Malik Nabers vs Puka Nacua: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams) averaged 19.4 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Malik Nabers (New York Giants, 12.0 PPG) by 7.4 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
A 7.4-PPG gap gives Puka Nacua 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. Puka Nacua saw 166 targets in 2025, while Malik Nabers drew 35. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Puka Nacua, 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: Malik Nabers is off Week 11 and Puka Nacua Week 6. 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.
