Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Malik Nabers

Wednesday, July 9, 3:34 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk was dealt from the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round NFL Draft pick this offseason. The 28-year-old had a fantastic first season with Jacksonville in 2022, but injuries and offensive woes limited his production in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he tallied just 27 receptions for 379 yards and one score in eight games while Brian Thomas Jr. took over the WR1 role. Now in Houston, he is seemingly competing with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for the WR2 job behind Nico Collins. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime believes Kirk might be the favorite to win that job. "The best way to step into the No. 2 or No. 3 role is building chemistry with CJ.. Stroud," Bien-Aime wrote. "And Kirk looked like a potential safety blanket for the third-year signal-caller." While this is promising for Kirk's fantasy prospects, the veteran has eclipsed 800 yards in just two of his seven NFL campaigns, and Houston's acquisitions of Higgins and Noel could suggest they were not comfortable with Kirk in the clear WR2 role. That said, his cost in drafts outside the top 50 WRs makes him an interesting dart throw in all formats.

Tuesday, July 29, 11:10 AM

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (shoulder) walked off the field from Tuesday's practice with the team's head trainer, according to Paul Schwartz of The New York Post. Schwartz reports that Nabers "might have tweaked his shoulder blocking on a running play." The severity of this injury is unclear at this point, but any significant missed time for Nabers would be a major concern for New York. The second-year wide receiver recorded 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie in 2024. Nabers is the undisputed top weapon in the Giants' offense and profiles as a first-round fantasy selection in PPR leagues, provided he is healthy for the start of the regular season.