Dave Portnoy criticizes NFL teams for overlooking Giants’ Cam Skattebo

Giants Rookie Cam Skatebo Making Waves in NFL

Just six weeks into his professional football career, Giants rookie Cam Skatebo is carving out a reputation for himself, thanks to his tough running style and vibrant personality.

Interestingly, one notable figure in sports is scratching his head over why Skatebo was picked in the fourth round during the NFL Draft.

On a recent episode of FOX’s “The Big Noon Kickoff,” Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, expressed his astonishment at what he sees as a missed opportunity by NFL teams regarding Skatebo’s talent.

“Today’s discussion is about the folks in the NFL’s front offices who think you need an official position to really understand football. That’s not the case,” Portnoy said. “Cam Skatebo is currently the talk of the town—not just among college fans but in the professional realm as well. He’s on fire, and everyone’s buzzing about him.”

“How can you let go of a guy who was phenomenal in college, almost single-handedly taking Arizona State to the championship? He was arguably the best running back in the nation and yet fell to the fourth round. It’s just ridiculous,” he added, visibly frustrated.

In his college career, Skatebo rushed for 143 yards and caught eight passes for another 99 yards during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Texas. He even threw a 42-yard touchdown pass in the Peach Bowl, despite the overtime loss.

In 2024, Skatebo led the Big 12 with an impressive 1,711 rushing yards but was still selected as the eighth running back overall by the Giants in that draft.

Now stepping into the spotlight as the Giants’ primary running back, he had a breakout game against the Eagles, rushing for a career-high 98 yards and securing three touchdowns. This performance was pivotal in what has been considered one of the Giants’ most significant games this season, with his 338 rushing yards leading the team.

Portnoy believes that Skatebo has the potential to revitalize the Giants this season. “We often put too much faith in the wrong people. We saw Cam Skatebo’s talent; he loves the game,” he remarked. “He’s changed the atmosphere of that team. Too many just collect checks and think they’re football authorities. But who watches more football than I do? Nobody. I see every game, and it’s frustrating to see skepticism toward people like him.”

“At the combine, it’s all about the numbers—how fast can he run, how high can he jump? But ultimately, this guy is a winner; he has the passion. It’s baffling how he ended up in the fourth round,” Portnoy concluded.