Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans, Round 2, Pick 2 (34th overall)
The Houston Texans drafted Jayden Higgins with the second pick of Round 2.
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Fantasy Football Impact for Jayden Higgins on the Houston Texans
Jayden Higgins has the size, talent, and opportunity to become a starting X-receiver and a productive fantasy asset. At 6-4 and 214 pounds, Higgins is one of the biggest receivers in this year's class. Our Matt Waldman, who compares him to Tee Higgins and Mike Williams, sees an immediate starter capable of filling a full-time role. Though he can be deployed anywhere in the formation, Jayden Higgins projects to be one of several receivers who will line up outside opposite Nico Collins in the role played by Tank Dell last season.
Higgins played two seasons at Iowa State after transferring from Eastern Kentucky. Over his four-year career, Higgins amassed 227 receptions for 3,317 yards and 28 touchdowns. Last season, Higgins converted 87 receptions into 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns, earning his Associated Press Third Team All-America honors. His average of 91.0 yards per game ranked sixth among Big 12 receivers, edging out former and future teammate Jaylin Noel, who the Texans drafted in the third round. Higgins and Noel were the first Big 12 receiving duo since CeeDee Lamb and Hollywood Brown to each surpass 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
He isn't a speed demon. His 4.47-second 40-yard dash ranked 24th among wide receivers who tested at the Combine. He makes up for it with quick, decisive releases from the line of scrimmage that enable Higgins to create space, and he can turn a striding catch into a significant gain. He can misread coverages, which sometimes causes him to settle into zones that are not open or run straight past gaps in the defense. His hands are not strong enough to survive defenders' well-timed swats at the catch point, and he is not dynamic enough to earn significant yards after contact.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
Jayden Higgins may be a great fit for the Texans' offense, but he joins a crowded room of receivers, which limits his ceiling. Expectations for his rookie season should be tempered. Our Footballguys projections see Higgins as the team's WR3 with just over 500 receiving yards. As such, he would be a better value in dynasty than in redraft leagues. As he develops, he could solidify himself as the No. 2 option alongside Collins.
The Texans' drafting of Higgins (and his teammate Noel) indicates Dell may not figure in their plans after this season, which Dell is likely to miss entirely after suffering a gruesome knee dislocation in Week 16. Our Adam Hutchison noted Nick Chubb's recovery from a similar injury took 13 months, adding that "this feels like a best-case scenario for Dell."
Higgins's arrival in Houston dents the upside of recently acquired Christian Kirk, who likely spends most of his time operating out of the slot, and also likely relegates John Metchie III to a minor supporting role at best. The addition of Noel further reduces the ceilings of the team's pass catchers not named Collins.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
- Tank Dell - for dynasty, in particular
- Christian Kirk
- John Metchie III
Overview
The Houston Texans drafted Jayden Higgins to succeed Tank Dell, who will likely miss most if not all of the 2025 season. He joins a crowded field of receivers, including the recently acquired Christian Kirk, seeking to be the team's WR2 behind Nico Collins.
For more information on the 2025 NFL Draft, check out the Footballguys Rookie Draft Guide, where you can read about Jayden Higgins, the Houston Texans, and other rookie team fits. The post-Draft edition will be released on April 30.
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