Ja'Marr Chase vs Nico Collins: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Ja'Marr Chase and Nico Collins is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver put up 15.7 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Nico Collins of the Houston Texans averaged 12.7 in 15. A 3.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 3.0 points favors Ja'Marr Chase, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.
Target volume is the story here. Ja'Marr Chase saw 185 targets in 2025, while Nico Collins drew 120. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Nico Collins posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: Ja'Marr Chase is off Week 12 and Nico Collins Week 14. 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.
