For the second time in as many games, wide receiver Malik Nabers has been nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week.
Nabers put together a breakout performance against the Washington Commanders in Week 2. The 21-year-old caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, as he was the target on 18 of quarterback Daniel Jones' 28 pass attempts.
His 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.
"He's a talented player that can do things with the ball in his hand and you saw that yesterday," head coach Brian Daboll told the media Monday. "(He) gained in a lot of yards after contact, as did Wan'Dale (Robinson) when Wan'Dale got the ball thrown to him. So that's going to be, that's going to have to be a big part of our game. We have players that can do something with the ball in their hands in space, run after catch-wise, and we'll continue to build off that."
Nabers has gotten his NFL career off to a strong start.
He heads into this weekend's matchup against the Cleveland Browns ranking fourth in the league in receiving yards (193) and tied for second in receptions (15) and targets (25).
Nabers 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.
The rookie's role in the offense goes beyond the traditional box score stats. Through two weeks, Nabers also has the league's highest target share (39.1 percent), the second-highest air yards share (57.9 percent), and the third-most yards after the catch among wide receivers (109). He also ranks third among all pass catchers with a 12.5 total EPA (Expected Points Added), while nine of his catches have resulted in a first down, tied for the third-most in the NFL.
He also leads all rookies in just about every receiving statistic.
Nabers was also nominated for the weekly award after the season opener in which he pulled in five receptions for 66 yards.
The other players nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week included:
- Commanders QB Jayden Daniels - 23 of 29 passing (79.3 percent) for 226 yards and a 99.1 passer rating, 44 rushing yards
- Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. - Four receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns
- Raiders TE Brock Bowers - Nine receptions for 98 yards
- Rams OLB Jared Verse - Seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble
- Jets RB Braelon Allen - 56 scrimmage yards (33 rushing, 23 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving)
Fans vote for one of six players on NFL.com/rookies, @NFL on Twitter, and on the NFL Mobile app. After the regular season, six players will be nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Years honor. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com/rookies throughout the month of January.
The New York Giants went on the road to take on the Washington Commanders in Week 2.
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