Daniel Bellinger News

After being taken in the fourth round of last year's NFL Draft, Bellinger quickly worked his way up to being New York's starting tight end. Though he performed admirably in the role, finishing the campaign with 30 catches for 268 yards and two receiving touchdowns (and adding a touchdown on his only rush attempt) over 11 games, the Giants traded for Waller to help perk up their passing game soon after handing out a four-year contract to quarterback Daniel Jones. Waller's arrival will almost certainly mean less opportunities for Bellinger, but Dunleavy notes that the organization has not lost any faith in Bellinger's ability. That said, from a fantasy perspective, Bellinger isn't likely to make much of an impact as long as Waller is healthy.

Bellinger saw his snap count rise steadily from Week 1 to Week 6 before suffering an eye injury against Jacksonville in Week 7. The issue required surgery and cost him four contests, but Bellinger immediately slotted back into a starting role upon his return and received the lion's share of New York's tight-end snaps the rest of the way, including in two postseason contests during which he tallied three catches on five targets for 21 yards. While the rookie out of San Diego State didn't record more than five receptions or 42 yards in any game during the campaign, he made at least one catch in every contest after Week 1 and solidified his place as the Giants' tight end of the future. New York has a bevy of pass catchers along with quarterback Daniel Jones slated for free agency this offseason, so Bellinger's outlook for next year could be impacted by who the team adds, retains and parts ways with.

The rookie tight end hadn't scored a TD since Week 6, but Bellinger was on the other end of a nine-yard toss from Daniel Jones early in the third quarter that gave the Giants a 24-14 lead. Bellinger has shown flashes of upside in his brief career, but they didn't come against the team he'll face in the divisional round, as the Eagles held him to only three catches for 19 yards in their first meeting back in Week 14.

Bellinger tied for second on New York in receiving yardage with a total that established a new career-high mark. The bulk of the rookie tight end's production came on a 24-yard reception in the second quarter that took the ball to the Colts' seven-yard line and helped set up an Isaiah Hodgins receiving touchdown. Bellinger has been given a near every-down role for the playoff-bound Giants, but he hasn't put up the type of numbers typical of a must-roster tight end in standard fantasy leagues.

Bellinger was the only New York tight end to see any targets Saturday, and he played all but one of the team's offensive snaps. However, the rookie continued to post modest numbers, and his fumble following a 16-yad reception on the opening play of the second quarter led to a Vikings field goal. The 27 receiving yards was Bellinger's highest mark since returning from an eye injury Week 13, emphasizing his relatively low fantasy ceiling as quarterback Daniel Jones has increasingly fed the team's wideouts while continuing to look to running back Saquon Barkley for short-yardage passing work.

Bellinger tied for fourth on New York with four targets, but he was able to corral only of them for a short gain. He ended up with his fewest receiving yards since being shut out entirely in the Giants' season-opener, though that can be partly attributed to an overall quiet passing performance by Daniel Jones, who threw for only 160 yards. Bellinger remains New York's clear-cut top tight end and will have a chance to bounce back in a Week 16 visit to Minnesota.