Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Malik Nabers And Jalen Coker

Each week throughout the 2024 NFL season, I’ll cover two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and will generally write about the most prominent performers from that particular week. I’ll discuss how well he’s lived up to expectations at the NFL level and then grade the player in three categories: performance to date, rookie season potential, and long-term upside.

Malik Nabers, WR NYG

Week 15 stats: ten receptions on fourteen targets for 82 yards and one touchdown.

In week 15, we saw Nabers put up the third-best fantasy performance of his young career, recording double-digit receptions on a team-leading 14 targets. He also found himself in the end zone again for the first time since September while amassing 82 yards. Nabers managed to do this with a combination of Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle at quarterback, too, gross. A weekly WR10 finish is definitely a giant “W” for him, given what he has to work with around him.

(Nabers did not participate in the NFL combine, and as a result, he doesn’t have a spider chart from mockdraftable.com that is usually featured in this space. His pro day numbers and where he would have placed among combine participants, according to Google, are seen below).

Nabers was a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school despite not playing his senior year after being denied a transfer waiver. However, as a junior, he led the state of Louisiana with 1,223 yards on 58 receptions with 21 touchdowns. Nabers initially committed to Mississippi State before changing his mind and enrolling at LSU. In hindsight, that was a great decision, as he ended his career at LSU as the Tigers’ all-time leading receiver. By the way, in case you were unaware, LSU has produced some incredible talent at the position. So, for Nabers to come out on top of their all-time receiving group– after only three seasons- is quite a statement. He twice led the SEC in receptions and led the conference in yards his junior season as well.

One of, if not THE top receiving prospect in the 2024 draft, Nabers was selected sixth overall by the New York Giants. He has hit the ground running, leading the team in targets, yards, and receptions- despite missing two games. He’s been everything the Giants and fantasy managers could have hoped for in his early career. Given the Giants’ troubles at offensive line, quarterback, and running back, it’s borderline miraculous that he’s been so successful thus far. Dynasty owners have taken notice, and Nabers is now going third overall in the most recent start-up mock drafts, only behind Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson – two other LSU products. Just for fun, Brian Thomas Jr is WR10 too… Geaux Tigers, I guess.

Performance to Date: A-

Through 15 weeks, Nabers is rookie number eight in scoring, and if you omit the four quarterbacks ahead of him, he’s number four among position players. He was drafted as the WR2, and he is the WR2 so far in the class behind LSU teammate Brian Thomas Jr. He’s WR11 overall, and as a WR1, how can you give him any less than an A? I only added the minus because it hasn’t been a stress-free ride, as the ongoing quarterback situation each week in New York makes you second guess your lineup each week, when it really should be a no-brainer as Nabers emerges as a locked-in, plug-and-play, set it and forget it wide receiver.

Rookie Season Potential: C

I mentioned the ongoing quarterback issues in New York, and it doesn’t seem like that will be ending any time soon. I’m probably too pessimistic as He just put up 20+ points in a game with DeVito and Boyle under center, so he’s already proven he can overcome lackluster quarterback play. But the thought of needing two more wins in the fantasy playoffs that are tied to Drew Lock, or Tim Boyle, or Tommy DeVito, or even the ghost of Daniel Jones is nauseating.

Long-Term Upside: B+

How do I not give him an A? If I graded Nabers eight weeks ago, he’d be locked in with an A, but now, I’m a little scared. We’ve seen plenty of great receivers thrive with sub-optimal QB play, but everything in New York seems in flux. Flat out, the Giants stink. If it weren’t for the Jets being an even bigger dumpster fire in the same stadium, the Giants would be one of the most lambasted teams in the NFL this season. Nabers deserves better than this, and I hope I’m wrong and my B+ looks foolish in a couple of years.

Jalen Coker, WR CAR

Week 15 stats: Four receptions on six targets for 110 yards and one touchdown.

Coker recorded the first WR1 finish of his career in week 15, scoring 20 points on the way to finishing 12th at the position for the week. He saw his highest snap share of the season and second-highest snap total, too, while finishing second on the team in targets and reception—a pleasant surprise from someone largely undrafted in August.

A high school product out of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Coker was lightly recruited despite being 2nd Team All-State, 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Region, and 1st Team All-County player. He wound up at a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school, Holy Cross, where he had a successful collegiate career. He wrapped up 2023 as a first-team AP FCS All-American and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award while leading all FCS schools with 15 receiving touchdowns on 59 receptions for 1,040 yards. Ultimately, Coker set a couple of Holy Cross receiving records with 31 career receiving scores and 2,715 receiving yards.

Projected as a fifth or sixth-round draft pick by NFL scouting guru Lance Zierlein, it was surprising to see Coker go undrafted. However, we often see this when a class is stacked at a particular position. Thirty-five wide receivers were drafted, including a record-tying seven first-round wide receivers. Coker didn’t run particularly fast at the combine, but he did post the best vertical jump among the receivers and was tied for the best among all combine participants with a 42.5″ jump. Going undrafted, combined with his 4.57 40-time, seemed to be the catalyst that scared off dynasty owners as he went undrafted throughout the rookie draft season (I’m sure landing as a UDFA with Carolina didn’t inspire many people either).

Performance to Date: C+

Despite only playing in eight games, Coker is third on the Panthers in receiving yards and touchdowns. He has three double-digit performances in those eight contests too. He led the team in receiver snaps in week 15 and has been second in snaps in two other games. When the Panthers put him on the field, he has produced. He’s rookie 22 in fantasy scoring; on a points-per-game basis, he’s rookie 17, and among rookie receivers, he has the 11th most points. That’s not too shabby for someone who went largely undrafted.

Rookie Season Potential: B+

If you apply logic, if a dopey fantasy football writer can see that Coker produces when he gets snaps and targets, one would think the Panthers’ brain trust would also see that and plan to kick the tires on him more down the stretch to prepare for 2025 after a lost 2024 season. Fellow rookie Xavier Legette will likely miss week 16 and possibly week 17. I’m going to look into my crystal ball and predict that Coker is a top-15 option at the position for the remainder of the season.

Long-Term Upside: B

I liked Coker coming out of college but wasn’t absurdly high on him. Not patting myself on the back like I’m the greatest wide-receiver-sleeper-whisperer-guy in the industry, but I had Coker in my rankings before the combine, and despite being outside of my top 60 overall, I had him ranked heading into rookie drafts and made him a priority post-draft waiver target for my taxi squads. If Dave Canales can get Bryce Young straightened out, with Legette and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and a revitalized Chuba Hubbard on this offense, Coker could be a fantasy-viable WR3 and possibly a WR2.