Utilizing Play-Action Passes

Daniel Jones excelled in running play-action passes last season, and with running back Saquon Barkley sharing the backfield with him, he should do it again in 2020.

Of his 459 passing attempts as a rookie, 93 came on play-action passes. He was the best quarterback in the league running play-action out of the shotgun, leading the NFL with a 155 quarterback rating. His 69.4 percent completion percentage on play-action ranked ninth.

Many of his highlights as a rookie came while running play-fakes. In his first start in Week 3 against the Buccaneers, Jones faked a handoff and threw a 75-yard touchdown to tight end Evan Engram, his longest completion of the season. Against New England in Week 6, he completed a
64-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate on another play-action pass.

The threat of Barkley in the backfield should open up opportunities for the Giants offense if the opposing defenders have to focus on the Pro Bowl running back. But Barkley has to stay healthy.

In the three games he missed last season, Jones completed just 59 percent of his passes while throwing six interceptions and three touchdowns. Jones’ worst performance of the year came in that Week 6 matchup in Foxborough (35.2 rating), a game Barkley sat out with a high ankle sprain.