Brian Daboll finally reveals secret behind emerging star’s breakout

Few players, if any, on the New York Giants have done more to raise their stock with the team than Wan'Dale Robinson. Since Malik Nabers went down, the fourth-year receiver has stepped up admirably as Big Blue's WR1, and is making it hard for general manager Joe Schoen not to retain him this offseason.

When Daniel Jones was the starter, Robinson was relegated to a quasi-slot role, but has been moved around the formation more in 2025. Additionally, his connection with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has flourished over the last two games, as head coach Brian Daboll attributed his rapid rise to that versatility:

Now that he's finally getting a shot in a superior offensive scheme, he's making sure to capitalize.

In the Giants' gut-wrenching Week 7 loss to the Denver Broncos, Robinson led the team in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (95), and played a key role on offense for New York against the Eagles on primetime in Week 6 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

Giants are finally using Wan'Dale Robinson the right way

In 2024, the 24-year-old caught a career-high 93 passes for 699 yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to catch over 90 passes but be held under 700 receiving yards. However, the quarterback change has him becoming more of a downfield threat, so his 2025 has yielded unsurprising results.

Through seven games, the Kentucky native has caught 35 passes for 446 yards and two touchdowns—and ranks 13th in the NFL in receiving yards. This season, he's managed to outpace star wideouts like A.J. Brown, Brian Thomas Jr., and Davante Adams while silencing narratives about his standing as a "gadget guy".

However, it was before Nabers went down that Robinson first started to turn heads. He caught eight passes for a career-high 142 yards against Dallas, showcasing that he has the vertical juice to shine if used effectively.

The 2022 second-round pick out of Kentucky dazzled as a downfield threat in training camp, affirming that it was the staff's lack of trust in Jones that was holding him back. But now, with Dart starting, he has cemented himself as one of the most reliable safety valves in football.

He's on pace for his first 1,000-yard season, which is helping rewrite the narrative. With him set to be a free agent this spring, his success in the expanded role is setting him up for a nice payday in his second contract—and is making New York feel comfortable about not adding another receiver at the trade deadline.