Before suffering a concussion in the New York Giants’ Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Malik Nabers had been one of the NFL’s best wide receivers — not only among rookies but across the entire league.
Nabers didn’t suit up for the Giants’ upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5, forcing New York to find other options in its receiving corps. Will Nabers play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6?
Malilk Nabers Injury Update Entering Week 6
Nabers was concussed near the end of the Giants’ Week 4 defeat. Unsurprisingly, he did not practice in the days leading up to Week 5. New York played the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, but 10 days wasn’t enough time for Nabers to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The No. 6 overall pick will now try to receive clearance before the Giants play the Bengals on Sunday Night Football.
Malik Nabers has a touchdown!
📺: #NYGvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/4XDd73juH1— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Head coach Brian Daboll didn’t have an update on Nabers’ status when addressing reporters on Monday.
“I got to talk to the medical staff here and see where we’re at,” Daboll said when asked whether Nabers would participate in practice this week.
Wednesday’s practice should give us a good sense of where Nabers stands. He should be on track to suit up against the Bengals if he’s even a limited participant. The overwhelming majority of concussed NFL players miss only a week.
Fantasy Implications and Potential Nabers Replacements
Despite not playing in Week 5, Nabers still leads the NFL with 35 receptions.
He was dominant through his first four pro games, topping 100 yards twice and hauling in at least eight catches in Weeks 2, 3, and 4. No wide receiver has earned a larger target share than Nabers (34.4%).
We’re projecting Nabers to return against Cincinnati on Sunday night. However, if he doesn’t, here are three wide receivers you should target on the waiver wire to replace your fantasy WR1.
1) Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (48% Rostered on Yahoo)
Mooney is still available in just over half of Yahoo fantasy leagues. If he’s still out there after his blow-up Week 5 performance, Mooney is the best wide receiver who might be on the waiver wire and can help you overcome Nabers’ loss.
Mooney hauled in nine of 16 targets for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Thursday night. While Kirk Cousins won’t drop back 60 times in every game, the Carolina Panthers (Atlanta’s Week 6 opponent) rank third-worst in EPA per pass allowed through five weeks.
2) Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys (7% Rostered)
What a Week 5 it was for Tolbert, who set career highs in targets (10), catches (seven), and yards (87) while bringing in the game-winning TD in the Cowboys’ Week 5 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dallas placed fellow WR Brandin Cooks on injured reserve before last week’s game, so he’s out for at least three more weeks. Tolbert’s role as Dak Prescott’s WR2 is solidified. The Cowboys’ Week 6 contest against the Detroit Lions has a 52.5 total, tied for the highest on this week’s slate.
3) Darius Slayton, New York Giants (3% Rostered)
With Nabers sidelined in Week 5, Slayton earned the most targets (11) and catches (eight) from Jones in the Giants’ win over the Seahawks.
If Nabers can’t return in Week 6, you can feel good about firing up his teammate on MNF. The Bengals are the fourth-worst passing defense by EPA per dropback and rank in the bottom 10 in pressure rate.