Darius Slayton
Wide Receiver #86
Darius Slayton News
Darius Slayton Released by the Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Slayton signed with the Colts after the team placed wideout Alec Pierce (ankle) on injured reserve and was expected to play a larger role in the offense. Slayton has not appeared in a game with the team this season, having suffered a knee injury in practice before last week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last season, Slayton caught 37 of 63 targets for 538 yards and a touchdown in 14 games with the New York Giants. While it's unclear whether Slayton will sign with another team this season, the Colts will roll with Laquon Treadwell as their primary outside receiver in the coming weeks. This could also mean that Pierce is trending in the right direction and could return at some point this season.
Oct 16, 2026 5:21 AM EST
Darius Slayton Won't Play for Colts in Week 5
The Indianapolis Colts downgraded wide receiver Darius Slayton (knee) from questionable to out for their Week 5 contest on Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Slayton is dealing with a new knee injury, but he was able to practice on a limited basis on Friday. His next chance to make his Colts debut will come in Week 6 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. Alec Pierce (heel) is on Injured Reserve, and veteran Keenan Allen (groin) is questionable to play this weekend, so Indy's receiving corps is thinned out behind Josh Downs. Laquon Treadwell and Deion Burks are the next men up in the Steel City in Week 5, so quarterback Daniel Jones will not be much of an upside play as a QB2 in two-QB superflex leagues against the Steelers. After being cut by the New York Giants, Slayton signed with the Colts on Sept. 21, but he has yet to play in a game with the team. The 29-year-old caught 37 passes for 538 yards and only one touchdown in 14 games in 2025 in his final season with the G-Men. The Colts' lack of WR depth is one of the reasons they have been mentioned as a potential suitor for Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Oct 10, 2026 8:06 AM EST
Darius Slayton Remains a Healthy Scratch for Week 4
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Darius Slayton (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Washington Commanders in London. It seemed like Slayton was in line to make his Colts debut after Keenan Allen (groin) was ruled out, but that's not the case. With Slayton, Allen, and Alec Pierce (heel, IR) on the sideline, the Colts will likely give more offensive snaps to Laquon Treadwell and Ashton Dulin. Both receivers will push for more targets in their role behind No. 1 receiver Josh Downs. Allen's absence creates an opportunity for Treadwell or Dulin to step in as the next man up, but we're not quite sure this offense can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers every week. Downs remains the only Indianapolis wideout that should be started for now.
Oct 4, 2026 4:18 AM EST
Darius Slayton Presented with Opportunity to Make a Big Impact in Week 4
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Darius Slayton will make his team debut on Sunday, and he could immediately step into an elevated role. Slayton was originally signed to take the roster spot of Alec Pierce (heel) on injured reserve, but he hasn't earned an offensive snap yet. That should change in Week 4, as the Colts will be without both Pierce and Keenan Allen (groin). There's a reasonable path for Slayton to occupy the No. 2 role on the depth chart behind Josh Downs. The jury is still out on whether the Colts' offense can support two fantasy-relevant receivers at once, but we'd feel decent about his outlook against the Washington Commanders if he does indeed operate as the No. 2 receiver behind Downs. This is certainly a very enticing matchup for Slayton; entering Week 4, the Commanders had allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Managers who are in deeper leagues and need a WR3/flex replacement should consider streaming Slayton this week.
Oct 3, 2026 11:50 AM EST
Darius Slayton Signing with the Colts
Veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton is signing with the Indianapolis Colts, per Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. The 29-year-old spent his first seven NFL seasons with the New York Giants, but was released by New York following training camp. With his skill set as a downfield threat, Slayton profiles as the replacement for injured Colts wideout Alec Pierce (heel). Pierce suffered a heel injury in Indianapolis' Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that is expected to keep him out for several weeks. Across 14 games (12 starts) with the Giants in 2025, Slayton recorded 37 catches for 538 yards and one touchdown on 63 targets. He has plenty of experience catching passes from Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, as the two played together for six seasons with the Giants. In deeper leagues, Slayton could be worth a look on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
Sep 21, 2026 5:29 PM EST
Giants Release Darius Slayton on Monday
The New York Giants released wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Slayton was a fifth-round selection by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft from Auburn, and he caught 296 of his 522 targets for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns in his seven years with the team over 106 regular-season games played (78 starts). He caught 37 of 63 targets for 538 yards and a career-low one touchdown in 14 games played last year for the G-Men, despite Malik Nabers (knee) going down with a torn ACL early in the season. The move to release the 29-year-old does not mean that Slayton will not return to the organization's practice squad ahead of the Week 1 season opener against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. But with Slayton out of the picture for now, Nabers, Darnell Mooney, rookie Malachi Fields, and veteran Odell Beckham Jr. will serve as the team's top pass-catchers. Slayton's release is more good news for OBJ as he attempts to turn back the clock in 2026.
Sep 7, 2026 1:22 PM EST
Darius Slayton Makes the Giants' Initial 53-Man Roster
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton made the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. There was a slight risk that he might be cut prior to Sunday's roster deadline, but instead, the Giants parted ways with former third-round pick Jalin Hyatt. Slayton will now round out a wide receiver room that also features Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Odell Beckham Jr. He had a solid 37 catches for 538 yards and one touchdown last year, but he could have trouble replicating that stat line in 2026 given that he's likely fifth in the wide receiver pecking order. We also can't rule out the possibility of the Giants adding another receiver who was cut loose by another NFL team on Sunday. Slayton has fallen to WR100 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, so although he did make the team, he's off the radar in most fantasy football leagues.
Aug 30, 2026 7:22 PM EST
Darius Slayton Leads Giants in Receiving Against Dolphins
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton caught four of six targets for 58 yards in the 26-3 preseason win over the Miami Dolphins. Slayton led the Giants' starting lineup in snaps and targets, playing all eight snaps on the team's opening drive with quarterback Jameis Winston. The veteran receiver had 538 yards and one touchdown in 14 games last season, though he is expected to play a smaller role with Malik Nabers back from injury and free-agency additions across the board. While Slayton's blocking and deep-threat ability could keep him on the field over the other names, he is unlikely to be a key contributor in fantasy leagues this season.
Aug 23, 2026 7:12 PM EST
Darius Slayton Listed as Starting Wide Receiver in Giants Unofficial Depth Chart
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was listed as the starting wide receiver on the team's unofficial depth chart. Slayton was listed alongside star wideout Malik Nabers as the only two wideouts named starters, with Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, Odell Beckham Jr., and Malachi Fields listed behind them. In 2025, Slayton was forced to step up after Nabers' knee injury and, despite costly drops, did quite well, averaging about 40 receiving yards per game. While Mooney, Beckham, and Austin have all worked with the first-team offense in recent practice, Slayton's current contract will likely force the team to hold onto him in 2026. The offense under head coach John Harbaugh will use more heavy personnel this season, but any wideout besides Nabers is unlikely to produce fantasy-relevant numbers.
Aug 12, 2026 7:59 PM EST
Darius Slayton Healthy to Start Training Camp
After missing spring workouts while recovering from offseason core-muscle surgery, New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was in attendance for the team's first practice of training camp. While the Giants have 14 wide receivers listed on their 90-man roster, few roles, if any, have been secured behind 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers, so the team will be looking for players who can consistently make plays in a game-like setting, and Slayton reportedly connected with quarterback Jaxson Dart on a deep out over starting cornerback Paulson Adebo. Barely clinging to fantasy relevance, Slayton is RotoBaller's WR104 ahead of the 2026 season. Still, if he can continue to string plays together throughout camp, he could prove to be a necessary piece of the Giants' new-look offense and see his fantasy value rise.
Jul 30, 2026 7:05 AM EST
Darius Slayton has Shaky Long-Term Value
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has seen his role in the offense drop in recent years. Over the last two seasons, Slayton has finished with fewer than 600 receiving yards both years. During that span, Slayton has scored a total of three touchdowns, which is fewer than in his 2023 campaign. The expectation was that Slayton would have a larger role once Malik Nabers (knee) went down, but that didn't really happen. Now, Nabers is expected to return at some point this season, and the Giants have added reinforcements. They've signed Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, and Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason. The Giants also drafted Malachi Field in the third-round of this year's draft. There's becoming too many bodies in New York and not enough targets for everyone. The 29-year-old may get lost in the shuffle with all the new weapons for Jaxson Dart in 2026.
Jul 20, 2026 5:59 PM EST
Darius Slayton's Long-Term Role in New York is Uncertain Entering 2026
Across 14 games in 2025, New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton recorded 37 catches for 538 yards and one touchdown on 63 targets. Slayton remains a steady downfield presence, as he's averaged 15.1 yards per reception over the last four seasons. However, he was unable to step into a higher-volume role last season, even after star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Entering 2026, New York has a new coaching staff in place that may not be as partial to Slayton. The Giants signed veteran wideouts Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, and Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency in addition to using a third-round pick in the 2026 Draft on wide receiver Malachi Fields. As Slayton enters his age-29 season, he may be in line for a significantly reduced role in his team's offense. In dynasty formats, managers may want to see whether they can move Slayton for any value.
Jun 30, 2026 7:22 AM EST
Will Darius Slayton Be Phased Out of New-Look Giants Offense?
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is slated to miss the entirety of the team's spring offseason program after undergoing surgery for a core-muscle injury in late April, but he is expected back for the start of training camp in what will likely be late July. When he does return to practice, the receiver room will look much different than the one he last occupied, with the Giants spending a 2026 third-round pick on Malachi Fields before doling out low-money contracts to Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Braxton Berrios, to go along with the earlier free agent signings of Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. While the depth chart could shake out in any number of ways, none of them particularly attractive for fantasy, the biggest question mark pertaining to the Giants receiver room is the health of 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers, who continues to work his way back from the complicated knee injury that ended his sophomore campaign. With Nabers shelved for most of the year, Slayton finished second on the team with 538 receiving yards, but even with the Giants' leading receiver, Wan'Dale Robinson, departing in free agency, the situation has become far less conducive to fantasy success for the 29-year-old veteran. After a WR64 finish in 2025, Slayton has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty WR136.
Jun 7, 2026 5:50 AM EST
Darius Slayton Undergoes Core-Muscle Surgery, Expected to be Ready for Camp
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (abdomen) recently had core-muscle surgery, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Slayton will miss spring workouts, but he's expected to be a full-go for training camp this summer. Barring a setback in his recovery, Slayton should be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this fall. Top wideout Malik Nabers (knee) is also recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered early last season, so there are some definite question marks for New York's receiving room heading into the upcoming campaign. Wan'Dale Robinson departed in free agency, but the G-Men added Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III in free agency, and drafted Malachi Fields in the third round. The 29-year-old Slayton has seven years of experience in the NFL (all with the Giants), but he's never cleared 770 receiving yards, and he hasn't had more than four touchdowns in a single season since his rookie year, when he had eight. Slayton's roster spot in New York should be secure, but he'll be battling for targets with Mooney, Austin, and Fields, and he won't be a very intriguing late-round flier in standard 12-team fantasy leagues going into his eighth year in the league.
Apr 30, 2026 9:13 AM EST
Darius Slayton's Dynasty Value Fading After Busy Giants Offseason
New York wide receiver Darius Slayton has become a bit of a forgotten man amidst a busy Giants' offseason, and that is reflected in his dynasty value, as he has fallen to RotoBaller's WR122. At times, out of necessity in 2025, Slayton operated as the team's primary boundary receiver, but he converted the opportunity into only 538 yards and one touchdown on 37 receptions. For reference, Malik Nabers finished the year with 18 catches, 271 yards, and two touchdowns after an early-season ACL tear limited him to parts of only four games. With Nabers expected back for the start of the 2026 season, he'll be looking to recreate his historic 2024 rookie season, in which he caught 109 of 165 targets. Wan'Dale Robinson, who led the team with 131 targets in 2025 before signing a four-year deal with the Titans, will see much of his vacated workload picked up by free agent acquisitions Isaiah Likely and Darnell Mooney, as well as the recently drafted Malachi Fields. With the Giants' depth chart suddenly crowded, Slayton is projected to settle back into a more natural complementary role, and dynasty managers who were unable to sell on the strength of his opportunistic workload are stuck holding a depreciating asset.
Apr 29, 2026 5:39 AM EST
Where Does Darius Slayton Fit Among a Crowd of Giants Pass Catchers?
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton's 538 receiving yards in 2025 were good for the second-highest total on a New York team that saw starts from three different quarterbacks while playing almost the entire season without its clear number one receiver in Malik Nabers. In 2026, a sense of continuity is expected to return to New York, which could hurt Slayton's chances of making any meaningful impact. The team's leading receiver from last season, Wan'Dale Robinson, reunited with former head coach Brian Daboll in Tennessee, and although they play vastly different roles, some of his production is expected to be absorbed by free agent acquisition Darnell Mooney. Running backs Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary are all expected back after combining for more than 90 targets in their first season together. New York also returns tight end Theo Johnson, who finished second on the team in targets and receptions, but the main reason analysts are expecting a year two jump from quarterback Jaxson Dart, and a subsequently lowered ceiling for Slayton and all other Giants' pass catchers, is the anticipated return to health of Nabers. His 170 targets as a rookie broke a 21-year-old NFL record, and prior to tearing his ACL in Week 4, he was on pace for another 150+ in 2025.
Apr 6, 2026 5:15 AM EST
Darius Slayton Faces Plenty of New Competition
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton briefly entered this offseason as the team's No. 2 receiver with Wan'Dale Robinson departing in free agency. However, the pass-catching room has quickly become crowded after new head coach John Harbaugh brought in his hand-picked class of free agents. The Giants signed Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III, both of whom had very disappointing 2025 seasons but are candidates for positive regression in a new system in 2026. Specifically, Mooney's style of making plays downfield and winning in coverage makes him a threat to steal plenty of Slayton's snaps and targets. The Giants also brought in tight end Isaiah Likely, pairing him with Theo Johnson, who was already ascending into a larger role. Training camp will offer more insight into what the pecking order looks like in New York, but for now, managers should be at least a little concerned that Slayton could fall behind any combination of Malik Nabers, Mooney, Austin, Likely, and Johnson. He's worth holding in deeper dynasty leagues in case he does end up as Jaxson Dart's No. 2 target, but with such a wide range of outcomes, he can be left on waivers in shallower formats or redraft leagues.
Mar 18, 2026 6:22 AM EST
Darius Slayton Could Remain Stuck as No. 3 Receiver in 2026
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has shown flashes of upside plenty of times throughout his career, but he continues to struggle to emerge as a consistent fantasy threat week over week. Part of the difficulty for Slayton has been quarterback play, but that changed in 2025 when rookie Jaxson Dart took the reins of the offense. However, the other part of the problem has been Slayton's role on the depth chart, and the outlook there remains bleak. We did temporarily jump to second on the depth chart behind Wan'Dale Robinson after Malik Nabers (knee) tore his ACL -- resulting in 37 catches, 538 yards, and a touchdown -- he'll drop back to third if Nabers is healthy for the start of 2026. Plus, tight end Theo Johnson will continue to command plenty of targets, and the same can be said about running back Cam Skattebo (ankle). If there's any glimmer of hope for Slayton, it's the fact that Robinson is an impending free agent. However, the Giants have been very outspoken about their plans to bring Robinson back. It seems likely that Slayton will remain the Giants' No. 3 receiver in 2026, leaving his value to hinge on a teammate's injury. He's not worth drafting in typical redraft leagues, and he can be stashed on the bench only in deeper dynasty formats.
Feb 12, 2026 7:34 AM EST
Darius Slayton Headed for Major Increase in Volume?
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is expected to handle increased volume with Wan'Dale Robinson (ribs) and Theo Johnson (illness) both sidelined against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18. Robinson is headed for his first absence of the season, and Johnson has only been inactive one other time. Therefore, we haven't yet seen what Slayton can do as Jaxson Dart's No. 1 target. However, we have seen glimpses of his upside. He caught a touchdown pass in Week 13, handled 10 targets in Week 15, and has played at least 87% of the snaps in two of his last three games. The bigger role comes at a perfect time for Slayton and his managers, as the Cowboys have surrendered the league's most yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Managers should feel comfortable deploying Slayton as a strong WR2 option in fantasy football as he handles a bigger workload and gets a very enticing matchup.
Jan 4, 2026 9:35 AM EST
Darius Slayton a Distant Second Fiddle in Giants' Passing Game
Despite garnering a decent share of the team's targets weekly, New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton's output hasn't been enough to warrant consistent fantasy consideration. When teammate Malik Nabers (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury, the seventh-year pro automatically slotted in as New York's WR2 behind Wan'Dale Robinson (rib). However, Slayton hasn't turned his opportunity into steady fantasy production, instead taking a clear back seat to Robinson, who leads the team in each significant receiving category by a wide margin sans touchdowns. As it stands, Slayton could see a modest uptick in work when the Giants take on the Cowboys this Sunday, particularly if Robinson and tight end Theo Johnson (illness) are forced to sit with their respective ailments. If they play, though, the veteran is a fade. Slayton has eclipsed 50 receiving yards in just four of 13 games in 2025.
Jan 2, 2026 11:27 AM EST
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