In 2008, the New York Giants became the NFL’s hottest weekly picks every week by leading the Earth, Wind, and Fire combination of Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Derrick Ward to an NFC East title. .

Two years later, things have changed as Ward has moved on and Bradshaw has been named the new G-Men starter. If you were wondering how the move would affect Brandon Jacobs, just ask. Most likely, his silence says a lot. Last week, Jacobs publicly expressed her distaste for his role and spoke with head coach Tom Coughlin. Asked for further clarification after Wednesday’s practice, Jacobs dodged questions by backing away from reporters surrounding his locker.

At this point, it doesn’t matter if he says it verbally because Jacobs’ behavior has told everyone everything they need to know about his feelings about being No. 2 on the depth chart. For the past three seasons, Jacobs has been the leading pony in the Big Blue running stable. He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2007 and 2008 despite splitting carries, sometimes three ways.

Even in 2009, when Bradshaw began to see a few more touches from Jacobs, the great running back still rushed for 835 yards. But he looked different. Jacobs looked more like an attempt to get to the hole. The explosion from him seemed to be gone. After posting 12 runs of 20 yards or more in 2008, that number dropped to just 2 the following season. He seemed to lose his nose for the end zone, scoring just 5 times in 2009 after rushing for 15 touchdowns the previous season. That last number is especially troubling for a 6-foot-4, 265-pound bulldozer who began his life in the NFL as a short-yardage and goal-line specialist.

Ahmad Bradshaw enters. The fourth-year running back has steadily gained more playing time during his tenure in New York, rising from a kick returner to a contributor who made Derrick Ward expendable. And it’s about more than just running the ball. Last season, Bradshaw caught 21 passes and seems to be a more reliable receiver out of the backfield than Jacobs ever has been.

Lest anyone who drafted Brandon Jacobs to their fantasy teams panic, keep in mind that while Bradshaw will likely have a lot of work in his 20s and 20s, Jacobs will likely remain the number one choice in the goal line for the Giants. That means touchdowns remain a strong possibility for Jacobs’ owners. It also means Ahmad Bradshaw can provide value in certain matchups for owners who pick their weekly NFL picks.

For this week, whatever backup you have, it’s best to use it as a number three backup or flex position until you have a better idea of ​​how the Giants plan to rotate the two.