Jayden Higgins vs Michael Pittman: Who Should You Start?
Jayden Higgins and Michael Pittman are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jayden Higgins averaged 6.4 PPG across 17 games with the Houston Texans, while Michael Pittman posted 9.6 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A 3.2-PPG gap gives Michael Pittman the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. Michael Pittman saw 111 targets in 2025, while Jayden Higgins drew 68. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Michael Pittman, even in weeks where Jayden Higgins posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: Jayden Higgins is off Week 14 and Michael Pittman Week 9. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
