The 2023 season was a coming-out party for Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. A third-round pick out of Michigan in the 2021 NFL Draft, his game was taken to another level in Year 3.

Like many of his teammates, Nico Collins benefited greatly from the addition of C.J. Stroud. The No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State already looks like a star at the quarterback position.

In 15 games last season, Nico Collins caught 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. During his first two seasons in the NFL, he caught only 70 passes for 927 yards and three touchdowns.

As shared by Gordon McGuinness of PFF, there is one statistic that the Houston Texans star dominated in. In 2023, he was second in the NFL in yards per route run with 3.11.

The only player who recorded a higher number was Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins. He was in his own stratosphere with an average yards per route run of 3.72.

“One of the breakout players of the 2023 NFL season, Collins enjoyed the best year of his career (so far), becoming C.J. Stroud’s favorite target right away. 

After averaging less than 1.70 yards per route run in 2021 (1.24) and 2022 (1.68), the former Michigan wide receiver was one of just two players at the position to average at least 3.00 yards per route run last year,” McGuinness wrote.

That is some elite company that Nico Collins has found himself being part of, as he is turning into one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL. Big things are on the horizon, as teams won’t be able to divert more attention toward him.

Tank Dell, who was excellent as a rookie, will be returning from injury. The Houston Texans also acquired Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason.

Good luck trying to stop that trio, as the depth behind them is also strong. Veterans Robert Woods and Noah Brown and youngsters John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson fill out things at wide receiver.

At tight end, the Houston Texans have Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan, while adding Cade Stover from Ohio State in the 2024 NFL Draft. That is an embarrassment of riches for Stroud to work with. 

Nico Collins should once again lead the way, as he is emerging as a legitimate No. 1 option in the passing game.

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