The fantasy wide receiving landscape got another trim today as the New York Giant's Domenik Hixon tore his right ACL. The team's number 4 receiver and primary kick returner will miss the entire 2010 season.
Hixon suffered the injury on Tueday June 15th during the team's workout at the new Meadowlands stadium. The incident occurred during a punt return when his foot got caught in the turf.
Coach Tom Coughlin was hopeful the injury was not serious and GM Jerry Reese originally called the injury a hyper-extended knee.
The stadiums new Field Turf contributed to the injury according to Coughlin.
"Well, listen, you have to go over there and go on it before you can make some judgments about it," Coughlin told reporters. "We'll be better served now because of the shoes we recommend and so on.
"We're aware of it, we're continuing to work with it, we're asking the turf people to take another look at the field and some of the thoughts we had about shoes and such."
Hixon's expected to undergo surgery within the next two or three weeks.
From a fantasy perspective this means more looks and touches for Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks who are both ranked in our top 17 WR picks. The greater boost will be to Mario Manningham, who had a quietly productive 2009 with 99 targets, 822 yards and 5 TDs. This should also give the team a better look at Sinorice Moss.
From an overall view, the loss of Hixon shouldn't hurt the team or the fantasy landscape too much, and makes Manningham a better value.
With Hixon out, return duties will likely fall to one of these guys; Aaron Ross, Sinorice Moss, Andre Brown, Mario Manningham, or Antrel Rolle, all of whom have taken turns returning punts during the OTAs and in mini-camp.
