‘Fair to be optimistic’ Nabers can play Week 1?

Nabers told NFL insider Josina Anderson after the Giants’ Week 1 win against Dallas that he had canceled his family’s trip to the season opener “because I thought I wasn’t playing.” It was Nabers’ first action since tearing his ACL in 2025 and undergoing a somewhat complicated recovery that made him iffy for Week 1. Nabers easily led the team in air yards and targets on his way to six catches for 69 scoreless yards against the Cowboys. He ran a route on 70 percent of the Giants’ drop backs — a rate that’s likely to rise in the coming weeks barring setbacks to his knee.

Nabers took his decision to play all the way up to inactives, ultimately deeming himself healthy enough to take the field against a divisional rival. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t take long to knock the rust off his alpha receiver, giving him a quick out on his first target to get his feet wet and get into the flow of the game. Nabers would make numerous athletic plays from that point forward, combining with newcomer tight end Isaiah Likely to account for 17 targets on only 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. Fantasy managers can likely project that volume forward as the offense appeared to run entirely through its top two options through the air in the opening game. Nabers gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2, where he remains a back end WR1 in fantasy circles.

Even the lead up to the game did not come without its drama as Nabers was reportedly late to show up to the stadium. He would eventually make it to the field to test out his knee. The decision to play was left up to the talented receiver, who apparently felt well enough during his on-field workout to make his return from a torn ACL. Inactive for the Giants are RB Najee Harris, S Jason Pinnock, CB Nic Jones, OL J.C. Davis, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis, and WR Dalen Cambre.

According to Schefter, the Giants still haven’t gotten clarity from Nabers, who is working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered early in the 2025 season. The Giants elevated two receivers from their practice squad to the active roster over the weekend, signaling that they think there’s a chance Nabers sits. If he does, Malachi Fields, Odell Beckham, and Darnell Mooney would be their starting receiver trio. We can’t recommend any of them in fantasy, even if Nabers is ruled out.

This one is for the practice squad transactions grinders. Nabers is questionable to play in Week 1 against the Cowboys and has made it clear that he is weighing his long-term health heavily as he decides whether to play. Per Duggan, if the Giants elevate a second wide receiver, that “would be a very discouraging sign.” Stay tuned.

Nabers made clear yesterday that the decision to play, and how much, is up to him. The team appears to be respecting that. Nabers is, smartly, keeping his long-term health in mind. If active, he should probably be treated as a volatile WR2. Hopefully, we learn more later today or tomorrow.

Nabers fielded quite a few questions from reporters this afternoon, with many focusing on who makes the decision for him to play and whether he will be on a snap count. Nabers was adamant that his participation level is entirely his call. Of course, he chose not to share whether he is leaning toward playing or delaying his return, but noted that he is keeping his long-term health and career in mind. Nabers continues to practice in full, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said earlier today that Nabers is “on track to play.” We lean that way as well, but his usage is tough to project. He is likely best viewed as a WR2 if active.

Nabers began the week practicing fully with his teammates, and we expect that to remain the case today and tomorrow. Giants coach John Harbaugh stopped short of saying Nabers will face the Cowboys in Week 1, but signs are certainly pointing toward that outcome. Hopefully, we get an indication as to whether the team plans to keep him on a snap count in the coming days.

Giants coach John Harbaugh told reporters he thinks Nabers is ready to go. Harbaugh didn’t fully commit to him playing in Week 1, but we would be stunned if Nabers isn’t out there on Sunday. Even if Nabers takes a few weeks to get back to form, he should be in fantasy lineups out of the gate. Nabers is, at worst, a high-end WR2 for his first game since suffering a torn ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 season.

Coming back from a 2025 ACL injury, there’s been speculation that Nabers might not be ready for the Giants’ opening game against Dallas on Sunday night. Graziano seems to think the Giants releasing veteran WR Darius Slayton over the weekend is a sign Nabers will be a go for Week 1, and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said Nabers “seems to be trending in a positive direction” five days ahead of New York’s season opener. The Giants won’t practice Tuesday. Nabers’ Wednesday practice status could tell us whether he’s a full go against the Cowboys.