Hakeem Nicks

Week Sixteen Analysis: It's nearly a lost season for Hakeem Nicks owners as he ranks high on the list of the year's biggest fantasy busts. His 10-catch, 199-yard outing against the Bucs in Week 2 showed a lot of promise, but injury and poor play have held him to fewer than 77 yards in every game since then. The Giants are trying to claw their way back into the playoffs in Baltimore this weekend, so they'll need Nicks now more than ever. In the last six weeks, five different wide receivers have topped 65 yards and scored against the Ravens, which is something that Nicks has managed to do in two of his last four games.

Week Fourteen Analysis: It's been a brutal season for Hakeem Nicks owners as the oft-injured wideout has not produced more than 77 yards and only scored once since Week 2. But, his health is continually improving and his targets from Eli Manning are steadily increasing. Nicks has now been thrown to at least 10 times in each of the last three weeks, averaging 65 yards over that span. This week he faces a Saints squad that gave up multiple wide receiver touchdowns in five of their first seven games and has allowed wideouts to top 90 or more yards in nine games. But the Saints secondary is much improved over the past month, so this start remains murky for Nicks.

Week Thirteen Analysis: In the last few weeks we've seen Hakeem Nicks shake the rust off and reclaim his rightful spot at the top of the Giants' wide receiver depth chart. Nicks has been targeted a whopping 27 times in the last two games and is averaging 76 yards with one score in those two weeks. We're still waiting for the big blowout game from Nicks and it's reasonable to think that it could come this week against Washington. The Redskins have allowed the second-most yards to wide receivers and just allowed Dez Bryant to have a career game of 145 yards and two scores.

Week Twelve Analysis: Call it a gut feeling. Call it a hunch. Put it together and call it a "gunch," but I feel that it's time for Hakeem Nicks to step back into the limelight. Nicks told reporters over the bye week that he's as close as he's been in a long time to 100 percent healthy. His 14 targets from Eli Manning in Week 10 could be an indicator in support of that. This week Nicks faces off against one of his favorite opponents, the Green Bay Packers. Nicks has scored five touchdowns against Green Bay in his last three meetings with them. Not only that, but in the last four games the Packers have allowed an average of 215 yards per game to opposing wide receivers, which is the second-worst amount in the league over that span. If my "gunch" is right, Nicks will put up some great numbers on Sunday night.

Week Ten Analysis: By all accounts, Hakeem Nicks' foot and knee injuries are behind him. So why is he not producing? Since returning in Week 6, Nicks has not scored or had more than 53 yards. Last week against the Steelers, Nicks only managed one catch for 10 yards on a measly four targets. This is the same player who averaged 111 yards and a touchdown in last season's playoff run, and who had 199 yards and a score in Week 2. It won't be the easiest task for Nicks to bust out of his slump against the Bengals this weekend. Cincinnati hasn't allowed a single 100-yard receiver all year, and they've given up only six wide receiver touchdowns.

Week Seven Analysis: Hakeem Nicks returned to the Giants' lineup last week, but posted only three receptions for 44 yards against the 49ers, while playing in 80 percent of the Giants' offensive snaps. He looks to return to top fantasy wide receiver form this week against Washington. It's interesting to note that in four career games against the Redskins, Nicks has never scored and has topped 75 yards only once, but this is the worst Washington secondary Nicks has ever seen. They're allowing the most passing yards per game in the NFL with 328 and have allowed two of the top nine individual receiving yardage performances this season.

Week Five Analysis: Injuries to Hakeem Nicks' right foot and left knee have kept him on the sideline for each of the last two weeks. And his availability for Sunday is in doubt. His matchup is so enticing that we had to keep him in the top 25, in the hope that he plays. The Browns, usually a great pass defense and terrible at stopping the run, have only allowed one rushing score all season, and that was to Joe Flacco last week. This means that offenses are taking advantage of a porous secondary that has allowed seven wide receivers to top 60 yards and seven different wideouts to score. If Nicks can't go, Domenik Hixon is a great plug-in.

Week Four Analysis: The short week last week cost Hakeem Nicks a game, but the additional rest on his foot means he's expected to play this week, but this is a difficult matchup First the good news: In Nicks' last seven games he is averaging 109 yards per game and has six touchdowns. But, this week Nicks gets the Eagles, a team he struggled with last season. In the two matchups last year, Nicks accounted for only five catches and 94 total yards against Philly. And this year, the Eagles are allowing the fifth-fewest yards to wideouts. I think he'll draw a lot of Nnamdi Asomugha, which makes for a long day.

Week Two Analysis: There's a reason for some slight concern about how ineffective the Giants passing game looked last Wednesday night. After all, rookie Morris Claiborne essentially shut down Hakeem Nicks, limiting him to only four catches and 38 yards. What we're not concerned about is Nicks' track record. He's played through many injuries and been a genuine success when on the field. Last season he topped 65 yards, scored or both in 10 of 15 games and absolutely crushed in the playoffs with three 100-yard outings. Nicks looks to bounce back this week against the Bucs. Tampa was an amazingly kind defense to just about every position last season including wide receivers. The Buccaneers allowed the seventh-most touchdowns in the league to wide receivers last season.

Week One Analysis: Hakeem Nicks missed the preseason with a foot injury, and his draft position slid (unfairly) as a result. But remember, Nicks finished seventh in the league in targets per game last season and averaged 111 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.  Sure he's had a few injuries and nicks (no pun intended), but he's been practicing at 100 percent for a couple of weeks and is primed for a big opening night matchup against the Cowboys. Last year against the Cowboys he racked up 13 catches, 239 yards and a score. While the Dallas secondary looks to be improved on paper, but Eli Manning has owned this team for years, and I expect another aerial shootout on Wednesday night. 

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