Malik Nabers’ assault on the rookie receiving records is being paused for a week. He won’t play on Sunday at Seattle, says Brian Daboll.
Nabers suffered a concussion at the end of the Dallas game, and he remains in the concussion protocol. He hasn’t practiced. That’s a little surprising, in that the Giants played on Thursday last week, giving them an extra three days before this week’s games.
It’s a big blow for Big Blue, with Nabers being their No. 1 playmaker. It makes Daniel Jones look a lot less appealing as possible Superflex starter or bye week replacement.
But at the same time, Nabers is averaging 13 targets per week. He’s dominating that passing game. With him sidelined, the team’s other wide receivers will need to be more involved.
Wan’Dale Robinson (pictured) looks like a safe choice to catch 6-8 balls. He’s been a main cog in that offense anyway. He caught only 2 passes at Washington, but he’s caught 24 passes in their other three games. Operating out of the slot, he’s a short-range option (averaging only 7.5 yards per catch) but makes a ton of sense in PPR formats.
And how about Darius Slayton? He’s underrated, I think, because he’s been underused and stuck on bad teams. He’s been effective with his limited opportunities. He scored in three straight games at the end of last season, going for 196 yards and 2 TDs in their games against the Eagles and Rams. He’s the guy, I think, who’ll see the biggest bump in workload.
Since 2022, 54 wide receivers have seen at least 150 targets. Slayton ranks 8th of those 54 in average yards per target, and he’s done it despite playing with a lesser quarterback and in an offense that’s often been dysfunctional. The other nine who’ve averaged at least 9 yards per attempt are all receiver we know and love – Waddle, Collins, Jefferson, Aiyuk, Pickens, Tyreek, A.J. Brown, Lamb, Nacua, DeVonta Smith.
If you’re picking through the waiver wire scraps, looking for a Week 5 receiver, Slayton could be your best option.
| RECEIVERS, YARDS PER TARGET (since 2022) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | No | Yards | Avg | TD | YPT |
| Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 241 | 164 | 2,582 | 15.7 | 12 | 10.7 |
| Nico Collins, Hou. | 218 | 147 | 2,267 | 15.4 | 12 | 10.4 |
| Justin Jefferson, Min. | 313 | 216 | 3,241 | 15.0 | 17 | 10.4 |
| Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 244 | 166 | 2,524 | 15.2 | 15 | 10.3 |
| George Pickens, Pitt. | 219 | 135 | 2,225 | 16.5 | 9 | 10.2 |
| Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 371 | 255 | 3,726 | 14.6 | 21 | 10.0 |
| A.J. Brown, Phil. | 313 | 199 | 3,071 | 15.4 | 19 | 9.8 |
| Darius Slayton, NYG | 165 | 106 | 1,616 | 15.2 | 6 | 9.8 |
| CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 369 | 262 | 3,424 | 13.1 | 23 | 9.3 |
| Puka Nacua, LAR | 164 | 109 | 1,521 | 14.0 | 6 | 9.3 |
| DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 276 | 197 | 2,501 | 12.7 | 15 | 9.1 |
| Jerry Jeudy, Cle.-Den. | 217 | 139 | 1,927 | 13.9 | 9 | 8.9 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 299 | 179 | 2,655 | 14.8 | 24 | 8.9 |
| Tee Higgins, Cin. | 201 | 125 | 1,784 | 14.3 | 12 | 8.9 |
| Gabriel Davis, Buf.-Jac. | 195 | 102 | 1,703 | 16.7 | 14 | 8.7 |
| Chris Olave, N.O. | 281 | 179 | 2,430 | 13.6 | 10 | 8.6 |
| Amari Cooper, Cle. | 297 | 166 | 2,558 | 15.4 | 16 | 8.6 |
| Alec Pierce, Ind. | 157 | 83 | 1,341 | 16.2 | 6 | 8.5 |
| D.K. Metcalf, Sea. | 296 | 180 | 2,528 | 14.0 | 16 | 8.5 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 280 | 175 | 2,384 | 13.6 | 11 | 8.5 |
| DJ Moore, Car.-Chi. | 288 | 181 | 2,441 | 13.5 | 16 | 8.5 |
| Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 303 | 206 | 2,562 | 12.4 | 19 | 8.5 |
| Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 207 | 132 | 1,746 | 13.2 | 9 | 8.4 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 348 | 252 | 2,928 | 11.6 | 18 | 8.4 |
| Christian Kirk, Jac. | 247 | 158 | 2,064 | 13.1 | 12 | 8.4 |
| Stefon Diggs, Buf.-Hou. | 347 | 240 | 2,845 | 11.9 | 21 | 8.2 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC-Chi. | 253 | 181 | 2,043 | 11.3 | 11 | 8.1 |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 265 | 181 | 2,126 | 11.7 | 14 | 8.0 |
| Josh Palmer, LAC | 178 | 117 | 1,420 | 12.1 | 5 | 8.0 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.C.-N.E. | 152 | 109 | 1,210 | 11.1 | 5 | 8.0 |
| Jakobi Meyers, N.E.-L.V. | 229 | 157 | 1,812 | 11.5 | 15 | 7.9 |
| Tyler Boyd, Cin.-Ten. | 196 | 135 | 1,537 | 11.4 | 7 | 7.8 |
| Drake London, Atl. | 271 | 173 | 2,125 | 12.3 | 9 | 7.8 |
| Chris Godwin, T.B. | 312 | 219 | 2,433 | 11.1 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 220 | 152 | 1,696 | 11.2 | 12 | 7.7 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Ari.-Ten. | 247 | 149 | 1,895 | 12.7 | 11 | 7.7 |
| Darnell Mooney, Chi.-Atl. | 162 | 95 | 1,237 | 13.0 | 6 | 7.6 |
| Courtland Sutton, Den. | 235 | 138 | 1,793 | 13.0 | 13 | 7.6 |
| Allen Lazard, G.B.-NYJ | 173 | 99 | 1,305 | 13.2 | 10 | 7.5 |
| Davante Adams, L.V. | 382 | 221 | 2,869 | 13.0 | 23 | 7.5 |
| Brandin Cooks, Hou.-Dal. | 193 | 120 | 1,447 | 12.1 | 12 | 7.5 |
| Calvin Ridley, Jac.-Ten. | 155 | 85 | 1,157 | 13.6 | 9 | 7.5 |
| Adam Thielen, Min.-Car. | 256 | 181 | 1,839 | 10.2 | 11 | 7.2 |
| Michael Pittman Jr., Ind. | 326 | 225 | 2,278 | 10.1 | 8 | 7.0 |
| Jahan Dotson, Was.-Phi. | 153 | 89 | 1,066 | 12.0 | 11 | 7.0 |
| Romeo Doubs, G.B. | 183 | 113 | 1,268 | 11.2 | 11 | 6.9 |
| K.J. Osborn, Min.-N.E. | 178 | 113 | 1,221 | 10.8 | 8 | 6.9 |
| Curtis Samuel, Was.-Buf. | 192 | 134 | 1,317 | 9.8 | 8 | 6.9 |
| Diontae Johnson, Pit.-Car. | 273 | 157 | 1,838 | 11.7 | 7 | 6.7 |
| Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 349 | 198 | 2,336 | 11.8 | 8 | 6.7 |
| Elijah Moore, NYJ-Cle. | 187 | 108 | 1,167 | 10.8 | 3 | 6.2 |
| Zay Jones, Jac. | 185 | 116 | 1,144 | 9.9 | 7 | 6.2 |
| Hollywood Brown, Ari. | 208 | 118 | 1,283 | 10.9 | 7 | 6.2 |
| Robert Woods, Ten.-Hou. | 171 | 96 | 981 | 10.2 | 3 | 5.7 |
We’ll also see Jalin Hyatt playing a lot more. He’s the speedy receiver they selected in the third round a year ago, and he’s hit on a couple of long catches. But he’s been lost in the shuffle this season, stuck behind the other three receivers. Maybe Hyatt can pull a 65-yard touchdown out of his hat, but I don’t see him as compelling as Robinson and Slayton.
—Ian Allan