Larry Donnell
  • Larry Donnell

  • TE
  • ,
  • 36
  • 265 lbs
  • 6' 6"
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Scouting report

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - Week 6, 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 6 at Philadelphia

Larry Donnell had six catches for 35 yards and a touchdown last week against the 49ers, but he shared time with backup tight end Will Tye and benefitted from a game in which Eli Manning threw the ball 54 times. Donnell has been a productive, but very inconsistent fantasy option this season and has been too risky to start in most leagues.

This week, even with a nice matchup against the Eagles pass defense, Donnell will continue to be a risky option for fantasy owners. The Eagles have actually defended the tight end position well this year, and with Donnell already being a questionable option, it seems unlikely he’ll be trustworthy. We have him outside our top 15 this week, making him a bench guy in most leagues.

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - Week 5, 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 5 vs. San Francisco
Larry Donnell had only 38 yards last week against the Bills, but he caught five passes and was targeted seven times, behind only Odell Beckham Jr. for second most on the team. Donnell has been inconsistent, but he remains the starter in New York and has at least a small amount of value in leagues that feature the tight end position, especially with the scary report of a staph infection ending the season of backup tight end Daniel Fells. Donnell is too risky to rely on (and we have him just inside our top twenty tight ends this week), but he should be monitored if he keeps getting seven targets a game.

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - Week 4, 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 4 at Buffalo

Larry Donnell had three catches and 32 yards against Washington last week and he lost some playing time to Daniel Fells, who also caught three balls. While it’s not time to consider his starting job in jeopardy, it is important to note the split production at the position in New York.

Buffalo has actually been pretty soft on the TE position so far this season, but part of that is skewed by the Gronk Factor in Week 2. Still, until we see some consistency and know for sure that Donnell is going to continue to be the guy for the Giants, it’s hard to recommend starting him.

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - Week 3, 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 3 at Washington

Larry Donnell was targeted six times and caught four passes last week, but he ended up with only 28 yards on the day. This did, however, include a ten-yard touchdown in the third quarter, which salvaged a decent fantasy outing for the third-year player out of Grambling State.

Donnell will face a Washington team that has quietly held opponents in check so far this season. This may be an anomaly this early in the season, but nobody is allowing fewer yards per game to opposing offenses right now. Donnell is a fringe starting option with the depth at the TE position around the NFL, and he should be considered an injury replacement option or borderline starter (at best) in most leagues.

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - Week 2, 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 2 vs. Atlanta

Larry Donnell was targeted four times against the Cowboys last week, but he only ended up with three receptions and 21 yards. The Giants offense looked a little rusty throughout most of the game, and none of the skill position players wound up with exceptional performances.

This week, Donnell will go up against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons defense looked better than expected against the Eagles on Monday night, until they got tired and started giving up chunks of yardage in the second half. Even if the matchup was better, however, Donnell is a shaky option. He tends to be inconsistent, and there should be better options at the position for most fantasy owners.

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - Week 1, 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 1 vs. Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t very good at covering the tight end position last year, and Larry Donnell had a breakout year to solidify his status as the opening day starter for the Giants. Donnell is a big target who is a better route runner than his size would indicate and the Giants will try to get him involved, particularly in the red zone.

Donnell was a little bit feast or famine last season though, with his six touchdowns coming in only four total games (three against the woeful Washington defense). Because of his inconsistency, it’s hard to recommend Donnell over any of the more established fantasy options at the tight end spot, and we have him ranked outside the top 12 as a borderline starting option in most fantasy leagues.

by Brandon Niles

NYG TE Larry Donnell - 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook

Larry Donnell had a bit of a breakout season a year ago, finishing second on the team with six receiving touchdowns and third with 63 receptions and 623 yards. Donnell was a little hot and cold all season though, often providing feast or famine type fantasy number and driving owners insane. However, he’s a talented player with good size and demonstrated an ability to use his body to gain leverage against defenders. The Giants will hope his consistency improves this year.

Fantasy Upside
The Giants have usually provided fantasy owners with a pretty good fantasy option at the tight end position, and Eli Manning often uses his in-line receivers as safety valves and red zone targets. Donnell will be entering year two as a starter at the position and has very little competition from veteran Daniel Fells and youngster Adrien Robinson, who failed to prove much last season. Donnell should benefit from another season in the offense and fantasy owners can hope he gains some natural progression due to experience.

Fantasy Downside
Donnell was very inconsistent last year, and his hands weren’t as reliable as you’d hope for from a tight end who is supposed to be a safety valve and red zone option in the passing game. The Giants offense is notoriously inconsistent as well, which makes it hard to gauge whether or not Donnell’s issues were personal or systemic. He’ll likely put up some good numbers, but might provide a goose egg on occasion like he did last season.

Bottom Line
Donnell should be considered a late round pickup at the tight end position, nestled firmly in that third tier of tight ends. He’s not elite like Gronk, and not consistent enough to be considered with the Greg Olsens and Martellus Bennetts of the world. He will be a solid spot starter at least though, and he provides some upside for fantasy owners wanting to wait on the tight end position.

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