Jayden Higgins Fantasy Football Outlook 2025: Sleeper WR?
The Houston Texans headed into the 2025 NFL Draft with two massive needs on offense. They needed to improve their offensive line after C.J. Stroud ranked among the league leaders in sacks. Houston also needed to add to their wide receiver core after losing Stefon Diggs in free agency and seeing Tank Dell suffer a season-ending injury in back-to-back years. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Texans used their top pick in the NFL Draft on Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Today, we’ll break down the Jayden Higgins fantasy football outlook for both 2025 and dynasty leagues.
Jayden Higgins Fantasy Football Outlook 2025
Can Jayden Higgins be a sleeper pick in 2025 fantasy football? Or is he just a late-round dart throw at the WR position? Let’s break down his fantasy football outlook for 2025 as well as in dynasty leagues.
Jayden Higgins Strengths
Higgins had an outstanding two years at Iowa State. He had 140 receptions for 2,166 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 26 games. Furthermore, the talented wide receiver was part of an excellent 1-2 wide receiver punch last season. Additionally, he had 87 receptions for 1,183 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, setting career highs in every area.
The former Iowa State star reminded some scouts of Nico Collins, making his landing spot in the NFL Draft interesting. However, Higgins could also play in the slot, where veteran WR Christian Kirk is heading into the final year of his contract after being acquired by the Texans earlier this offseason. The rookie wide receiver has the size and strength to win in contested catches and downfield. Yet, he is also a capable route runner who can win at all three levels.
Jayden Higgins Weakness
While landing with an up-and-coming Houston offense is appealing, Higgins has no pathway to the No. 1 wide receiver role because of Collins. Furthermore, the Texans heavily leaned on Joe Mixon and the run game last year, limiting how much upside Stroud and the passing attack can offer to fantasy football managers. More importantly, Higgins wasn’t the only wide receiver drafted by the team.
Houston spent a third-round pick on Jaylin Noel, Higgins’ teammate at Iowa State. Noel is a talented player, totaling 146 receptions for 2,014 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over the past two years. Unfortunately, that means Higgins has significant competition from Noel, Kirk, and Dalton Schultz for targets behind Collins.
Jayden Higgins Fantasy Football Outlook in 2025
Fantasy players should monitor the Texans’ wide receiver competition at training camp this summer. Collins is locked into the No. 1 wide receiver role after having back-to-back outstanding seasons with Stroud under center. However, the two rookies and Kirk will battle it out for the other two starting roles.
Kirk will almost certainly win the starting slot role. He has been productive the past few years playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars when healthy. Therefore, the two former Iowa State stars will compete for the other outside role opposite Collins. While he isn’t guaranteed to win that role, Higgins should be favored, given his talent and draft capital.
Therefore, fantasy players should draft Higgins as a late-round pick in 2025 redraft leagues. Last season, Collins and Diggs were top 10 wide receivers in half-point PPR scoring over the first four weeks when both players were healthy. While Higgins won’t be that productive as a rookie, he could become a solid weekly starting option for fantasy players.
Jayden Higgins Dynasty Outlook
Higgins should be a mid-second-round pick in dynasty superflex rookie drafts. He should come off the board as the fifth wide receiver behind Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, and Emeka Egbuka, and as early as the 15th overall pick.
Houston has an up-and-coming offense with only one proven long-term piece in the passing game. If Higgins has a strong rookie year, his draft price in dynasty startup drafts will skyrocket this time next offseason. All things considered, Higgins has a chance to offer some real fantasy football both for 2025 and in dynasty leagues.
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