Darkwa Shining

It’s been anything but a career year for the New York Giants, whose season probably didn’t even outlive your Halloween jack-o-lanterns.

- Geoff Magliocchetti

That’s certainly the contrary, however, for Orleans Darkwa, who has unexpectedly become a grizzled veteran on a Giants offense depleted by injuries.

A four-year veteran, Darkwa has gotten extended reps for the first time in his career, and he’s making the most of them. Through Week 10, Darkwa has picked up 415 yards on 81 carries, good for an average carry of 5.1 yards. That impressive average ranks sixth among qualifying rushers.

“I feel like I can make people miss when need be, but I’m just more of a north-south guy,” Darkwa said on what he’s changed to his running style this season. “I try to minimize the negative yardage, get as many yards as I can and go on to the next play.”

Over the past two seasons, Darkwa has held tough in a roster battle crowded with veterans. Undrafted out of Tulane in 2014, Darkwa played sparingly in his first season, which began with Miami. He signed with the Giants in November of his rookie year and earned his first career starts last season. Despite a strong two-game stretch where he had 101 yards on 22 carries (not to mention two touchdowns), injuries cut Darkwa’s season short, as he missed the final five games, including the Giants’ playoff cameo in Green Bay.