Collins' draft stock caught a little bit of helium last summer, but he was unable to live up to it in season. Collins hauled in just 57.8% of his 64 targets and only scored twice while aligning as an outside wide receiver on more than 90% of his snaps. He finished as a WR2 or better in PPR in just one game before his season ended short with injury in Week 13. Collins will once again have an opportunity to earn a massive snap share as the likely starting X receiver, but earning a target share will be more difficult with John Metchie, rookie Tank Dell and Robert Woods factoring into the mix. Rookie quarterbacks tend to lean on one receiver, so if an early training camp rapport is developed with C.J. Stroud, and if that rapport carries over to the preseason, Collins could return value if you draft him in the double-digit rounds.
Collins recorded nine receptions on 12 targets for 191 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 22-17 win over the Broncos.
Collins saw a season-high 12 targets and took over as the Texans' clear top pass catcher after Tank Dell (leg) went down with a reported season-ending injury in the first quarter. Collins went on to deliver several explosive plays, highlighted by catches of 59 and 52 yards, and he tacked on another reception for 39 yards. He capped off his performance with a three-yard touchdown to give Houston a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Collins has now topped 100 yards in consecutive games and has at least seven receptions in three straight contests. Though it comes through unfortunate circumstances, he'll now be the top producer in Houston's air attack for the rest of the season.
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Texans' Nico Collins: WRs to Start
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Collins has been overshadowed by Tank Dell of late, but Collins still continues to produce at a high level. And both Texans receivers should be started in all leagues in Week 13 against Denver. Collins has scored at least 13.5 PPR points in three games in a row, and he has two touchdowns over that span. He also has 20 targets in his past two outings against Arizona and Jacksonville for 14 catches, and I'm expecting this Texans-Broncos game to be a shootout, which favors the passing game in Houston.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Contrarian DFS Play (WR Preview)
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Collins was a great play last week because his teammate Tank Dell was so much more popular. This week it's because he's nearly the same price as Jaylen Waddle, who will be a staple due to a great matchup with Washington. The upside and floor is similar with these two players, but the roster rate will strongly favor Waddle due to the matchup and pedigree.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Leading receiver in Week 12 loss
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Collins caught seven of nine targets for 104 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Jaguars.
Collins got into the end zone for the second time since Week 4 on a 17-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, which pulled Houston within three points with 5:15 remaining. He has 20 targets in two games since returning from a one-game absence due to a calf injury. Collins leads the Texans in catches (50) and receiving yards (800) heading into a Week 13 home game against the Broncos.
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Texans' Nico Collins: WRs to Start
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Collins didn't have a big game at Jacksonville in Week 3 with two catches for 34 yards on three targets, but I'm expecting him to fare better in the rematch in Week 12. Collins has scored at least 13.5 PPR points in each of his past two games against Tampa Bay and Arizona, and he had seven catches for 65 yards on 11 targets against the Cardinals in Week 11. Nathaniel Dell has emerged as the No. 1 receiver for the Texans, and he has top-10 upside in this matchup with the Jaguars. But Collins should be considered a top-20 receiver in all leagues, and I hope he gets double digits in targets for the second game in a row in this huge AFC South matchup in Week 12.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Contrarian DFS Play (WR Preview)
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I have Collins and Dell both projected as top-six wide receivers on the main slate but Collins is $900 cheaper on FanDuel and based on early week chatter I expect Dell to be rostered in more FanDuel lineups. I want a chunk of all the Texans this week, but Collins is the best value.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Solid in return to action
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Collins brought in seven of 11 targets for 65 yards in the Texans' 21-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Collins put together a productive effort in his return from a one-game absence due to a calf injury, finishing second in receptions and receiving yards to Tank Dell while setting the pace in targets. The third-year wideout benefitted to an extent from the absence of Noah Brown (knee), but he should retain a significant role irrespective of whether his teammate is available for a Week 12 divisional home matchup against the Jaguars.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Clear for Week 11
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Collins (calf) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game versus the Cardinals, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Collins, who the Texans ruled out for their Week 10 matchup with the Bengals, opened this week with back-to-back capped sessions, but he progressed to all activity Friday, paving the way for his return to action Sunday. Collins thus is clear to take on an Arizona defense that has yielded the third-most yards per target (9.4) and 12th-most touchdowns (nine) to opposing wide receivers in 10 contests this season.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Logs another limited practice
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Collins (calf) was a limited participant at practice Thursday.
Collins didn't practice at all last week, but with two straight limited sessions in the book thus far in Week 11, he could be on track for a return to action Sunday against the Cardinals. For his part, Collins said Wednesday that he's feeling great and believes that he'll be ready to play versus Arizona, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Limited in return to practice
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Collins (calf) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Collins rejoined his teammates after missing Sunday's 30-27 win over the Texans, while fellow wideouts Robert Woods (foot) and Noah Brown (knee) were held out of Wednesday's practice. Both absences may be a matter of caution more so than any real risk of missing the game against Arizona this Sunday, but it nonetheless makes for another interesting week of injury reports as fantasy managers try to figure out Houston's likely distribution of targets and touches. Collins said Wednesday that he feels much better and expects to play Week 11, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Back at practice
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Collins (calf) was on the field for Wednesday's practice, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The extent of Collins' practice participation won't be known until the Texans release their first Week 11 injury report later Wednesday, but the wideout is taking a step in the right direction after he was unable to practice in any capacity last week before sitting out Sunday's 30-27 win over the Bengals. Collins leads the Texans this season with 631 receiving yards, but rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was able to manage just fine without his top receiver Week 10. Stroud completed 23 of 39 attempts for 356 yards, one touchdown and one interception, with Noah Brown (7-172-0 line on eight targets) stepping up to account for nearly half of the yardage total.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Not available to play Week 10
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Collins (calf) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Collins initially appeared to be on a path to play against the Bengals after he opened Week 10 prep as a limited participant Wednesday, but after regressing to no participation Thursday and Friday, he'll ultimately sit out Sunday for the first time all season. On a positive note for the Texans, Robert Woods (foot) is listed as questionable but is trending toward putting an end to his two-game absence after practicing fully Friday, and he could end up filling a regular role in three-receiver sets alongside Tank Dell and Noah Brown while Collins is sidelined this weekend.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Not practicing Friday
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Collins (calf) wasn't present for Friday's practice, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Collins also missed Thursday's session and is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals. If he's out this weekend, Noah Brown would figure to see added Week 10 opportunities alongside Tank Dell and possibly Robert Woods (foot), who returned to a limited practice Thursday.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Limited at practice Wednesday
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Collins was a limited participant at practice Wednesday due to a calf injury.
Collins is tending to the injury after he played 57 of the Texans' 72 snaps on offense en route to finishing with three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown on five targets in this past Sunday's 39-37 win over the Buccaneers. With a limited practice under his belt, the wideout's status for this weekend's game against the Bengals will need to be monitored. If Collins is able to practice fully by Friday, he'll have a chance to enter the weekend without an injury designation.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Touchdown grab in Week 9 win
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Collins brought in three of five targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 39-37 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
It's difficult to believe Collins accrued only 54 yards and five targets on an afternoon during which C.J. Stroud threw for a rookie-record 470 yards on 42 attempts, but the third-year pro played second fiddle to a number of his pass-catching teammates. Nevertheless, Collins was able to salvage his fantasy day with a 14-yard scoring grab in the first quarter, his fourth touchdown of the season. Collins will look to boost his numbers in a Week 10 road matchup against the Bengals that should serve as another good test for Stroud and the Texans' young offense.
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Texans' Nico Collins: WRs to Start
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The Panthers have struggled with No. 1 receivers for most of this season, and I expect that to continue in Week 8 against Collins. Starting in Week 2, Chris Olave (14.6 PPR points), DK Metcalf (17.2 PPR points), Justin Jefferson (26.5 PPR points), Josh Reynolds (17.6 PPR points with Amon-Ra St. Brown out) and Tyreek Hill (28.3 PPR points) have all crushed Carolina's secondary. Collins should follow suit, and he has at least 12.0 PPR points in four of six games this season. I like him as a top-15 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for Week 8.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Flex Starter In PPR (Lineup Decisions)
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I'm not sure the Saints will back off of their aggressive man-to-man coverage even if Stroud's stats suggest they should, and that could open the door for Collins to pick up some targets. Unfortunately, neither of his matchups are particularly favorable. I could see Collins getting a lot of short targets and for that reason alone I'd be OK starting him as a flex option in PPR ahead of Tyler Lockett and Chris Godwin, but behind Jakobi Meyers, Jaylen Waddle and Gabe Davis.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Quiet in Week 5 loss
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Collins brought in three of four targets for 39 yards in the Texans' 21-19 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Collins finished a distant third in receiving yards on the afternoon for the Texans while frequently dealing with the sticky coverage of a talented Falcons secondary. The third-year pro's reception and yardage totals were both his second-lowest figures of the season, and the underwhelming performance came on the heels of his season-best 168-yard, two-touchdown tally in Week 4 against the Steelers. Collins will look to atone for the relatively quiet day in a Week 6 home matchup against the Saints.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Two catches in Week 3 win
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Collins brought in two of three targets for 34 yards in the Texans' 37-17 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Collins finished tied with Robert Woods for a distant second in receiving yards to Tank Dell for the afternoon, a far cry from the 13-226-1 line the third-year receiver had put up on 20 targets over the first two weeks. Despite Sunday's downturn, the chemistry Collins has already demonstrated with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is sure to serve the duo well more often than not, and the big-bodied wideout will look to bounce back at the expense of the Steelers in a Week 4 home matchup.
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Texans' Nico Collins: WRs to Start
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Collins was one of my favorite players to draft this year, and I've been excited about his play through the first two weeks of the season. He's headed toward a third-year breakout with 13 catches for 226 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets, and he's averaging 20.8 PPR points per game. The No. 1 receiver against Jacksonville in each of the first two games -- Michael Pittman in Week 1 and Skyy Moore in Week 2 -- has scored at least 16.0 PPR points, and I expect Collins to post similar production. And, if you want another sleeper for Week 3, look at Nathanial Dell, who just had seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets in Week 2 against the Colts.
