It’s always heartbreaking to see any player go down with a season-ending injury. For any New York Giants fan or a Malik Nabers fantasy owner, this one hurts a bit deeper.
Giants fans saw a glimpse of hope after beating the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday, but without Nabers, there isn’t much expectation left for a winning season. Not only does this affect the organization drastically, but Nabers’ fantasy owners are now left without their first- or second-round draft pick only four weeks in.
There’s not enough value in free agency to make up for the loss of Nabers, so the only option left for an owner is to trade. Hopefully, you have an extra running back or quarterback on the bench that can catch the eye of a league mate. If so, here are the best three receivers to target in a trade that will help replace the loss of Nabers.
Coming into the season, fantasy owners were ecstatic about Brian Thomas Jr.’s second year, but after four weeks, he may have fallen into the sophomore slump. With twelve receptions for 164 yards and no touchdowns, he has accumulated 36 fantasy points over four games, leading current fantasy owners to be skeptical about starting him moving forward.
This might cause other fantasy owners to hesitate trading for Thomas Jr.; however, this could be the perfect opportunity to target a young, dynamic receiver with plenty of time to bounce back. If he can return to his 2024 form, when he had 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, he could save fantasy owners who have lost Nabers.
Now is the time, after another disappointing week, when Thomas Jr. only scored 10.6 fantasy points, to pursue him in a trade. Most owners who currently have him on their roster are growing frustrated and seeking an alternative option moving forward. If he makes the comeback, you made the trade of the year, and if he doesn’t, you’re trading a flex or a few backups at most for a player with tremendous upside. Trading for him may be a risk, but after losing a star like Nabers, there aren’t many options left.
After serving a three-game suspension, Jordan Addison made his way back to the gridiron and picked up right where he left off. Against a solid Pittsburgh Steelers defense, Addison saw eight targets, catching four, totaling 114 yards. He may not have found the endzone this week, but he showed he will get six-plus targets and have many opportunities for huge fantasy games.
Fantasy owners may question why they would trade for a wide receiver two that’s behind Justin Jefferson to replace Nabers, but Addison brings much more value than just that. In his first two seasons, he has had over 1,700 receiving yards with 19 touchdowns, creating tons of points in fantasy. On many teams, Addison would be the number one receiver, but on the Vikings, he finds himself behind Jefferson, which helps him locate open space and dominate fantasy scoreboards.
The time to go after Addison is now, before he proves to his current fantasy owners that he will continue to score 12+ points a game with huge upside if he reaches the endzone. Most owners have found a way to make it work with their roster without him in the lineup, but if he continues at this pace, they will realize he deserves a starting spot. With low trade cost and huge fantasy upside, he is a great replacement for any owner who lost Nabers.
The best trade target for a fantasy owner who lost Nabers is Marvin Harrison Jr.. The beginning of Harrison Jr.’s sophomore season has had some highs and lows, but as Kyler Murray’s favorite target, he will see plenty of opportunities to be a dominant fantasy option.
In weeks one and four, Harrison Jr. had five or more receptions for over 66 yards and a touchdown, resulting in 18+ fantasy points. Weeks two and three were disappointing to say the least, with many drops and not reaching over three receptions or 45 yards in either matchup. This has created a huge boom-or-bust scenario for him this year, leaving room for other fantasy owners to try and work out a trade.
Some fantasy owners will want to stay away from Harrison Jr. due to those inconsistencies, but if he can fix the drops, he will end up as a top 10 to 15 fantasy wide receiver. Being an all-around receiver who can play either outside or in the slot with the ability to make contested catches, he has every tool needed to score 15+ points a game.
The start of the year may have had some woes, creating confusion among current fantasy owners about playing Harrison Jr. This is the time to take advantage and secure him in a trade before he starts lighting up defenses and consistently becomes a great option. This may be a risky move, banking on him to stop dropping easy passes, but if any owner watched the end of his last game, they will see the heart he has for the sport and know better days are on the horizon.
For any current fantasy owner losing Nabers feels like a punch to the gut, and ultimately, it is nearly impossible to replace the value he brings to their roster. Even though it’s a near-impossible task, fantasy owners have to try to create something to fill the void left in their starting wide receiver spot.
The overall best option is Harrison Jr.. He has had a couple of rough games to start the year, but a player with his talent, and with current fantasy owners scared to start him, it’s the perfect opportunity to work in a trade. He might cost the most of these three options, but if he can produce consistently, he will be a great starting wide receiver for the remainder of the year.
After Harrison Jr., the next best option to go after is Addison. Despite the three-game suspension resulting in the smallest sample size, his prior years show impressive statistics, proving he can produce some huge fantasy performances. Lastly, Thomas Jr. is the final top wide receiver to go after in a trade to replace Nabers. He may be the biggest risk after a forgettable start to the season, but if he can turn into the 2024 BTJ, it will be the trade of the year.
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