Who Should I Start? Kyle Pitts Sr. or Nico Collins

Tuesday, February 24, 1:07 PM

The Atlanta Falcons officially placed the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. on Tuesday, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. It's just the fourth time in franchise history that the team has used the franchise tag, with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett the last recipient of the tag in 2019. Officially, the tag is a non-exclusive franchise tag, which means Pitts "is free to negotiate with other teams." It buys the Falcons and new general manager Ian Cunningham a little more time to evaluate what they want for the future of Pitts in Atlanta. The projected franchise tag value for TEs in 2026 is around $16 million. The 25-year-old played on a fifth-year option in 2025 and had one of his best seasons to date, finishing second among tight ends in catches (88) and receiving yards (928), and he tied his career high with five touchdowns. The former fourth overall pick was a top-five fantasy TE, but a repeat could be difficult in 2026 if Michael Penix Jr. (knee) isn't ready for the start of the regular season.

Sunday, February 22, 10:19 AM

Across 15 games in 2025, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins recorded 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets. Collins is one of the NFL's most talented wideouts, but his fantasy production has been held down by a middling offensive situation in Houston over the past two seasons. Injuries have also been an issue for the 26-year-old, as he's never played more than 15 games in a season and has missed 19 total games across his five NFL campaigns. Still, Collins is the unquestioned number one target in the Texans' passing game and has recorded three consecutive seasons with at least 68 catches, 1,006 yards, and six touchdowns despite missed time in all three. If he can ever put together a fully healthy campaign and Houston's passing game takes a marginal step forward, Collins could put together a truly elite fantasy season. As is, he profiles as a low-end fantasy WR1 and should hold his dynasty value as he hits his late-twenties.