Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Malik Nabers vs Troy FranklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Troy Franklin's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Malik Nabers is the better fantasy play this season.

Malik Nabers has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.5-PPG advantage is real (12.0 to 8.5), and Malik Nabers's 2 touchdowns show scoring upside. Troy Franklin 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#14PPG LEADER

Malik Nabers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

WRDenver Broncos#44

Troy Franklin

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

709

Rec TDs

Targets

104

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Malik Nabers

Troy Franklin

Head to Head

12.0 PPG8.5 PPG

4 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Malik Nabers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #14 at the position). Troy Franklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #44 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Malik Nabers is producing at 55% of elite pace and Troy Franklin at 39%. That ranking gap means Malik Nabers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Malik Nabers vs Troy Franklin: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Malik Nabers (New York Giants) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.0 fantasy points per game in 4 games. Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos) came in at 8.5 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Malik Nabers carries a 3.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Troy Franklin saw 104 targets in 2025, while Malik Nabers drew 35. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Troy Franklin, 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 8 while Troy Franklin 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 Malik Nabers at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Troy Franklin 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. Troy Franklin (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Malik Nabers outscored Troy Franklin by a projected 60 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Troy Franklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Malik Nabers's 4. That durability gap means Troy Franklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Troy Franklin scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Troy Franklin saw 104 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 Troy Franklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Malik Nabers	Troy Franklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.0	8.5
Games Played	4	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	48	145
Receptions	18	65
Rec/Game	4.5	3.8
Receiving Yards	271	709
Rec Yds/Game	67.8	41.7
Receiving TDs	2	6
Targets	35	104
Target Share/Game	8.8	6.1
Age	22	23
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Malik Nabers holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.0 points per game. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 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 Troy Franklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Malik Nabers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Troy Franklin's 8.5 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 Troy Franklin average in 2025?▾

Malik Nabers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Troy Franklin averaged 8.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Malik Nabers and Troy Franklin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers (NYG) has a bye in Week 8, and Troy Franklin (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Malik Nabers or Troy Franklin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Malik Nabers outscored Troy Franklin 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.