Is Giants Rookie RB Cam Skattebo Actually Good?
The hype train for Cam Skattebo has been building for Giants fans since early in training camp, but for the rest of the NFL, it’s been a quick ascension to the top of the social media hype-sphere for the rookie running back in New York. His unorthodox, battering ram running style, electric energy, and backflip touchdown celebrations have made him the perfect darling for today’s fans. Not to mention his yells, which have become a rallying cry for Giants players and fans alike.
Not everyone is sold, though, with many critics comparing him to backs like the Browns’ Peyton Hillis, who was on the cover of Madden 12, but wasn’t known for much else after that. Others say he won’t be able to sustain his career, and of course, the CTE jokes that pour out every time Skattebo runs someone over or does his usual tick of readjusting his helmet after every tackle. These haters may have a point. Skattebo is 117th in yards per carry, at just over 4 yards, and he hasn’t broken 100 yards in any game this season.
So the question remains: is Skattebo actually good, or is the hype unjustified?
The short answer is hell yes, but while I respect Maurice Jones-Drew, Cam Skattebo is definitely not a better running back than Saquon Barkley in the big 2025. However, having Skatt as the 13th-best RB this season so far isn’t far-fetched. Since Week 1, Cam Skattebo has run for 401 yards and has scored six total touchdowns. He’s never going to be a guy who breaks huge runs and scores 70-yard touchdowns like a Jonathan Taylor or wows you with jump-cuts like a Bijan Robinson. What he will do is run through a MFer’s face. In fact, he seems to revel in it. From stories about telephone poles to that viral clip of him headbutting a wall before a game at Arizona State, it’s clear he loves contact, and that shows with almost half (46%) of his yards coming after contact.
What really makes Skattebo special, however, is something that can’t really be quantified: his personality. Like my fellow Giants writer, John Ewald, said, Skattebo provides an identity for every team he’s on. It’s not surprising his former college team, Arizona State, which made the playoffs last year, already has two losses on the year without losing many other contributors. Skattebo’s energy is as infectious as it is electric, and so is his toughness. You can see it rubbing off on the rest of the team, whether it’s Jaxson Dart fighting for the end zone last week in Denver, or Dane Belton laying the boom on Courtland Sutton on 4th and goal.
Skattebo’s off-field antics have also provided an identity for the fanbase. Giants fans can be crazy, but guess what, so is Cam Skattebo. Identity doesn’t win you games, of course, but no one can deny the Giants are not only an exciting team to watch, but based on the last two games, they’re no longer pushovers destined to be picking annually at the top of the draft.
Do I think Skattebo will ever be a top-5 running back in the NFL, or lead the league in rushing? Probably not, but I also don’t think he’s overrated just because he’s exciting and getting media coverage and social media hype. Skatt is a polarizing guy, so I don’t think the haters will ever go away, but clearly they’ve not been listening, because he feeds on the hate, and if that chip on his shoulder gets bigger, it’s just going to mean more pain for opposing linebackers and safeties as he drives it into their chests. I’m just glad he’s on my team now instead of terrorizing me like he did against Texas in the playoffs last year.