Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Nico Collins vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Nico Collins is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.7 PPG to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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. Travis Kelce (9.1 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.

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

TEKansas City Chiefs#10

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Nico Collins

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

12.7 PPG9.1 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Nico Collins vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Nico Collins (WR, Houston Texans) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while Travis Kelce posted 9.1 PPG across 17 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.

Nico Collins has his bye in Week 8, Travis Kelce in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Nico Collins at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Travis Kelce 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. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Nico Collins outscored Travis Kelce by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to Nico Collins's 15. That durability gap means Travis Kelce 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.
•Nico Collins is 9 years younger than Travis Kelce (27 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Nico Collins vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Nico Collins	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.7	9.1
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	191	155
Receptions	71	76
Rec/Game	4.7	4.5
Receiving Yards	1,117	851
Rec Yds/Game	74.5	50.1
Receiving TDs	6	5
Targets	120	108
Target Share/Game	8.0	6.4
Age	27	36
Experience	4 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Nico Collins holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.7 points per game. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Nico Collins or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Nico Collins has the edge at 12.7 PPG compared to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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 Nico Collins and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Nico Collins averaged 12.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Nico Collins and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.