Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Malik NabersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy play this season.

Malik Nabers has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.6-PPG advantage is real (12.0 to 7.4), and Malik Nabers's 2 touchdowns show scoring upside. Chris Godwin Jr. is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRTampa Bay Buccaneers#54

Chris Godwin Jr.

PPG

7.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

360

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

WRNew York Giants#14PPG LEADER

Malik Nabers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Chris Godwin Jr.

Malik Nabers

Head to Head

7.4 PPG12.0 PPG

9 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Chris Godwin Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #54 at the position). Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Chris Godwin Jr. is producing at 34% of elite pace and Malik Nabers at 55%. That ranking gap means Malik Nabers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Malik Nabers: The Full Breakdown

Chris Godwin Jr. and Malik Nabers are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Chris Godwin Jr. averaged 7.4 PPG across 9 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Malik Nabers posted 12.0 PPG in 4 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 4.6-PPG gap gives Malik Nabers the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Chris Godwin Jr. turned 51 targets into 360 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Malik Nabers converted 35 looks into 271 yards and 2 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Chris Godwin Jr. sits Week 10 while Malik Nabers is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Malik Nabers at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Chris Godwin Jr. is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Chris Godwin Jr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Malik Nabers (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Malik Nabers outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by a projected 78 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Chris Godwin Jr. played 9 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Chris Godwin Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Chris Godwin Jr. scored 2 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Chris Godwin Jr. saw 51 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Malik Nabers is 8 years younger than Chris Godwin Jr. (22 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Malik Nabers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Chris Godwin Jr.	Malik Nabers
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.4	12.0
Games Played	9	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	67	48
Receptions	33	18
Rec/Game	3.7	4.5
Receiving Yards	360	271
Rec Yds/Game	40.0	67.8
Receiving TDs	2	2
Targets	51	35
Target Share/Game	5.7	8.8
Age	30	22
Experience	8 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 8

Summary

Malik Nabers outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by 4.6 PPG in 2025 (12.0 to 7.4). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Chris Godwin Jr. or Malik Nabers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Nabers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Chris Godwin Jr. and Malik Nabers average in 2025?▾

Chris Godwin Jr. averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 4.6 points per game.

When are Chris Godwin Jr. and Malik Nabers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Chris Godwin Jr. (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Chris Godwin Jr. or Malik Nabers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by 4.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.