The injuries continue to pile up in what is easily the most brutal start to the season that I can remember. Seemingly healthy coming out of Sunday night’s win over the Bears, Houston Texans WR Nico Collins popped up on the practice report with hip and foot injuries.
Should fantasy football managers be concerned?
Will Nico Collins Play in Week 3 vs. the Vikings?
In most instances, players appearing on injury reports are not a surprise. It’s still frustrating to see, but at least we typically have an idea that it’s coming. There was absolutely nothing in Sunday night’s game that suggested Collins picked up any sort of injury.
If you’ve read any of my injury updates over the past couple of years, this will sound like a broken record. Nevertheless, it must be said: Once the season gets going, Wednesday practices are largely meaningless, and Collins returned to practice on Thursday as a limited participant.
We don’t have any direct information from DeMeco Ryans or Collins himself. However, we can rely on beat reporters, as they are more dialed into what’s going on than anyone. According to Aaron Wilson, Collins is not dealing with anything likely to keep him out of action.
#Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hip-foot) is expected to play Sunday against #Vikings
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 18, 2024
Collins sitting out of Wednesday’s practice appears to have been a typical mid-week rest for a veteran player who got a few nicks and bruises the previous game.
With Collins returning to practice on Thursday, there is less concern about his availability for Week 3. It’s entirely possible he avoids an official injury designation altogether.
Should You Start Collins in Fantasy Lineups?
After being wholly irrelevant his first two seasons, Collins broke out somewhat unexpectedly in Year 3. His breakout coincided with the arrival of C.J. Stroud, who is already one of the five best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Heading into the 2024 season, the fantasy community as a whole wasn’t fully sold on Collins as a WR1.
The first two seasons still loomed large, and the Texans had a returning Tank Dell and added Stefon Diggs, threatening Collins’ alpha status.
After two weeks, it’s safe to say Collins is definitively good at football. Diggs and Dell are competing with each other for targets — Collins is the clear top guy.
The overall WR2 after two games, Collins is a matchup-proof stalwart in fantasy lineups.
Who Are the Other Fantasy Options To Consider on the Texans?
In addition to Collins, the Texans have two other wide receivers worth starting in fantasy. Diggs is clearly a player in decline, which was evident over the second half of last season. However, he’s not done just yet.
The Texans have been utilizing Diggs as a force in high-leverage situations. Stroud found him twice for short touchdowns in Week 1. While Week 2 was the Collins show, Diggs still earned six targets. He is a weekly WR3.
The same goes for Dell. Although it was a disastrous Week 2 for the talented sophomore, no one would be batting an eye had he not dropped a would-be 50+ yard touchdown.
It is noteworthy that Dell has five carries through two games. With Joe Mixon looking unlikely to play this week, it would not be a surprise if the Texans utilized Dell a little more in the backfield, putting him in a Deebo Samuel-like role.
Better days are undoubtedly ahead for Dell. He remains a weekly WR3 in my book.