Malik Nabers’ Knee Challenges His Outlook -- and the Whole Giants Offense

New York Giants 2026 Overview

Schedule

Wins

Play Calling

Key Additions

• WR Darnell Mooney
• WR Calvin Austin III
• WR Malachi Fields
• TE Isaiah Likely
• G Francis Mauigoa

Key Departures

• WR Wan'Dale Robinson

Notable Coaching Changes

• HC Brian Daboll and OC Mike Kafka out
• HC John Harbaugh and OC Matt Nagy in

Jaxson Dart

2025 Role & Results

A Quick Rise Up the QB Ranks

Dart replaced Russell Wilson as the starter in Week 4.

In 12 starts, the rookie averaged 189.3 yards, 1.25 TDs, and 0.41 INTs. He made a difference on the ground with 40.5 yards and 0.75 TDs per game.

Dart’s rushing fueled a QB7 finish in points per game, including four top-5 weeks and five more top-12 finishes. He landed outside the top-14 only twice, with one of those coming against the league’s toughest defense for fantasy QBs (Minnesota).

A Valuable Rushing Role Emerges

Dart averaged just 28.2 pass attempts per game, though a 13-pass outing against the Vikings dragged that number down. Even so, he wasn’t asked to carry the offense with his arm.

Instead, Dart quickly emerged as a high-volume rusher, ranking third over his starting stretch in scrambles. He also ranked third among QBs in carry share inside the 5-yard line, scoring four of his nine rushing TDs from that range.

There's Work to Do As a Passer

Dart’s passing efficiency wasn’t spectacular. Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts, he finished:

• 18th in catchable throw rate
• 29th in adjusted completion rate
• 29th in yards per attempt
• 34th in turnover-worthy throw rate

He overcame the underwhelming finishes because of the rushing; Dart ranked fifth in the same sample in fantasy points per dropback. There’s also a reasonable explanation for why Dart didn’t deliver through the air … 

His Supporting Cast Stunk

The Giants ranked seventh in offensive plays, but the volume leaned toward the ground game. They finished 23rd in pass rate over expected and 25th in pass rate. The red-zone approach looked similar, with New York ranking 23rd in pass rate and 25th in PROE.

Dart never played a full game with Malik Nabers, who went down in Week 4 with a torn ACL and meniscus. That forced more work onto a thin pass-catching crew of Wan’Dale Robinson, Theo Johnson, and Darius Slayton. 

Cam Skattebo’s breakout also got cut short after eight games, further weakening the offense.

A Series of Concussion Scares

Including the preseason, Dart was checked for a concussion five separate times and was formally diagnosed once, costing him Week 11 and Week 12.

Dart’s physical rushing creates fantasy value, but his 2025 hits showed how quickly that style can backfire.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Watch Nabers' Health

Nabers’ knee will be a key summer storyline.

GM Joe Schoen said he thinks the No. 1 WR will be “fine” for the season opener, but the team isn’t treating it like a lock. New HC John Harbaugh struck a similar tone at June minicamp.

"I wasn't less optimistic before," Harbaugh said on June 10. "Like I said, it's a slog, it's a grind… He's probably maybe 70% through. I don't know, something like that, 80% through.”

Keeping Nabers on track for Week 1 is critical, especially after the free-agent loss of Robinson and his 140 targets. 

The Giants added Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr., and Round 3 rookie Malachi Fields, but there’s no obvious impact player in that group. Austin, at just 5’8 and 162 pounds, managed only 31-372-3 last year in Pittsburgh. Mooney regressed to 32-443-1 after a stronger 2024. JuJu hasn’t topped 400 yards since 2022, and Beckham didn't even play last season.

Maybe the Giants can get useful snaps from Fields, but we came away unimpressed by lackluster college production and a skill set that leans on contested catches.

The Giants return Slayton, but he has never developed into more than a deep threat. Now 29, he’s been held under 600 yards in back-to-back seasons. He also missed the offseason program following core-muscle surgery.

TE at least looks more talent-rich, with Isaiah Likely joining Johnson. Likely’s 2025 numbers took a hit from Lamar Jackson’s injury-plagued season, but his 2024 efficiency showed the upside. That year found Likely ranking (among 36 TEs with 40+ targets):

• fourth in yards after catch per reception
• eighth in yards per route run
• and ninth in yards per catch.

The O-line outlook has improved as well. New York used a Round 1 pick on RT Francis Mauigoa, a massive 6’5, 330-pounder who’ll kick inside to RG. The other four starters return from a unit that ranked 10th in Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade and 11th in ESPN pass-block win rate.

New Play Caller Brings a Shaky Resume

Matt Nagy arrives as John Harbaugh’s OC and play caller after spending the past three seasons with Andy Reid in Kansas City, where he didn’t call plays. 

Nagy’s last run in that role came in Chicago from 2018-2021, when his offenses finished 21st, 25th, 22nd, and 30th in passing yards and better than 22nd in scoring only once.

Here’s something else to consider: Nagy gave up play-calling duties on two separate occasions before getting fired after the 2021 season. His resume simply doesn’t give us reason to believe he’ll elevate the passing game.

Paths to Ceiling

Dart could push for top-5 fantasy value because of his rushing. He was on a full-season pace for 690 yards and 12.7 TDs on the ground, both of which would have ranked top-2 among QBs.

Dart will also need better passing efficiency and a healthy season from Nabers to reach the top 5.

Risk Factors

The Giants remain ill-equipped to handle another extended absence from Nabers. The TE group and O-line look improved, but Nagy’s history as a play caller says he’s unlikely to support a high-end season from Dart. The 23-year-old also needs to cut down on the reckless plays that cost him two games last season.

Realistically, Dart’s ceiling is likely capped as a matchup-based QB1.

Cam Skattebo

2025 Role & Results

A Round 4 Rookie Turned Fantasy Asset

Skattebo lasted eight games before a tibia fracture, a ruptured deltoid ligament, and a dislocated ankle ended his season. The injury followed a two-week absence from training camp due to a strained hamstring.

In seven full games, he totaled 398 yards and 5 TDs on 98 attempts, adding a 23-189-1 receiving line. That stretch included weekly finishes of RB4, RB5, and RB11, plus three other top-24 weeks. 

His 19.1 PPR points per game ranked 10th leaguewide, although it was boosted by a 31-point, 3-TD effort vs. Philadelphia.

He Quickly Took Over the RB1 Role

Skattebo handled just 2 carries and 2 targets in Week 1 but led the Giants in touches in each of his next seven healthy games.

His usage spiked in Week 4 with a season-high 25 carries against the Chargers, one of two straight games without Tyrone Tracy Jr. Even after Tracy returned in Week 6, Skattebo erupted against the Eagles and out-touched him 21-4.

The rookie’s 13.5% target share over the six-game sample ranked ninth among RBs, while his 177 receiving yards ranked fifth.

Skattebo Continues to Thrive on Contact

Skattebo was a strong tackle breaker at Arizona State, and that trait continued to show in the NFL.

Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:

• fourth in missed tackles forced per attempt
• fourth in yards after contact per attempt

Compare that to his final season at Arizona State, when he ranked 10th among 81 RBs with 150+ attempts in Pro Football Focus’ elusive rating and 14th in YAC per attempt.

The rest of his rookie-year efficiency profile wasn’t nearly as spectacular, with Skattebo ranking 29th in success rate, 29th in explosive run rate, and 35th in yards per carry.

The blocking in front of him proved average at best. Skattebo’s 1.24 yards before contact per rush ranked last in the 51-RB sample, while the Giants finished a mid-pack 18th in ESPN’s run-block win rate and 19th in adjusted line yards.

Skattebo performed well as a receiver, ranking seventh out of 40 RBs with 30+ targets in yards per route run.

An Offense Built to Run

In Skattebo’s six games as the starter, the Giants ranked 12th in run rate, jumping to seventh in neutral run rate.

This unit was built to run with Russell Wilson at QB for the first three weeks and rookie Jaxson Dart taking over after that. New York also lost top WR Malik Nabers to a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of Week 4. 

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Giants Show Faith in Skattebo

Skattebo entered the league as a Round 4 pick in 2025, then watched the Giants change coaching staffs this offseason. 

Still, New York didn’t add a single notable RB challenger in free agency or the draft. Skattebo will need to prove he’s back to pre-injury form after undergoing surgery and a lengthy rehab. The good news is that he made it back for June minicamp and appears on track for a normal training camp.

His primary competition remains Tracy, but Skattebo held the better efficiency profile last season.

Jaxson Dart, O-line Supply Upside

Dart returns for his first full season as the starter. 

His advanced metrics were mixed as a rookie. Among 34 QBs with 300+ snaps, he ranked 14th in expected points added (EPA) per play, 19th in success rate, and 25th in completion rate over expected. There’s certainly room for the second-year Round 1 QB to grow, especially if Nabers regains full health after missing most of last season.

The Giants return four starters along the O-line. The only change comes at RG, where Round 1 pick Francis Mauigoa will move inside from his college RT spot. The 6’5, 330-pounder presents a talent upgrade from 2025 starter Greg Van Roten, a 36-year-old who finished with average marks in PFF run-blocking grades.

'He's a Top-Tier Back'

Skattebo will learn a new playbook under OC Matt Nagy.

In June, HC John Harbaugh referred to Skattebo as a “starting running back” and praised his 2025 play.

“I thought he was just what you saw, a downhill runner, a tone-setter type runner. He's a tough tackle,” Harbaugh said via SI. “That's what you look for. How many guys can make yards when they're not supposed to make yards on their own? It seems to me he was that kind of guy at Arizona State and the exact same guy that I saw on tape last year. He's a top-tier back, and he's planning on playing that way this year.”

Play-calling duties will fall to Nagy, who spent the past three seasons as Andy Reid’s OC but didn’t call plays. He held that job from 2018-2021 as Chicago’s HC, posting finishes of sixth, 20th, 27th, and 11th in rush attempts.

His finishes in run rate:

• sixth
• 22nd
• 27th
• ninth

Nagy’s lead backs averaged 18.5 touches per game across his four seasons as Bears HC, ranging from David Montgomery’s high of 20.5 to his low of 16.7.

Skattebo could push toward Nagy’s typical lead-back workload, but he still has to prove himself to the new staff. For now, our projections have him at 15.9 touches per game, ahead of Tracy’s 8.3.

Paths To Ceiling

Skattebo can push for RB1 value if he captures the lead-back role. His rookie-year efficiency metrics topped Tracy’s, giving him a strong case to stay ahead. And if Dart grows in Year 2, Skattebo’s scoring chances should climb after he converted 4 of 9 carries inside the five-yard line across his six starts.

Risk Factors

Skattebo’s 2025 efficiency profile looked promising, but the sample was small. The next questions are whether he can keep breaking tackles on larger volume and make a full recovery from a serious ankle injury. Tracy’s presence also adds potential risk to Skattebo’s workload if the new coaching staff opens a competition for snaps in training camp. Plus, Dart looks like a goal line rushing factor after scoring on 5 TDs on 12 carries inside the 10 yard-line as a rookie. That type of usage could limit Skattebo’s scoring potential.

Tyrone Tracy Jr.

2025 Role & Results

Tracy Tops 200 Touches

Across 15 games, Tracy totaled 176 carries for 740 yards and 2 TDs, plus 36 catches for 288 yards and two more scores.

Tracy finished RB31 in PPR points per game, boosted by weekly finishes at RB2 (Week 18) and RB5 (Week 15). Both came against bottom-6 defenses in fantasy points allowed to RBs (Dallas and Washington).

Tracy also posted weekly finishes at RB12 and RB13 but added 10 weeks outside the top 30.

Passed By a Rookie ... Then Forced Back in the Lead Role

Tracy opened the season in the starting role, topping rookie Cam Skattebo in touches, 12-4. But Skattebo took over the backfield for Week 2, leading in touches (13-9), carries (11-5), and snaps (33-27). Skattebo also held a slight edge in routes (40.0% to 37.8%).

A shoulder injury knocked Tracy out of Week 3 and sidelined him for the next two games. He then played only one more game with Skattebo before the rookie suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8.

After Skattebo went down, Tracy ranked 12th in RB snap share and 14th in carries from Week 9 on, while his route rate and target share both ranked 11th at the position.

Tracy managed only 2 rushing TDs largely because Jaxson Dart became a major goal-line factor. After taking over in Week 4, Dart finished fifth among QBs with 12 goal-line attempts, leaving Tracy with just six goal-line carries and only one inside the five.

Poor Efficiency Limits the Fantasy Impact

Tracy’s volume helped cover up an underwhelming efficiency profile.

Among 51 RBs with 90+ attempts, he finished:

• 30th in yards per carry
• 43rd in yards after contact per attempt
• 46th in missed tackles forced per attempt

Overall, his efficiency marks trailed Skattebo’s:

Tracy Sits Out Two Games

Tracy missed two games with a dislocated right shoulder. He also left Week 13 with a bruised hip and a (neck) stinger.

He sustained a concussion in Week 8 of 2024 but didn’t miss a game.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Expect Him to Remain the No. 2

The Giants didn’t add competition to a backfield of Skattebo and Tracy.

Skattebo’s ankle recovery continues to trend well, with the rookie even logging some reps at minicamp. He remains on track for Week 1 and looks set to lead the backfield after HC John Harbaugh labeled him the starter in June.

That likely leaves Tracy in a low-volume role, with our projections pegging him for only 7.1 carries and 1.2 catches per game.

QB, O-line Could Be Bright Spots

Jaxson Dart returns for his first full season as the starter. 

His advanced metrics were mixed as a rookie. Among 34 QBs with 300+ snaps, he ranked 14th in expected points added (EPA) per play, 19th in passing success rate, and 25th in completion rate over expected. There’s certainly room for the second-year Round 1 QB to grow, especially if Malik Nabers regains full health after missing most of last season with a torn ACL and meniscus.

The Giants return four starters from a capable O-line. The only change comes at RG, where Round 1 pick Francis Mauigoa will move inside from his college RT spot. The 6’5, 330-pounder presents a talent upgrade on 2025 starter Greg Van Roten, a 36-year-old who finished with average marks in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades.

Giants Add a New Play Caller ... But Not a Proven One

The Giants have a new play caller in OC Matt Nagy, who spent the past three seasons as Andy Reid’s OC but didn’t call plays. He held that job from 2018-2021 as Chicago’s HC, posting finishes of sixth, 20th, 27th, and 11th in rush attempts.

His finishes in run rate:

• sixth
• 22nd
• 27th
• ninth

Nagy’s units also lacked efficiency, ranking 27th, 29th, 21st, and 21st in yards per carry.

Our current projections put the Giants at a 46% run rate, which would have ranked ninth last season. That helps give Tracy some chance at emerging as more than a handcuff.

Paths to Ceiling

Skattebo’s 2025 ankle injury could affect his 2026 play, which would give Tracy a chance to earn a larger role. The offense could also improve if Nabers returns healthy and Dart improves. But even in that case, Tracy’s ceiling likely stops short of RB2 territory without Skattebo missing time.

Risk Factors

A healthy Skattebo likely leads this backfield, and Nagy’s history doesn’t suggest the type of rushing environment that can support two fantasy-relevant RBs. Tracy might be no more than a handcuff.

Malik Nabers

2025 Role & Results

A Season Cut Short by a Nasty Injury

Nabers tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee only four games into last season. That limited him to three full games -- each with Russell Wilson -- and lines of:

• 5 catches for 71 yards (at Washington)
• 9 catches for 167 yards and 2 TDs (at Dallas)
• 2 catches for 13 yards (vs. Kansas City)

Those turned into WR29, WR2, and WR87 fantasy finishes.

He caught two passes for 20 yards before leaving a Week 4 matchup with the Chargers, his first game with Jaxson Dart.

High Volume on a Small Sample

Nabers looked set for another high-volume season after finishing his rookie year second in targets and first in target share. His 29 targets through three weeks tied Jaxon Smith-Njigba for second-most among WRs and put him on a full-season pace of 164.

The small sample also showed heavier deep-ball usage. Nabers’ 17.9-yard average depth of target ranked fourth among 78 WRs with 10+ targets through Week 3, while his 55.3% air yards share ranked second. As a rookie, he posted a 9.7-yard aDOT and accounted for 46.1% of the Giants’ air yards.

Giants Lean Pass With a Healthy Nabers

The Giants went pass-heavy in Nabers’ three full games, ranking seventh in situation-neutral pass rate at 61.7%. But that dropped to 50.2% across Dart’s 12 starts, ranking 28th, with Nabers absent for all but two quarters. 

Those figures came under the previous Brian Daboll-Mike Kafka staff.

He Dealt With More Than Just the Knee

Nabers dealt with injuries before last season even started, sitting out part of the offseason program with a toe issue that stemmed from college. Shoulder and back injuries cost him time in training camp, though he made it back for Week 1. 

His season ended with the Week 4 knee injury. He underwent surgery in late October before needing a follow-up procedure in April.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Nabers Should Retain High-End Target Volume

Nabers still sits comfortably atop the target pecking order. 

Wan’Dale Robinson’s departure opens up 140 targets, and the Giants didn’t add an obvious replacement. Instead, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields will compete for roles. 

Regardless of how that plays out, it’s a strong setup for Nabers to push for another 30% target share.

Watch the Connection with Dart

If Nabers stays healthy, the next variable is Dart’s development. His rookie year was defined more by gutsy rushing than polished passing.

Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts, he finished:

• 18th in catchable throw rate
• 29th in adjusted completion rate
• 29th in yards per attempt
• 34th in turnover-worthy throw rate

Dart entered the lineup in Week 4 and spent nearly all of his rookie sample without Nabers. So the shaky passing numbers aren’t a major red flag, but they do leave Nabers attached to an unproven QB.

The Giants bolstered the O-line by taking RT Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick. He’ll kick inside to RG in Year 1, with the other four starters returning around him. This unit already finished 10th in Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade and 11th in ESPN pass-block win rate last season, a positive sign for the passing game.

New Play Caller Has Supported WR1 Seasons

New OC Matt Nagy spent the past three seasons as Chiefs OC, but this is his first play-calling gig since 2021 in Chicago. 

Nagy’s four Bears offenses weren’t consistently pass-heavy with Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields at QB. They finished 24th, 14th, eighth, and 17th in pass attempts, plus 27th, 11th, sixth, and 25th in pass rate.

His units cracked the top-20 in scoring only once. 

That would be a concern for most WRs, but not one who projects as the offensive focal point as Nabers does.

There’s also a history of Nagy overseeing units that delivered high-end volume for the WR1. Allen Robinson ranked third among WRs in targets in 2019 and 2020, while Darnell Mooney ranked 11th in targets in 2021, his most productive season.

Paths to Ceiling

Nabers proved his value as a rookie, finishing second at the position with 170 targets and eighth in PPR points per game.

He can access a similar ceiling this year, given the Giants’ weak WR room. Another year of Jaxson Dart also brings the potential for better QB play than Nabers got from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito in 2024.

Risk Factors

The Giants are “hopeful” that Nabers can suit up for Week 1. Even if he’s ready, a slow start would make sense after a major knee injury and limited practice time with Dart.

Nabers’ weekly scoring could also swing more to the downside if Dart plateaus as a passer. Less team passing volume would obviously hurt the upside as well. The Giants ranked eighth in pass attempts in 2024 (compared with 25th in rushing attempts).

Darnell Mooney

2025 Role & Results

A Major Step Down

Mooney spread 32 catches, 443 yards, and 1 TD across 15 games. He topped 3 catches only once and reached 50 yards twice. 

He finished 85th in PPR points per game and cracked the weekly top 36 only twice: WR15 and WR32. His best week came with Drake London sidelined. 

Last year marked a huge departure from Mooney’s resurgent 2024 that included six top-24 finishes.

He Settled Into a Smaller Role

Mooney’s 15.3% target share marked a sharp decrease from his 20.3% figure in 2024. 

His 72 targets ranked a distant fourth among Falcons, behind Kyle Pitts, London, and Bijan Robinson.

Ugly Efficiency Markers

Mooney needed high efficiency given the low volume, but that never materialized. Among 76 WRs with 50+ targets, he ranked:

• 67th in yards per target
• 69th in yards per route run
• 69th in drop rate
• 76th in catch rate

QB Play Didn't Help

Atlanta’s QB play regressed in 2025. The team fell from 7.7 yards per attempt, a 65.1% completion rate, and 254.2 passing yards per game in 2024 to 6.8, 60.9%, and 207.2.

Pass volume wasn’t ideal, either, with Atlanta finishing 21st in pass rate and 26th in pass rate over expected. 

Early Injuries Also Set Him Up to Fail

Mooney’s down season wasn’t only driven by the offensive approach and QB play.

A broken collarbone on the first day of training camp cost him Week 1, and a hamstring injury knocked him out of Week 4 and cost him Week 5.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Can Mooney Become the No. 2?

Mooney joined the Giants on a one-year, $3 million deal.

The Athletic’s Dan Duggan wrote in June that Mooney “looked like a role player” in practice, so he didn’t build much momentum this spring. But New York’s No. 2 WR job remains wide open. 

Darius Slayton is coming off a quiet 2025 that included only 38.4 yards per game. He also missed the offseason program following core-muscle surgery.

Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin III, Odell Beckham Jr., and JuJu Smith-Schuster round out the competition. Beckham and Smith-Schuster aren’t guaranteed roster spots after landing no guaranteed money, while Austin profiles as more of a limited-role player at 162 pounds. Fields adds size (6’4, 218) and Round 3 draft capital, but his production profile gives little reason to expect a quick climb.

Malik Nabers will maintain the No. 1 role when healthy, but his recovery from ACL and meniscus tears leaves the opener in question. That gives Mooney a path to an early-season target boost, provided he beats out the rest of this shaky WR group.

Dart Could Be a Sizable Upgrade

Jaxson Dart’s Year 2 growth could help, but he still has plenty to prove as a passer. Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts last season, Dart finished:

• 18th in catchable throw rate
• 29th in adjusted completion rate
• 29th in yards per attempt
• 34th in turnover-worthy throw rate 

Mooney Knows the New OC

New OC Matt Nagy spent the past three seasons as Chiefs OC, but this is his first play-calling gig since 2021 in Chicago. That year, Mooney posted career-best numbers: 81 catches, 1,055 yards, and 4 TDs. (However, he benefited from five missed games from Allen Robinson, plus a thin pass-catching corps.)

That said, Nagy's play-calling history there doesn’t point to a pass-heavy approach. Across four seasons, his offenses finished 24th, 14th, eighth, and 17th in pass attempts and 27th, 11th, sixth, and 25th in pass rate, with Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields at QB. 

We expect another run-first offense from Nagy, especially with Dart’s mobility adding to the ground game. Our projections have the Giants at a 54% pass rate, which would have ranked 25th last season.

Darius Slayton

2025 Role & Results

Not Much Use for Fantasy

Slayton’s 37-538-1 line across 14 games last season did little for fantasy managers. 

He finished 66th in both PPR and half-PPR points, and even his best weeks came at WR24, WR25, and WR34. The other 11 games ended at WR40 or worse.

A Low Volume, Downfield Role

Despite only four games from Malik Nabers, Slayton finished third on the Giants with a 13.9% target share.

He ran 83.5% of his routes out wide, consistent with his career average. And his 13.8-yard aDOT and 18.3% deep-target rate backed up his career-long profile as a downfield weapon.

His Efficiency Wasn't Spectacular

Slayton’s 14.5 yards per catch and 1.24 yards per route run came in just under his career averages.

His reliability remained a weakness with a 14.0% drop rate. That marked his fifth double-digit drop rate over the past six seasons.

The Giants Weren't Pass Happy

The Giants finished seventh in plays, but 25th in pass rate and 26th in neutral pass rate. 

The Giants also stayed run-oriented in the red zone after Jaxson Dart took over in Week 4, ranking 23rd in red-zone pass rate and 25th in RZ pass rate over expected.

Soft Tissue Injuries Become a Theme

A Week 5 hamstring injury cost Slayton two games, and another hamstring issue popped up in Week 10 before he returned later that day. 

The hamstring did cost him Week 11, although he managed to appear in the rest of New York's games.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

He'll Have to Earn a Role

Slayton is set to count nearly $16 million against the Giants’ cap, which normally suggests a locked-in starting role.

But that’s not reality after the Giants added Darnell Mooney in free agency and Round 3 rookie Malachi Fields in the draft. Mooney is coming off a down 2025 in Atlanta, but better QB play in 2024 helped him to a career-reviving line of 64-992-5.

We have concerns about Fields’ ability to separate and create yards after the catch. Still, the 6’4, 218-pounder is a Round 3 pick who’ll at least pose some threat out wide.

Slayton’s volume depends heavily on Nabers, who we project for a massive 28.8% target share when healthy. He underwent surgery for a torn ACL and meniscus in October, and he’s not guaranteed to return for Week 1.

The bigger issue is that Slayton played 10 games without Nabers last year and topped 50 yards only three times. Even if Dart improves in Year 2, this remains a poor setup for Slayton to regain fantasy value.

The Giants Aren't Built for a Pass Heavy Attack

New OC Matt Nagy spent the past three seasons as Chiefs OC, but this is his first play-calling gig since 2021 in Chicago. His play-calling history there doesn’t point to a pass lean. 

His four offenses finished 24th, 14th, eighth, and 17th in pass attempts and 27th, 11th, sixth, and 25th in pass rate, with Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields at QB. His units cracked the top-20 in scoring only once. 

There’s no reason to chase Slayton based on his new play caller.

Risk Factors

Slayton missed the offseason program after core-muscle surgery, leaving him behind in Nagy’s new offense. With Mooney and Fields now in the mix for outside WR snaps, Slayton looks like a deep-league spot starter at best.

Isaiah Likely

2025 Role & Results

A Huge Fantasy Flop

Likely made his season debut in Week 4 because of a foot injury. In 14 games, he racked up just 27 catches, 307 yards, and 1 TD. He hit 40 yards only twice.

He finished TE41 in PPR points per game; 45th in half-PPR. Likely posted weeks at TE6 and TE10 late in the season but notched only one other week inside the top 24 (TE22).

He Couldn't Emerge from Mark Andrews' Shadow

Likely played all 14 games with Mark Andrews, who held the edge in route rate (61.6% to 53.3%) and target share (17.4% to 10.6%).

Likely’s targets per route run fell to a career-low 0.16, which ranked 35th among 40 TEs with at least 200 routes.

Likely Didn't Win on Efficiency

In a sample of 43 TEs with at least 30 targets, Likely ranked:

• 18th in yards per route run
• 24th in yards per reception
• 29th in yards after catch per reception
• 37th in catch rate

The YAC per reception decline looks alarming after two straight top-5 finishes, though his summer foot injury may have played a role.

QB Play, Run-Heavy Scheme Limits Targets

Lamar Jackson missed four games and admitted to playing through various injuries. Tyler Huntley and Cooper Rush combined for 182.2 yards and 0.5 TDs per game in relief.

The Ravens also continued to lean on Derrick Henry, finishing 32nd in pass rate, 32nd in pass attempts, and 31st in red-zone pass rate. That didn’t give Likely enough volume to become a fantasy factor, especially alongside a healthy Andrews.

An Injury Appeared Before the Season ... and That Wasn't All

Likely’s season started ominously with a July 29 broken foot that required surgery. He missed the first three games, then drew just 5 targets across his first four games back. Hip and calf injuries also showed up later, although neither forced him to miss a game.

Prior to 2025, Likely sat out one game in 2024 with a hamstring injury and one in 2022 with an ankle issue.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Likely Brings Bounce Back Potential

Likely’s down year didn’t stop the Giants from making a serious investment: three years, $40 million, and $26 million guaranteed. That ranks fourth among TEs in average annual salary and 11th in guarantees, putting him in the lead TE role ahead of 2025 starter Theo Johnson. 

Likely’s main target competition is also a potential source of upside. Malik Nabers missed all but four games last season with ACL and meniscus tears. The Giants have expressed optimism that he’ll be ready for Week 1, but that’s not a lock. Any missed time would boost Likely’s target outlook, especially with this weak WR corps behind Nabers:

• Darius Slayton
• Calvin Austin III
• Darnell Mooney
• JuJu Smith-Schuster
• Malachi Fields
• Odell Beckham Jr.

We project Likely for a 16.3% target share, which would have ranked 16th among TEs last year.

Giants' QB Play is an X Factor

Year 2 improvement from Dart would help, but he still has plenty to prove as a passer. He’s also unlikely to match the efficiency Likely got from a healthy Lamar Jackson, who set a career high with 8.8 yards per attempt in 2024 and matched his best mark with a 77.0% adjusted completion rate.

Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts last season, Dart finished:

• 18th in catchable throw rate
• 29th in adjusted completion rate
• 29th in yards per attempt
• 34th in turnover-worthy throw rate 

Harbaugh: 'I'm Certain He's Going to Be Able to Put Up the Numbers'

New HC John Harbaugh won’t call plays, but he’ll certainly have a say in the offense. He’s optimistic that Likely can post career-high numbers.

"When you see a player do it every day, you got a pretty good idea what he's capable of,” Harbaugh said of Likely, whom he coached in Baltimore. “So, I'm certain he's going to be able to put up the numbers… That wasn't part of the thing in Baltimore because of the supporting cast, so to speak."

Matt Nagy spent the past three seasons as Chiefs OC, but this is his first play-calling gig since 2021 in Chicago. His play-calling history there doesn’t point to a pass lean. His four offenses ranked 24th, 14th, eighth, and 17th in pass attempts and 27th, 11th, sixth, and 25th in pass rate, with Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields at QB.

His units cracked the top 20 in scoring only once.

Overall, the new OC isn’t a reason to boost Likely’s fantasy outlook.

Paths To Ceiling

The Giants already paid Likely like a player with a real role, and the weak WR depth behind Nabers makes that stance believable. 

Nabers missing time would likely boost Isaiah Likely’s target volume. But a healthy season from Nabers would do more for the offense’s scoring ceiling, which would help Likely as a red-zone option. He ranked 11th among TEs with a 21.1% red-zone target share just two years ago, even with Mark Andrews playing all season.

There’s a path for Likely to become a go-to streamer, especially if Dart shows second-year growth.