Giants rookie WR Malachi Fields might be playing his way into bigger conversation

The New York Giants had a couple of the league's best rookies during the 2025 season in quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo. Dart finished 4th in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, and Skattebo would have undoubtedly been a finalist if he had played most of the season.

Could the Giants have another ORoY candidate in 2026?

They just might, and if they do, you heard it here first. Unless you're a Giants fan.

But we're putting it out there in the universe. We're going to buy all of the preseason and training camp stock we can. Everything we're seeing and hearing about rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields? Well, we're liking it...a lot.

New York Giants rookie WR Malachi Fields might be a sleeper ORoY contender

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Fields has quickly become a favorite target of Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart during training camp, and he has been rapidly ascending up the depth chart. The play he made in the team's preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings was an eye-opener, but it was more confirmation for the Giants than new evidence.

Fields has been proving himself throughout the offseason program and training camp, which is why ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan said this in a recent preseason update:

The Giants traded up because they were infatuated with his size, physicality and ability to make contested catches. That's exactly what they've seen this summer. Fields will likely start as the Giants' No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers, in part because of his size and ability to block.

- Jordan Raanan, ESPN

Becoming the No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers is not a small deal at this point. This is typically the type of update you might come to expect about a 1st-round pick, or big-name free agent signing, but a rookie wide receiver?

This player is uncommon.

If he's ascended this quickly up the depth chart, it's not just because the Giants are hurting at the receiver position. And from the outside looking in, quite frankly, they are in a bit of a tough spot. There is a reason why Odell Beckham Jr. has been such a fun story to monitor this offseason. He has a legitimate chance to play a role on this team, depleted as their receiver room has been.

But Fields seems to be doing more than just being the cream rising to the top. He's earning that WR2 job next to Nabers, and could give the Giants another playmaker defenses have to hone in on week after week.

We don't want to make any mountains out of preseason/training camp molehills, but Fields has done plenty to set himself apart. As Raanan noted, he's not just getting it done as a receiver, but he's proving he is a willing and capable blocker as well.

The fact that Fields is seemingly shooting up the depth chart on a John Harbaugh-coached team should also not be ignored here. Harbaugh is establishing and creating culture as much as he is trying to coach a football team right now, and putting Fields in position to have a role like that as a rookie speaks volumes.

Not to mention, trading up for him in the first place.

The Giants clearly believe in Fields's talent, but they are also not going to be afraid to ask a lot of him. At least, that's what it appears. And if that ends up being the case, then perhaps Fields will find himself in those bigger, Offensive Rookie of the Year sized discussions before too long.

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