Copr. AP Rick Scuteri 2025
The New York Giants have set themselves up for success in nearly every facet of football this offseason; garnering a well structured teacher-student trio at the QB position, one of the most dominant defensive lines on paper in the NFL today, and much needed stability in the secondary. One of the more underlooked points of intrigue has been the untapped potential of the Giants’ new running back duo of Tryone Tracy Jr. and fourth round rookie Cameron Skattebo.
Copr. Big Blue View 2024
Tracy Jr. burst onto the scene for New York in week 5 of last season against the Seattle Seahawks, burning his cross country opponents for 129 rushing yards on just 18 carries. Tracy would continue to show off his RB1 potential with impressive performances against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers later in the year. Tracy has shown gritty determination when running the football while garnering comparisons to Jets RB Breece Hall for his home run ability. However, Tracy failed to eclipse four yards per carry in seven of his 12 games following the Seattle performance, leaving his ability to be consistent in the backfield in question despite being the top back on the roster following subpar outings from expected RB1 Devin Singletary.
Copr. CFP 2025
Skattebo, in his own right, burst on the scene late in the 2024 college football season for his explosive power running. His college career defining performance in the college football playoffs against Texas, in which he ran for 143 yards, caught 8 passes for 99 yards, and a passing touchdown to boot, cemented that he belongs in the NFL. His previously mentioned power running as well as his underrated pass-catching ability make him a valuable addition to the Giants’ backfield.
Copr. Giants Wire-USA Today 2024
Many in the Giants community have pondered what the dynamic between these two young backs will look like come September as well as later in the season. The way we at Giants Fare see it, there are only three ways this duo could pan out.
Copr. AP 2025
While Tracy showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign, his admitted inconsistency at the position could create issues for his longevity as the RB1 in New York. He’ll have to demonstrate significant improvement if he’s to keep that distinction to himself. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we find Skattebo. While Cam is a punishing runner, his lack of speed and elusiveness may be the reason he fell to the fourth round despite his impressive numbers in his last season at Arizona State. He may have the potential to overtake Tracy for the top spot on Big Blue, but time will tell if his play style can translate to that at the pro level.
In the best case scenario, many hope that these two can split their carries evenly this season. Many have already begun to make comparisons to the one-two punch of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw that helped lead the Giants to two Super Bowl victories in five seasons. Whether one or the other gets the starting nod, or if we see more of a “thunder and lightning” tandem in the Big Apple, it’s undeniable that something special is brewing in that backfield.
-Jack Barber
Works Cited
https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4360516/tyrone-tracy-jr https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/cameron-skattebo-1/gamelog/2024/
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