New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: Four Players to Watch

The Commanders return to the States after a rough showing in London in which they lost backup quarterback Marcus Mariota and were forced to play rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. Now they face off against the first-place Giants in their third divisional matchup in five games. Who are the players to pay attention to for New York?

WR Malik Nabers

Nabers had his best game of the season against Arizona as he caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Nabers is starting to look like the same player who had 109 catches for 1,204 yards as a rookie, and that is not a good thing for a Washington secondary that has struggled early in 2026. Washington will not have cornerback Trey Amos available on Sunday despite returning to practice this week, while fellow corner Mike Sainristil has given up a few big plays through the first four games, and there will be concern if he’s one-on-one against Nabers. Washington has to be careful with how they want to cover Nabers and stay in communication, or he will make them pay.

Edge Arvell Reese

Washington isn’t the only team in the division with a standout rookie linebacker. Reese, a college teammate of Commanders rookie Sonny Styles, has been everything and then some for the Giants after being drafted fifth overall. NFL.com recently named Reese the second-best defensive rookie, only behind Styles. Reese leads the team in tackles and tackles for loss, while tied for third with safety Jevon Holland in passes defended. He’s lived up to the do-it-all linebacker tag given to him during the draft, so Washington needs to know where he is at all times. They must find ways to limit his impact on the game. 

QB Jameis Winston

Famous Jameis’ career has been defined by some of the best throws you will ever see from a quarterback, along with others that make you wonder how he’s still in the league. He’s the only quarterback in NFL history to record 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a single season. We’ve seen both sides of that since he took over as the starter following Jaxson Dart’s torn ACL. Against Tennessee, he only threw for 118 yards, and the Giants didn’t score a single touchdown. Last week against Arizona, Winston threw three touchdowns but also two picks that led to ten points for the Cardinals, keeping the game closer than it needed to be. The Commanders will hope for any chance to get their hands on a ball after a Winston misfire. If Winston struggles again in Washington, there’s a chance we could see former Minnesota starter JJ McCarthy take his first snaps as a Giant.

CB Deonte Banks

The last two seasons were not kind to the former first-rounder as Banks struggled with play and questions of commitment. But with a new coaching staff and him in a contract year, Banks may finally be breaking out. While he missed weeks two and three due to a calf injury, Banks has shown improved coverage skills and has already surpassed his passes defended total of 2025. He totaled four last week against Arizona, along with a game-sealing 98-yard pick-six. If he can keep up his play, he’ll be one of the top corners in the 2027 free agency market. Terry McLaurin and the rest of the receiving core have to find ways to get open around Banks.