Who Should I Start? Justin Jefferson or Malik Nabers

Friday, January 2, 10:12 AM

Through 16 games, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has had the least productive season of his career. The 26-year-old has recorded 76 receptions for 947 yards and two touchdowns on 130 targets. Inconsistent quarterback play in Minnesota has been the biggest problem for Jefferson in 2025. The Vikings may get QB1 J.J. McCarthy (hand) back from the hand injury that sidelined him in Week 17 for their Week 18 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. However, Jefferson has recorded just 19 catches for 227 yards and zero touchdowns across McCarthy's last five starts. While Jefferson remains one of the most talented pass-catchers in the NFL, the offensive environment around him in Minnesota this season makes it difficult to trust him for consistent production. Jefferson profiles as a WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18.

Monday, January 5, 10:33 AM

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) told reporters he is "not really sure" if he will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season and that he had "a lot messed up" in his injured knee, per SNY's Connor Hughes. Nabers suffered a torn ACL and a torn meniscus in his right knee in late September, ending his 2025 season. However, swelling in the knee was severe enough that he did not undergo surgery until late October. Hughes reports that Nabers was spotted walking with the assistance of a cane on Sunday. When healthy, Nabers has been one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the NFL. Across 19 career games played, he's hauled in 127 receptions for 1,475 yards and nine touchdowns on 205 targets. It's not a great sign that the first few months of Nabers' recovery appear to be limited, but he still obviously has time to get healthy before 2026 training camp begins. Nabers' health will be a storyline for fantasy managers to closely monitor over the course of the offseason.