Collins and Tank Dell will face increased target competition in 2024 after the Texans acquired Stefon Diggs from the Bills on Wednesday, ESPN.com reports.
C.J. Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons ever by an NFL quarterback and now has arguably the best group of pass catchers in the league. Diggs is coming off six consecutive seasons with at least six touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards, and he's now joining an offense in which Collins put up 80-1,297-8 receiving line on 109 targets (15 games) and Dell produced a 47-709-7 line on 75 targets (11 games). The Texans also have useful pass catchers at running back and tight end with Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz, creating a scenario that'll make it hard for some (or all) of the players to get as many passing-game looks as they might on other teams. On the other hand, Houston's offense has a chance to be one of the most efficient in the league, and adding Diggs could encourage offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik to call pass plays at a higher rate than he did last season.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Picks up 68 yards
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Collins recorded five receptions on 10 targets for 68 yards in Saturday's 34-10 loss to the Ravens.
Collins was a significant part of the Texans' passing attack as expected, but the team had a tough time moving the ball consistently. That limited Collins' output, though he still managed a 29-yard catch that was the highlight of his day and helped set up a field-goal attempt just before halftime. Though it wasn't the way he would have wanted to end his season, Collins turned in an impressive breakout campaign in which he set career highs in receptions (80), yards (1,297) and touchdowns (eight) across 15 regular-season games.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Torches Colts' secondary
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Collins recorded nine catches on nine targets for 195 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 23-19 win over the Colts.
With both Noah Brown (back) and Robert Woods (hip) inactive, Collins was left as the Texans' clear top pass catcher. He certainly took advantage, recording three catches of more than 20 yards -- the longest of which was a 75-yard touchdown on Houstons' first play from scrimmage. The performance marked Collins' third game with over 160 receiving yards in what has been a breakout campaign, and he'll conclude the regular season with 1,297 yards despite missing two contests.
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Texans' Nico Collins: WRs to Start
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One of Collins' best games this season was in Week 2 against the Colts when he scored 27.6 PPR points with seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He's been much better at home this season (at least 12 PPR points in each game in Houston) than on the road (only one game with double digits in PPR points in Week 1 at Baltimore), but he also missed road outings at Cincinnati in Week 10 and at Tennessee in Week 15. Without Tank Dell (leg), C.J. Stroud will be locked in on Collins in this matchup with Indianapolis, and three receivers in the past five games against the Colts have scored at least 16.2 PPR points.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Makes seven catches
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Collins recorded seven receptions on eight targets for 80 yards in Sunday's 26-3 win over the Titans. He added one rush for seven yards.
Collins was one of the few Texans' pass catchers to remain healthy throughout the game, as the team lost both Robert Woods (hip) and Noah Brown (hip) during Sunday's win. As a result, Collins saw plenty of work, though game script ultimately limited him to only two targets across the final two quarters of the contest. Houston will be in for a key matchup against the Jaguars in Week 18, and Collins could be relied upon very heavily depending on the health of Brown and Woods.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Ready to face Titans
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Collins (calf) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Titans after practicing fully Thursday and Friday.
Collins was listed as limited Wednesday, but back-to-back full sessions have paved the way for the wideout to suit up Sunday and maintain a key role in Houston's passing attack Week 17. Now further removed from the calf issue that sidelined him Week 15, Collins' fantasy prospects this weekend are further boosted by the return of top QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) from a two-game absence.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Logs full practice
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Collins (calf) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Collins opened Week 17 prep Wednesday as a limited participant, but after getting in a full practice a day later, he should be in the clear for Sunday's game against the Titans. In his return from a one-game absence due to a calf strain in this past Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Browns, Collins played just 35 of 75 offensive snaps (47 percent) and finished with four catches for 18 yards and a touchdown on six targets. With the calf issue now further in the rear-view mirror, Collins should be ready to take on a more bountiful snap count this weekend, and he'll be further aided by the expected return from a two-game absence of quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion), who was a full participant Thursday.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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I've had a change of sentiment on Collins. I was reminded by SportsLine Fantasy analyst Jacob Gibbs that when he and C.J. Stroud are on the field together without Tank Dell, Collins has landed roughly a 34% target share. The only way Collins doesn't get that kind of good target volume is if his calf injury limits him like it did last week when he played 47% of the team's snaps and ran a route on just 45.3% of his quarterbacks' dropbacks. If that happens, then he's going to struggle, but in his second week back he should play more. There's an obvious upgrade in the throws he'll get from C.J. Stroud, and the matchup is particularly good. Outside receivers against the Titans have accounted for 9 of the 17 touchdowns this season and the cornerbacks Collins will line up against have not graded out well; one specifically, Tre Avery, has allowed six touchdowns this season. I've moved Collins into WR2 range.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Limited in practice
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Collins (calf) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Collins returned from a one-game absence due to a strained calf in this past Sunday's 36-22 loss to Cleveland, scoring a touchdown in garbage time but finishing with his worst marks of the season in terms of snap share (47 percent) and yardage (18), apart from the Week 14 contest in which he injured the calf on Houston's opening drive. The wideout previously had taken at least 62 percent of Houston's snaps in every other appearance, with he and Tank Dell (lower leg) serving as quarterback C.J. Stroud's top targets for most of the season. Collins is the unquestioned top target with Dell now out for the season, and there's a good chance he'll get Stroud back in the lineup for Sunday's game against Tennessee, as the quarterback is currently in the fourth stage of the five-step concussion protocol, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. The arrow is pointing up for Collins, but fantasy managers will feel better about his prospects if he manages a full practice Thursday or Friday and/or avoids a game designation on the final Week 17 injury report. If he remains limited in practice throughout the week and is listed as questionable, there will be at least some level of concern about his workload being scaled back again.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Suiting up Sunday
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Collins (calf) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Browns.
Collins, who was inactive for last weekend's 19-16 overtime win over the Titans, was listed as questionable for the contest after logging limited practices Wednesday through Friday. With his Sunday availability confirmed, Collins will have an opportunity to step back into a key role in the Texans' Week 16 wideout corps, though he'll be in line to catch passes from Case Keenum, with C.J. Stroud sidelined for a second straight game due to a concussion. Per Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN, coach DeMeco Ryans indicated that Collins won't face any limitations in his return to action following his one-game absence. In 12 games to date, Collins has made his mark by recording a 60/1,004/6 receiving line on 86 targets, a pace that has kept him firmly on the fantasy lineup radar when available.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Takes questionable tag into Sunday
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Collins (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns.
After sitting out last Sunday's 19-16 overtime win over the Titans with a calf strain, Collins took part in all three of the Texans' practices this week, albeit as a limited participant. He'll take a designation into the weekend after failing to upgrade to full practice participation, but the Texans could still clear him to play Sunday if the coaching and training staffs are comfortable enough with his health. If active this weekend, Collins will be on the receiving end of passes from Case Keenum, who draws a second straight start at quarterback with C.J. Stroud (concussion) having been ruled out.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Remains sidelined Wednesday
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Collins (calf) wasn't spotted at practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Collins didn't practice last week before missing this past Sunday's win over the Titans due to the calf strain. He's not starting off Week 16 prep on the right foot, but Collins still has two more chances to potentially fit in some practice activity before the Texans decide on his status for Sunday's game against the Browns. If Collins remains unavailable, Noah Brown, Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson would be in line to lead the Texans' receiving corps.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Not playing Sunday
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Collins (calf) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network, Collins took part in a nearly 45-minute-long pregame workout under the observation of team trainers, but the Texans evidently didn't believe the receiver was healthy enough to play through the calf strain he sustained in last week's loss to the Jets. Collins will miss his second game of the season Sunday, leaving Noah Brown, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie and Steven Sims as the available receivers for Texans quarterback Case Keenum, who is making his first start of the season while C.J. Stroud (concussion) is inactive.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Deemed questionable despite no practice
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Collins (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Collins' failure to practice all week suggests he's more likely to miss the game than play, but it apparently isn't a given as the Texans head into the weekend and prepare for an early kickoff (1:00 p.m. ET) this Sunday. QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) also missed practice throughout the week and is listed as doubtful, while WR Noah Brown (knee) is listed as questionable after three straight limited practices. If Stroud and Collins both are inactive, the Texans passing game likely will be headlined by QB Davis Mills throwing to Brown, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie and TE Dalton Schultz.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Hoping to play this week
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Collins (calf) didn't practice Wednesday, but he was present and moving around on the sideline and hopes to play in Sunday's game against Tennessee, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Collins missed Week 10 with a calf strain but was no worse for the wear after his return, catching 23 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns Weeks 11 through 13. He then left Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Jets in the first quarter with a new calf concern and was unable to return, putting his status in question for Week 15. Quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) and tight end Dalton Schultz (hamstring) also are in danger of missing the game at Tennessee, though Schultz returned to practice Wednesday.
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Texans' Nico Collins: No activity Wednesday
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Collins (calf) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Collins injured his calf in the first quarter of this past Sunday's 30-6 loss at the Jets and didn't return, leaving the Texans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud without their top two wide receivers with Tank Dell (fibula) out for the season. While Collins has two more chances to mix into drills this week, the team again may be preparing to operate with a compromised receiving corps on the health front, though tight end Dalton Schultz (hamstring) -- who missed the last two contests -- returned to the field Wednesday. Currently, Noah Brown, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie are Houston's healthy receivers on the 53-man roster.
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Texans' Nico Collins: Won't return Sunday
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Collins (calf) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Jets.
With the Texans placing Tank Dell (fibula) on injured reserve earlier this week with a season-ending injury, the loss of Collins now leaves the team without its top two receivers for the second half of Sunday's contest. Collins hauled in his lone target for a 13-yard gain before departing the game in the first quarter. Houston will be left with Noah Brown, Robert Woods, John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson as its available wideouts for the rest of the day.
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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.
