Malik Nabers, Dru Phillips ranked among Top 10 rookies of Week 2 by CBS Sports
While Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders did not end how the Giants would have hoped, the performance of several of the team's rookies was certainly a bright spot.
CBS Sports released their top 10 rookies from Week 2 in which two Giants were featured, starting with wide receiver Malik Nabers, who put together a breakout performance.
"Nabers ran 27 routes on Sunday against the Commanders, according to TruMedia," wrote CBS Sports' Josh Edwards. "He was targeted 18 times (10 receptions for 127 yards, 1 TD), which means he was targeted on 66.7% of routes ran. Watching it back, that's exactly how it felt."
Nabers' 69.2 percent target rate (targeted on 18 of his 26 routes run) was the highest by any wide receiver who ran at least 15 routes in a game since 2016.
Heading into Week 3, Nabers ranks fourth in the league in receiving yards (193) and tied for second in receptions (15) and targets (25). He also leads the NFL with five catches of 20+ yards. This comes one year after he registered the most 10+ yard plays, 20+ yard plays and 30+ yard plays in the nation in his final season at LSU.
Joining Nabers on CBS Sports' list was rookie cornerback Dru Phillips, who also enjoyed a strong showing against the Commanders.
"Phillips and Jason Pinnock were all over the field for the Giants defense," Edwards wrote. "The rookie was effective not only in pass coverage, but in the run game. He made some big plays in the backfield to ensure the Commanders were often behind the sticks. The game does not look to be too fast for him."
Phillips saw his first extensive action in the NFL as he was on the field for 66 of the team's defensive snaps (92 percent).
The rookie third-round pick finished second on the team with 12 tackles (seven solo) while adding a sack, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit.
Through two games, he has allowed just 26 yards on five receptions as the nearest defender in coverage, according to Next Gen Stats, and has also displayed great physicality.
Here are CBS Sports' top 10 rookies from Week 2:
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
- WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants
- RT Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh Steelers
- RT Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers
- LT Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints
- C Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers
- EDGE Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
- CB Dru Phillips, New York Giants
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans Saints
- DT Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks
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