Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Khalil Shakir vs Malik NabersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Khalil Shakir's 8.1 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 3.9-PPG advantage is real (12.0 to 8.1), and Malik Nabers's 2 touchdowns show scoring upside. Khalil Shakir 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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WRBuffalo Bills#48

Khalil Shakir

PPG

8.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

719

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRNew York Giants#14PPG LEADER

Malik Nabers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Khalil Shakir

Malik Nabers

Head to Head

8.1 PPG12.0 PPG

16 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Khalil Shakir: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #48 at the position). Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Khalil Shakir is producing at 37% 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.

Khalil Shakir vs Malik Nabers: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.1 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Malik Nabers (New York Giants) came in at 12.0 PPG over 4 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Malik Nabers carries a 3.9-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Khalil Shakir saw 95 targets in 2025, while Malik Nabers drew 35. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Khalil Shakir, 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: Khalil Shakir is off Week 7 and Malik Nabers Week 8. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Malik Nabers at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Khalil Shakir is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Khalil Shakir (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Malik Nabers (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Malik Nabers outscored Khalil Shakir by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Khalil Shakir played 16 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Khalil Shakir contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Khalil Shakir scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Khalil Shakir saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Malik Nabers is 4 years younger than Khalil Shakir (22 vs 26), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Khalil Shakir vs Malik Nabers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Khalil Shakir	Malik Nabers
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.1	12.0
Games Played	16	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	130	48
Receptions	72	18
Rec/Game	4.5	4.5
Receiving Yards	719	271
Rec Yds/Game	44.9	67.8
Receiving TDs	4	2
Targets	95	35
Target Share/Game	5.9	8.8
Age	26	22
Experience	3 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Malik Nabers holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.0 points per game. Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Khalil Shakir or Malik Nabers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Nabers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Khalil Shakir's 8.1 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 Khalil Shakir and Malik Nabers average in 2025?▾

Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are Khalil Shakir and Malik Nabers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Khalil Shakir (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Khalil Shakir or Malik Nabers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers outscored Khalil Shakir by 3.9 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.