Malik Nabers was one of the top candidates for Offensive Rookie of the Year following a blistering four-game start. But the New York Giants receiver suffered a concussion at the end of their Week 4 Thursday night game against the Dallas Cowboys, leaving his status in doubt.
Below, we examine the latest on whether the Giants will have their top receiver for their trip out west to face the Seattle Seahawks.
The Latest on Malik Nabers’ Injury
Nabers did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, an ominous sign for his Sunday availability. ESPN’s Giants reporter Jordan Raanan illustrated how unlikely it is that Nabers will make it through the concussion protocol in time:
No Malik Nabers at #Giants practice again on Thursday. Looking more and more unlikely he makes it this week vs. Seahawks.
Unless he’s already doing football-specific exercise (Phase 3) behind the scenes, he’s going to run out of time. pic.twitter.com/X09x6CmKfk
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 3, 2024
The fact that Nabers has not returned to practice even with the extra time coming off a Thursday game suggests this is likely to cost him at least one game, if not longer.
There have been no reports thus far suggesting that the Giants would go the conservative route and place Nabers on injured reserve like the Miami Dolphins did with Tua Tagovailoa, so a return in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals is more realistic.
Impact of Malik Nabers’ Potential Absence
The Giants have the most heliocentric passing game in the league, funneling almost all of their targets through Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. Nabers accounted for 38.2% of the Giants’ targets this season, highest in the NFL entering Week 5 by a massive margin. For context, the player with the second-highest share of his team’s targets is Amon-Ra St. Brown with 31.1%.
With a league-leading 35 receptions for 386 yards (second most behind Nico Collins), Nabers was off to one of the best starts to a career ever by a receiver:
- His 35 receptions are second-most through four career games in NFL history. He trails only Puka Nacua, who had 39 last season.
- His 386 receiving yards are fifth-most through four career games in NFL history.
Unsurprisingly, Daniel Jones has experienced a massive gap in efficiency between his targets to Nabers versus any other Giants receiver. When targeting Nabers, Jones has averaged 0.49 EPA per play, which would be the best of any QB this season. When targeting anyone else, Jones is averaging -0.38 EPA per play, which would be the second-worst figure of any QB, ahead of only the benched Bryce Young.
From a fantasy perspective, expect plenty of targets to Robinson, who has gotten more targets than any No. 2 receiver so far. Robinson has gotten 27.9% of the Giants’ targets, the ninth-highest rate of any player.
The issue is that there’s very little yardage upside — his 4.7-yard aDOT and 7.5 yards per reception are both fourth-lowest of any wide receiver through Week 4. Still, sheer volume makes Robinson a Flex option in PPR leagues.
Wan'Dale Robinson could be in line for heavy targets against the Seahawks' defense
Robinson ranks 2nd among WRs in target rate when the defense generates pressure, which could mean more looks against a Seattle defense that ranks 1st in pressure rate pic.twitter.com/QbdNuecios
— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) October 3, 2024
Darius Slayton should also see a bump in snaps as the No. 2 receiver. Slayton led the Giants with 770 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns last season, so it’s possible his pre-existing chemistry with Jones actually makes him the higher-ceiling fantasy option.