Higgins was Houston's first selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, picked ahead of Luther Burden. A big-bodied receiver with flashes of brilliance but down-to-down inconsistency and struggles vs. press coverage, Higgins has a lot of trigger words in his draft profile. Anyone who has recently invested in Treylon Burks, Quentin Johnston or Keon Coleman feels the pain of watching an offense wishcast an unprepared rookie into an X-receiver role. Fortunately, Higgins was drafted to play alongside one of the most capable X-receivers in recent NFL memory in Nico Collins. Rather than force him to take on opposing top cover corners, new offensive coordinator Nick Caley can create mismatches for Higgins to exploit as defenses focus on Collins. If Houston can improve on near league-worst offensive line play from 2024, this passing offense could erupt. Collins, Higgins and former Iowa State teammate Jaylin Noel are an electric trio that can stretch opposing defenses to the breaking point, and C.J. Stroud is ready to push the button. All three WRs present explosive upside. HIggins makes for a high-upside gamble in the Round 12 range.
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Fantasy News
Texans' Jayden Higgins: Two grabs in Saturday's win
Rotowire
Higgins caught both his targets for 18 yards in Saturday's 26-7 preseason win over the Lions.
The Texans rested their starters, including Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, for their final exhibition contest, and Higgins made only a brief cameo on the team's first two drives before exiting. The 2025 second-round pick seems locked into the No. 3 spot on the depth chart due to Tank Dell (knee) still lacking a timeline for his return, and it's a role that could result in significant volume for Higgins in a high-ceiling passing game led by C.J. Stroud.
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Texans' Jayden Higgins: One catch in second preseason game
Rotowire
Higgins brought in one of three targets for 14 yards in the Texans' 20-3 preseason win over the Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
The rookie second-round pick was out there with the first-team offense and made his one reception on the Texans' second drive, which culminated in a Nico Collins touchdown reception. The timing of Higgins' participation in the game continues to suggest he's on a path to opening the regular season as the No. 3 receiver behind Nico Collins and Christian Kirk.
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Texans' Jayden Higgins: Two short grabs Saturday
Rotowire
Higgins caught both his targets for eight yards in Saturday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Vikings.
The 2025 second-round pick made minimal impact in his first NFL game action, catching two short passes from depth QB Kedon Slovis late in the second quarter. Higgins is expected to start for the Texans this season alongside Nico Collins and Christian Kirk in three-wide sets, but the rookie's usage Saturday suggests he still has to earn that assignment, as he took a back seat to veterans John Metchie (5-45-0 on eight targets) and Braxton Berrios (3-33-1 on three targets). Tank Dell (knee) currently has no timetable for a return.
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Texans' Jayden Higgins: Listed as starter
Rotowire
Higgins is listed as a starter on Houston's initial preseason depth chart, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
The Texans list three starting wide receivers, with Higgins unsurprisingly joined by Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. It's a good sign for the 34th overall draft pick, although this hardly guarantees he'll be a starter come Week 1. With Kirk mostly working the slot this summer, there is some chance Higgins starts off as a regular in both two-wide and three-wide formations.
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Texans' Jayden Higgins: Another target for Stroud in H-Town
Rotowire
The Texans selected Higgins in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 34th overall.
The Texans slotted into this spot after making a trade with the Giants in the first round and still managed to get an excellent value at a position of need. Receiver was an important area for the Texans coming into the draft with Stefon Diggs gone and Tank Dell (knee) working his way back from injury. The selection of Higgins specifically is interesting. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds with 4.47 speed, the Texans are getting a Nico Collins doppelganger in this rookie. Higgins began his career at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Iowa State, where he became a legitimate NFL prospect. He popped for 87 catches for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns on 138 targets in 2024. His workout at the NFL Scouting Combine cemented that he has excellent size-adjusted athleticism, highlighted by his 39-inch vertical and 128-inch broad jump with a big frame and long arms (33.13 inches). The Texans now have two huge catch-radius receivers to attack the boundaries in Higgins and Collins, along with Christian Kirk patrolling the slot.
