Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Nico Collins vs Rashee Rice

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.8-PPG advantage is real (15.5 to 12.7), and Rashee Rice's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Nico Collins 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#10

Nico Collins

PPG

12.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,117

Rec TDs

Targets

120

Bye

Week 6

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Nico Collins

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

12.7 PPG15.5 PPG

15 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Nico Collins: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #10 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Nico Collins is producing at 58% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Nico Collins vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?

Nico Collins and Rashee Rice are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Nico Collins averaged 12.7 PPG across 15 games with the Houston Texans, while Rashee Rice posted 15.5 PPG in 8 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 2.8-PPG gap gives Rashee Rice 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 Rashee Rice drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Nico Collins, even in weeks where Rashee Rice posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Nico Collins sits Week 6 while Rashee Rice is off Week 10. 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

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: Nico Collins (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Nico Collins by a projected 48 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nico Collins played 15 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. 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▾

StatCollinsRice

PPG (Half-PPR)12.715.5

Games Played158

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)191124

Receptions7153

Rec/Game4.76.6

Receiving Yards1,117571

Rec Yds/Game74.571.4

Receiving TDs65

Targets12078

Target Share/Game8.09.8

Age2726

Experience4 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 6Week 10

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored Nico Collins by 2.8 PPG in 2025 (15.5 to 12.7). 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 Nico Collins or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Nico Collins's 12.7 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 Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Nico Collins averaged 12.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 2.8 points per game.

When are Nico Collins and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Nico Collins (HOU) has a bye in Week 6, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Nico Collins or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Nico Collins by 2.8 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.