Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Malik Nabers vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Malik Nabers (12.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Sam LaPorta (9.7 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRNew York Giants#14PPG LEADER

Malik Nabers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TEDetroit Lions#7

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Malik Nabers

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

12.0 PPG9.7 PPG

4 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Malik Nabers vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Malik Nabers (WR, New York Giants) against Sam LaPorta (TE, Detroit Lions) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG in 2025 over 4 games, while Sam LaPorta posted 9.7 PPG across 9 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 8, Sam LaPorta in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: Malik Nabers (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Malik Nabers outscored Sam LaPorta by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam LaPorta played 9 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Sam LaPorta contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Sam LaPorta scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Sam LaPorta saw 49 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Malik Nabers vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Malik Nabers	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.0	9.7
Games Played	4	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	48	87
Receptions	18	40
Rec/Game	4.5	4.4
Receiving Yards	271	489
Rec Yds/Game	67.8	54.3
Receiving TDs	2	3
Targets	35	49
Target Share/Game	8.8	5.4
Age	22	25
Experience	1 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Malik Nabers at 12.0 PPG, 2.3 points per game above Sam LaPorta's 9.7. 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 Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Nabers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 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 Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Malik Nabers and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 8, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.