Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jalen McMillan vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Jalen McMillan'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. Jalen McMillan (6.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Nico Collins as the starter and Jalen McMillan 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#99

Jalen McMillan

PPG

6.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

178

Targets

Bye

Week 11

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

Jalen McMillan

Nico Collins

Head to Head

6.0 PPG12.7 PPG

4 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Jalen McMillan: 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, Jalen McMillan 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.

Jalen McMillan vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. Nico Collins (Houston Texans) averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games in 2025, outscoring Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6.0 PPG) by 6.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

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 Jalen McMillan drew 15. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Jalen McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Jalen McMillan is off Week 11 and Nico Collins Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Nico Collins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Jalen McMillan is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jalen McMillan (age 24) 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 Jalen McMillan by a projected 114 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Jalen McMillan's 4. That durability gap means Nico Collins contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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

Jalen McMillan vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jalen McMillan	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.0	12.7
Games Played	4	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	24	191
Receptions	12	71
Rec/Game	3.0	4.7
Receiving Yards	178	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	44.5	74.5
Receiving TDs	0	6
Targets	15	120
Target Share/Game	3.8	8.0
Age	24	27
Experience	2 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 8

Summary

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

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Jalen McMillan'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 Jalen McMillan and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

Jalen McMillan averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 4 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.7 points per game.

When are Jalen McMillan and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jalen McMillan (TB) has a bye in Week 11, and Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jalen McMillan or Nico Collins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Nico Collins outscored Jalen McMillan 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.