New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has looked like a superstar in the making through the first two weeks of the season, but he’s never faced a challenge as big as the one he could face in Week 3.
Denzel Ward will be one of Nabers’ toughest opponents all season
In Week 3, the Giants travel to Cleveland to face the Browns in a crucial game. Nabers had an explosive, game-changing performance last weekend. The Browns will focus all of their attention on slowing Nabers down as the rookie prepares to face three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward.
Ward is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and his 2024 season is off to a good start as well. Ward has allowed just three pass catches on 11 attempts for 40 yards against him through the first two weeks of the season. He also has four total pass breakups and a Pro Football Focus coverage rating of 82.4. Ward has a passer rating allowed of 52.1.
Throwing against Ward is no easy task. The 27-year-old cornerback has a total of 15 interceptions in his seven-year NFL career. As for the Giants’ opponents in the 2024-25 season, Ward will be one of the toughest opponents Nabers will face throughout the regular season.
The Browns are “hopeful” that Ward will play in Week 3. He was only on the field for 11 snaps in Week 2 as he plays through a shoulder injury. But all indications are that Ward will play this Sunday and face Nabers.
The Giants’ game plan will be to feed Malik Nabers
The Giants put a lot of work into Nabers in Week 2, throwing 18 passes to him and pushing him to perform brilliantly. He caught 10 of those passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. The Giants still fell short, losing to the Commanders by a final score of 18-21, but Nabers kept them alive and fought hard throughout the game. He has become the flagship of Big Blue’s offense and will continue to get a lot of work in Week 3.
Especially considering Ward may be limited in this matchup due to his shoulder injury, Nabers will continue to get the lion’s share of the Giants’ faceoff targets in the passing game. His 25 faceoff targets through two weeks are third-most in the NFL.
Nabers currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 193 receiving yards through two weeks. So far this season, he’s averaged 2.51 yards per route run and 7.1 yards after the catch per reception. Getting Nabers the ball into open space and allowing him to gain yardage has been a key focus of the Giants’ offense.
In Week 3, the Giants will look to give Nabers another heavy dose of targets, whether Ward lines up against him or not. Ward will be a tall order for the Giants’ exciting rookie. But iron sharpens iron, and Nabers certainly has enough talent to be competitive against the Browns’ elite cover player.
