Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Marvin Harrison Jr. vs Nico CollinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 8.9 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 3.8-PPG advantage is real (12.7 to 8.9), and Nico Collins's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Marvin Harrison Jr. 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.

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WRArizona Cardinals#39

Marvin Harrison Jr.

PPG

8.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

608

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

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

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Nico Collins

Head to Head

8.9 PPG12.7 PPG

12 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Marvin Harrison Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #39 at the position). Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Marvin Harrison Jr. is producing at 40% 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.

Marvin Harrison Jr. vs Nico Collins: The Full Breakdown

Marvin Harrison Jr. and Nico Collins are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Marvin Harrison Jr. averaged 8.9 PPG across 12 games with the Arizona Cardinals, while Nico Collins posted 12.7 PPG in 15 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 3.8-PPG gap gives Nico Collins the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. Nico Collins saw 120 targets in 2025, while Marvin Harrison Jr. drew 73. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Marvin Harrison Jr. posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Marvin Harrison Jr. sits Week 14 while Nico Collins is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Nico Collins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Marvin Harrison Jr. (age 23) 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 Marvin Harrison Jr. by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 12. 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 wide receiver position.
•Marvin Harrison Jr. is 4 years younger than Nico Collins (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Marvin Harrison Jr. vs Nico Collins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Marvin Harrison Jr.	Nico Collins
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.9	12.7
Games Played	12	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	191
Receptions	41	71
Rec/Game	3.4	4.7
Receiving Yards	608	1,117
Rec Yds/Game	50.7	74.5
Receiving TDs	4	6
Targets	73	120
Target Share/Game	6.1	8.0
Age	23	27
Experience	1 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Nico Collins outscored Marvin Harrison Jr. by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (12.7 to 8.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Marvin Harrison Jr. or Nico Collins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 8.9 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 Marvin Harrison Jr. and Nico Collins average in 2025?▾

Marvin Harrison Jr. averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Marvin Harrison Jr. and Nico Collins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI) has a bye in Week 14, and Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Marvin Harrison Jr. or Nico Collins a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Nico Collins outscored Marvin Harrison Jr. by 3.8 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.