Admin September 26, 2024
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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers has put on a show through the first three weeks of his rookie season. The 2024 No. 6 overall pick has 23 receptions, 271 yards, and 3 touchdowns and is on pace to set multiple rookie receiving records.
Despite many defenses around the league shifting to increased two-high safety looks, Nabers has been able to produce. The rookie phenom had a tremendous performance in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. Nabers caught 8 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to have multiple touchdowns in a game (21 years, 56 days), previously held by Mike Evans (21 years, 73 days).
Nabers is the first player in NFL history to record at least 250 yards, 20 receptions, and three touchdowns through their first three games. For comparison, in their first three NFL games, Justin Jefferson (12 receptions, 245 yards, 1 TD) and Ja’Marr Chase (11 receptions, 220 yards, 4 TDs).
The LSU product leads the NFL with 37 targets and a 38% target share. Ten years ago, another former Giants rookie receiver from LSU posted historic numbers. Nabers follows in the footsteps of Odell Beckham Jr., who had a tremendous rookie season with Big Blue and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.
In recent NFL seasons, passing has risen, resulting in gaudy wide receiver performances. Last season, Los Angeles Rams rookie Puka Nacua burst onto the scene and smashed multiple rookie records. Fellow 2024 rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. is another generational talent poised to produce big numbers for the Arizona Cardinals.
Here’s a look at the all-time receiving leaders by rookie wide receivers in NFL history.
Most receiving yards by rookie WR
Puka Nacua holds the current record for the most receiving yards by a rookie wide receiver in NFL history, with 1,486 yards in 2023 with the Los Angeles Rams. Nacua exceeded fifth-round expectations: He finished second behind C.J. Stroud for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Before Nacua’s historic season, Bill Groman held the rookie receiving yard record for 62 years, reaching 1,473 yards in the AFL. Groman accumulated his rookie stats in just 14 games, while Nacua took 17 games to break the record. Puka passed his fellow active wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase (1,455 yards, 2021) and Justin Jefferson (1,400 yards, 2020), for the most receiving yards in the Super Bowl era.
- Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams, 2023): 1,486 receiving yards
- Bill Groman (Houston Oilers, 1960): 1,473 receiving yards
- Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati, 2021): 1,455 receiving yards
- Justin Jefferson (Minnesota, 2020): 1,400 receiving yards
- Anquan Boldin (Arizona, 2003): 1,377 receiving yards
- Randy Moss (Minnesota, 1998): 1,313 receiving yards
- Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants, 2014): 1,305 receiving yards
- Michael Clayton (Tampa Bay, 2004): 1,193 receiving yards
- Michael Thomas (New Orleans, 2016): 1,137 receiving yards
- Terry Glenn (New England, 1996): 1,132 receiving yards
- Bill Brooks (Indianapolis, 1986): 1,131 receiving yards
- Garrett Wilson (New York Jets, 2022): 1,103 receiving yards
Malik Nabers has accumulated 271 receiving yards through the first three weeks of the 2024 season. This terrific start puts him on pace to break Nacua’s record.
Most touchdowns by rookie WR
Randy Moss used his big frame in 1998, scoring 17 times with the Vikings. He has scored the most touchdowns by a rookie wide receiver by a wide margin. He set the single-season record in 2007 with 23 touchdowns as a member of the Patriots.
- Randy Moss (Minnesota, 1998): 17
- Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati, 2021): 13
- Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants, 2014): 12
- Mike Evans (Tampa Bay, 2014): 12
- Bill Groman (Houston Oilers, 1960): 12
- Michael Thomas (New Orleans, 2016): 9
- A.J. Brown (Tennessee, 2019): 8
- Keenan Allen (San Diego, 2013): 8
- Marques Colston (New Orleans, 2006): 8
- Anquan Boldin (Arizona, 2003): 8
- Bill Brooks (Indianapolis, 1986): 8
Most receptions by rookie WR
- Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams, 2023): 105
- Jaylen Waddle (Miami, 2021): 104
- Anquan Boldin (Arizona, 2003): 101
- Michael Thomas (New Orleans, 2016): 92
- Odell Beckham Jr. (New York Giants, 2014): 91
- Eddie Royal (Denver, 2008): 91
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit, 2021): 90
- Terry Glenn (New England, 1996): 90
- Justin Jefferson (Minnesota, 2020): 88
Nabers’ 23 receptions is tied with Anquan Boldin for the second-most through the first three games. Nacua is the only player to have more, with 30 catches in his first three games.
Nabers will lead the Giants in Week 4 on “Thursday Night Football” against CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys. Last season, Lamb led the NFL in receptions (135) and finished second in yards (1,749) and touchdowns (12), setting up a battle for years to come between these NFC East wide receivers.
Through the first three weeks, the Cowboys defense has allowed the second-fewest receptions and fifth-fewest yards to opposing wide receivers. Nabers will have his work cut out for him in his first primetime game.