Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Malik Nabers vs Rashee Rice

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.5-PPG advantage is real (15.5 to 12.0), and Rashee Rice's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Malik Nabers 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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WRNew York Giants#14

Malik Nabers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Malik Nabers

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

12.0 PPG15.5 PPG

4 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Malik Nabers is producing at 55% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Malik Nabers vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?

Malik Nabers and Rashee Rice are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 PPG across 4 games with the New York Giants, while Rashee Rice posted 15.5 PPG in 8 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 3.5-PPG gap gives Rashee Rice 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. Rashee Rice saw 78 targets in 2025, while Malik Nabers drew 35. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Rashee Rice, even in weeks where Malik Nabers posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Malik Nabers sits Week 14 while Rashee Rice is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

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

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Malik Nabers by a projected 60 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rashee Rice played 8 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Rashee Rice contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Rashee Rice saw 78 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 Rashee Rice (22 vs 26), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatNabersRice

PPG (Half-PPR)12.015.5

Games Played48

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)48124

Receptions1853

Rec/Game4.56.6

Receiving Yards271571

Rec Yds/Game67.871.4

Receiving TDs25

Targets3578

Target Share/Game8.89.8

Age2226

Experience1 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 10

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored Malik Nabers by 3.5 PPG in 2025 (15.5 to 12.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Malik Nabers or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Malik Nabers's 12.0 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 Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Malik Nabers and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 14, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Malik Nabers or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Malik Nabers by 3.5 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.