For the New York Giants to contend for the playoffs this season, here are the five players who can help make that happen:

Eli Manning, QB: No more excuses. Manning has all the weapons necessary with running back Saquon Barkley, wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard, tight end Evan Engram, an improved offensive line and a new offense under coach Pat Shurmur. This Giants offense will be as good as its quarterback will allow. It wasn't all Manning's fault last season, but the Giants scored 13.6 points per game when Beckham was either limited or didn't play. Manning threw just 19 touchdown passes in 15 games. He needs to play better. The Giants' season and their overall success depends on it.

Odell Beckham, WR: He's been the Giants' offense for the past four years. Beckham is that good. The Giants averaged 23 points in the three games when he was on the field for most of the snaps last season. They averaged 13.6 points when he wasn't. The dynamic playmaker was worth almost 10 points per game with his ability to take a short gain and turn it into a long touchdown. Beckham is coming off a broken ankle, but the expectation is that it won't have any long-term effects. That's good news for the Giants, who need him to even have a functional offense that can put points on the board.

Saquon Barkley, RB: He's the running back touched by the hands of God (according to general manager Dave Gettleman) who can take the Giants' offense to the next level. Barkley was brought in to balance out a group that desperately needs it after finishing 26th and 29th in the NFL in rushing the past two seasons. He should be able to take pressure off Beckham, Manning and the offensive line. Barkley's presence alone should open things up for New York's offense this season and make play-action more than just for show. Defenses now have to respect it.

Olivier Vernon, OLB: He's the single most important player on defense. The Giants can't afford for Vernon to miss significant time with injury or have a down season. He's their pass rush. Vernon is the only pass-rusher on the Giants' roster who scares opposing defensive coordinators. He's the only Giant to ever top 4.0 sacks in a single season. New defensive coordinator James Bettcher plans to use Vernon in the Chandler Jones role; Jones had 28 sacks in two seasons working with Bettcher in Arizona. The Giants need some of that, or else their questionable secondary will be exposed due to a lack of pressure on quarterbacks.

Eli Apple, CB: The success of the Giants' secondary hinges on Apple, who is coming off a disastrous season that saw him benched (on multiple occasions) and suspended for his conduct all while playing poorly. He still received a clean slate from the new regime this offseason and returns as the clear-cut starter opposite Janoris Jenkins. Behind Apple is, well, not much in terms of proven NFL commodities. The Giants are paper-thin at cornerback and relying heavily on the 2016 first-round pick to have a bounce-back season. If not, they will be in trouble. Opposing wide receivers will have a field day.