Malik Nabers vs. Jaylen Waddle – Who Should I Draft In 2024 Fantasy Football?

Should fantasy football players draft Malik Nabers or Jaylen Waddle during their 2024 fantasy drafts? Mike Fanelli examines the case for both wide receivers.

The 2024 fantasy football redraft season is still months away. However, it’s never too early to prepare. While there are several superstar wide-receiver options this year, fantasy players will have some difficult decisions.

One of those decisions is picking between Malik Nabers and Jaylen Waddle. Both wide receivers have an early third-round ADP.

However, which wide receiver should fantasy players draft first? Let’s dive into each player’s 2024 fantasy football outlook.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Malik Nabers 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Nabers was the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the second wide receiver selected behind Marvin Harrison Jr. The former LSU star was the first wide receiver drafted in the first round by the New York Giants since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014. Nabers was arguably the top wide receiver in college football in 2023, totaling 89 receptions for 1,569 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

LSU strikes first in Tuscaloosa

Jayden Daniels hits Malik Nabers for 46-yard touchdown pic.twitter.com/jGHo4Zv62x

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 5, 2023

The rookie has a subpar quarterback situation. Daniel Jones severely regressed after a breakout season in 2022. Meanwhile, Drew Lock is the other possible starting option for the Giants. While the quarterback situation isn’t ideal, Nabers will have limited competition for targets as a rookie.

Jaylen Waddle 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Waddle is coming off the worst year of his career. The former Alabama star was the WR34 in 2023, averaging 11.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He set career lows in receptions (72), targets (104), receiving yards (1,014), and touchdowns (four) last season. While he struggled with injuries last year, he remains one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL.

TUA TO WADDLE. 60-YARD TD.

📺: #NYJvsMIA on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/QuugxeDp6I

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023

The Miami Dolphins have arguably the most dangerous offense in the league. However, Waddle isn’t the focal point of the offense. That role belongs to Tyreek Hill, who was arguably the top wide receiver in the NFL last season. Waddle averaged 8.8 targets per game as a rookie before the Dolphins traded for Hill but has averaged 7.1 per contest in the two years with the superstar receiver.

Who Should I Draft?

Both wide receivers are solid options for fantasy players this upcoming season. Yet, Nabers is the No. 1 wide receiver on his team, while Waddle has to share targets with Hill. Miami’s passing attack is far more explosive than New York’s. However, Nabers is dangerous after the catch and will make up for the Giants’ struggling passing attack on target volume.

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