Nico Collins

Houston Texans
Wide Receiver #12
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Nico Collins News RotoBaller

Nico Collins Making Good Progress From Injury

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans noted that wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is making good progress from his hamstring injury. "Nico has been progressing really well," Ryans said, according to Aaron Wilson, a Texans reporter for KPRC 2 Houston. "We'll see if he can get back out there." Collins has missed the past two games due to injury. He had seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening loss to the Bills. It's positive news to hear from the head coach after the Texans fell to 0-3 on the year. The team and fantasy managers could use Nico Collins back in the lineup. Collins is a top-tier wide receiver when healthy, and this is a positive sign that he could make a comeback for Week 4 against the Cowboys.

Sep 27, 2026 1:14 PM EST

Nico Collins Has a Decent Chance to Return in Week 4

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the second game in a row, but he has a "decent chance" to return for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Collins has been sidelined since the practice week following Houston's season opener. The 27-year-old was impressive during that Week 1 contest, catching seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown. Collins and his fantasy managers will be eager to put this injury behind him, especially if it means he's fully healthy and can return to his WR1 form in fantasy football. The Texans' offense has endured its fair share of struggles over the last year-plus, but the unit always seems to be playing at its best when Collins is on the field and showing off his extremely strong rapport with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Sep 27, 2026 5:15 AM EST

Nico Collins Officially Ruled Out for Week 3

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for his team's Week 3 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, per Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. It will be the second straight missed game for Collins, who is battling a Grade 1 hamstring strain. With Collins sidelined in Week 2, Texans wideouts Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte were the team's leaders in snaps at the position. Veteran tight end Dalton Schultz led the team with 14 targets, while no other Houston pass-catcher was able to crack 40 receiving yards. In Week 3, Schultz profiles as a must-start tight end, while both Hutchinson and Boutte profile as low-end flex options.

Sep 25, 2026 12:26 PM EST

Nico Collins "Very Much in Doubt" to Play Sunday

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has not practiced this week, and his availability for Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts is "very much in doubt," according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Collins missed Week 2 due to the injury, which also sidelined him for back-to-back practices on Wednesday and Thursday this week. While there's still a chance he could progress to a limited or full status on Friday, it doesn't sound like he's trending in the right direction. That's brutal news for the Texans, who are off to a 0-2 start and would love to get their alpha receiver back for a crucial divisional battle against the Indianapolis Colts. Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, and Kayshon Boutte should step up as the Texans' top receivers on Sunday, but none of them are absolute must-starts in fantasy football.

Sep 25, 2026 6:23 AM EST

Nico Collins Not at Practice on Thursday, Slated to Miss Week 3

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) remains absent from practice on Thursday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Per KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson, Collins is trending toward missing a second straight game in Week 3 against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain that he suffered in practice last week. Fantasy managers need to keep the Texans' No. 1 wideout on the bench again this week and hope he can return for a Week 4 matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 4. In last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals with Collins sidelined, newcomer Kayshon Boutte was more involved, catching three of his five targets for 37 yards, but it was tight end Dalton Schultz who was the biggest beneficiary, catching 12 of 14 targets for a team-high 140 yards. Xavier Hutchinson saw the second-most targets (nine), and Jared Wayne surprisingly had seven targets in the passing game. Schultz will be in must-start status this weekend in Indy if Collins is ruled out again, with Boutte being on the flex radar for a second straight game.

Sep 24, 2026 8:55 AM EST

Nico Collins Not Practicing on Wednesday

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Collins injured his hamstring at practice last Wednesday and did not play in the Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Texans are hopeful that the 27-year-old is not out long-term, but there is no guarantee that he will play this weekend on the road against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. Fantasy managers who have Collins rostered should be prepared for a potential second straight missed game. Receiver Kayshon Boutte had a bigger role in his second game with Houston last week with Collins out, and Xavier Hutchinson was also targeted frequently by quarterback C.J. Stroud. Second-year wideout Jaylin Noel will remain in starting three-wide sets if Collins misses another game. But perhaps the safest fantasy floor will belong to tight end Dalton Schultz, who exploded for 12 catches and 140 yards on 14 targets last week with Collins sidelined.

Sep 23, 2026 10:15 AM EST

Nico Collins Could Miss Multiple Games With Hamstring Injury

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is already out for Sunday against Cincinnati, and the hamstring injury may cost him more than one game. Collins suffered a Grade 1 strain in practice Wednesday after opening the season with seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets against Buffalo. Aaron Wilson reports the current expectation is that Collins could also miss next week's road game against Indianapolis, though the situation remains fluid. That's a significant short-term hit for a receiver who immediately returned to his usual high-volume role in Week 1. The good news is that Collins avoided a more serious injury. The bad news is that hamstrings can linger, and Houston may choose to be cautious with his return. Sunday is already off the table. If the current expectation holds and Collins also sits in Week 3, fantasy managers could be without him for two straight games.

Sep 19, 2026 12:16 PM EST

Kayshon Boutte Is Set for a Bigger Role Without Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte only made one catch in Week 1, but he'll need to be much more involved in Week 2, since Nico Collins (hamstring) is out. In his Texans debut, Boutte played 46% of snaps in Week 1, which was the third-highest total of Houston's WRs. He only had two targets and made one catch for 21 yards. C.J. Stroud will have to lean on Boutte, Jayline Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson much more in Week 2 after Collins dominated the target share with 10 looks in Week 1. Boutte definitely brings potential as a boom-or-bust deep-ball specialist, and more chances could result in him stepping into a larger role in Houston's offense for the rest of the year. He has a high ceiling without Collins, but he's still only RotoBaller's WR No. 46, so he's still only worth starting in deep leagues or if you are desperate for a FLEX play.

Sep 19, 2026 3:46 AM EST

C.J. Stroud Is Hard to Start in Week 2 Without Nico Collins

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had solid numbers in Week 1 against the Bills, but he lost his top receiver, Nico Collins (hamstring), to a midweek injury and is in a tough matchup against the Bengals in Week 2. Stroud threw for 274 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the season opener but lost two costly fumbles, including one when trying to rally his team for a win. He finished Week 1 as the QB15, and for Week 2, he's ranked as RotoBaller's QB20. Without Collins, though, he is a much higher-risk start since his receiving corps is very unproven. The Bengals' defense held Baker Mayfield and the Bucs in check in Week 1, which further makes Stroud an unattractive play in single-QB leagues. He remains a low-end QB2, but comes with significant risk factors.

Sep 19, 2026 2:52 AM EST

Nico Collins Ruled Out Against Bengals

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Cincinnati, according to Ari Meirov. Collins hurt his hamstring during Wednesday's practice and was limited before sitting out Thursday. He wasn't on the field Friday either. Testing reportedly showed a Grade 1 strain. Collins led Houston with seven catches on 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Buffalo, so there is plenty of work to replace. Kayshon Boutte, Xavier Hutchinson, and Jaylin Noel are all candidates for more opportunities. Noel had two catches for 53 yards last week, while Boutte caught one pass for 21 yards in his Texans debut. There isn't an obvious one-for-one replacement for Collins in this offense.

Sep 18, 2026 12:10 PM EST

Nico Collins Not Expected to Play in Week 2

Houston Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is not practicing on Friday morning and is not expected to play on Sunday in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring injury during Wednesday's practice, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Collins also did not practice on Thursday, and he could be ruled out entirely on the team's final injury report on Friday. Fantasy managers should remove Collins from their starting lineups right now for a healthier option. It will be a big loss for Houston's offense as they try to keep up with Cincy's high-scoring attack this weekend. Collins, 27, caught seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown in a strong season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend. With Collins heading for an absence in Week 2, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson are expected to start in three-wide sets for the Texans. Boutte, who caught just one of his two targets for 21 yards in an underwhelming debut with the team, could be in line for a much larger workload on Sunday with Collins likely sidelined.

Sep 18, 2026 8:03 AM EST

Nico Collins Sitting Out Wednesday With Grade 1 Hamstring Injury

Houston Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is not practicing on Wednesday after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring injury, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. It is the least severe hamstring injury that Collins could have, but it does not mean he will play in the Week 2 contest this Sunday against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. The 27-year-old is the Texans' undisputed top wideout, so if he is forced to miss this weekend's game, it will make things a lot more difficult for quarterback C.J. Stroud in a game that could feature plenty of points. Collins sitting out on Sunday would elevate Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson into starting three-wide sets in Houston. Collins got his season off to a strong start in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, catching seven of his 10 targets for 75 yards and his first touchdown of the year, but fantasy managers might be without him against Cincy. Check back on Friday to see if Collins can return to at least a limited practice, which would likely earn him a questionable tag going into Sunday.

Sep 17, 2026 8:37 AM EST

Nico Collins' Hamstring Injury not Believed To Be Serious, Week 2 Status in Jeopardy

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) suffered an injury in Wednesday's practice as the team was preparing to face the Bengals in Week 2. After Collins met with the training staff following practice, the team doesn't believe the injury is serious, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, although Collins' status for Week 2 is still "in jeopardy." Collins had seven catches for 75 yards on his 10 targets in Week 1 against the Bills, and if he misses time, the Texans would have a huge void to fill at receiver since they already lost Jayden Higgins (knee) for the season during the preseason. If Collins is out or limited, newcomer Kayshon Boutte, second-year receiver Jaylin Noel, and veteran Xavier Hutchinson would get most of the work at receiver, with TE Dalton Schultz also potentially getting more targets. Collins' injury will be a key one to watch leading up to Sunday's kickoff since his absence could open up so much potential value.

Sep 17, 2026 5:13 AM EST

Texans to Have Tests Done on Nico Collins' Hamstring

The Houston Texans will have tests done on wide receiver Nico Collins' hamstring, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The severity of Collins' injury is still being determined after he was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday. The 27-year-old caught seven of his 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but he apparently came out of that game a little banged up. The former third-rounder from Michigan missed some time in 2024 due to a hamstring injury, and although his current hamstring injury does not appear to be too serious, fantasy managers should be keeping a close eye on his progress for the rest of the week. We should have a better idea of Collins' Week 2 status against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday after Friday's final injury report is released. Collins is a must-start receiver in fantasy when he is active. If he is held out this weekend, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson would start for the Texans in three-wide sets.

Sep 16, 2026 3:20 PM EST

Nico Collins Limited With Hamstring Injury

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a hamstring injury. Collins did not appear to be injured in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, which means his new hamstring injury most likely will not be serious enough to keep him from suiting up in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 27-year-old had a nice season debut for his fantasy managers in the loss to the Bills, catching seven of his 10 targets for 75 yards and his first touchdown of the season. We will continue to monitor Collins' status over the next couple of days, but as long as nothing surprising happens, he should be locked in as a must-start fantasy wideout this weekend in a game that could quickly turn into a shootout in Houston. Receivers Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson would be starts for the Texans in the unlikely event that Collins does not play on Sunday.

Sep 16, 2026 2:26 PM EST

Nico Collins Is a Top-10 WR in Week 1

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is lined up for a heavy workload in Week 1, and he's a great option to get in fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills. Collins has posted three straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, even though he has missed games each year. Last season, he racked up 1,117 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season as C.J. Stroud's top target. This year, Houston lost its second receiver, Jayden Higgins (knee), for the season to a preseason injury, and that could leave even more targets and opportunities for Collins. Stroud will be looking to bounce back after the rough end to last season, and if he's effective, he'll lean heavily on Collins. Against the Bills, Collins is a low-end WR1, checking in as RotoBaller's No. 7 WR in the PPR rankings for Week 1.

Sep 11, 2026 5:33 PM EST

Nico Collins a Fantasy Riser as Large Target Share Continues to Increase

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was already viewed as a strong WR1 in fantasy football entering the preseason, but his stock continues to rise now that Jayden Higgins (knee) has been ruled out for the season. Higgins was on the inside track to being the Texans' No. 2 receiver this year, so his season-ending injury creates plenty of vacated targets. Many of those targets will now go to Collins, who was the overall WR8 last year and has been a top-12 fantasy receiver in two of the last three seasons. In 2025, he converted a career-high 120 targets into 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns. The quality of play from quarterback C.J. Stroud will determine Collins' exact fantasy outlook and upside, but for now, we'd expect that the loss of Higgins will boost Collins' fantasy stock. As it stands, he has an ADP of 21.8, which corresponds to the second round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 10th receiver off the board.

Sep 4, 2026 6:09 AM EST

Nico Collins' Price Tag Falls in Line with Ranking for 2026

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is coming off a remarkable 2025 season that saw him post the best fantasy finish of his career as the overall WR8 in PPR leagues. It was a shaky year for the Texans and C.J. Stroud, but that didn't stop Collins from totaling 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns. Last season, he didn't have to share any targets with Tank Dell (knee), but he did share some volume with Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel. This year is mostly similar, with the main difference being that Higgins is done for the year with a knee injury and Dell should return midseason. Because of Higgins' injury, the Texans also went out and added Kayshon Boutte via trade. By themselves, none of Dell, Noel, or Boutte should be a major threat to Collins' volume and production, but collectively, it's starting to look like a fair number of mouths to feed. Now that fantasy draft season is in full swing, Collins has an ADP of 23.8 (WR9), while RotoBaller has him ranked as the WR10 for redraft leagues.

Aug 29, 2026 8:51 PM EST

Nico Collins' Target Outlook Cools After Monday's Trade

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins got a little more competition Monday, which matters after Jayden Higgins' season-ending ACL tear had opened the door to a huge target load. Houston is reportedly acquiring Kayshon Boutte from New England for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. Boutte caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season, and he gives C.J. Stroud another outside target who can win downfield. The Texans had already signed Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard after Higgins went down. None of those moves knocks Collins off the top line. He has topped 1,000 yards three years in a row and finished 2025 with 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. It does change the volume math a bit. Collins looked set to absorb a huge share of the passing game once Higgins was lost, and Houston has now spent several days adding veteran help plus Boutte. RotoBaller has Collins 23rd overall in its latest PPR rankings. He's still a WR1, just with a little less room for the monster target spike fantasy managers could have pictured last week.

Aug 24, 2026 11:09 AM EST

Nico Collins Set for Massive Volume in 2026

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins could see a monster target share in 2026. In three seasons with quarterback C.J. Stroud, Collins has hauled in 219 of 328 passes for 3,420 yards and 21 touchdowns in 42 games, averaging 14.3 half-PPR fantasy points per game. With second-year receiver Jayden Higgins (knee) out for the season with a torn ACL and Tank Dell (knee) expected to be limited, Collins could have a massive target share in 2026. Collins has averaged 7.8 targets per game over the last three seasons, which would've ranked 18th in the NFL last season. There's a strong possibility that Collins ranks inside the Top 10 in targets this season, and with his elite efficiency and red zone ability, he could be in line for a big 2026 season.

Aug 23, 2026 6:37 PM EST