Football Outsiders ranks Rashard Higgins as 6th best WR of 2016 class

If it’s actually true that numbers don’t lie, then Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins might just have himself a great NFL career. After PFF ranked Higgins as the top non power 5 receiver going into the 2016 NFL Draft, Football Outsiders has also ranked Higgins highly in their wide receiver rankings.

Higgins ranks as the sixth best wideout of the class, ahead of much more hyped prospects like Michel Thomas of Ohio State, Josh Doctson of TCU, and Sterling Shepard of Oklahoma. According to Football Outsiders “Playmaker Score,” Higgins was very close to their 5th ranked WR in the class, and the consensus No. 1 player for most scouts, as well as their analyst Laquan Treadwell.

Here’s the link and what Football Outsiders had to say specifically about Higgins:

“Historically, wide receivers from lesser Division I conferences have fared no worse than their counterparts from the Power 5, and Higgins put up great numbers as a sophomore that reveal his potential: 96 receptions for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns. Higgins, however, is far from guaranteed to break out. Higgins has a similar projection to Antonio Brown, who became a star despite being drafted in the sixth round, but is also similar to players such as Dante Ridgeway, Dez White, and Jarett Dillard, who all had strong numbers in college but did not realize their potential in the NFL.”

Not just his statistical output but also the fact that Higgins performed so well as only a sophomore seems to be earning him a lot of interest form the advanced stats community. This could lead to him being taken higher then expected by a team with a heavy statistical focus like the Cleveland Browns new regime. Football Outsiders project Higgins to go between the second and third rounds. Despite the lack of elite size and speed there are still some who are able to see a bright future in the Rams former star.

Read our full NFL Draft profile on “Hollywood” Higgins here before he becomes the newest “Next Level Ram.”