Malik Nabers vs Rashee Rice
Who should you start in Week 5? This week's matchups and projections.
Who to start in Week 5
Start Malik Nabers this week: Rashee Rice is on bye in Week 5.
Malik Nabers gets WAS, the 10th-friendliest matchup a WR can draw this week, projecting 13.0 points.
This-week points are each player's projected per-game scoring rate adjusted for the matchup.
The season-long call
The model takes Malik Nabers: a clear but modest edge of 5.7 points of value over replacement (33.7 vs 28.0).
The room sees it the other way: drafters take Rashee Rice first (ADP 17.2 vs 27.1). If the model is right, Malik Nabers is the value pick, since the later cost buys the better 2026 projection.
Health note: Rashee Rice carries an injury flag of Questionable (Hamstring), which is already reflected in his projection.
| Malik NabersNYG | Rashee RiceKAN | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 5 opponent | WAS | Bye | |
| Projected Week 5 points | 13.0 | 0.0 | Nabers +13.0 pts |
| Matchup rank (WR vs defense, of 30) | #10 | - | |
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 211.7 | 206.0 | Nabers +5.7 pts |
| Points per game | 12.5 | 12.1 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 33.7 | 28.0 | Nabers +5.7 |
| Overall rank | #43 | #46 | Nabers by 3 |
| Position rank | WR15 | WR17 | |
| Market ADP | 27.1 | 17.2 | Nabers +9.9 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| Bye week | 8 | 5 | |
| Injury flag | None | Questionable |
Should I start Malik Nabers or Rashee Rice in Week 5?
Start Malik Nabers this week: Rashee Rice is on bye in Week 5.
Should I draft Malik Nabers or Rashee Rice in 2026 fantasy football?
Malik Nabers. He projects 211.7 fantasy points with 33.7 value over replacement, vs 206.0 points and 28.0 for Rashee Rice (WR, PPR).