Malik Nabers vs DeVonta Smith
Who should you draft in 2026 fantasy football? Our machine learning model's projections, value over replacement (VBD), and the draft market's lean, refreshed every morning.
The call
This one is a coin flip. The model leans Malik Nabers by 3.3 points of value over replacement (26.9 vs 23.5), close enough that your roster build should break the tie.
The draft market agrees: Malik Nabers goes first at ADP 26.8 vs 29.5 for DeVonta Smith.
Health note: Malik Nabers carries an injury flag of Questionable (Knee - ACL), which is already reflected in his projection.
| Malik NabersNYG | DeVonta SmithPHI | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 207.1 | 203.8 | Nabers +3.3 pts |
| Points per game | 12.2 | 12.0 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 26.9 | 23.5 | Nabers +3.3 |
| Overall rank | #48 | #50 | Nabers by 2 |
| Position rank | WR15 | WR16 | |
| Market ADP | 26.8 | 29.5 | Smith +2.7 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| Bye week | 8 | 10 | |
| Injury flag | Questionable | None |
Should I draft Malik Nabers or DeVonta Smith in 2026 fantasy football?
Malik Nabers. He projects 207.1 fantasy points with 26.9 value over replacement, vs 203.8 points and 23.5 for DeVonta Smith (WR, PPR). It's close enough to let roster needs decide.