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Malik Nabers Is Giants’ Only True Star Through Seven Weeks
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- Malik Nabers Is Giants’ Only True Star Through Seven Weeks
Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The New York Giants sit at 4-2-1 and hold first place in the NFC East, but the league awards tell a different story. No Giants offensive player appears in the national MVP or Offensive Player of the Year races. That silence ignores the hard truth: Malik Nabers is the best offensive player on the roster. Yahoo Sports reports that Nabers has played like the NFL's best wide receiver over the past four weeks, even as the Giants switched starting quarterbacks from Jameis Winston to McCarthy. His 509 yards over that span lead all NFL receivers, a number that stands out even more given his lingering shoulder injury from Week 2.
Just 13 months ago, Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus, yet most supporters overlook his current recovery while he plays through pain. He had one catch for a single yard in the lopsided loss to the Rams when that injury first flared up. Now he has 36 receptions in four games, second only to Puka Nacua across the entire league. The Giants offense would struggle to find its rhythm without him, especially with Jaxson Dart out for the season and J.J. McCarthy still finding his footing.
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The Rookie Who Plays Every Snap
While Nabers gets the headlines, the offensive line deserves credit for keeping him upright. Ben Mauigoa has played every single offensive snap for the Giants this year, a feat matched only by Jon Runyan Jr. The rookie switched from tackle to guard and has allowed just one sack through his first seven games. He has only been flagged twice despite the constant pressure of a quarterback carousel. Yahoo Sports notes that Mauigoa is the pick for offensive rookie of the year over Malachi Fields, though Fields has stepped up as the clear second receiver.
A Team Built on Grit and Depth
The Giants have lost their top quarterback, their top edge rusher, and key defenders to injury, yet they still lead the division. Brian Burns, Braxton Berrios, and Tremaine Edmunds are all out, but the roster depth has held firm. Coach John Harbaugh admits the team needed the bye week to heal up before the stretch run. "It's coming at the right time for us," coach John Harbaugh said. "There are a lot of little nicks and bumps and bruises and strains and stresses on guys' bodies that can use a little recovery time."
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General Manager Joe Schoen says he likes the makeup of the team and the grit the players show. At his annual bye week news conference on Tuesday, general manager Joe Schoen informed reporters, "I'm happy where we are." The ultimate goal remains winning the division, a topic Harbaugh says they discuss regularly. "We'll bring it up every now and then," Harbaugh said. "It's definitely always forefront because that's the ultimate goal." With Nabers playing at an elite level and the team healthy enough to make a push, the Giants have earned their spot at the top of the NFC East.
