Bennie

Fowler III

Fowler caught 23 passes for 193 yards with the Giants in 2019 and had a cup of coffee with the Saints last year as it struggled with injuries to both Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Marqise Lee was waived to make room for Fowler, who could compete to make the roster on special teams during training camp.

With Michael Thomas (hamstring) and Emmanuel Sanders (COVID) both ruled out for Sunday, the Saints will have Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris as the only healthy receivers on the 53-man roster. New Orleans could promote Juwan Johnson and/or Austin Carr from the practice squad on Saturday.

You notice any time a team like the Saints sign a wideout, but this is pure roster filler at this stage of the summer. 29-year-old Fowler yo-yoed on and off the Giants’ 53-man roster last season, catching 23 passes for an anemic 193 yards (8.4 YPC).

Fowler has been yo-yoing on and off the Giants’ 53-man roster this season, catching 23 balls across eight appearances. Considering how many games the players in front of him have missed, Fowler could be back very soon.

LB Nate Stupar (who inadvertently blocked his own teammate’s punt on Thursday night) was cut in the corresponding move. With Sterling Shepard (concussion) and Evan Engram (knee) both shelved, New York’s Week 6 pass-catching corps consisted of Golden Tate, Darius Slayton, Rhett Ellison and not much else. This is Fowler’s second stint with the Giants this year after compiling 12 grabs for 99 scoreless yards in Weeks 1-4. As desperate as the Giants are for receiving help, it’s doubtful Fowler will emerge as a viable fantasy option in New York.

The team has also cut WR T.J. Jones. Fowler’s release is a surprise in that he was playing a ton of snaps, but he is not an effective NFL wideout. With Golden Tate coming off suspension, the G-Men are evidently satisfied with rookie Darius Slayton as their No. 3 receiver.

Fowler played through the hammy pull last week, getting in on 38-of-62 snaps and catching just one pass for five yards. He’s obviously not a fantasy option.

Coach Pat Shurmur said the Giants are “hopeful” Fowler will be able to play Sunday. He was tentatively expected to work in 2-WR sets alongside T.J. Jones. The good news is that No. 1 WR Sterling Shepard is expected to clear the concussion protocol Thursday. Each of the Giants WRs are thin plays in Daniel Jones’ first start, as even the eventual leader could still be the pass game’s No. 3 target behind Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley.

Pathetically, Fowler was the Giants’ leading/most targeted receiver. Fill-in “No. 1" Cody Latimer was lost to a concussion. Even were Sterling Shepard (concussion) and Latimer to remain sidelined for Week 3 against the Bucs, it would be hard to make the case for Fowler as anything other than a “make this lineup work” bottom-dollar DFS play.

Fowler caught 16 passes in 10 games last season. We would say there is no way he will be a 2019 contributor but anything will be possible in the Giants’ Odell Beckham-less receiver corps.