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Once Nabers returns to full health, he will look to build on his impressive 2024 rookie season (109 receptions, 1,204 yards, 7 touchdowns) and will benefit from improved quarterback continuity with Jaxson Dart, after playing only one game together in 2025 before his injury.

Nabers is expected to return for the start of the 2026-27 season and share the field with Dart against Dallas in 46 days, marking a significant milestone 304 days after tearing his ACL and lateral meniscus. His presence in individual drills and on-field work with Dart has rejuvenated confidence in his availability. Dart praised Nabers' on-field presence, saying 'There is an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating.' Nabers' return as Dart's primary target addresses a critical gap in the Giants' offensive puzzle, as the two shared the field for only 23 snaps as rookies.

Malik Nabers is looking extremely well coming off his knee injury with continued positive news from training camp videos. Ricky Pierall moved him higher in rankings as a result, noting he's been a massive riser due to injury updates.

Nabers underwent cyclops lesion removal in May/early June to clear scar tissue blocking full knee extension post-ACL reconstruction. Despite initial expectations of 60–70% mobility in July, he demonstrated significantly better movement patterns than anticipated—moving with burst and quickness in early training camp, with only minor hesitation in sharp cutting and full acceleration off his right leg. The source initially expected movement patterns similar to Kyle Pitts' post-injury scarring issues, but Nabers' actual mobility was notably better than that comparison suggested, and not as compromised as J.K. Dobbins' post-injury movement. With 6 weeks until week one, the source is increasingly optimistic about his production trajectory by mid-October, noting that better movement now correlates with higher confidence in fantasy output. Nabers has moved from a fourth-round pick to a staple two-to-three turn selection, especially in best ball formats. He ranks sixth all-time in points per game among receivers in their first two seasons, alongside Randy Moss, Odell Beckham, and Puka Nacua. Even at 90% of full health post-cyclops lesion recovery, the source believes he makes strong sense at the two-to-three turn, as the WR7–13 tier is tightly bunched this year.

Practiced Wednesday for first time since October ACL surgery and looked good in full session; QB Jaxson Dart raved about his recovery. JJ Zachariason notes positive health reports and training camp videos showing solid performance. However, Zachariason observes his ADP has risen from mid-third to late second, suggesting the market may be pricing in the recovery already.

Nabers is expected to return for the start of the 2026-27 season and share the field with Dart against Dallas in 46 days, marking a significant recovery milestone 304 days after tearing his ACL and lateral meniscus. The source notes that confidence in his return had waned in recent months, but his participation in individual drills and on-field presence during early training camp has "rejuvenated" optimism. Dart praised Nabers' impact, saying "There is an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating." Even in limited capacity, Nabers' return as Dart's primary target addresses a critical offensive need; the two shared the field for only 23 snaps as rookies.

The star wide receiver was on the field for a second straight day during individual drills, continuing his return from knee injury. Nabers expressed extreme confidence in his recovery, stating he holds himself to very high standards and does not see himself being limited post-injury. His quote: 'I got extreme confidence in myself. I'm not going to put myself in any spot that I feel like I'm not going to be better than what I was before.'

Giants WR Malik Nabers, recovering from a torn ACL that cost him most of last season, participated in agility drills and ran routes during the first practice of training camp. The source notes that every bit of field work was an encouraging sign; notably, the Giants did not place the 23-year-old on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, allowing him to practice from Day 1 despite requiring two surgeries to repair the ACL.

Nabers participated in Day 1 of Giants training camp after missing most of last season with a torn ACL that required two surgeries. He took part in wide receiver agility drills and ran a few routes. The Giants did not place the 23-year-old on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, allowing him to get on the practice field from Day 1. Every bit of work he did on the field was an encouraging sign for the team.

Malik Nabers' health status has been a positive surprise in training camp; JJ Zachariason and most analysts expected he would not be close to fully healthy by September, but he appears to be tracking ahead of schedule. This improved health trajectory is expected to move him up in draft order, closer to the 2–3 turn in upcoming weekend drafts. Nabers suffered a knee injury early in the season after playing only about a quarter and a half of the Chargers game last year, limiting his availability as a target for Jackson Dart and preventing an efficiency spike in the passing game. With Nabers now healthy, this should make observers even more excited about Dart's upside going forward.

The source the source is confident enough in Nabers' ACL recovery after his first practice back that they project him as WR7/8 for 2026 fantasy without needing to see additional clips. Physical therapist notes show sharp cutting and push-off of right leg, very comfortable decelerating and re-accelerating, smooth and fast in quick bursts with good change of direction.

First practice since tearing his ACL last season shows encouraging movement patterns. The source the source states 'I genuinely don't need to see any more clips of Malik Nabers to move him up to WR7/8 for 2026,' citing sharp cutting, strong push-off of right leg, comfortable deceleration and re-acceleration, and smooth fast quick bursts with good change of direction. His participation mirrored Day 1 activity, suggesting consistent recovery trajectory.

The source calls Nabers' WR19 ADP (Round 4) confounding given his expected avoidance of the PUP list. Since going sixth overall to the Giants in 2024, Nabers has averaged 18.24 fantasy points per game, sixth among wide receivers, with at least seven targets in every game finished and double-digit fantasy points in 16 of 18 full contests played. The source emphasizes that even if Nabers starts slow, his fantasy impact down the stretch is being grossly undervalued; when healthy, he's a locked-and-loaded PPR WR1 with No. 1 overall upside, and his Round 4 ADP will be one of the great mysteries of the 2026 fantasy season.