NFL scout, executive share Cam Skattebo warning for Giants' John Harbaugh

The New York Giants were seemingly close to earning an overtime win at the rival Washington Commanders that would have improved the Giants to 4-1 this past Sunday when second-year New York running back Cam Skattebo committed a costly fumble with under two minutes remaining in the game. 

Following the 27-27 tie that left the Giants with a record of 3-1-1, well-known NFL insider Jason La Canfora spoke with an unnamed scout and a league executive about what Skattebo is offering the club this fall. 

Cam Skattebo is not "a starting running back" in the NFL?

"Skattebo is a change-of-pace guy," the scout told La Canfora for a Casino.org piece published on Tuesday. "He can’t be on the field this much. He could come in when you need a yard, let him catch some screens on third down, but this guy can’t be a starting running back in this league." 

One will never know what Skattebo would have accomplished as a rookie had he stayed healthy, as he suffered a gruesome dislocation of his right ankle on Oct. 26, 2025. According to ESPN stats, Skattebo ended Week 5 of this season ranked 15th in the league with 294 rushing yards on the campaign. Over his 81 carries, he tallied a single touchdown. 

Additionally, Skattebo has thus far recorded 10 receptions for 79 yards this season. However, he committed four fumbles (one lost) over the campaign's first five weeks. 

Exec echoes scouts' take on Cam Skattebo

"They don’t have a starting running back," the previously mentioned executive said about the Giants. "It has to be by committee. Skattebo can’t see this much of the ball. It’s smoke and mirrors [that] they started 3-1."

For a different article posted on Tuesday, Giants reporter Dan Duggan of The Athletic argued that head coach John Harbaugh should abandon the team's run-heavy approach and instead let temporary starting quarterback Jameis Winston "air it out," beginning with New York's upcoming home game versus the 1-4 New Orleans Saints on Oct. 18. It sounds like the scout and the executive may agree with Duggan.

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Giants as 1.5-point favorites over the Saints.