Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Nico Collins is the better fantasy play this season.

Nico Collins is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.7 PPG and 1,132 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Chris Godwin Jr. (7.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Nico Collins as the starter and Chris Godwin Jr. as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRTampa Bay Buccaneers#54

Chris Godwin Jr.

PPG

7.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

360

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

WRHouston Texans#10PPG LEADER

Nico Collins

PPG

12.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,117

Rec TDs

Targets

120

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Chris Godwin Jr.

Nico Collins

Head to Head

7.4 PPG12.7 PPG

9 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Chris Godwin Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #54 at the position). Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Chris Godwin Jr. is producing at 34% 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.

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Chris Godwin Jr. and Nico Collins are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Chris Godwin Jr. averaged 7.4 PPG across 9 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Nico Collins posted 12.7 PPG in 15 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 5.3-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 Chris Godwin Jr. drew 51. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Chris Godwin Jr. posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Chris Godwin Jr. sits Week 10 while Nico Collins is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Nico Collins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Chris Godwin Jr. is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Chris Godwin Jr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Nico Collins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Nico Collins outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 9. 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

Chris Godwin Jr. vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Chris Godwin Jr.	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.4	12.7
Games Played	9	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	67	191
Receptions	33	71
Rec/Game	3.7	4.7
Receiving Yards	360	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	40.0	74.5
Receiving TDs	2	6
Targets	51	120
Target Share/Game	5.7	8.0
Age	30	27
Experience	8 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 8

Summary

Nico Collins outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by 5.3 PPG in 2025 (12.7 to 7.4). 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 Chris Godwin Jr. or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Chris Godwin Jr.'s 7.4 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 Chris Godwin Jr. and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

Chris Godwin Jr. averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Chris Godwin Jr. and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Chris Godwin Jr. (TB) 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 Chris Godwin Jr. or Nico Collins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Nico Collins outscored Chris Godwin Jr. by 5.3 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.