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Head to Head

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Cedric Tillman vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Cedric Tillman's 8.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Nico Collins is the better fantasy play this season.

Nico Collins has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.5-PPG advantage is real (12.7 to 8.2), and Nico Collins's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cedric Tillman is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRCleveland Browns#99
Cedric Tillman
PPG
8.2
Games
14
Rec
50
Rec Yds
612
Rec TDs
4
Targets
78
Bye
Week 10
WRHouston Texans#10PPG LEADER
Nico Collins
PPG
12.7
Games
15
Rec
71
Rec Yds
1,117
Rec TDs
6
Targets
120
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Cedric Tillman
Nico Collins

Head to Head

8.2 PPG12.7 PPG
14 GP15 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Cedric Tillman: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Cedric Tillman is producing at 37% of elite pace and Nico Collins at 58%. That ranking gap means Nico Collins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cedric Tillman vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Cedric Tillman and Nico Collins are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cedric Tillman averaged 8.2 PPG across 14 games with the Cleveland Browns, while Nico Collins posted 12.7 PPG in 15 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 4.5-PPG gap gives Nico Collins the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. Nico Collins saw 120 targets in 2025, while Cedric Tillman drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Cedric Tillman posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Cedric Tillman has his bye in Week 10, and Nico Collins rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Nico Collins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Cedric Tillman is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cedric Tillman (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Nico Collins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Nico Collins outscored Cedric Tillman by a projected 77 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Cedric Tillman's 14. That durability gap means Nico Collins contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Nico Collins scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Nico Collins saw 120 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cedric Tillman vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCedric TillmanNico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)8.212.7
Games Played1415
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)115191
Receptions5071
Rec/Game3.64.7
Receiving Yards6121,117
Rec Yds/Game43.774.5
Receiving TDs46
Targets78120
Target Share/Game5.68.0
Age-27
Experience-4 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 8

Summary

Nico Collins outscored Cedric Tillman by 4.5 PPG in 2025 (12.7 to 8.2). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cedric Tillman or Nico Collins in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Cedric Tillman's 8.2 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Cedric Tillman and Nico Collins average in 2025?

Cedric Tillman averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

When are Cedric Tillman and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?

Cedric Tillman (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cedric Tillman or Nico Collins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Nico Collins outscored Cedric Tillman by 4.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.