New York Giants RB Shane Vereen Needs To Be Top Receiver vs. Miami Dolphins

After the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles both got wins on Sunday, the path to an NFC East title just got more difficult for the New York Giants. If the Giants can’t finish against the Miami Dolphins, a task that they have failed to do five times this season, the season could be all but over. Superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will need to have a huge game, but the Giants will also need a some production out of the backfield. While a dominant running game would be ideal, the Giants need Shane Vereen to make an impact as a dynamic receiver.

The four-man rotation of running backs has prevented Vereen, or any other player, from making an impact on the ground. But Vereen’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make big gains is what makes him a game-changing player. The Giants haven’t seen much production from him in that phase of the game over the past few weeks. In fact, against the Redskins, it was a pass off the hands of Vereen that led to an early interception from Eli Manning.

Miami is the perfect setting for Vereen to have a big comeback performance. Tom Coughlin has said that Vereen’s usage in the offense depends on the opponent they face that week. While that may not be a winning strategy, Miami would certainly fit that mold. The Dolphins have allowed five receiving touchdowns from running backs this season which is the league high. Vereen has only had six catches for 28 yards in the past two games. If Coughlin truly believes his own mantra, Vereen should be featured in the receiving game on Monday night.

Make no mistake about it, Beckham should certainly be the primary focus for Manning. He certainly wants to have a massive game facing his college roommate Jarvis Landry. But with Rueben Randle’s inconsistency in the offense, there’s no better time to increase Vereen’s targets. Vereen has had two games with eight receptions this season, and he could match that total against the Dolphins.

The Giants need a win to keep pace with the Eagles and the Redskins in the NFC East. Another fourth-quarter letdown will leave the Giants with an uphill battle that may be too steep to climb. The offense needs to hit on all cylinders, and using Vereen as a pass-catching back gives the Giants an advantage on third downs and a better chance to come out of Miami with a crucial win.

Christopher Schwarz is a New York Giants beat writer and NFL Coverage writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter.