DK Metcalf vs Malik Nabers: Who Should You Start?
DK Metcalf and Malik Nabers are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. DK Metcalf averaged 10.5 PPG across 15 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Malik Nabers posted 12.0 PPG in 4 appearances for the New York Giants.
A 1.5-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.
Target volume is the story here. DK Metcalf saw 99 targets in 2025, while Malik Nabers drew 35. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for DK Metcalf, even in weeks where Malik Nabers posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: DK Metcalf is off Week 9 and Malik Nabers Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
