New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers has authored one of the most remarkable stretches by a pass-catcher in recent NFL history, posting four consecutive 100-yard receiving games while catching passes from backup quarterbacks.
Historic Streak
Over Weeks 4 through 7, Nabers recorded 6 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown (Jameis Winston), 11 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown (Winston), 12 catches for 165 yards (Winston and J.J. McCarthy), and 7 catches for 111 yards (McCarthy). He became the first player since Cris Carter in 1999 to achieve four straight 100-yard games with non-Week 1 starting quarterbacks, tying the longest such streak since the 1970 merger alongside Carter, Rob Moore, Jerry Rice, and Carl Pickens. A fifth straight 100-yard game against Philadelphia would make him the only player since the merger with five consecutive 100-yard outings with backup quarterbacks.
Quarterback-Proof Production
Nabers is the only player in NFL history to log a 100-yard receiving game with five different starting quarterbacks — Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and J.J. McCarthy — within his first 30 career games. Only DeAndre Hopkins and George Pickens have reached that mark in their first three seasons. His ability to produce regardless of quarterback has drawn comparisons to Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald, the gold standards for QB-proof receivers. Hopkins had 100-yard games with four different starters in a single season (2015) and 12 different starters career; Fitzgerald caught touchdowns from 16 different players and had 100-yard games from 11 different starters.
Team Impact and Emerging Stardom
The Giants are 3-1-1 since Jaxson Dart's season-ending injury, including 2-1-1 during Nabers' historic streak. McCarthy has completed 11 of 14 passes for 206 yards targeting Nabers in five quarters, a 2,800-yard pace over a full season. Nabers ranks among the league's most targeted receivers, seeing 30% of targets on his routes — second only to Puka Nacua since 2024. An expert panel that previously listed Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Amon-Ra St. Brown as the top five wide receivers would now place Nabers fifth, ahead of Jefferson.
Awards and Contract Outlook
Nabers carries the second-best odds (+550) to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year, trailing only Patrick Mahomes. His performance after returning from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered in 2025 positions him for a massive contract extension when eligible this offseason, potentially surpassing the deals signed by Ja'Marr Chase (four years, $161 million) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (four years, $169 million).
