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Fact or Fiction: Biggest X-factor for Week 9

FACT-OR-FICTION-MALACHI-FIELDS

The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

Malik Nabers will have a fifth consecutive game of 100+ yards.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – All good things eventually come to an end. Even though the Eagles' pass defense has struggled this season, they do have a legitimate shutdown cornerback with Quinyon Mitchell, who could get assigned to travel with Malik Nabers. No one can stop Nabers, but Mitchell might be able to contain him enough to keep him under 100 yards. If Mitchell doesn't travel with Nabers I could be looking mighty foolish with this prediction.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Nabers is the first wide receiver in Giants history to be named NFC Offensive Player of the Month, which was first handed out in 1986. With the start-and-stop nature of his first two seasons, we are seeing the potential of a full-go Nabers in Year 3. "Malik's a superstar, but he's just starting," coach John Harbaugh said in his weekly sit-down with Giants.com. "He's a budding superstar, so we all get the privilege of witnessing that from the start. That's how I look at it."

Matt Citak: Fact – Not only is Nabers in the middle of the best stretch of his career, but he is also facing a very appealing matchup this week. During the Eagles' six-game losing streak, they have surrendered 850 downfield passing yards, the second-most in the NFL. Heading into Week 9, the Eagles also rank in the bottom three of the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns allowed to wide receivers this year. McCarthy's completion percentage of 63.6 on downfield passes would rank as the second-highest in the league. All of this points towards another big game from Nabers.

The key for both teams will be limiting the opposing quarterback's mobility.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I think the answer for the Giants is certainly "fact" here. Joe Milton has only been in Philadelphia for a little more than two weeks, so I wouldn't expect him to throw the ball 40 times in traditional pass scenarios. I think Philly will use him as part of the read-option run game, and get him on the move in the pass game on designed rollouts and moving pockets. Milton could be a difference-maker as a scrambler, which is something the Giants have struggled with this year. For the Eagles, preventing chunk pass plays will be their biggest key. The Giants throw passes at least 20 yards down the field at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL (according to PFF) and the Eagles have given up the fourth-most 20-yard completions this season despite the fact Vic Fangio's defense is designed to prevent big plays. For Philadelphia, it's "fiction."

Dan Salomone: Fact – Mobility isn't just about sheer rushing attempts, of which McCarthy only had one in his first start with the Giants. It's about extending plays and making things happen when things go off script. And things often go off script for the Giants in Philadelphia. McCarthy has a chance to help rewrite things on Sunday.

Matt Citak: Fiction – The biggest key for both teams will be stopping the run. The Giants are coming off their best rushing performance of the season in Week 7 with 188 total yards on the ground. And while Saquon Barkley is playing at less than 100 percent, he has still proven to be a very efficient back, even while nursing two different injuries the last two weeks, with an average of 4.6 yards per carry. If one defense can essentially eliminate the opponent's rushing attack, it would go a long way in helping them pick up a big divisional victory.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field as they prepare for their Week 9 matchup against the Eagles.

Rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields will have more than four catches.

John Schmeelk: Fact – With Mitchell potentially getting assigned to Nabers, I would not be surprised to see J.J. McCarthy attack down the field and on the perimeter to Malachi Fields. His 13 targets the last two weeks represent some evidence McCarthy likes throwing the ball in his direction down the field. Only two teams have allowed more completions of 15 or more yards than the Eagles. Fields could be a target on a lot of those passes.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Fields can give them a lot more, but like offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said, the deal is there's only one football. With that said, the staff has seen too much good from the rookie not to give him more – or at least attempt to do so. "Very, very impressed with him and what he's done," Nagy said. "And then for him to be able to get a couple throws there early on, the sky's the limit with him. He's doing great things, love his attitude. His talent is really, really good. He's still a rookie. So, his time's going to come, but really impressed with where he's at."

Matt Citak: Fiction – Through his first six NFL games, Fields caught exactly two passes each week. That number jumped to four in McCarthy's first start as the pair displayed some nice chemistry. Fields is the player I'm most interested to see over the final 10 games of the season, as we often see rookie wide receivers take big steps in the second half of the season. Fields could be the biggest X-factor for the team over the final stretch of the season. But until we see it, I'm going with three or four receptions, albeit long ones, for the rookie this weekend.

The Giants' X-factor on Sunday is running back Devin Singletary.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I'm going to go with Abdul Carter. The Eagles' offensive line has struggled in pass protection at times this season. Joe Milton is getting his first start with the Eagles, and if Carter can put continuous pressure on Milton without the Giants having to blitz, it would be very difficult for Philadelphia to move the ball. Carter will also be a player the Eagles are likely to challenge with a zone-read run game, and he will have to be disciplined keeping his eyes on the quarterback.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Singletary got left out of the formula for a few weeks, but like the consummate pro that he is, he proved to be the key variable when they needed him the most in Houston. He will once again be called upon with Tyrone Tracy Jr. on injured reserve and Cam Skattebo dealing with a hamstring injury. The Giants' two lowest rushing totals of the season came in both of their losses.

Matt Citak: Fact – Singletary could be looking at a significant role on Sunday if Cam Skattebo is ruled out. On only 18 attempts this season, the veteran has averaged 4.4 yards per carry. The Eagles have a stout defensive tackle pair in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, but the defense can be run on when going to the outside. In his four games with double-digit rush attempts last season, Singletary found the end zone a total of three times. He could be in store for another big workload come Sunday.

Click through every 1,000-yard receiving season in Giants history.

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