Who will lead the NY Giants in rushing in 2026? Top candidates

Editor’s note: This is Part 24 of 26 in Art Stapleton’s New York Giants summer series Q&A

The presence of John Harbaugh as head coach represents a new beginning for the Giants, of course, and there is reason to believe that this is just the start of a promising future – and with that level of optimism, it’s not too early to look ahead and prepare for what’s coming down the road, even if the focus remains on Sept. 13 and opening night at MetLife Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys.

You never want to look too far into the future in the NFL, and that has applied to the Giants far too many times over in the past decade-plus. Head coaching changes. Constant roster turnover without many second deals for draft picks.

When you lose as much as Big Blue has, staying in the moment and avoiding the pitfalls of the recent past becomes a never-ending quest for a franchise.

For now, there are far more questions than answers as Harbaugh prepares to kick off his first training camp here in West Virginia at the Greenbrier on July 28.

But we hope to set the table for the summer and beyond with 26 questions that will define the 2026 Giants season.

Cam Skattebo‘s reputation as a football bruiser preceded him to the Giants and the NFL.

As Bill Parcells famously said about the game in the 1980s, “Football is not a game for the well-adjusted.”

And Skattebo is a throwback to another generation: tossing his body around, ducking his helmet and shoulders consequences be damned, whether the punishment he tries to inflict on a run is for the opposition or himself.

All of that is really the only reason Skattebo is not the sure-fire pick to lead the Giants in rushing: his health.

That’s a bit unfair as well, given that his gruesome ankle injury was not the result of being a battering ram. Rather, his foot got caught and bent awkwardly after a catch. Make no mistake: Skattebo’s style fits what Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and senior offensive assistant Greg Roman wants in their power run game.

Skattebo admits to learning at the level about the intracacy of the position, how the backs fit into the blocking schemes and not just where to run within the offense. His vision is exceptional, and with that comes a better understanding and feel for the big picture one play to the next.

In college, Skattebo simply broke tackles or ran through defenders with some scouts pushing the opinion that he plays more like a linebacker than a running back. He does not shy away from contact.

“I thought he was just what you saw: a downhill runner, a tone-setter type runner. He’s a tough tackle,” Harbaugh said of Skattebo. “That’s what you look for. How many guys can make yards when they’re not supposed to make yards on their own? It seems to me he was that kind of guy at Arizona State and the exact same guy that I saw on tape last year. He’s a top-tier back, and he’s planning on playing that way this year.

If Skattebo is not their leading rusher, the next best bet is Jaxson Dart, whose legs and running ability at quarterback is an asset. Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary should get touches in this offense, but it will be interesting to see how much Tracy as more of a slasher gets called on to produce. He’s a talented player and has back-to-back seasons with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards.

Harbaugh had Derrick Henry in Baltimore, and we’ll see if it’s as simple as Skattebo slipping into that role and the Giants giving him the opportunity to prove he can be what some still insist he can’t.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who will lead the NY Giants in rushing in 2026? Top candidates