Malik Nabers vs Justin Jefferson
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 10, 2026
Should you draft Malik Nabers or Justin Jefferson?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | WAS | 9.6 | WR28 | 12 | 5 | 71 | 0 |
2 | DAL | 33.2 | WR2 | 13 | 9 | 167 | 2 |
3 | KC | 2.3 | WR88 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
4 | LAC | 3.0 | WR77 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MIN | 9.1 | WR32 | 7 | 5 | 66 | 0 |
2 | WAS | 23.7 | WR3 | 18 | 10 | 127 | 1 |
3 | CLE | 24.2 | WR3 | 12 | 8 | 78 | 2 |
4 | DAL | 17.1 | WR12 | 15 | 12 | 115 | 0 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | PHI | 6.1 | WR43 | 8 | 4 | 41 | 0 |
8 | PIT | 10.6 | WR38 | 13 | 7 | 71 | 0 |
9 | WAS | 10.4 | WR29 | 11 | 9 | 59 | 0 |
10 | CAR | 7.8 | WR30 | 10 | 6 | 50 | 0 |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | TB | 9.4 | WR26 | 9 | 6 | 64 | 0 |
13 | DAL | 11.3 | WR28 | 13 | 8 | 69 | 0 |
14 | NO | 12.4 | WR25 | 10 | 5 | 79 | 0 |
15 | BAL | 19.2 | WR10 | 14 | 10 | 82 | 1 |
16 | ATL | 10.3 | WR32 | 14 | 7 | 68 | 0 |
17 | IND | 32.6 | WR2 | 8 | 7 | 171 | 2 |
18 | PHI | 14.9 | WR15 | 8 | 5 | 64 | 1 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CHI | 12.8 | WR20 | 7 | 4 | 44 | 1 |
2 | ATL | 9.6 | WR38 | 6 | 3 | 81 | 0 |
3 | CIN | 10.0 | WR33 | 7 | 5 | 75 | 0 |
4 | PIT | 17.6 | WR9 | 11 | 10 | 126 | 0 |
5 | CLE | 15.8 | WR11 | 11 | 7 | 123 | 0 |
6 | BYE | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | PHI | 10.4 | WR26 | 10 | 5 | 79 | 0 |
8 | LAC | 10.9 | WR26 | 11 | 7 | 74 | 0 |
9 | DET | 13.7 | WR18 | 9 | 6 | 47 | 1 |
10 | BAL | 5.7 | WR44 | 12 | 4 | 37 | 0 |
11 | CHI | 8.6 | WR27 | 9 | 5 | 61 | 0 |
12 | GB | 6.8 | WR39 | 6 | 4 | 48 | 0 |
13 | SEA | 1.4 | WR95 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
14 | WAS | 2.1 | WR81 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
15 | DAL | 3.2 | WR77 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 0 |
16 | NYG | 11.5 | WR26 | 8 | 6 | 85 | 0 |
17 | DET | 5.0 | WR52 | 5 | 4 | 30 | 0 |
18 | GB | 14.4 | WR10 | 11 | 8 | 101 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | NYG | 13.9 | WR15 | 6 | 4 | 59 | 1 |
2 | SF | 21.3 | WR7 | 7 | 4 | 133 | 1 |
3 | HOU | 17.1 | WR14 | 8 | 6 | 81 | 1 |
4 | GB | 17.5 | WR11 | 8 | 6 | 85 | 1 |
5 | NYJ | 12.2 | WR23 | 14 | 6 | 92 | 0 |
6 | BYE | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | DET | 17.9 | WR5 | 8 | 7 | 81 | 1 |
8 | LAR | 15.5 | WR13 | 9 | 8 | 115 | 0 |
9 | IND | 18.1 | WR9 | 9 | 7 | 137 | 0 |
10 | JAX | 7.3 | WR33 | 9 | 5 | 48 | 0 |
11 | TEN | 11.1 | WR29 | 8 | 6 | 81 | 0 |
12 | CHI | 3.7 | WR64 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 0 |
13 | ARI | 13.4 | WR23 | 9 | 7 | 99 | 0 |
14 | ATL | 28.7 | WR4 | 7 | 7 | 132 | 2 |
15 | CHI | 16.8 | WR15 | 14 | 7 | 73 | 1 |
16 | SEA | 31.4 | WR1 | 13 | 10 | 144 | 2 |
17 | GB | 13.2 | WR29 | 11 | 8 | 92 | 0 |
18 | DET | 6.9 | WR55 | 9 | 3 | 54 | 0 |
Latest takes
“There is plenty of uncertainty around Nabers and whether or not he will be his usual explosive self to start the season, but getting a WR of this caliber in the third round is the type of pick that can really make a difference down the stretch of the season if he is back to 100%.”
Kurt Mullen· Aug 7“I’m going to piggyback on my running back health statement above and avoid Malik Nabers at receiver.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 7“Only SEC WR besides Malik Nabers with 30+ missed tackles forced on receptions in a season over the past 5 years”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6
See 12 more
“This should lock him into the second option behind Malik Nabers”
Ellis Johnson· Aug 6“Add in the fact that Malik Nabers is recovering from a significant knee injury, and you can see why Dart is a pass.”
Frank Ammirante· Jul 27“Malik Nabers (WR – NYG): Down 4 spots to No. 44 A slow, steady bleed that’s now the longest-running faller trend over the last few weeks. Nabers has slipped roughly 14 spots since we first flagged him in late June for missing mandatory minicamp during a lengthy ACL and meniscus rehab.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 24“Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, and Justin Jefferson all have similar LTV scores in the same range as Love’s.”
Jonathan Lange· Jul 21“This dip will only increase when Malik Nabers heads to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp. Latest reports suggest it could be Week 5 or 6 before Nabers is back to full health.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 20“Nabers could miss the start of the year and might not be 100% until 2027, making him a massive risk to draft as a top-12 wide receiver.”
Mike Fanelli· Jul 20“The Giants know what they have in a healthy Nabers, and they know what they have in his absence. If available, he'll be a main focus and favorite target for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, and if he's not, then he won't.”
Ely Allen· Jul 13“Malik Nabers and Tucker Kraft finish outside WR50 and TE20, respectively. Nabers is still way too expensive at WR 17, but he's coming off reconstructive knee surgery, and even Nabers admitted to ESPN's Adam Schefter that week one sounds "a little ambitious."”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 2“Is Malik Nabers worth your entire FAAB budget in a chopped league? Unfortunately, Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending injury just four days after this post.”
Colt Williams· Jul 1“Malik Nabers is targeting a Week 1 return after undergoing a cleanup procedure on the knee he previously had surgery on for a torn ACL and a full meniscus repair.”
Josh Shepardson· Jul 1“After an electric rookie season, Nabers' sophomore season was cut short with a severe ACL tear. Although Nabers should be close to fully back, he has had some setbacks and a cleanup procedure this offseason.”
Ellis Johnson· Jun 29“The Giants don't project to pass a lot this season under Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The Giants also added several pieces around Nabers, including tight end Isaiah Likely to one of the biggest contracts in history for a tight end, along with veteran receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin.”
Michael Moore· Jun 24
“Justin Jefferson is the fifth-best wide receiver in the Madden universe, apparently”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Tate isn’t entering the NFL with the pedigree of a Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson , for example, but his combination of age, draft capital, and college production is extremely appealing”
Ryan Kirksey· Aug 6“Having Justin Jefferson , Jordan Addison , and Jauan Jennings at your disposal is an embarrassment of riches”
Kyle Zeigler· Aug 6
See 12 more
“Round 3: Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) Wow. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Justin Jefferson ?”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 5“This wasn’t Jefferson’s fault, however. Among wide receivers with 50+ targets, Jefferson ranked 58th in catchable target rate (71%). J.J. McCarthy stunk, and all indications are that Kyler Murray is the clear favorite to be the starter in 2026, and possibly beyond.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 27“From WR2 in 2024 to WR21 in 2025, Justin Jefferson took quite the fall in production.”
Vernon Meighan· Jul 24“Jefferson should immediately become Murray’s go-to receiver, making an overall WR1 finish well within reach.”
Kyle Zeigler· Jul 23“Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, and Justin Jefferson all have similar LTV scores in the same range as Love’s.”
Jonathan Lange· Jul 21“The Ballers agree that if Kyler takes the leading QB role, they are confident that Jefferson will be back as a top-tier WR. However, they see him more as a back-end WR1.”
Maggie Thraen· Jul 19“Justin Jefferson has been a fantasy superstar since he entered the NFL. Unfortunately, the veteran is coming off a massively disappointing season.”
Mike Fanelli· Jul 19“He opened with Justin Jefferson after a surprising run of young quarterbacks fell in the first round, then doubled up at quarterback anyway, taking Joe Burrow and Caleb Williams back to back once he realized how many were sliding.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 19“Justin Jefferson had fewer receiving yards in 2025 (1,048) than he did in 2023, when he only played 10 games (1,074). Jefferson also had a career-low 12.5 yards per reception and a career-low two receiving touchdowns.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 18“We are coming off the worst season of Jefferson's early career. The counting stats were modest for Jefferson, catching 84 passes for 1,048 yards, but he had career lows everywhere across the board. He only had 2 touchdowns.”
Rich Hribar· Jul 10“The only reason I have Justin Jefferson behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Amon-Ra St. Brown is the quarterback situation in Minnesota. Kyler Murray should be an upgrade, but Minnesota has one of the worst quarterback rooms since Jefferson entered the league.”
Kurt Blakeway· Jul 7“It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine what was holding Justin Jefferson back last season. While Kyler Murray is a flawed quarterback, he has proven an ability to generate big fantasy seasons for his wide receivers and should be a big improvement upon what J.J. McCarthy showed last season.”
Chad Workman· Jun 29