RADIO
Jayden Higgins is a potential bust and avoid in 2025 fantasy football rookie drafts. Read the fantasy football outlook for the new Texans wide receiver.
DRAFT PICK: 2nd Round (#34 Overall Pick)
TEAM: Houston Texans
ROOKIE DRAFT ANALYSIS: Jayden Higgins enjoyed a fine senior season at Iowa State last year. He posted an 87-1,183-9 stat line and was selected 34th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2025 NFL Draft. As a result of getting early Day 2 draft capital, many dynasty gamers have been very enthusiastic to draft Higgins. It’s understandable, as he had some highlight-reel plays and posted some nice advanced metrics. Per PFF, Higgins had a strong 2.62 yards per route run (YPRR) in 2024.
This mark ranked 28th among 237 collegiate receivers with 50+ routes run. Being tied to C.J. Stroud for the immediate future is also good for Higgins' outlook. However, things became a bit murky when the Texans selected Higgins' college teammate, Jaylin Noel, in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Iowa State reunion: #Texans selected Jaylin Noel in Round 3 after taking WR Jayden Higgins in Round 2. pic.twitter.com/yboXpwbcG6
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 26, 2025
Noel is one of the more underrated players in this draft and was a very good route runner/separator in college. That is bad news for Higgins because these are areas where his game needs refinement. Higgins struggled to separate against man and press coverage during his collegiate career.
This is problematic because, usually, players who struggle to consistently separate in college face those same challenges in the NFL. Logically, it makes sense. If you’re unable to gain separation in college, then you’re probably not going to fare well going against better athletes in the NFL. Unfortunately, Higgins will probably fall into this category.
We have seen several bigger-bodied receivers get pushed up rookie draft boards over the last few years. Treylon Burks, Quentin Johnston, and Keon Coleman are the best examples. Each of these players was touted as having major upside for fantasy football, but the reality is that none of them showed they could consistently separate at the collegiate level. So far in each of their careers, none have proved they can consistently get open in the NFL.
Higgins feels like the 2025 incarnation of this archetype and is potentially a major landmine in rookie drafts. There are things he does well, but lining up as an X or flanker would not be the best use of his skills. A move inside as a big slot would potentially benefit his career. However, given the presence of Noel and Christian Kirk, it doesn't seem like that is Houston's plan for Higgins.
If you want a piece of the Houston offense, the better play is to pass on Higgins and target Noel later in your draft. He’s the better player/route runner and could have an immediate role in Houston’s offense if the cards break his way.
- Dave Ventresca
More NFL Draft Analysis
2026 Fantasy Football Rookie WR Rankings (Post NFL Draft) - Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion, Antonio Williams, Omar Cooper Jr.
The 2026 NFL Draft saw 37 wide receivers come off the board, including five in Round 1 and 12 in Rounds 2 and 3. Needless to say, there is a lot to sort out at the WR spot ahead of fantasy football rookie drafts. The early-round picks are clearly the top targets and have the […]
2026 Fantasy Football Rookie RB Rankings (Post NFL Draft) - Jadarian Price, Jonah Coleman, Jeremiyah Love, Mike Washington Jr., more
The 2026 rookie running back class isn't the flashiest on paper, and we only saw 13 total ball carriers selected this year. However, there are two first-round RBs to be excited about immediately, and several others could be an injury or two away from playing meaningful snaps and contributing to your fantasy team's success. Check […]
Best Landing Spots for Fantasy Football Rookies: Top Three Rounds (2026)
It is common knowledge that the 2026 NFL Draft class is not the best for fantasy. The class lacked high-end talent at quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end while providing virtually no depth at running back. That said, plenty of prospects landed in fantasy-friendly situations, which could boost their appeal in fantasy football. Below are […]
Updated 2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Post-NFL Draft - Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Ty Simpson, Jadarian Price, more
At last, the 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and we now know draft capital and landing spots for the next group of fantasy football rookies. This isn't the most exciting and deep class of fantasy-relevant players, but there are game-changers at the top of the draft, and there will be plenty of surprises […]
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Expert Three-Round Projections (Final Edition)
The trade of Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals shook up the NFL Draft in a way we have not seen before, as it was a rare player-for-pick deal, and it involved a top-ten pick. This could be the first of many deals… or the last. Whether you believe this class will be awash in moves […]
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
