Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jake Tonges vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Jake Tonges's 8.5 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. Jake Tonges (8.5 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.

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

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TESan Francisco 49ers#15

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

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

Jake Tonges

Nico Collins

Head to Head

8.5 PPG12.7 PPG

9 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 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 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR in most league formats.

Jake Tonges vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jake Tonges (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against Nico Collins (WR, Houston Texans) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 9 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

If you can acquire Nico Collins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Jake Tonges is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jake Tonges (age 26) 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 Jake Tonges by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges'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 tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jake Tonges vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jake Tonges	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	12.7
Games Played	9	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	77	191
Receptions	34	71
Rec/Game	3.8	4.7
Receiving Yards	293	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	32.6	74.5
Receiving TDs	5	6
Targets	46	120
Target Share/Game	5.1	8.0
Age	26	27
Experience	3 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Nico Collins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.7 points per game. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 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 Jake Tonges or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Jake Tonges's 8.5 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 Jake Tonges and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 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 4.2 points per game.

Do Jake Tonges and Nico Collins share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jake Tonges 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.