Start Nico Collins or Luther Burden III? Week 9

Our Week 9 call

Start Nico Collins over Luther Burden III in Week 9.

Market-based projections have Nico Collins at 14.9 points and Luther Burden III at 14.8, a gap of 0.1. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. Drafters take Nico Collins at ADP 22 and Luther Burden III at 51.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 14.9 fantasy points for Nico Collins, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Nico Collins is 66 receiving yards, 5-6 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (7, 7 and 7 market sources).

Player markets imply 14.8 fantasy points for Luther Burden III, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Luther Burden III is 67 receiving yards, 5-6 receptions and 0-1 touchdowns (10, 8 and 8 market sources).

That puts Nico Collins 0.1 points ahead of Luther Burden III on the market projections.

Week 9 matchups

Nico Collins and HOU visit LAC on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

LAC allowed 30.3 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 16th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 133 yards and 0.9 touchdowns a game against LAC.

Luther Burden III and CHI host TB on Sunday at 8:20 PM ET.

TB allowed 28.0 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 8 games, the 8th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 131 yards and 0.6 touchdowns a game against TB.

By points allowed to the position, Nico Collins has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Nico Collins is not on the injury report.

Luther Burden III is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 9

Through Week 7, Nico Collins played 71 percent of HOU snaps, drew 22 percent of the targets, earned 30 percent of the air yards and had 13 percent of the red zone chances.

Nico Collins, Week 4 against DAL: 38 of 55 snaps, 8 targets and 7 catches for 118 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Nico Collins, Week 5 against TEN: 47 of 66 snaps, 7 targets and 5 catches for 56 yards.

Nico Collins, Week 6 against JAX: 46 of 63 snaps, 1 carry for 5 yards, 5 targets and 3 catches for 74 yards.

Nico Collins, Week 7 against NYG: 41 of 61 snaps, 5 targets and 2 catches for 6 yards.

Through Week 8, Luther Burden III played 61 percent of CHI snaps, drew 20 percent of the targets, earned 13 percent of the air yards and had 14 percent of the red zone chances.

Luther Burden III, Week 7 against NE: 42 of 69 snaps, 1 carry for 7 yards, 4 targets and 4 catches for 130 yards, 1 touchdown.

Luther Burden III, Week 8 against SEA: 9 targets and 7 catches for 56 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Nico Collins played 15 games for HOU and scored 226.2 PPR points, 15.1 a game, finishing WR8.

He caught 71 of 120 targets for 1117 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 16 red zone targets and 793 air yards.

He was on the field for 77 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Luther Burden III played 15 games for CHI and scored 127.9 PPR points, 8.5 a game, finishing WR48.

He caught 47 of 60 targets for 652 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 318 air yards.

He was on the field for 39 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Luther Burden III, Week 18 of 2025 against DET: 1 carry for 10 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 35 yards, 7.5 PPR points.

Their other Week 9 calls

• Start Amon-Ra St. Brown over Nico Collins.
• Start CeeDee Lamb over Nico Collins.
• Start Nico Collins over Chris Olave.
• Start Luther Burden III over A.J. Brown.
• Start Chris Olave over Luther Burden III.
• Start Luther Burden III over Christian Watson.