Why Aren’t Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Getting the Ball?
Through three weeks of the NFL season, two of the league’s most talented young wideouts — Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. — have left fantasy managers and fans frustrated. Both flashed elite ability as rookies, but neither has been consistently featured in their team’s offensive game plans.
Malik Nabers: WR1 Potential, WR3 Usage
Nabers briefly exited Sunday’s game with an injury, but even when on the field he wasn’t a difference-maker. He caught just two of seven targets, finishing with 3.3 fantasy points in a stalled Giants passing attack. Nabers’ talent is undeniable — his explosiveness and route running scream true WR1 — yet the Giants’ offensive scheme has failed to maximize him.
Whether it’s conservative play-calling, Russell Wilson struggles, or protection issues along the offensive line, the Giants haven’t been able to get Nabers in rhythm. Against the Chargers next week, the expectation is that he’ll rebound, but the bigger question remains: why isn’t New York scheming touches for their most dynamic weapon?
Brian Thomas Jr.: Chemistry Concerns
Meanwhile, in Jacksonville, Brian Thomas Jr. has also seen opportunities slip away. Despite drawing six targets, he connected with Trevor Lawrence only twice, finishing with 7.5 fantasy points. That marks the third straight week Thomas has failed to reach double-digit production.
For a player who was a breakout star last season, his slide to the WR3/flex tier is puzzling. Lawrence and Thomas clearly aren’t on the same page, and the Jaguars’ play-calling hasn’t done him any favors. Without designed plays to get him open early, Thomas has been reduced to an afterthought in an offense that should be far more dangerous.
The Bigger Picture
Both Nabers and Thomas are explosive playmakers, and both have shown they can tilt a game. The issue isn’t talent — it’s opportunity. Their coordinators haven’t done enough to feature them, whether through quick-hitting routes, motion, or designed touches that guarantee involvement.
Until that changes, fantasy managers and fans will continue to be frustrated, watching two potential stars get lost in the shuffle. If their teams want to unlock their true potential — and win more games in the process — it starts with making Nabers and Thomas focal points of their offenses.
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