With the sixth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected wide receiver, Malik Nabers out of LSU. Typically, a wide receiver being drafted in the top 10 is a pretty good indicator that the player will be a quality asset in fantasy football. Nabers is viewed as a potential game-changer at the position and will be the best player on the Giants’ offense from the onset of his career. Can Nabers live up to his current ADP and provide fantasy football draft value in 2024?
2024 New York Giants Fantasy Outlook
After exceeding expectations and advancing to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs two years ago, the Giants came back down to earth in coach Brian Daboll’s second year at the helm. The team entered the offseason with significant concerns all across the roster, including at the vital quarterback position. There were rumblings that New York may try to draft a QB, but the Giants chose to stick with highly-paid veteran, Daniel Jones.
To say that drafting Nabers was the bright spot of a poor Giants’ offseason would be an understatement. Who knows where Jones’ confidence is at after the rumors about drafting his potential replacement and the season-ending injury from a year ago. The Giants also lost Saquon Barkley to the division rival Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Devin Singletary will lead the backfield while Nabers looks to be the only sure thing at receiver in 2024.
Malik Nabers Fantasy Football Draft Profile
LSU has produced its fair share of fantasy football stalwarts in recent years, and many believe that Nabers is set to join that list. He surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in each of his final two years in Baton Rouge. His 2023 stat line of 89 receptions, 1569 yards and 14 touchdowns was off the charts and ensured that he was a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft.
As far as the outlook for Nabers’ rookie season, his fantasy potential might hinge more on the state of the Giants’ offense around him than his abilities. Will he receive competent quarterback play? Can the Giants construct any sort of reliable ground game to balance out the offense? Will other receivers step up to prevent Nabers from being the sole focus of opposing defenses? These are all questions that will only be answered once the games start being played this fall.
Malik Nabers Fantasy ADP
According to Fantasy Data, Malik Nabers’ current fantasy football average draft position (ADP) in PPR drafts has him going 39th overall. At his position, he currently ranks as WR24. Players slotted directly ahead of him at the position include Cooper Kupp and D.J. Moore and Christian Watson. Zay Flowers, Amari Cooper and George Pickens are the three wideouts directly behind Odunze in the current fantasy ADP.
Where Should I Draft Malik Nabers in Fantasy Football 2024?
With so many concerns surrounding the Giants’ offense, there is a real possibility that Nabers fails to live up to his current WR24 ADP. However, his talent could overcome these hindrances as well. True game-changers at the position have managed to produce quality fantasy football value regardless of the state of their teams. Whether or not Nabers can achieve this remains to be seen.
Personally, WR24 is about as high as I would be willing to select Nabers in redraft leagues ahead of the 2024 season. If the Giants sputter early, things could go south across the board. For as talented as Nabers is, we must also remember that rookie growing pains are possible, especially on a middling team.
Despite his upside and the likelihood that he goes on to have a great career, there is a real chance that Nabers will fall short of his current ADP this season. It really comes down to how much trust managers are willing to place in Daniel Jones and the Giants’ offense. If trust is lacking, I can easily see the argument for taking wideouts like Zay Flowers, Amari Cooper and even Tee Higgins ahead of him in fantasy drafts.
