Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Khalil Shakir vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Khalil Shakir's 8.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Nico Collins is the better fantasy play this season.

Nico Collins has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.6-PPG advantage is real (12.7 to 8.1), and Nico Collins's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Khalil Shakir is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Khalil Shakir and Nico Collins in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRBuffalo Bills#48

Khalil Shakir

PPG

8.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

719

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

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

Khalil Shakir

Nico Collins

Head to Head

8.1 PPG12.7 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Khalil Shakir: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #48 at the position). Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Khalil Shakir is producing at 37% 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.

Khalil Shakir vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.1 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Nico Collins (Houston Texans) came in at 12.7 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Nico Collins carries a 4.6-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.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Khalil Shakir turned 95 targets into 719 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Nico Collins converted 120 looks into 1117 yards and 6 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Khalil Shakir has his bye in Week 7, and Nico Collins rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling 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. Khalil Shakir is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Khalil Shakir (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 Khalil Shakir by a projected 78 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Khalil Shakir played 16 games in 2025 compared to Nico Collins's 15. That durability gap means Khalil Shakir 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 wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Khalil Shakir vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Khalil Shakir	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.1	12.7
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	130	191
Receptions	72	71
Rec/Game	4.5	4.7
Receiving Yards	719	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	44.9	74.5
Receiving TDs	4	6
Targets	95	120
Target Share/Game	5.9	8.0
Age	26	27
Experience	3 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Nico Collins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.7 points per game. Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Khalil Shakir vs Nico Collins

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Khalil Shakir vs Nico Collins

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Khalil Shakir or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Khalil Shakir's 8.1 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 Khalil Shakir and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

Khalil Shakir averaged 8.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.6 points per game.

When are Khalil Shakir and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Khalil Shakir (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Khalil Shakir or Nico Collins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Nico Collins outscored Khalil Shakir by 4.6 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.