MetLife Stadium has added another big name to its long list of victims. The Giants’ Week 4 win over the Chargers was overshadowed by the news that star receiver Malik Nabers is out for the season with a torn ACL. The fallout from this injury is immense, including the fantasy football status of fellow wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. How high can New York’s new WR1 climb in the fantasy football rankings for the rest of the season?
Analysis
There’s no doubt that Robinson will be the top passing game target for the Giants without Nabers. But how much value that carries is what we must figure out.
Nabers’ injury on Sunday wasn’t the only drastic shift in their passing game. Jaxson Dart had his first start and led the team to a gutty win. But he didn’t do it with his arm; Dart threw 20 passes, completing 13 for 111 yards while taking five total sacks. Dart was a better contributor to their run game as the Giants ran the ball a whopping 42 times for 161 yards.
Cam Skattebo was the crutch of their offense as they were unable to trust the passing game. Dart was running for his life, and it didn’t lead to productive games for the receivers. Robinson tied for the team lead with five targets, reeling in three catches for 14 yards. Not exactly a banger of a fantasy day.
But it’s hard to forget Week 2 against the Cowboys, a game in which Robinson brought in eight passes for 142 yards and a score. So, will his receiving output as the featured target be closer to that of Week 2, or should we expect more duds?
The verdict
I feel strongly that Nabers’ absence will do more harm than good for Robinson. Having a true field-stretching outside receiver made it easier for the slot target to move across the middle of the field and find openings. Perhaps he can make up for that in volume as the efficiency wanes, but the change to Dart under center is the biggest downside.
If the Giants have their way, they’ll be running the football. Dart did not look like the kind of receiver-friendly QB that Russell Wilson can be and will take some time to find himself. It sounds jarring, but Robinson has been downgraded slightly in my book to more of a fantasy flex play in PPR leagues. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
