Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Malik Nabers vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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. Travis Kelce (9.1 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

TEKansas City Chiefs#10

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Malik Nabers

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

12.0 PPG9.1 PPG

4 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 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 Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Malik Nabers (WR, New York Giants) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG in 2025 over 4 games, while Travis Kelce posted 9.1 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 8, Travis Kelce in Week 5. 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. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Malik Nabers outscored Travis Kelce by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Travis Kelce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Travis Kelce scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Travis Kelce saw 108 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Malik Nabers is 14 years younger than Travis Kelce (22 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Malik Nabers vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Malik Nabers	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.0	9.1
Games Played	4	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	48	155
Receptions	18	76
Rec/Game	4.5	4.5
Receiving Yards	271	851
Rec Yds/Game	67.8	50.1
Receiving TDs	2	5
Targets	35	108
Target Share/Game	8.8	6.4
Age	22	36
Experience	1 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Malik Nabers holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.0 points per game. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 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 Malik Nabers or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Nabers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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 Malik Nabers and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are Malik Nabers and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 8, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.