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Malik Nabers vs Rico Dowdle

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

WRNew York GiantsPPG LEADER
Malik Nabers
PPG
12.0
Games
4
Rec
18
Rec Yds
271
Rec TDs
2
Targets
35
Bye
Week 11
RBPittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle
PPG
11.6
Games
17
Rush Yds
1,076
Rush TDs
6
Rec
39
Rec Yds
297
Bye
Week 9

Head to Head

12.0 PPG11.6 PPG
4 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Malik Nabers vs Rico Dowdle: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Malik Nabers (WR, New York Giants) against Rico Dowdle (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG in 2025 over 4 games, while Rico Dowdle posted 11.6 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Malik Nabers has his bye in Week 11, Rico Dowdle in Week 9. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 numbers favor Malik Nabers at 12.0 PPG, 0.4 points per game above Rico Dowdle's 11.6. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Malik Nabers or Rico Dowdle in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Nabers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Rico Dowdle's 11.6 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 Malik Nabers and Rico Dowdle average in 2025?

Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.4 points per game.

When are Malik Nabers and Rico Dowdle's bye weeks in 2026?

Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 11, and Rico Dowdle (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.