Zay Flowers vs Malik Nabers
Who should you start in Week 5? This week's matchups and projections.
Who to start in Week 5
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Zay Flowers by 0.6 projected points (13.5 vs 13.0), close enough that either call is defensible.
Zay Flowers faces ATL, the 22nd-friendliest matchup a WR can draw this week. Malik Nabers faces WAS, the 10th-friendliest matchup a WR can draw this week.
This-week points are each player's projected per-game scoring rate adjusted for the matchup.
The season-long call
The model takes Zay Flowers, and it isn't close: 18.6 points of value over replacement separate them (52.3 vs 33.7).
The draft market agrees: Zay Flowers goes first at ADP 24.8 vs 27.1 for Malik Nabers.
Health note: Zay Flowers carries an injury flag of Questionable (Hamstring), which is already reflected in his projection.
| Zay FlowersBAL | Malik NabersNYG | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 5 opponent | ATL | WAS | |
| Projected Week 5 points | 13.5 | 13.0 | Flowers +0.6 pts |
| Matchup rank (WR vs defense, of 30) | #22 | #10 | |
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 230.3 | 211.7 | Flowers +18.6 pts |
| Points per game | 13.5 | 12.5 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 52.3 | 33.7 | Flowers +18.6 |
| Overall rank | #35 | #43 | Flowers by 8 |
| Position rank | WR12 | WR15 | |
| Market ADP | 24.8 | 27.1 | Nabers +2.3 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | |
| Bye week | 13 | 8 | |
| Injury flag | Questionable | None |
Should I start Zay Flowers or Malik Nabers in Week 5?
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Zay Flowers by 0.6 projected points (13.5 vs 13.0), close enough that either call is defensible.
Should I draft Zay Flowers or Malik Nabers in 2026 fantasy football?
Zay Flowers. He projects 230.3 fantasy points with 52.3 value over replacement, vs 211.7 points and 33.7 for Malik Nabers (WR, PPR).