Malik Nabers Leads Giants’ Midseason Offensive Award Winners

The New York Giants are 4-2-1 and leading the NFC East through seven weeks, even though they don’t have any offensive players in the mix for individual awards.

So we decided to make our own awards for the Giants, since there are so many deserving players. Here’s a look at the Giants’ offensive midseason awards.

Giants Offensive MVP: Malik Nabers, wide receiver

A non-quarterback hasn’t won league MVP since Adrian Peterson did so in 2012, and a wideout has never won the award. But Nabers is the obvious call amid Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury and the trade for J.J. McCarthy — as well as four running backs.

Nabers has played like the NFL’s best wide receiver the past four weeks, even while the Giants switched starting quarterbacks from Jameis Winston to McCarthy. He has 509 yards in the Giants’ past four games, the most of any NFL receiver in that span, and Nabers’ 36 receptions in that span are second only to Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams.

Nabers has been doing all this with a lingering shoulder injury, which he sustained in Week 2 against the Rams. It’s no coincidence that game, a 28-6 loss in which he had one catch for 1 yard, was the Giants’ most lopsided defeat this year.

Giants Offensive Rookie of the Year: Francis Mauigoa, right guard

It’s a tough call between Mauigoa and Malachi Fields, since Fields has progressed as the No. 2 receiver behind Nabers. But Mauigoa is one of only two Giants players, along with Jon Runyan Jr., to be on the field for all 490 offensive snaps this year, an impressive feat for a rookie who also switched positions from tackle to guard.

Despite that, and the Giants’ quarterback carousel, Mauigoa has only been flagged twice this season and allowed only one sack through his first seven NFL games. His run blocking could be better, and Fields may overtake him as the team’s top offensive rookie, but for now Mauigoa is the pick.

Giants Offensive Comeback Player of the Year: Nabers

Who else could it possibly be? Not only has Nabers been the Giants’ best player, but he has done so while still recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus just 13 months ago.

There were concerns about whether Nabers would be ready for Week 1. Now it’s fair to wonder where the Giants’ offense would be without him.

Giants Offensive Coach of the Year: Brian Callahan, quarterbacks coach

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy deserves a ton of credit, and so too does senior offensive assistant Greg Roman. But Callahan has had to assist Nagy with game-planning while also helping Winston before getting McCarthy up to speed in time to start last Sunday in Houston.

Of course, having good people in the building helps. Winston has been noncontroversial through his benching, and McCarthy’s ability to retain information is off the charts.

But for Callahan, who was fired as the Tennessee Titans head coach only a year ago, it’s a remarkable turnaround that highlights the organization’s resilience in John Harbaugh’s first year.