Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Nico Collins vs Terry McLaurinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Terry McLaurin's 9.5 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 3.2-PPG advantage is real (12.7 to 9.5), and Nico Collins's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Terry McLaurin 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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WRHouston Texans#10PPG LEADER

Nico Collins

PPG

12.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,117

Rec TDs

Targets

120

Bye

Week 8

WRWashington Commanders#35

Terry McLaurin

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

582

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Nico Collins

Terry McLaurin

Head to Head

12.7 PPG9.5 PPG

15 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Terry McLaurin: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #35 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Nico Collins is producing at 58% of elite pace and Terry McLaurin at 43%. That ranking gap means Nico Collins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Nico Collins vs Terry McLaurin: The Full Breakdown

Two wide receivers who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Nico Collins (Houston Texans) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.7 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders) came in at 9.5 PPG over 10 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Nico Collins carries a 3.2-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 Terry McLaurin drew 60. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Terry McLaurin posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Nico Collins is off Week 8 and Terry McLaurin Week 7. 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. Terry McLaurin is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Nico Collins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Terry McLaurin (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Nico Collins outscored Terry McLaurin by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Terry McLaurin's 10. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Nico Collins vs Terry McLaurin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Nico Collins	Terry McLaurin
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.7	9.5
Games Played	15	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	191	95
Receptions	71	38
Rec/Game	4.7	3.8
Receiving Yards	1,117	582
Rec Yds/Game	74.5	58.2
Receiving TDs	6	3
Targets	120	60
Target Share/Game	8.0	6.0
Age	27	30
Experience	4 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Nico Collins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.7 points per game. Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 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 Nico Collins or Terry McLaurin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Terry McLaurin's 9.5 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 Nico Collins and Terry McLaurin average in 2025?▾

Nico Collins averaged 12.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Terry McLaurin averaged 9.5 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are Nico Collins and Terry McLaurin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Nico Collins or Terry McLaurin a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Nico Collins outscored Terry McLaurin by 3.2 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.