Ramses

Barden

The Giants will have three weeks to decide whether to activate Barden from the PUP list after nearly a year on the sidelines. Victor Cruz is entrenched as the No. 3 receiver, and OC Kevin Gilbride concedes that Barden will face a “tremendous” amount of rust in his return.

Widely viewed as a late first-round in the mock-draft circuit, Randle was the last player left in the Green Room. Although Randle showed consistent separation in the SEC, his relative slow forty times at the Combine may have sabotaged his draft stock. On the positive side, NFL Films guru Greg Cosell compares Randle to Hakeem Nicks in terms of “athletic movement and deceptive vertical deep speed.” A superior talent to Ramses Barden and Jerrel Jernigan, Randle should have the upper hand on the No. 3 role, with Victor Cruz moving inside to the slot in three-wide sets.

Coughlin calls Hosley “feisty,” and a “physical tackler.” He also says the Giants have addressed Hosley’s failed drug test at the Combine. “We’ve addressed that with him and we’re prepared to address that professionally as well.” Hosley may seem limited snaps in nickel/dime roles as a rookie, but should contribute in the return game.

The injury-prone former third-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract after posting nine receptions for 94 yards last season. If Barden stays ahead of 2011 third-rounder Jerrel Jernigan, Victor Cruz could play the slot in three-wide sets.

"(We) drafted (Jerrel) Jernigan in the third round. So we expect him to make the jump,” Reese said. “Ramses Barden, who we drafted a couple years ago, had some injury issues, we expect him to contribute as well.” Jernigan was active just eight times as a rookie, and went without a catch as he played mostly on special teams. Barden has only 15 catches in 17 career games after being a third-round pick in 2009.

“I have gotten comfortable with it throughout the year and that is my position,” said Cruz. If Cruz is correct, that leaves Ramses Barden with an advantage over Jerrel Jernigan for the No. 3 role. It’s important for Cruz’s fantasy value as well because Eli Manning has heavily targeted his slot receiver going back to Steve Smith.

Barden fell out of the receiver rotation when Mario Manningham got healthy. The Giants activated special teamer Devin Thomas over him. Scott, Herzlich, Cordle, Trattou, and Brewer are rookies. Kennedy is an impending free agent.

Neither side has any surprise inactives. Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), and nickel linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot) are all up for the Giants. Barden appeared in eight regular season games in 2011, securing nine passes for 94 yards. He is the Giants’ No. 4 receiver in theory, but a lack of special teams value dropped Barden behind Devin Thomas.

Barden took “a good portion” of the first-team practice reps Wednesday with Mario Manningham (illness) and Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) out. Mario and Nicks are both expected to play this week, and Victor Cruz is way out in front of Barden for third receiver duties. Don’t expect any 2011 fantasy impact.

He’ll see action in the slot with Hakeem Nicks out, but expecting Barden to play more than 20 snaps is overly optimistic. Barden would need a serious injury ahead of him to matter in fantasy leagues, and right now Nicks’ injury doesn’t really qualify. At 6'6", the Cal Poly grad is an interesting red-zone target, nonetheless.