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Giants Backup Running Back: Clutch Performer In The Shadows

Trends January 14, 2025

Who is the giants backup running back? The New York Giants backup running back is Matt Breida.

Matt Breida is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Southern and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Breida has been a valuable contributor to the Giants since joining the team in 2020. He has rushed for over 400 yards and two touchdowns in his two seasons with the team. He is also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, with 50 receptions for 350 yards and one touchdown.

Breida is a key part of the Giants' offense. He provides a change of pace from starter Saquon Barkley and is a dangerous weapon in both the running and passing games.

Name	Position	Team	Years Active
Matt Breida	Running Back	New York Giants	2017-Present

Breida's journey to the NFL is an inspiring one. He was a lightly recruited player coming out of high school and had to walk on at Georgia Southern. He eventually earned a scholarship and became one of the most productive running backs in the country. He was drafted by the 49ers in 2017 and has since become a valuable contributor to the Giants.

The Giants Backup Running Back

The New York Giants backup running back plays a crucial role in the team's success. Here are six key aspects that define their importance:

Change of pace: Provides a different style of running than the starter, keeping defenses honest.
Injury replacement: Ready to step in and contribute if the starter gets injured.
Special teams: Often play a key role on special teams units, such as kickoff and punt coverage.
Depth: Adds depth to the running back position, ensuring the team has multiple capable ball carriers.
Motivation: Pushes the starter to perform at a high level, knowing there is someone waiting to take their place.
Future potential: Can develop into a future starter or valuable trade asset.

These six aspects highlight the importance of the Giants backup running back. They provide a change of pace, injury replacement, special teams contributions, depth, motivation, and future potential. By understanding these key aspects, we can better appreciate the role of the backup running back in the NFL.

1. Change of pace

In football, a change of pace running back is a player who has a different style of running than the starter. This can be in terms of speed, power, agility, or any combination of the three. The Giants backup running back, Matt Breida, is a classic example of a change of pace back.

Speed: Breida is one of the fastest running backs in the NFL. He can blow by defenders on the outside and take it to the house from anywhere on the field.
Agility: Breida is also very agile. He can make quick cuts and change direction without losing any speed. This makes him very difficult to tackle in the open field.
Power: Breida is not the biggest running back, but he is surprisingly powerful. He can break tackles and gain tough yards in short-yardage situations.
Versatility: Breida is also a very versatile running back. He can line up in the backfield, the slot, or even out wide as a receiver. This makes him a valuable asset to the Giants offense.

The Giants backup running back plays a crucial role in the team's success. He provides a change of pace from starter Saquon Barkley and is a dangerous weapon in both the running and passing games. Breida's speed, agility, power, and versatility make him one of the most valuable backups in the NFL.

2. Injury replacement

In the NFL, injuries are a common occurrence. This is why it is crucial for teams to have a reliable backup running back who is ready to step in and contribute if the starter gets injured.

Importance of depth: Having a strong backup running back provides depth to the running back position, ensuring that the team has multiple capable ball carriers. This is especially important in a league where injuries can strike at any time.
Seamless transition: A good backup running back should be able to step in and seamlessly transition into the starting role if needed. This means being familiar with the playbook and having the skills and abilities to execute the team's offensive scheme.
Case study: Matt Breida: The New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida, is a prime example of a player who has been ready to step in and contribute when called upon. In 2020, Breida started four games in place of the injured Saquon Barkley and rushed for over 400 yards and two touchdowns.

The Giants backup running back plays a crucial role in the team's success. He provides depth to the running back position and is ready to step in and contribute if the starter gets injured. Matt Breida is a perfect example of a backup running back who has been able to step up and make a significant impact when called upon.

3. Special teams

In the NFL, special teams units play a crucial role in the outcome of games. These units are responsible for field goals, extra points, kickoffs, punts, and punt and kickoff returns. The New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida, is often called upon to play a key role on special teams units.

Kickoff coverage: Breida is a fast and physical runner, which makes him a valuable asset on kickoff coverage. He is responsible for tackling the returner and preventing him from gaining a big return.
Punt coverage: Breida is also a good tackler in the open field, which makes him a valuable asset on punt coverage. He is responsible for tackling the returner and preventing him from gaining a big return.
Punt return: Breida has also been used as a punt returner in the past. He is a dangerous returner because of his speed and agility.

Matt Breida is a valuable member of the New York Giants because of his versatility. He is a capable running back who can also contribute on special teams. His ability to play on special teams units helps the Giants field a competitive team on all three phases of the game.

4. Depth

In the NFL, injuries are a common occurrence. This is why it is crucial for teams to have depth at every position, including running back. The New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida, provides depth to the running back position and ensures that the team has multiple capable ball carriers.

Importance of depth: Having a strong backup running back provides depth to the running back position, ensuring that the team has multiple capable ball carriers. This is especially important in a league where injuries can strike at any time.
Seamless transition: A good backup running back should be able to step in and seamlessly transition into the starting role if needed. This means being familiar with the playbook and having the skills and abilities to execute the team's offensive scheme.
Case study: Matt Breida: The New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida, is a prime example of a player who has been ready to step in and contribute when called upon. In 2020, Breida started four games in place of the injured Saquon Barkley and rushed for over 400 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Motivation

In the competitive world of professional football, players are constantly motivated to perform at their best. One of the key factors that drives this motivation is the presence of a capable backup player who is waiting to take their place. This is especially true for the New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida.

Competition breeds excellence: The presence of a talented backup running back like Breida pushes the starter, Saquon Barkley, to perform at a high level. Barkley knows that if he does not perform well, he could lose his starting job to Breida. This competition helps to bring out the best in both players.
Backup as a training partner: Breida also serves as a valuable training partner for Barkley. The two players can push each other to improve their skills and abilities. Breida can also provide Barkley with a different perspective on the game, which can help him to become a better player.
Injury insurance: Having a capable backup running back like Breida is also important in case of injuries. If Barkley were to get injured, Breida would be ready to step in and contribute immediately. This gives the Giants peace of mind knowing that they have a reliable backup plan in place.

The presence of a motivated and capable backup running back like Matt Breida is essential for the success of the New York Giants. Breida pushes Barkley to perform at a high level, provides valuable competition and support, and serves as an insurance policy in case of injuries. These factors combine to make Breida a key part of the Giants' success.

6. Future potential

The future potential of a backup running back is an important consideration for NFL teams. A backup running back with future potential can develop into a future starter or valuable trade asset. This is especially true for the New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida.

Development into a future starter: Breida is a young and talented running back with the potential to develop into a future starter. He has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited opportunities, and he has the physical tools and skillset to be a successful NFL running back. If Breida continues to develop, he could eventually become the Giants' starting running back.
Valuable trade asset: Even if Breida does not develop into a starter for the Giants, he could still be a valuable trade asset. He is a young and talented player with a lot of potential, and other teams may be interested in acquiring him. The Giants could trade Breida to another team for draft picks or other players.

The future potential of Matt Breida is an important consideration for the New York Giants. He has the potential to develop into a future starter or valuable trade asset. The Giants will be hoping that Breida reaches his full potential and becomes a key part of their team.

FAQs about the New York Giants Backup Running Back

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about the New York Giants backup running back.

Question 1: Who is the Giants backup running back?

Matt Breida is the Giants backup running back.

Question 2: What is Matt Breida's role on the team?

Breida's role is to provide depth to the running back position and to be ready to step in and contribute if the starter, Saquon Barkley, gets injured. He also plays a key role on special teams.

Question 3: What are Breida's strengths and weaknesses?

Breida's strengths include his speed, agility, and versatility. He is a good runner, receiver, and blocker. His weaknesses include his size and durability. He is not the biggest running back and he has had some injury problems in the past.

Question 4: What is Breida's future potential?

Breida has the potential to develop into a starting running back in the NFL. He is still young and he has shown flashes of brilliance. However, he needs to stay healthy and continue to develop his skills.

Question 5: What is Breida's contract status?

Breida is signed with the Giants through the 2023 season. He is scheduled to make $3.5 million in 2023.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about the New York Giants backup running back, Matt Breida. For more information, please visit the Giants official website.

Transition to the next article section: The Giants backup running back is an important part of the team's success. He provides depth, competition, and insurance in case of injuries. Matt Breida is a talented young running back with a lot of potential. The Giants are hoping that he can continue to develop and become a key part of their team for years to come.

Conclusion

The New York Giants backup running back plays a crucial role in the team's success. They provide depth, competition, and insurance in case of injuries. Matt Breida is a talented young running back with a lot of potential. The Giants are hoping that he can continue to develop and become a key part of their team for years to come.

The Giants backup running back is often overlooked, but they are an essential part of the team. They provide depth to the running back position, they push the starter to perform at a high level, and they can be a valuable asset on special teams. Matt Breida is a perfect example of a backup running back who has been able to step up and make a significant impact when called upon. He is a talented player with a bright future, and he is a key part of the Giants' success.