Who Should I Start? Nico Collins or Troy Franklin

Tuesday, January 6, 12:44 AM

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has put together another excellent season as the team's top target, hauling in 71 of his 120 targets for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. The 26-year-old wideout rested in Week 18 with a playoff spot already locked up, and he should be ready to roll in the Wild-Card round against the Steelers. Collins has scored at least 14.2 PPR points in nine of 15 games this season and projects favorably against a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed the fourth-most catches per game (5.4) and the 12th-most receiving yards (63) to opposing WR1s this season. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should fire up Collins with confidence on Monday night.

Friday, January 9, 3:12 PM

Across 17 games in 2025, Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin recorded 65 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns on 104 targets. While Franklin's full-season numbers are solid, his production and role in the Denver offense faded over the second half of the year. The 22-year-old recorded just four receptions for 17 yards on five targets across his final two games of the regular season, including a zero-catch performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18. Franklin also played more than 53% of the Broncos' offensive snaps just once in six games following the team's Week 12 bye, losing playing time in favor of rookie wideout Pat Bryant. Denver has a bye through the first round of the AFC playoffs, so it's not yet clear who Franklin's first matchup will be. However, Franklin's diminished role in the Broncos' passing game could be a reason for fantasy managers in playoff leagues to avoid him.