Who Should I Start? Malik Nabers or Ladd McConkey

Tuesday, October 28, 5:23 PM

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) had surgery on Tuesday to fix the torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, and he "should be ready" for the start of next season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Nabers suffered his season-ending knee injury in the Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but he just now had surgery after doctors had to wait for the swelling in his knee to dissipate. Barring setbacks with his rehab and recovery in the offseason, the 22-year-old former first-rounder should be good to go for the start of the 2026 season next fall, although fantasy managers might have some reservations about rolling with a receiver coming off a major knee repair as a high-end WR1. Before his injury, though, Nabers had displayed his game-changing abilities with 271 yards and two scores on 18 receptions in four games. His long-term fantasy ceiling should be higher going forward now that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart looks like the real deal.

Friday, November 28, 5:14 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey seems poised for a strong bounce-back week after a quiet performance in Week 11, where he caught three passes for 13 yards on four targets in the team's blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. McConkey faces a struggling Las Vegas Raiders defense that ranks middle-of-the-road against the pass. The Raiders rely heavily on zone coverage, which benefits McConkey since he has a higher rate of fantasy points per target against zone than man coverage. With quarterback Justin Herbert struggling behind a battered offensive line, McConkey could see more quick, short targets to compensate for Herbert's limited time in the pocket. RotoBaller ranks McConkey as WR14 this week, and he should be considered a mid-tier WR2 who will be a primary focus in the passing game.