Texans player named a breakout player of the year

To say 2023 has been a special season for the Houston Texans would be an understatement. 

And for one player in particular, 2023 will forever be remembered as the year he truly arrived on the NFL scene, with the best year of his career to date. 

That player being Nico Collins, who was named one of the breakout players of the 2023 season by Pro Football Focus. 

Collins was one of three WRs selected by PFF for this honor. Joining Collins was San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk and Pittsburgh Steelers' George Pickens. 

When explaining why Collins was selected, PFF writer Jim Wyman had this to say: 

" Under new offensive coordinator and former PFF analyst Bobby Slowik, the Houston Texans made huge strides en route to a division title — and Nico Collins‘ emergence played a significant role. 

Collins showed promise in his first two NFL seasons, going over 400 yards in both. He even led the NFL in contested catch rate in 2022 (75%). With rookie sensation C.J. Stroud at quarterback and Slowik calling plays, Collins entered another stratosphere and established himself as a true No. 1 receiver, catching 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight scores on his way to a 90.6 receiving grade.

He saved his best for last, though, as he practically willed the Texans to victory over the Colts in Week 18, catching all nine of his targets for a career-high 195 yards and a score. Collins earned a 92.1 receiving grade for the effort, and the Texans defeated the Colts in what ended up as an AFC South-clinching victory."

Collins played a major role in the Texans' incredible season, and he looks to have become C.J. Stroud's most reliable weapon in just one season together. He, without a doubt, deserves this honor from PFF. And let's hope that 2023 was just the first of many career-best years for Collins.