The NFL preseason is winding down, and fantasy football managers are zeroing in on Malik Nabers’ status in New York. The Giants have carefully monitored Nabers’ training camp involvement, as he’s dealt with two separate injuries.
Should fantasy managers be worried about his early 2025 outlook, or is this just standard preseason caution?
Malik Nabers Injury Update
Throughout training camp, the Giants have managed Nabers’ practice workload, mindful of a toe injury that has followed him since his LSU days. Nabers played through this toe issue in both college and his rookie year, and the team has made it clear that it is not a significant concern. He’s participated in multiple practices, but his reps have often been scaled back.
Most recently, as reported by Adam Schefter, Nabers hasn’t practiced since the first week of August with a minor back injury.
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers hasn’t practiced in 11 days after dealing with what multiple sources told ESPN was a minor back problem.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2025
While his lack of practice is not ideal, reports from Giants camp and multiple team sources describe the injury as “normal camp tightness.”
Head coach Brian Daboll and the Giants’ staff have emphasized caution, keeping Nabers out until he’s fully healthy. There’s no sense that Nabers would be sitting if these injuries occurred during the regular season.
Malik Nabers Fantasy Outlook
For fantasy football, the current news on Nabers shouldn’t be a red flag. His absence from preseason practices is more about the team exercising caution than any true threat to his early-season status.
It is smart to view any August injury optimism or pessimism with perspective. Teams have little incentive to rush valuable starters back before games count. If this were September, all indications are that Nabers would be suiting up for the Giants.
Malik Nabers really went for 109-1204-7 in 15 games at 21 years young
pic.twitter.com/iUbimrk65q
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 12, 2025
Given where Nabers is being drafted, he already comes with context about his offensive environment; the Giants’ passing offense is less potent than those supporting his contemporaries.
But preseason action from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has inspired confidence, and there’s a path for Nabers to benefit from a potential quarterback change ahead of the fantasy playoffs.
RELATED: What Happened to Malik Nabers, and Is the Giants Star in Danger of Missing Week 1?
It’s reasonable if you prefer Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr., or Drake London ahead of Nabers. Each has their own strengths and supporting situations, but these minor preseason issues should not necessarily be a reason to push Nabers further down your board.
In summary, keep Nabers slotted around his consensus ranking for 2025. Unless more significant news emerges, the combination of a long-managed toe issue and a minor back concern is simply a routine bump rather than a red flag for this ascending young wide receiver.
