After a dominant 12-win season, sights for the Houston Texans are set for a breakout campaign in 2026, ending with a trip to the Super Bowl.
But which player is destined for a promising year in 2026 when the AFC South franchise returns to the field come Week 1 next September? Pro Football Focus has a candidate who could become a fixture in the league by the season's end.
With the offense looking to take the next step forward, PFF dubbed second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins as the top option to watch for in 2026. The Iowa State product put together a promising first season as a secondary option in the passing game, but now looks to take the next jump forward toward a 1,000-yard campaign.
"Higgins took a while to get going, but he brought his trademark brand of reliable football to Houston during the second half of his rookie season," PFF wrote. "From Week 10 through the divisional round, Higgins earned a 77.3 PFF receiving grade, tying him for 20th among qualified wide receivers. As expected when he was drafted, he displayed his excellent hands all season, dropping just one pass. Higgins should garner a heavier target share in 2026."
Jayden Higgins… The Texans really drafted a second Nico Collins pic.twitter.com/lraIoqiE8u
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) August 16, 2025
Last season, Higgins totaled a team-leading six touchdowns, along with 41 catches for 525 yards. With Pro Bowler Nico Collins missing two games, Higgins stepped up as the No. 1 option in both wins, including totaling a touchdown reception in the first quarter of Week 18's regular-season finale win over the Indianapolis Colts.
He posted five games with five or more targets in the second half of the season and had four games with at least 50 receiving yards. With Christian Kirk, who exploded onto the field in the postseason, expected to leave in free agency, Higgins' role could expand even further, alongside fellow Cyclones' teammate Jaylin Noel and veteran wideout Tank Dell.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: PFF names Texans' breakout candidate for 2026 on offense
