The NFL Top 100 list didn’t exactly reveal anything new to Texans fans, but it did put a national stamp on what Houston has seen for a while now: Nico Collins belongs with the league’s best.
Collins landed at No. 58 overall on this year’s ranking, making him the seventh wide receiver to appear on the list. He was also just the second Texan included, behind Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who came in at No.
- That spot is a drop from Collins’ No. 39 finish last year, but the ranking still underscores the kind of production he has delivered in Houston.
Even with time missed in the 2025 season because of a concussion, Collins continued to show why he has become such a force. Since C.J. Stroud arrived, the two-time Pro Bowl receiver has played like a top-10 wideout at minimum, piling up the kind of numbers that separate the true difference-makers from the rest of the pack.
The resume keeps growing. Collins has posted 1,000-yard seasons in three straight years, making him the third receiver in franchise history to do that. He’s also gone to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons and has been a major reason Houston has moved from frequent bottom dweller to perennial playoff contender.
What makes it even more impressive is the amount of turbulence around him. Collins has had to navigate multiple rookie playcallers in Bobby Slowik and Nick Caley, injuries to key teammates like Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Joe Mixon, and an offense that has leaned anemic to below average on the ground in two of his three breakout years, 2023 and 2025. On top of that, he’s dealt with a perceived dip in quarterback play from Stroud and missed chunks of time because of soft tissue injuries and multiple concussions.
Taken together, it’s hard to argue with the way Collins has kept producing through all of it. And if Houston finally gets another season of stability at offensive coordinator, along with a motivated Stroud throwing him the ball, 2026 could be the year Collins puts together the best season of his career.
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Nico Collins Finally Addressed The Texans Concern Fans Couldnt Ignore
Nico Collins spent the Texans offseason program drawing more attention than usual simply because he was on the field less often than fans expected. In a league where every missed rep can spark concern, the wideout said the reduced workload was part of a plan designed to keep him fresh, with Houston choosing to be careful now so he can be ready when training camp ramps up.
The approach also opened the door for younger receivers to get more work, which is exactly the kind of balancing act teams make when they believe a proven starter is too important to push through every drill in May and June. For Houston, the bigger question is not what Collins did in the spring, but how that measured buildup carries over once the real competition begins. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Receiver Battle Suddenly Includes One Rookie Fans Can't Ignore
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For Bond, the next stretch is about turning practice buzz into something more concrete once training camp puts him against real NFL competition. The Texans still have established options in the passing game, but a young receiver who can separate himself now could force his way into the conversation for snaps, and that is why his progress is worth tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Rookies Are Already Turning Camp Into A Real Roster Fight
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Rutledges move into a center battle gives the line one of the more interesting camp subplots, while McDonald is adjusting to a new front and trying to earn snaps in a different role than the one he played before. Lewis Bond has also made enough of an impression in offseason work to get attention, but the wide receiver room is crowded enough that even a strong spring only gets him so far. For a team trying to sort out depth across multiple spots, the rookies are already forcing some decisions before the real competition even begins. [Read more 🡒]