In an attempt to cap off an electric performance with a clutch fourth-down reception late in last Thursday’s game, Malik Nabers fell hard on his head, resulting in a concussion.
What is the latest news on Nabers’ status? Should fantasy football managers be looking for alternatives ahead of the New York Giants’ Week 5 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks?
Will Malik Nabers Be Active in Week 5?
In the modern NFL, concussions are treated much differently than they used to be. Gone are the days when a player’s first concussion would frequently lead to a return without missing a game. Nearly every player to sustain a concussion misses at least one contest.
The fact that Nabers played on a Thursday does increase his chances of being able to avoid missing a game, as it affords him three extra days to get through the protocol.
Unfortunately, it appears the benefits of the additional time weren’t enough, as Nabers was not on the practice field on Wednesday.
WR Malik Nabers won’t practice. Still in the “early stages” of concussion protocol.
RB Devin Singletary (groin) also won’t practice. #Giants
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 2, 2024
Missing a Wednesday practice doesn’t preclude a player from ultimately clearing the protocol, but it’s not a good start.
Typically, when a player is going to be able to make it back from a concussion, he is able to get in a limited practice to open the week. Thus, the Wednesday DNP is a very ominous sign.
ESPN’s Giants reporter Jordan Raanan also said on Thursday morning that Nabers is a long shot to be ready for Seattle. Nabers once again missed practice on Thursday as well.
Potential Fantasy Options If Nabers Is Out Include Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton
Given my belief that Nabers won’t be able to go this weekend, fantasy managers will need alternatives. You obviously can look beyond the Giants, but if you’re looking for who might benefit, Wan’Dale Robinson is the most obvious candidate.
Robinson has been the clear WR2 for New York. Last week, he went full PPR scam mode, catching 11 of 14 targets for a whopping 71 yards. Somewhere, Jarvis Landry shed a tear.
If Nabers can’t go, Robinson should once again be peppered with low-value targets that are great for PPR leagues.
To a lesser extent, desperate fantasy managers (possibly including me in a league) might want to give Darius Slayton a look. Slayton has never been a consistently useful fantasy asset, but he’s had moments throughout his career — and Week 5 could be one of them.
Darius Slayton Rocker Step spinning the corner like a top https://t.co/U5oYRcaU4P pic.twitter.com/kiXrdfWdv3
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) September 27, 2024
Slayton has played over 80% of the snaps in the past three weeks. He’s actually 19th in the league in routes run so far and has run a route on 90% of Daniel Jones’ dropbacks.
In the absence of Nabers, Slayton would be an every-down player, starting in two-receiver sets opposite Robinson. It’s not a bad spot against a Seahawks defense that was destroyed by the Detroit Lions last week.
Slayton is nowhere near as good as Amon-Ra St. Brown, but the point is that this Seahawks defense is more beatable than their eighth-fewest fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers would suggest.
If you’re looking beyond the Giants, some other names to consider are Xavier Legette, Jordan Whittington, and Romeo Doubs, all of whom are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.