLife Stadium, 1 p.m.
VITALS
Line: Rams by 9.5; O/U 48.5
TV: Fox (Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth)
Radio: WFAN-660 AM (Bob Papa, Carl Banks, Howard Cross); Sirius 81; XM 226
INJURY UPDATE
Giants: OUT: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), WR Kenny Golladay (knee), LB Justin Hillard (Achilles/IR); QUESTIONABLE: OL Ben Bredeson (hand), WR Darius Slayton (hamstring), OL Andrew Thomas (foot), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle).
Rams: None.
INTANGIBLES
Devontae Booker was signed by the Giants for games like this one. He was the insurance policy in case Saquon Barkley was unable to make a full or timely return from his ACL surgery. Through the first four games he was barely needed in that capacity, so much so that he was a healthy scratch in Week 3 But when Barkley sprained his ankle last week against Dallas Booker stepped in to score two touchdowns. With Barkley out for this game against the Rams, he’ll get his first start with the Giants and just his second start since his rookie season when he made six for Denver. "Even if (Saquon) wasn’t in this situation right now," Booker said, "I would go out there and be prepared for my opportunities and do whatever I can to help this team win."
QUOTABLE
"Your little league defense will fall apart if you don’t set an edge." – S Logan Ryan discussing one of the myriad reasons why the Giants’ run defense has struggled, particularly with outside runs that break containment
FANTASY PLAY
Kadarius Toney, Giants WR: The rookie is fresh off a breakout game against the Cowboys, with 10 catches (on 13 targets) for 196 yards. Look for him to see the lion’s share of targets with the Giants’ receiving corps still depleted by injury. The Rams’ defense has allowed 78 completions to wide receivers this season, third-most in the NFL, but have held them to just 900 yards and four touchdowns. -- NICK KLOPSIS
NUMBER, PLEASE
0: Sacks allowed by the Giants in their last two games. They are the only team in the NFL to not allow a sack in consecutive games this season.
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Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
