Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Nico Collins

Friday, January 10, 12:10 PM

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will not require surgery for the fractured back that he played through late in the 2024 season. "One tough dude. Example of what you want," Ballard said. It's a testament to Pittman's toughness that he missed just one game due to his back injury. But the 27-year-old's back issues and inconsistent play from the quarterback position in Indianapolis in 2024 led to Pittman posting only 808 receiving yards -- his fewest since his rookie season in 2020 -- to go with 69 receptions (also his lowest mark since 2020) and only three touchdowns in 16 games. Better health will give him a chance to rebound in 2025, but his overall upside might be dependent on quarterback Anthony Richardson's health and his ability to improve as a passer.

Saturday, January 18, 7:53 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins finished his team's Divisional Round playoff defeat at Kansas City with five catches on eight targets for 81 yards, a decent day considering Houston's considerable challenges in the passing game. The Texans surrendered eight sacks and only completed 19 passes as quarterback C.J. Stroud spent most of the afternoon under siege. The 25-year-old receiver further cemented his status as a No. 1 option in 2024, but by the end of the season, didn't have much support with compatriots Tank Dell (knee) and Stefon Diggs (knee) out for the year. He figures to be part of the long-term plan for Houston, which ends the season in the Divisional Round for the second straight year.