Why Tyrone Tracy Jr. is a Smart Mid-Round Fantasy Pick

Coming off a surprisingly productive rookie season, Tyrone Tracy Jr. finds himself in an intriguing position heading into 2025. He finished the 2024 season with 192 carries for 839 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns to go with 38 receptions for 284 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, good for an RB26 finish in half-point PPR fantasy scoring. Despite the addition of fourth-round rookie Cam Skattebo creating uncertainty in the Giants' backfield, Tracy's proven production and dual-threat ability make him an appealing mid-round target currently being drafted at 104.5 ADP as RB34.

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From Receiver to Reliable Producer

Tracy's path to NFL success is unique—he played wide receiver at Iowa before transferring to Purdue and transitioning to running back. His background as a receiver making moves in the open field proved invaluable during his rookie NFL season, as Tracy ranked fourth in yards after contact per attempt and fifth in elusive rating (per PFF).

The fifth-round pick seized his opportunity when Devin Singletary got injured in Week 5. Tracy exploded for 18 carries and 129 yards (7.2 YPC) in his first start against Seattle, then followed up with another strong performance. That was enough for Tracy to win the starting job even when Singletary was back in Week 7.

The Fumbling Issue and Competition

Tracy's rookie season hit a snag late when fumbling issues cost him the starting role. He fumbled five times in 2024, including twice in Week 10 and again in Week 12, leading to his demotion in Week 13. However, he still maintained 73% of offensive snaps, suggesting the Giants valued his overall contribution.

The Giants drafted Arizona State's Cam Skattebo in the fourth round, creating a legitimate competition for touches. While Skattebo brings his own ball security concerns (four fumbles on 338 college touches), the addition makes this backfield one to monitor closely in training camp.

Offensive System and Opportunity

The Giants' offensive infrastructure should benefit Tracy in 2025. Tracy will have Brian Daboll as his head coach for a second-straight season. His tendencies changed a lot from 2023 to 2024 because the team no longer had Saquon Barkley, yet the team managed more points per game. There’s a trio of quarterback options that are all much more capable than anyone who was in the QB room a season ago.

Tracy's role within the offense was well-defined during his productive stretch. Tracy was an every-down back but had a high snap rate on short-yardage situations and a low rate on third downs. In fact, 44 of his 53 targets were on 1st or 2nd down. Tracy was a former wide receiver, making it a little odd that third downs were the situation where his usage dwindled. This usage pattern suggests there's room for growth in the passing game, where his receiving background should be an asset.

The backfield distribution remains fluid heading into 2025. Daboll's offenses typically throw to running backs at a high rate. That changed last season, but we could see their running back target rate bounce back up this season, assuming Russell Wilson is the quarterback.

Draft Strategy and Value Assessment

At 104.5 ADP as RB34, Tracy offers solid ninth-round value despite finishing just outside the top 30 running backs in fantasy points per game. The Skattebo competition creates uncertainty but prevents overdrafting, while Tracy's proven NFL production gives him the edge for early-season touches.

Tracy's efficiency metrics support his upside—he ranked 16th in explosive run rate and 20th in missed tackles forced per attempt. Even in a potential timeshare, these big-play abilities could deliver fantasy value above his current draft cost.

When there’s some ambiguity in a backfield split, it usually manifests itself in one of two ways. The “coin-flip” scenario, where the running backs go close to one another in drafts. Or the team’s supposed RB1 goes in the mid rounds, and the RB2 goes five or so rounds later. If you get either of those situations right, your team will benefit handsomely. When these coin-flip situations arise outside the Top 100 of ADP, leaning towards the running back with experience is usually the way to go.

The Bottom Line

• Proven rookie production - Tyrone Tracy finished the 2024 season with 192 carries for 839 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns to go with 38 receptions for 284 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, finishing as the RB26 in half-PPR despite losing his starting job late in the season due to fumbling issues.
• Unique skill set creates upside - Tracy ranked fourth in yards after contact per attempt and fifth in elusive rating (per PFF), while his wide receiver background provides dual-threat ability that the Giants underutilized in 2024.
• Competition creates uncertainty but prevents overdrafting - The addition of Cam Skattebo (Round 4) now makes this a backfield to watch in training camp, but Tracy's proven NFL production gives him the early edge for touches.
• Solid value at current ADP - Being drafted at 104.5 as RB34 represents reasonable pricing for a player who still finished just outside the top 30 backs in Fantasy points per game in both standard and PPR formats despite his late-season struggles.
• Target Tracy as a high-upside RB3/Flex with the potential to return RB2 value if he secures the lead role and improves his ball security in his second NFL season.