NY Giants Defense Face Challenge from Seahawks RB Emanuel Wilson

With the 2026 NFL schedule release event less than two months away, we’re going to take a look each day at one newcomer on each of the New York Giants’ opponents whose presence could potentially create the biggest headache for Big Blue.

The New York Giants will have a daunting task when they travel to Seattle to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks this season. Yes, the Seahawks will challenge their pass coverage, but more importantly, their rushing attack will put the Giants’ rush defense to the test.

The Giants will have to face a new addition in the backfield for the Seahawks: Emanuel Wilson, who joined Seattle after years with the Green Bay Packers as their number two back behind Josh Jacobs. He is someone the team will have to key on stopping if they want any chance of leaving with a victory.

Wilson would normally not be a back that the Giants had to focus on stopping. However, with the Seahawks saying goodbye to Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker in free agency and being without their number-two back, Zach Charbonneau, it leaves a hole that the team's inexperience won't fill.

Wilson has proven over the years that he can come in and be a more than capable fill-in for a starter, and that's why the Giants need to be aware of his skill set.

Downhill Power Running

Running back Emanuel Wilson | Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

At 5-foot-10 and 226 pounds, Wilson is a bowling ball coming through the line of scrimmage. He is able to bounce off contact and continue to pick up yards. His effect is especially felt when his team has the lead, as he can wear down an already tired defense.

He averaged 3.1 yards after contact last season, which further illustrates his ability to eat up yards.

Because of his low center of gravity and forward lean in his running style, it's hard for defenders to get a clean hit on him. Many times, he is the one delivering the blow rather than receiving the hit.

Last season, he proved he could be a workhorse back when he was called into action against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He carried the ball 28 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns while filling in for an injured Josh Jacobs.

Reliable Safety Valve

When you think of Wilson, you don't normally think of a pass-receiving back. And nobody's saying that he's Christian McCaffrey, but what he is is an extremely reliable safety valve for quarterbacks to find in a pinch or to dump off when they're getting pressure.

Over his three-year career, he has been targeted 36 times and has caught 30 passes. That is a career catch rate of 83.3%, which is phenomenal for someone not known for their pass receiving.

Getting Wilson the ball in the open field with an opportunity to get a head of steam turns him into the hardest open-field runner to get on the ground that a defense could see.

Since the Giants have regularly had issues covering backs leaking out of the backfield, there is no reason to believe this wouldn't be another situation where they would struggle.

First Down and Touchdown, Hammer

Because Wilson is so difficult to bring down, thanks to his hard-nosed running style, he is extremely effective as a short-yardage back and in the red zone. His effectiveness as a short-yardage back can be demoralizing for a defense looking to get off the field.

On third down, he can turn a two-yard run into a humbling six-yard run and another set of downs. That ability to churn out extra yardage is equally as effective when you're in the red zone and near the goal line.

In 2025, despite having the fewest touches, he scored three touchdown runs. All of them came inside the red zone.

From five yards out, it's difficult for an offense not to give him however many carries he needs to get the touchdown. He's not going to be denied three or four times in a row.

The Giants have not held up well on short-yardage downs or near the goal line. Their interior defensive line has not been able to displace the line of scrimmage, and thus they give the running back an opportunity to get a head of steam and plunge through the line to pick up a fresh set of downs or, even worse, score a touchdown.

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