TE Brandon Myers, New York Giants

HT: 6-4, WT: 250, Born: 9-4-1985, College: Iowa, Drafted: Round 6

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of June 11th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: V Brown (134), R Hillman (135), Brandon Myers (136), S Greene (138)
Position: J Cook (115-TE13), M Bennett (131-TE14), Brandon Myers (136 - TE15), J Gresham (142-TE16), B Pettigrew (147-TE17)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of June 11th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: J Flacco (126), R Hillman (127), Brandon Myers (128), C Givens (129), S Rice (130)
Position: J Finley (108-TE13), M Bennett (123-TE14), Brandon Myers (128 - TE15), B Pettigrew (140-TE16), J Gresham (143-TE17)
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Outlook

The Giants tight end situation has been a revolving door, but offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and quarterback Eli Manning have found a way to leverage whoever suits up at the position. This year it’s Brandon Myer’s turn in the spotlight, as the Giants signed Myers to a one-year, $2.25 million contract. Myers spent four seasons in Oakland, but was a non-factor until the 2012 season when he became Carson Palmer’s most reliable receiver. Myers caught 79 receptions for 806 yards and four touchdowns, and also blocked well. Myers won’t be counted on for as many targets as the talent-starved Raiders needed him for, but he will undoubtedly be a key in 3rd down situations and in the red zone.

2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Myers was almost nonexistent during the first half and appeared on his way to a goose egg when all of a sudden, he became Carson Palmer’s go-to guy. Following a dropped deep ball and a sack that seemed to take the wind out of the Oakland sails, Myers all but saved the game with a huge catch over the middle on third and long. He added some late “garbage time” receptions as well, doing a good job of finding the soft spot in the middle of the zone on multiple occasions. He nearly scored late in the fourth quarter, taking a reception down to the three yard line before getting tackled. His role may change once some of the receivers get healthy, but for now he looks like a viable option in the passing game.

Week 2 - Myers is the TE to note, as his 5 catch 70 yard performance in week one, was followed up with a 6 catch, 86 yard performance in week 2. Myers excels at getting open, and while he doesn’t have the elite skills after the catch that many of his brethren around the league do, he gets open and gets a lot of looks from Palmer. He converted 100% of his targets and Palmer made excellent use of his skills on play-action, as he rolled off blocks, caught the ball and got upfield.

Week 3 - Despite not being a big name tight end, Myers continues to produce each week. Catching all four of his targets, he was Oakland’s top receiver in terms of yardage for the day. With three catches of 15 yards or more, Myers showed that he’s able to get downfield and make plays. As Oakland’s offense matures throughout the year, Myers should continue to give them a presence on the intermediate level of the defense in the middle of the field.

Week 4 - Myers was only targeted twice, but did have a nice catch for a 22-yard on a well-designed screen. His 2nd target was nearly intercepted when Mike Adams stepped in front of the pass. Myers also executed the block that allowed Reece to get loose on his 31-yard catch. However, the Bronco pressure had Myers staying in to help with pass protection the majority of the time

Week 6 - Brandon Myers operated as the Raiders primary tight end, and had the good mixed with the bad. Myers had a solid day of 5 catches and 62 yards. However, that day could have been better, as he dropped a short touchdown pass which would have given him a spectacular day. He was often in position to bail Palmer out in crunch time, as 5 of his targets and 3 of his catches came in the 4th quarter. Myers was also called for offensive pass interference on an incomplete pass attempt to Derek Hagan.

Week 7 - Myers continued his run of steady play, catching 7 of his 10 targets for 44 yards on Sunday. Although he occasionally is forced to stay in-line and block for Carson Palmer, Myers has become a safety valve in the middle of the field. No matter the down or situation, if Palmer progressed through his reads without finding a target, he would undoubtedly turn to Myers. Although the Raiders are flush with very talented skill position players, Myers has carved out a role as a trusty possession tight end.

Week 8 - The Raiders’ leader in receptions had another quietly productive day, catching three passes for forty-nine yards, including a twenty-nine yard catch-and-run. Myers continues to be a sure-handed option for quarterback Carson Palmer on short and intermediate throws. The four-year veteran is having himself a breakout year and should find more passes coming his way as he helps the Raiders move the chains.

Week 9 - Myers dropped his first target when Palmer hit him in stride in traffic. Myers first reception came two plays later when Palmer hit him over the middle of the field. This time Myers made the reception in traffic, even though he was short of the first down. Myers couldn't bring in an important pass from Palmer over the middle on third and 13 in the second quarter. Palmer put the ball in an area that he could make a play and it would have gone for a first down. Instead, the Raiders punted. On third and very long, Myers caught a pass underneath before running forward and being tackled well short of the goalline. Myers was involved a lot in the first half, but wasn't making much of an impact. Palmer looked for Myers over the middle with his first throw of the second half, but he fell down at the first down marker instead of extending to make the play. Despite his inconsistencies throughout the game, Myers did well to extend for the pylon on his first touchdown reception. Palmer hit him running in the flat, and he stretched out past a defender for the score. Myers second touchdown was a simple pitch and catch as he was open on a quick curl route at the goal-line. Myers caught a quick out and a 10 yard curl short of the first down as the Raiders were in scramble mode late in the game.

Week 10 - Myers had another quality fantasy day for owners using him as a fill-in because of injury or a bye week. He took advantage of his opportunities throughout the game with timely catches including one of the diving variety and holding on after a big hit in the fourth quarter. Myers’ day had the potential for a score as well. One of Palmer’s rare misfires came in the red zone on a broken play. Myers came open in the end zone and Palmer flat-out missed him with a high throw. On Myers’ final target, he sustained a concussion over the middle, which is something to monitor in the coming weeks. Despite the lost chance at a score, Myers continues to perform well, especially in PPR scoring as one of the underrated tight ends this season.

Week 11 - Myers led all Raiders with 10 targets and also led the team with seven catches. Definitely a safety blanket for Palmer, Myers was consistently targeted on nearly every drive. It was Myers who Palmer was targeting on his first INT when Malcolm Jenkins beat the TE to the spot on the in. Myers didn’t do a great job boxing Jenkins out nor did Palmer do a good job looking the coverage off, allowing the DB to make the play. After picking up a big 3rd down early in the drive, it was Myers who Palmer looked to in the end zone on the Raiders’ first trip into the red zone. However, Myers couldn’t make the catch. Even worse, the pass ricocheted off Myer’s facemask and fell right into Roman Harper’s hands for the INT. Clearly dejected on the sideline after the drop, Palmer gave Myers a chance to redeem himself on the following drive. With Palmer rolling right, Myers snuck off the line and found a void in the zone. Palmer put it on him and this time Myers secured the catch for a one-yard TD. Myers best catch came on the final drive, helping set up one final TD. Working over the middle, Palmer’s throw was high, but Myers elevated and extended pulling the catch in for 27 yards, looking quite athletic in the process.

Week 12 - This week was another PPR-friendly performance for Myers as an outlet receiver when Palmer was hurried, which happened more often than not against Cincinnati. All of his receptions were quick hitches or out routes with little to no yards after the catch. Late in the game, Myers did drop a pass that would have added minimal yardage to his total late in the game. For the sixth time in the last seven games, Myers had six or more targets. Myers is a high-floor tight end that can match a majority of starting-level options in head-to-head matchups down the stretch. While touchdowns may be few and far between, he will be heavily involved as Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore are deeper threats that can be far less reliable.

Week 13 - Myers continues to be a rock solid PPR option in fantasy. He saw a career-high 15 targets, snaring 14 of them for 130 yards – almost the yardage of his past three games combined. Six of those receptions came on the final drive of the game in garbage time. Myers continues to get short catches, including a touchdown grab with only one second remaining. In Oakland’s no-huddle and spread offenses, Myers sits down in the middle of the field and is commonly Palmer’s safety value in the pass game. With the Raiders receivers being inconsistent most weeks, it is easy to see why Myers is the target of choice for Carson Palmer. Myers rarely gets yards after the catch, but is sure-handed and collects receptions as the preferred outlet receiver.

Week 14 - Myers' first reception came late in the second quarter. Myers caught a seven yard pass on first and 10 in the redzone underneath the coverage.

Week 15 - Brandon Myers, normally a favorite target of Palmer, was kept in the block for the majority of snaps as the Raiders tended towards more three-wide sets when they had to pass. Myers was utilised as a blocker in the run game to good effect, though. His only receptions came in the two-minute drill, although he was targeted down the field on one other occasion; it was broken up.

Week 16 - Brandon Myers may have been the beneficiary of a more conservative, check-down style quarterback in Matt Leinart, but as it turned out, he was to flounder as well. Myers’ catches were all within ten yards of the line of scrimmage and all resulted in him being tackled immediately.

Week 17 - Myers has been mostly feast or famine for the last several weeks, but he finally turned in a workmanlike performance in this game. He was a regular target of QB Terrelle Pryor, and nearly turned a solid game into an excellent one if he had been able to get into the end zone. Most of his receptions were wide open grabs over the middle or down the seam. His last catch of the game came near the San Diego end zone following a blocked punt. Myers caught the pass and sprinted for the end zone, barely getting tackled by his shoestrings just shy of the goal line at the two.