Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 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. James Conner (11.0 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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RBArizona Cardinals#99

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

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

James Conner

Nico Collins

Head to Head

11.0 PPG12.7 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 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 5 (Deep League) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR in most league formats.

James Conner vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Comparing James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) against Nico Collins (WR, Houston Texans) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG in 2025 over 14 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.

James Conner has his bye in Week 11, Nico Collins in Week 8. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Nico Collins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Nico Collins outscored James Conner by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. 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 caught 71 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

James Conner vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	12.7
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	191
Rushing Yards	752	15
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	1.0
Rushing TDs	5	1
Receptions	28	71
Receiving Yards	218	1,117
Targets	0	120
Total TDs	6	7
Age	-	27
Experience	-	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. James Conner averaged 11.0 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 James Conner or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to James Conner's 11.0 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 James Conner and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are James Conner and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) 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.