The New York Giants will be favored this week as they return to action following their late-season bye week. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Big Blue is listed as a 2.5-point favorite against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
This will be just the second time New York has been favored all season, with the first being against the New Orleans Saints, a game which the Giants lost 26-14 after turning the ball over on five straight possessions.
Commanders Have Come Crashing Down This Season
One year after making it to the NFC Championship game, the Commanders have fallen back to Earth and then some, as Washington is currently 3-10, just one game better than the Giants’ 2-11.
The Commanders have lost eight straight games, which is currently the longest losing streak in the NFL. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels has only played in seven games due to injuries and reinjured his left elbow in a 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Daniels is “sore” but there are no “long-term concerns” with his left elbow. His status for Sunday’s game is currently up in the air. Washington also may have lost tight end Zach Ertz for the season with what is believed to be a torn ACL.
Since the Commanders’ last victory, a 27-10 victory in Los Angeles against the Chargers, Washington has lost several close games, falling 25-24 against the Bears, 16-13 in overtime to the Dolphins, and 27-26 in overtime against the Broncos.
However, they have also gotten blown out multiple times, including a 28-7 loss to the Chiefs, 44-22 to the Cowboys, 44-22 to the Lions, and, of course, the 31-0 shutout in Minnesota yesterday. The Vikings had lost four straight, and currently sport a record of 5-8, having just gotten shut out by the Seahawks 26-0 last Sunday.
Giants’ Top Draft Spot in Precarious Position
As the Giants were for several weeks last season, New York is currently in the driver’s seat when it comes to the 2026 draft order. Sitting idle this week, Big Blue benefitted from wins by the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans to take over the first overall pick in the draft.
However, the Giants have a favorable schedule the rest of the way, facing the Commanders this week, but also taking on the Vikings, Raiders, and Cowboys to close out 2025. Las Vegas sits right behind the Giants with the same 2-11 record, followed by the 2-11 Titans, who sit in third.
Therefore, despite New York’s current draft position, the Giants have just a 9% chance of finishing as the worst team in the NFL by the end of the season, according to a draft order projection by The Athletic.
The Raiders have the best odds of securing the #1 pick, with a 44% chance of landing the worst finish in the league. The Titans are second at 21%, followed by the Jets at 11%. The Giants follow their fellow MetLife Stadium inhabitants with the fourth-best odds at 8%.
On the flip side, New York does have a 53% chance of finishing in the top five in the draft order. With their franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, a cornerstone left tackle in Andrew Thomas, and key pass rushers including Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, the Giants have all their key positions filled and many on rookie contracts for several seasons.
They also have a young superstar wide receiver in Malik Nabers, a running back room led by Cam Skattebo, and a top defensive tackle in Dexter Lawrence. So as long as the Giants do not fall too far back, they should be comfortable in selecting the “best player available” in the top five.
Some intriguing options for New York would be selecting another star wide receiver, adding another pass rusher, or even trading back for a haul of picks. Until then, the Giants will likely be favorites in at least two of their last four games, despite how bad they have been this season.
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