Who Should I Start? Malik Nabers or Luther Burden III


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
12.1 0.5 0.0 4.3 56.7 0.3

Malik Nabers News

Malik Nabers in a "Good Place Right Now"

Monday, July 13, 7:44 PM

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is expected to work his "way into practice as (training) camp gets started in one way or another," head coach John Harbaugh told ESPN. Nabers is on schedule and is doing better each day, with Nabers not far behind running back Cam Skattebo, who is rehabbing from a season-ending dislocated ankle that he suffered in Week 8 of last year. Harbaugh added that Nabers "is not far behind" Skattebo and that he's "in a good place right now." There has been speculation that Nabers could open the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would require him to miss the first four weeks of the 2026 season. Harbaugh has made it sound like Nabers is doing much better, but there is still some mystery as to when exactly he'll be back on the field as a full-go after having surgery on Oct. 28 to fix ACL and meniscus tears in his right knee. The 22-year-old former first-rounder also had a cleanup procedure on his knee this spring to remove scar tissue. Nabers showed his high-end WR1 upside in fantasy as a rookie by producing a 109-1,204-7 line in 15 games, but fantasy managers are better off fading him as a WR1 target in 2026 drafts because of his injury and the fact that he's missing valuable time in a new offense. RotoBaller has Nabers ranked as the WR24 as he heads into Year 3.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.9 3.0 0.0 4.3 55.5 0.3

Luther Burden III News

Luther Burden III has Clear Breakout Potential in Year 2

Tuesday, July 14, 10:17 AM

Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III is one of the most clear breakout candidates at his position in 2026, according to Dan Wiederer of The Athletic. "I'm buying Luther Burden stock right now," head coach Ben Johnson said back in May. Johnson called Burden's growth this offseason "electric." The 22-year-old former second-rounder (39th overall) out of the University of Missouri took off in the second half as a rookie, posting 40 catches, 547 yards and a touchdown in his final 10 games, including the postseason. Burden is carrying increased confidence, heightened trust from Johnson, and improved chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams. "He's the truth, man. And nothing but the truth," tight end Colston Loveland said. Burden had a total line of 47 catches, 652 yards and two touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (five starts) as a rookie, but with DJ Moore now in Buffalo, Burden could easily become Chicago's WR1 over Rome Odunze in 2026. Fantasy managers should be looking to draft Burden as a strong WR2 this year with upside for more in a Bears offense that's looking to take the next step in Johnson's second season running the show.


Malik Nabers vs. Luther Burden III

Still trying to decide between Nabers and Burden III? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Malik Nabers is projected to score 12.1 points this week while Luther Burden III is projected to score 11.9 points.