Derek Hagan

Hakeem Nicks will be out of action for three weeks as he is being treated for Compartment Syndrome in his lower right leg, the Giants announced today. Nicks suffered the injury in Sunday night's loss to Philadelphia.

Nicks is at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York this afternoon undergoing a fasciotomy to treat the injury, according to the Giants. Compartment Syndrome is swelling in the lower leg which compresses nerves and blood vessels and can lead to muscle and nerve damage if not treated immediately.

The loss of Nicks would be the second big blow to Eli Manning's reservoir of targets. Steve Smith is out, likely until early next month, with a partially torn pectoral muscle.

This is a huge blow for the Giants, Eli Manning and fantasy owners. Nicks is a player we really liked in the pre-season, and he didn't disappoint, racking up 900 yards and 9 TDs through the first 10 games of the season. The injury comes just as the Giants were heading in to back-to-back favorable matchups with Jacksonville and Washington.

If you've got the roster space, hold on to Nicks as he could return for the final two or three games of the season. However, if you really need the space, cutting Nicks would be understandable. Three weeks could easily become four and then we're dangerously close to the end of the fantasy season. The Giants face Philadelphia and Green Bay in weeks 15 and 16, which are tough matchups even if Nicks plays.

Steve Smith will be out at least one more week, which means Mario Manningham will be the Giants #1 with Derek Hagan and Duke Calhoun filling out the depth chart. Nicks going down isn't overly helpful for Manningham as defenses will now be able to focus on him, with no real threat from Hagan or Calhoun. This is looking like a fantasy situation to avoid moving forward, outside of those already owning Manningham.