DraftCall
DraftCallFantasy Football

Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Davante Adams vs Malik NabersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Davante Adams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Malik Nabers's 12.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Davante Adams is the better fantasy play this season.

Davante Adams has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (13.8 to 12.0), and Davante Adams's 14 touchdowns show scoring upside. Malik Nabers is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Davante Adams and Malik Nabers in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App
WRLos Angeles Rams#8PPG LEADER
Davante Adams
PPG
13.8
Games
14
Rec
60
Rec Yds
789
Rec TDs
14
Targets
114
Bye
Week 11
WRNew York Giants#14
Malik Nabers
PPG
12.0
Games
4
Rec
18
Rec Yds
271
Rec TDs
2
Targets
35
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Davante Adams
Malik Nabers

Head to Head

13.8 PPG12.0 PPG
14 GP4 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Davante Adams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #8 at the position). Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Davante Adams is producing at 63% of elite pace and Malik Nabers at 55%. That ranking gap means Davante Adams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Davante Adams vs Malik Nabers: The Full Breakdown

Davante Adams and Malik Nabers are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Davante Adams averaged 13.8 PPG across 14 games with the Los Angeles Rams, while Malik Nabers posted 12.0 PPG in 4 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 1.8-PPG gap gives Davante Adams 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.

Target volume is the story here. Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025, while Malik Nabers drew 35. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Davante Adams, even in weeks where Malik Nabers posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Davante Adams has his bye in Week 11, and Malik Nabers rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Davante Adams (age 33) 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?

  • Davante Adams outscored Malik Nabers by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Davante Adams played 14 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Davante Adams contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Davante Adams scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.0 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Davante Adams saw 114 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
  • Malik Nabers is 11 years younger than Davante Adams (22 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Davante Adams vs Malik Nabers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDavante AdamsMalik Nabers
PPG (Half-PPR)13.812.0
Games Played144
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)19348
Receptions6018
Rec/Game4.34.5
Receiving Yards789271
Rec Yds/Game56.467.8
Receiving TDs142
Targets11435
Target Share/Game8.18.8
Age3322
Experience11 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 8

Summary

Davante Adams outscored Malik Nabers by 1.8 PPG in 2025 (13.8 to 12.0). 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.

DraftCall app on iPhone

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Davante Adams vs Malik Nabers

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Davante Adams vs Malik Nabers

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Davante Adams or Malik Nabers in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Davante Adams has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Malik Nabers's 12.0 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 Davante Adams and Malik Nabers average in 2025?

Davante Adams averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Davante Adams and Malik Nabers's bye weeks in 2026?

Davante Adams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11, and Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Davante Adams or Malik Nabers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Davante Adams outscored Malik Nabers by 1.8 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.