Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Elic Ayomanor vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Elic Ayomanor's 6.0 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. Elic Ayomanor (6.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Nico Collins as the starter and Elic Ayomanor as depth.

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

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WRTennessee Titans#99

Elic Ayomanor

PPG

6.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

515

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

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

Elic Ayomanor

Nico Collins

Head to Head

6.0 PPG12.7 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Elic Ayomanor: 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, Elic Ayomanor is producing at 27% 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.

Elic Ayomanor vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Nico Collins put up 12.7 fantasy points per game for the Houston Texans in 2025, while Elic Ayomanor managed 6.0 across 16 games with the Tennessee Titans. A 6.7-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

Nico Collins carries a 6.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Nico Collins saw 120 targets in 2025, while Elic Ayomanor drew 89. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Elic Ayomanor posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Elic Ayomanor sits Week 5 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. Elic Ayomanor is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Elic Ayomanor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Nico Collins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Nico Collins outscored Elic Ayomanor by a projected 114 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Elic Ayomanor played 16 games in 2025 compared to Nico Collins's 15. That durability gap means Elic Ayomanor 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.
•Elic Ayomanor is 5 years younger than Nico Collins (22 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Elic Ayomanor vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Elic Ayomanor	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.0	12.7
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	96	191
Receptions	41	71
Rec/Game	2.6	4.7
Receiving Yards	515	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	32.2	74.5
Receiving TDs	4	6
Targets	89	120
Target Share/Game	5.6	8.0
Age	22	27
Experience	1 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Nico Collins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.7 points per game. Elic Ayomanor averaged 6.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Elic Ayomanor or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Elic Ayomanor's 6.0 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 Elic Ayomanor and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

Elic Ayomanor averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.7 points per game.

When are Elic Ayomanor and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Elic Ayomanor (TEN) has a bye in Week 5, and Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Elic Ayomanor or Nico Collins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Nico Collins outscored Elic Ayomanor by 6.7 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.