Who Should I Start? Nico Collins or Jaylen Warren


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
15.8 1.0 0.0 5.3 79.8 0.4

Nico Collins News

Nico Collins' Target Outlook Cools After Monday's Trade

Monday, August 24, 11:09 AM

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.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.5 48.6 0.3 2.5 19.1 0.1

Jaylen Warren News

Jaylen Warren Makes Preseason Debut as Steelers' Starter

Friday, August 21, 9:49 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren handled five carries for 17 yards in a 17-0 preseason loss to the New York Jets. Warren, who rested alongside backfield mate Rico Dowdle in last week's preseason opener, drew the start Friday night and played nine total snaps. He and Dowdle alternated drives over Pittsburgh's first two possessions before splitting the work on the third. Neither player was particularly efficient in the contest as the Steelers struggled to run the ball all night, but it was nonetheless encouraging to see Warren get some action as the team's lead back. Fantasy managers should anticipate a relatively even split between Warren and Dowdle heading into the regular season, with a hot-hand approach potentially dictating the workload early in the year. The 27-year-old will have one more opportunity to tune up Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills.


Nico Collins vs. Jaylen Warren

Still trying to decide between Collins and Warren? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Nico Collins is projected to score 15.8 points this week while Jaylen Warren is projected to score 11.5 points.