Does anyone want to guess who leads the NFL in targets and target share through three games this season?
That’s right, New York Giants rookie wideout Malik Nabers. Nabers has a 38% target share through three weeks and has 37 targets, both tops in the NFL, for a Giants team that knows Nabers is their most consistent and explosive offensive weapon. Y’all remember in high school when you played that team with the one kid who went on to play high tier college football? Yeah that’s Nabers in the Giants offense. His skillset was on full display in the Giants’ win over the Cleveland Browns, catching eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and giving New York something to believe in for the first time since Spider-Man swung around town. Let’s dig into what makes him so special and what stood out on Sunday.
The first thing that jumps off the film when you watch Nabers is his burst and acceleration. His speed is a legitimate threat, but it’s what he does when he first gets the ball or first gets out in space that’s so special. New York has Nabers running a large variety of routes, but it’s on these quick hitters that really showcase his special burst with the ball in his hands. Watch what he does at the top of the screen against Martin Emerson. He starts off slow, but then takes a vertical step to Emerson’s outside shoulder like he’s running a go route, then blasts right back across his face on a slant route. He’s created the separation, but then when he gets the ball in his hands he makes a quick turn and bursts up the field for 12 yards. That quick turn is what’s exciting, he’s taking a simple gain and making it explosive.
The Giants got Nabers involved in every way possible against Cleveland, using him on jet sweeps and designing him free releases. I thought this was a smart motion by the Giants to get Nabers in space. Nabers is the receiver to the bottom of the screen with a tight end to the left of him. New York motions RB Tyrone Tracy Jr all the way across the formation to Nabers’ side, not only confirming if it’s man or zone, but giving Nabers a nice cushion to work with and a created hole in the zone for him to just sit in. Nabers catches this ball and again, watch the burst with the ball. He’s a big play waiting to happen.
New York even had Nabers working in the slot against CB Greg Newsome. This was such a pretty route, using that tempo and burst again to fly by Newsome. This ball is thrown a little better we’re looking at a three touchdown day for the rook, incredibly impressive.
Yet, none of those plays excite me the most. It’s this one on Emerson early in the game. Isolated situation, Nabers runs a vertical route. Not only does he win this catch, but he goes up and gets it, stealing the ball away from Emerson. For a guy his size (6’0, 200 lbs) this is top of the line stuff. Ja’Marr Chase is so good because he wins in these isolated situations despite being a smaller receiver, and that’s the same kind of stuff I see from Nabers. What a grab.
Nabers’ body control was evident on the two touchdown passes, another taste of what this kid can be at this level. Not only is he such a fast and explosive receiver, he can throttle it down and contort his body in the red zone to make these difficult catches seem easy. I mean … wow.
As Nabers continues to play more games, I’m curious how Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll and the offense continue to scheme up touches for him. Getting him involved on jet sweeps is one way, as is putting him in motion, like he was in the season opening loss to Minnesota (Nabers is tied with Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice for second in the NFL in targets when put in motion, only behind Rams wideout Cooper Kupp). With a big Thursday night matchup against the Cowboys on deck, getting Nabers involved has to be top priority for the Giants.
