The Texans are aware they need help on offense. They drafted two receivers last season and brought in David Montgomery this offseason to try to add balance to an elite defense.
Jayden Higgins has the size profile to put up fantasy football numbers, but a hit-and-miss rookie season has left us with just as many questions as we had 12 months ago.
Should You Draft Jayden Higgins in Fantasy Football?
Entering his sophomore season, Higgins presents a fascinating evaluation for managers in 2026. After being selected as a 2025 second-round draft pick (34th overall), Higgins flashed high-end traits during his rookie campaign.
While he did not break overall fantasy scoring records right out of the gate, he showcased an athletic pedigree and a nose for the end zone that should not be ignored. As the Houston offense looks to find its rhythm and solidify its receiving hierarchy, Higgins could carve out a role that warrants attention.
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Whether you are staring down your redraft board in the late rounds or looking for an intriguing acquisition in your dynasty leagues, accurately assessing Higgins requires looking beyond just the box score. From his imposing physical metrics to the undeniable context of his quarterback, I think there’s a path for optimism, even if it’s not clear when your patience will be rewarded.
Higgins’ Redraft Fantasy Football Value
In redraft leagues, Higgins is best viewed as an upside late-round flier rather than someone you are truly banking on developing. When examining his rookie production, the sheer volume wasn’t quite there yet: only 41 catches last season, with inconsistencies in attention to route detail.
However, the efficiency and situational usage were incredibly promising, as he scored a touchdown on 6 of those grabs, and TDs are the quickest way to reward us for single-week flex usage. Remember that we aren’t looking for 10-ish points weekly; we want access to upside on the few weeks we look this far down the fantasy depth chart.
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Jayden Higgins’ Week 1 Fantasy Outlook
Higgins tore his ACL in the middle of August and will miss the entire season. That means that his friends and family will not get the honor of reading about him in this space, so I thought I’d include my preseason take on him before erasing him from our memories for the next 12 months:
Higgins was selected with the 34th overall selection in the 2025 draft, and the 6’4” weapon did manage to score 6 times as a rookie despite limited usage. With this team battling injuries, he earned 10 targets in the playoff loss at Foxboro, a positive data point that few 23-year-olds offer.
2025 Splits
With Nico Collins on the field: 1.81 yards per route run
With Nico Collins off the field: 0.94 yards per route run
I’m very skeptical that the WR2 role is one we care about in Houston, but Higgins would be my bet in that regard, and this is a decent spot to see where he stacks up in this target hierarchy. I think the ceiling is a risky dart throw when your team is struggling because of injuries and/or byes.
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Where Higgins Ranks Among 2026 Wide Receivers
Higgins sits outside our top 50 at wide receiver. Here are the last five on the PFN Consensus Board:
- Khalil Shakir | BUF
- Makai Lemon | PHI
- De'Zhaun Stribling | SF
- Jordan Addison | MIN
- Romeo Doubs | NE
Check the full position group on PFN's 2026 PPR Wide Receiver Board.
