It took one preseason game for Malachi Fields to shatter expectations

What did I tell you? Giants rookie receiver Malachi Fields just had himself a day in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

No, the 13-10 loss wasn't exactly the result Big Blue Nation was hoping for, but better to get the bad out now than save it for the regular season. They went 3-0 in the preseason last year and still ended up going 4-13, so maybe coming out with a loss to kick off 2026 isn't the worst thing in the world.

Although there wasn't much to celebrate from the opener, Fields is one of the exceptions. The soon-to-be 24-year-old flashed early and often, catching the lone touchdown of the day for the G-Men. And what a catch it was -- the 6-foot-4, 218-pounder mossed linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. for six, firmly casting aside any and all tempering of expectations for the upcoming season.

Funny enough, it just so happens I wrote about Fields the other day in my "4 Giants guaranteed to have fans overreacting after preseason opener" article. I wrote, "If Fields can make a few big plays here and there, and maybe a highlight-reel catch, good luck keeping expectations reasonable."

It's safe to say "reasonable" is out the window.

Malachi Fields' preseason showing gave Giants fans permission to get carried away

The former Notre Dame standout caught all three of his targets, finishing with 34 yards and a touchdown. It's been a strong offseason for the rookie. He's impressed at literally every step along the way, starting at rookie minicamp and now continuing through the preseason.

What makes the catch even more impressive is the drama surrounding it. Right before the touchdown, quarterback Jaxson Dart gave Big Blue Nation a huge scare when a missed blitz assignment left him splattered on the turf.

After a tense (and I mean tense) moment in the blue medical tent -- and a brief cameo from backup Jameis Winston -- Dart came back onto the field a few plays later.

Flushed out of a collapsing pocket, Dart scrambled left and hurled up a prayer to the back of the end zone. Fields used every bit of his massive frame to out-jump Pace Jr. and snag the 15-yard throw.

That play alone is why general manager Joe Schoen looks brilliant right now. He traded back in the third round to grab him, and it took exactly one preseason game for the rest of us to start wondering if the Giants came away with the steal of the draft.

It might only be mid-August, but there’s absolutely zero point in me acting cool about this. Fields already looks like a third-round heist. My warning/prediction/whatever you want to call it about expectations going nuclear with a strong showing was dead on.

Keeping things reasonable is all but impossible now.

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