We have another 2025 rookie wide receiver debate on the docket for you today, as we’ll be comparing Jalen Royals and Jayden Higgins for dynasty purposes to determine which prospect is the better bet. These two X receivers are two of my favorite values at this point in the offseason, and I’m excited to bring you their resumes and get you familiar with their games. At this point, you know the deal – we’ll start with analytics, then dive into my findings from a film perspective.
Jalen Royals
Jalen Royals has been an integral part of the Utah State offense for the past two seasons, virtually coming out of nowhere as a true junior in 2023. Many Dynasty players assume Royals is an early-declare, but that’s not the case. He actually began his career at Georgia Military College in 2021, posting a modest seven receptions for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Following his true freshman campaign, Royals transferred to Utah State, where he appeared in 12 games for the Aggies but recorded no stats in 2022. Heading into the 2023 season, nobody knew who this guy was, even in Devy and C2C circles. But Royals was able to put his name on the map with a monster junior year, finishing the season with 99 targets, 70 receptions, 1,084 yards, and 15 touchdowns. But even after this season, Royals was seen more as just a C2C asset than a future NFL producer. This is a pass-heavy Aggie team, which helped to inflate Royals’ numbers a bit. From an efficient standpoint, he was just okay in 2023, posting a target rate (TPRR) of 20.2% and 2.21 yards per route run (YPRR).
As a senior, Royals was both highly productive and efficient and was atop the FBS in most receiving metrics early in the season. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury in October that sidelined him for the remainder of the season, robbing us of some potentially eye-popping numbers. Royals posted a TPRR of 28.9% and a YPRR of 3.00 in 2024, both elite marks. He had just three drops for a drop rate of 5.2% and an incredible 7.9 yards after catch per reception (YAC/REC). Analytically, Royals was as good as anyone in this draft class.
Jayden Higgins
Like Royals, Jayden Higgins is also a four-year player, but he saw action right away as a freshman. Higgins began his career at Eastern Kentucky, playing his first two seasons there and combining for 141 targets, 87 receptions, 1,141 yards, and 13 touchdowns in the span. After finding some success for the Colonels, Higgins transferred to Iowa State and picked up right where he left off. As a junior, he led the team in receiving yards, nearly hitting the 1k mark on the year. This year, Jayden had the best season of his career by a large margin, posting 129 targets, 87 receptions, 1,185 yards, and nine touchdowns. He did all this while playing alongside another excellent wide receiver and 2025 NFL prospect, Jaylin Noel. Higgins and Noel were one of the best wide receiver duos in the country in 2024, both passing 1,000 receiving yards and leading the Cyclones to an 11-3 record.
So how does Higgins’ 2024 metrics measure up against Royals? Higgins had almost identical TPRR numbers, posting 29.0% on the year. His YPRR was slightly worse but in the same ballpark, at 2.66. Higgins had only two drops and a drop rate of 2.2% (his career drop rate was just 3.0%), and he was much less of a YAC threat, with 3.8 YAC/REC. Overall, these young men posted tremendous numbers and were highly efficient.
Film
Jalen Royals’ biggest strengths are his YAC ability and his speed. He has real breakaway speed and shows impressive burst off the line. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up running a sub-4.40 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. He’s a physical receiver with the ball in his hands, willing and able to fight through arm tackles for an extra couple of yards. Royals looks like a savvy route runner, using head movements to get the defender to open his hips, allowing Royals to get some separation. Overall, I would say he’s an average separator and average in contested-catch situations. He’s a bit smaller for an X receiver, standing at 6″ 0″ and 205 lbs. Royals was used at all levels of the field. I could see him transitioning into more of a flanker or slot guy at the next level.
Jayden Higgins is more of your prototypical X receiver, listed at 6’4″ and 215 lbs. He doesn’t have the same burst or long speed that Royals has, but I believe he has stronger hands and is the more physical receiver in congested areas. Higgins does show some manipulation in his breaks, but he isn’t going to be someone who creates a ton of separation from his defenders. His ball skills and body control are elite, and this is where he’s going to win at the NFL level. Higgins is a hands-fighter and was able to win with physicality at the college level. I believe he’s an above-average athlete, but don’t expect him to test as well as Jalen Royals.
And the Winner is…
Can I pick both? I really like both prospects and expect to have a healthy bag of each in Dynasty, assuming they don’t get pushed up rookie draft boards too far. I think an argument could be made that Royals has the higher ceiling, given his versatility and explosive playstyle. However, I believe their ceilings are similar, and I find Higgins to be a significantly safer prospect. He’s the bigger, stronger receiver who proved it from an earlier age, and continued to prove it alongside another NFL wide receiver. Both players should be early Day 2 draft picks and early-to-mid second-round rookie picks in Superflex TEP formats. If they are valued similarly in Dynasty come rookie draft time, I’ll likely lean with Higgins, but I’m going to make sure I have at least a couple shares of Royals as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you got some valuable information you can use for your fantasy team! If you’d like additional insight into Dynasty Football news and analysis, please follow me on Twitter at @jim_DFF. Until next time, keep grinding out there, DFF family! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
