Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

George Kittle vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to George Kittle's 12.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Nico Collins is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Nico Collins (12.7 PPG) is the higher-floor play. George Kittle (12.1 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TESan Francisco 49ers#3

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

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

George Kittle

Nico Collins

Head to Head

12.1 PPG12.7 PPG

11 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR in most league formats.

George Kittle vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Comparing George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against Nico Collins (WR, Houston Texans) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025 over 11 games, while Nico Collins posted 12.7 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: George Kittle (age 32) 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 George Kittle by a projected 10 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Nico Collins contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Nico Collins saw 120 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Nico Collins is 5 years younger than George Kittle (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

George Kittle vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	George Kittle	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	12.7
Games Played	11	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	133	191
Receptions	57	71
Rec/Game	5.2	4.7
Receiving Yards	628	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	57.1	74.5
Receiving TDs	7	6
Targets	69	120
Target Share/Game	6.3	8.0
Age	32	27
Experience	8 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 8

Summary

12.7 PPG for Nico Collins versus 12.1 for George Kittle in 2025. The baseline favors Nico Collins, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start George Kittle or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to George Kittle's 12.1 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 George Kittle and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

George Kittle averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 0.6 points per game.

Do George Kittle and Nico Collins share a bye week?▾

Yes, both George Kittle and Nico Collins share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.