Commanders at Giants Thursday Night Football Preview: Cam Skattebo Returns, J.J. McCarthy's Hip and a Cold, Rainy Forecast for the NFC East Leaders

Week 10 starts Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, where the first-place New York Giants (5-2-1) host the Washington Commanders (2-5-1) at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The Giants can tighten their grip on the NFC East with a win, and the good news for fantasy managers is that New York's key skill players are trending toward playing.

Running back Cam Skattebo (hamstring) was limited on Monday's injury estimate, but head coach John Harbaugh said he expects him to be full go on Thursday. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy (hip) was also limited, and Harbaugh said he looks like he's going to play. Receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was listed as a full participant. For Washington, quarterback Jayden Daniels (left elbow) was a full participant as well.

One caveat: Monday's sessions were walkthroughs, so the participation levels were estimates. Tuesday and Wednesday reports will matter more.

Where the teams stand

The Giants are coming off a 19-11 win in Philadelphia, their first win at Lincoln Financial Field since 2013. New York held Skattebo out of that game to protect his hamstring on a short week, and Devin Singletary led the backfield. That win sent the Eagles to their seventh straight loss and helped make the Giants the team to beat in the division.

Washington has had a rough season. Daniels is still listed with a left elbow injury, and the Commanders went into Week 9 against the Rams without both starting tackles and without top receiver Terry McLaurin. At 2-5-1, the Commanders need a division win to keep their season from slipping away.

The betting market

The Giants opened as 1.5-point home favorites. Some books have moved to 2.5 after early money came in on New York. DraftKings had the moneyline at Giants -125 and Commanders +105. Most books have the total between 42.5 and 43.5, which is low for a prime-time game.

The trends lean toward New York: the Giants are 6-2 against the spread this season, while Washington is 4-4. The weather is the other big factor. NBC Sports' betting preview pointed to a cold, rainy forecast at MetLife and made the under its lean. Rain hurts passing efficiency and ball security more than it hurts the run game, and both teams would probably lean on the ground if conditions are bad.

Fantasy outlook: Giants

Cam Skattebo (RB): If he's active, start him. The Giants rested him to get him healthy for this game, and Harbaugh's comments suggest he'll have his usual role. Bad weather adds to the case for a run-heavy plan. The risk is that a hamstring can flare up, and New York may mix in Singletary more than usual early in the game. Treat Skattebo as an RB2 with RB1 upside in a game the Giants are expected to control.

Devin Singletary (RB): He drops back to a handcuff if Skattebo plays. He's not a flex play unless Skattebo is ruled out.

Malik Nabers (WR): A full practice is a good sign. Nabers is a WR1 by talent. Rain lowers his ceiling a little, but his target share keeps him a must-start.

J.J. McCarthy (QB): A low-end QB2 in a game with a low total and bad weather. He's a streamer only in superflex leagues.

Fantasy outlook: Commanders

Jayden Daniels (QB): His rushing keeps him in the QB1 conversation even in bad conditions. Washington is likely to trail, which helps his volume, and his legs give him a floor most quarterbacks don't have. Start him, with the understanding that rain could limit his passing.

Commanders receivers: With Treylon Burks missing Monday's walkthrough and McLaurin's status unclear, Washington's receiving group is thin. Any healthy Commanders wideout with a starting role is a low-end flex at best. Wait for Wednesday's report before you decide.

Giants defense: New York's pass rush, Daniels' injury history and the weather combine to make the Giants a solid streaming defense. Daniels' scrambling limits the sack upside a bit, but turnovers in the rain are always possible.

The Verdexed angle

Thursday games with a low total and bad weather tend to reward fantasy players who keep things simple: start the running backs with clear roles, start the elite receivers, and avoid secondary pass catchers. That fits Skattebo, Nabers and Daniels, and it argues against starting anyone else in this game if you have reasonable alternatives.

For bettors, the useful information is the weather and the injury list. If the forecast holds, the under is the natural lean, and Skattebo rushing props become more appealing than any passing prop. For the Verdexed model's game-level read, see the weekly picks page at /blog/nfl-week-10-picks-2026 and the live board at /nfl/predictions.

What's next

The Giants and Commanders will release official practice reports on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the final injury designations come on Wednesday because of the short week. Check Skattebo's and McCarthy's statuses and the latest forecast before Thursday's kickoff.

For lineups, start Skattebo, Nabers and Daniels, pick up the Giants' defense as a streamer, and stay away from most of the other skill players in this game.