Getty Image / Jason Miller
It’s been nearly a decade since the New York Giants had a true number-one wide receiver, back when Odell Beckham Jr. was making incredible plays week after week. It’s early, but it seems like they’ve found another one in rookie Malik Nabers.
Nabers, the 6th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been electric in his first three games with the G-Men, instantly becoming one of the league’s best receivers. In fact, he’s on a pace only equaled by some of the best receivers in the league to start a career.
Nabers lit it up at LSU, winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver last year, catching 89 passes for over 1500 yards and 14 touchdowns after a 1000-yard season as a sophomore. The Giants, devoid of playmakers after Saquon Barkley left for the Eagles in free agency, decided to use an important first-rounder in their rebuild on him.
It’s paying off. After a solid opener that saw Malik Nabers catch five passes for 66 yards against the Vikings, he’s gone nuclear the last two weeks. Nabers caught 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Commanders. On Sunday, he snagged 8 balls for 78 yards and two scores.
https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1837917629308084358
Those two plays were on the same drive. He’s simply remarkable.
Not only is Nabers impacting the stat sheet, but he has Daniel Jones playing like a serviceable quarterback and not like a guy who shouldn’t be anywhere near an NFL field. Even after their win over the Browns on Sunday, the Giants likely aren’t going anywhere. But, they’re a lot more fun to watch.
Just how good has Nabers been? Here’s this tidbit, courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Giants WR Malik Nabers is the first player in NFL history with at least 20 receptions and three touchdown catches in his first three career games. Nabers’ 23 receptions are tied with Anquan Boldin – 23 receptions in 2003 – for the second-most receptions by a player in his first three career games in NFL history. Only Puka Nacua with 30 last season had more. At 21 years and 56 days old, Nabers is the youngest wide receiver in NFL history with two touchdown receptions in a game, surpassing Mike Evans, who did it at 21 years and 73 days old on Nov. 2, 2014.
In some fantasy football formats, Nabers is the top wide receiver in the NFL through the Sunday games in Week 3. Simply put, he’s been a revelation, and might be the league’s best rookie.