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Dynasty Prospect Profile: Rashard Higgins

Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State

Height: 6’1

Weight: 196

Age: 21.5

Combine results:

(percentile rank among all WRs at the Combine since 1999, courtesy of mockdraftable.com):

40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds (11th percentile)

Vertical: 32” (9th percentile)

Broad: 9’8 (21st percentile)

3-cone: DNP

20-yard shuttle: DNP

College career:

Higgins made an immediate impact as a 19-year-old true freshman in 2013. His 68 catches and 837 receiving yards were team highs, and he tied for the team lead with 6 scores.

Higgins’ 2014 season is perhaps the most impressive by any WR in this draft class. He edged out Amari Cooper to lead the entire nation in receiving yards and TDs. Higgins also ranked 10th in catches -- all despite missing 1 game with a shoulder injury. Higgins topped 100 yards in 10 of 12 games and tallied 98 in another. He hit pay dirt in 9 of 12 outings.

Higgins was part of a prolific Colorado State passing game in 2014 that finished 9th in passing yards and 13th in TDs. But he carried the attack, accounting for 33.6% of the team’s receptions, 41.9% of the yards and 50% of the TDs. He was named a consensus first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top WR) alongside Cooper and Kevin White — a pair of top 7 picks in that spring’s NFL Draft.

That all made Higgins’ 2015 campaign feel a bit disappointing. Under a new coaching staff and with a new QB, Colorado State sunk to 56th in passing yards and 41st in TDs. Higgins also missed 1 game and lots of practice time with hamstring, foot and groin injuries.

Still, he easily paced the team in catches, yards and TDs. His market share numbers weren’t quite as high as in 2014 but were still impressive: 32.2% of the receptions, 35.8% of the yards and 33% of the TDs. He left as the school’s all-time leader in career receptions (238), yards (3,643) and TDs (31).

Film study:

Courtesy of DraftBreakdown.com

Games watched: Air Force (2014), Colorado, Boise State, UNLV, Nevada

There’s no doubt that the changes in coaching staff and QB played a big part in the drop in Higgins’ production from 2014 to 2015. He benefited from being the focal point of a high-flying offense with a reliable QB as a sophomore. This past year, poor QB play cost him a ton of yards and at least a few TDs.

But that also highlights a fact of Higgins’ game: He’s not a strong creator. He’s not going to make guys miss to turn a short screen into a big gain. And he doesn’t have the vertical explosion to come down with high, jump-ball type throws.

RASHARD HIGGINS WR #82 Colorado State Rams vs UNLV

Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) WR vs Nevada (2015)

On downfield patterns that rely largely on acceleration and speed, Higgins creates very little separation. He shows nice concentration on this catch, but the play is more the result of a perfect throw than Higgins’ ability to make room for himself.

Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) vs. Air Force (2014)

What Higgins does bring to the table is crisp route-running and reliable hands. He understands how to set up his defender and makes quick, hard cuts. This CB has inside leverage, but Higgins is still able to get open on a slant:

Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) vs. Air Force (2014)

Higgins dropped just 11 of 171 catchable targets over the past 2 seasons, according to Pro Football Focus — a solid 6.4% drop rate. He displays excellent concentration and strong hands to make catches away from his body.

Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) vs. Air Force (2014)

Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) WR vs Nevada (2015)

Fantasy potential:

Higgins is a classic case of elite production vs. subpar measurables. And his film falls smack dab in the middle.

He’s not going to win with athleticism or size at the next level. On top of finishing in the 21st percentile or worse in the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad, he’s also in the 35th percentile in height and 36th in weight.

The question, then, is whether Higgins’ technical prowess will be enough for him to succeed as a pro. He’s been compared to Seattle’s Tyler Lockett because of his refined route-running, but Lockett is in the 72nd percentile in SPARQ (athleticism) score. Higgins is in the 2nd.

It’s rare for a guy that unathletic to emerge as a significant fantasy asset. Higgins’ hands and route-running ability give him a shot, but he’ll need a favorable landing spot. Even then, it’s difficult to see him producing as anything more than a WR3.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.