Higgins is clearly a big part of the Bengals passing game, but does he have a big enough job to warrant a top-30 pick in Fantasy drafts? Last year, Higgins averaged 13.8 PPR points per game (19th best among receivers) and logged six games with 15-plus Fantasy points and another four with 13-to-14 Fantasy points. That underwhelming consistency is only further concerning when you learn two of the six with 15-plus and two more of the 13-14 point variety came when teammate Ja'Marr Chase was inactive. In fact, since Chase entered the NFL in 2021, Higgins has 10 games with 15-plus PPR points when the two have played together. This doesn't make Higgins a bad Fantasy WR, but it does make reaching for him on Draft Day a potentially bad decision. He's worthy of a mid-Round 3 pick in PPR and a late Round 3 pick in non-PPR.
Higgins brought in two of four targets for 72 yards in the Bengals' 34-14 win over the Colts on Sunday.
Higgins actually finished second on the Bengals in receiving yards and tied for first in targets despite his modest number of catches. The talented fourth-year pro is still developing his chemistry with fill-in quarterback Jake Browning, but Higgins' day would have been a bit better had he not wiped out his own touchdown grab -- on a pass from AJ McCarron, who'd come in for a handful of plays when Browning was experiencing cramps -- by pushing off his defender. Higgins next sets his sights on the Vikings in a key Week 15 home matchup on Saturday afternoon.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: WRs to Sit
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In his first game back in Week 13 at Jacksonville after missing three outings with a hamstring injury, Higgins had three catches for 36 yards on three targets. We'll see if things improve in Week 14 against the Colts, but I would only start Ja'Marr Chase in the Bengals passing game right now. Even though Jake Browning looked better against the Jaguars than he did against the Steelers in Week 12, it's still tough to expect him to support two receivers to a high level. And Higgins, even with Joe Burrow (wrist) this season, struggled with just three games with double digits in PPR and one game with a touchdown. Higgins is only worth starting in three-receiver leagues.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Returns to practice Thursday
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Higgins (hamstring) was on the field in full uniform for Thursday's practice, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Higgins hadn't practiced in any capacity since Nov. 8, when he was listed as a limited participant for that session before being listed on the injury report as a non-participant for the Bengals' next eight practices. He's missed three straight games along the way, but after getting back on the field Thursday, Higgins is taking a step toward a potential return to action this Monday against the Jaguars. The extent of Higgins' practice participation will be revealed later Thursday, but if he's able to take full reps at some point within the next three days, he should get the green light to play Week 13. If available in Jacksonville, Higgins will be on the receiving end of passes from new starting quarterback Jake Browning for the first time, as Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury Week 11 while Higgins was sidelined.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: May return in Week 13
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Coach Zac Taylor said that Higgins (hamstring) has a chance to return to action next Monday at Jacksonville, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I think so," Taylor relayed. "We'll see what we can get out of him this week as it goes."
Higgins has missed three games since hurting his hamstring in a Nov. 8 practice. The Bengals won't reconvene for practice until Thursday, at which point Higgins could take the first step toward playing again. Until that happens, Trenton Irwin will continue to see an increased role alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd in the team's passing game.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not seen at Friday's practice
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Higgins (hamstring) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Higgins didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday either, which clouds his status for Sunday's game against the Steelers. If the wideout is unavailable for a third straight game this weekend, Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Trenton Irwin would be in line to lead the Bengals' receiver corps.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Fails to practice Wednesday
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Higgins (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Head coach Zac Taylor said that some of the Bengals injured players were improving and would return to practice Wednesday. Higgins apparently won't be among that group and thus appears in danger of missing a third straight game when the Bengals face the Steelers on Sunday. He's unlikely to put up his typical numbers whenever he gets healthy, as the Bengals are stuck with Jake Browning under center after Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury during last Thursday's loss at Baltimore.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Won't play versus Texans
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Head coach Zac Taylor said Friday that Higgins (hamstring) won't play Sunday against the Texans, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
With Higgins out and Ja'Marr Chase dealing with a back issue ahead of Sunday's contest, look for Tyler Boyd and Trenton Irwin to see added opportunities at receiver this weekend. When Higgins was sidelined by a rib injury Week 5, Irwin stepped into an expanded role behind Chase and caught eight passes on 10 targets for 60 yards, while Boyd logged a 6-39-0 receiving line on seven targets. Higgins' next opportunity to play will arrive this coming Thursday versus the Ravens, but on a short week, he's far from a lock to return to the lineup for that contest.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Higgins (hamstring) didn't participate in practice Thursday, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Higgins was listed as a limited participant Wednesday, but the wide receiver's lack of activity Thursday suggests that he's no lock to be available Sunday against the Texans. However, a return to practice Friday in any capacity, would brighten Higgins' chances of suiting up this weekend. On the plus side for the Bengals, Ja'Marr Chase (back) -- who didn't practice Wednesday -- was able to get some work in Thursday.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Deemed limited Wednesday
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Higgins was listed as a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.
Higgins' only prior appearances on the injury report this season were the result of a fractured rib he sustained Week 4, making it unclear if his listed hamstring injury is something he picked up in the Week 9 win over the Bills or during Wednesday's practice. Either way, Higgins' status is now worth monitoring in advance of Sunday's game against the Texans, especially with fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase having missed Wednesday's session due to a back injury.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: First 100-yard game of 2023
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Higgins caught eight of nine targets for 110 yards in Sunday's 24-18 win over the Bills.
Higgins finished as the Bengals' leading receiver while also recording his first game with 100 or more receiving yards this season. The 24-year-old experienced a steep drop in production this year, but a large part of that was tied to Joe Burrow's early-season struggles from a calf injury out of camp. Now that his quarterback has returned to form in recent weeks, we have seen Higgins follow suit with 13 receptions for 179 yards in his last two contests. A third consecutive strong outing against the Texans next Sunday would help restore some of the luster that was lost from Higgins' star earlier this season.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Solid showing in win
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Higgins brought in five of six targets for 69 yards in the Bengals' 31-17 win over the 49ers on Sunday.
Higgins finished second in receptions, receiving yards and targets to Ja'Marr Chase, with his catch and yardage totals also serving as his second-highest totals of the campaign. The fourth-year receiver's first half of the season has been marred by injury and some limited opportunity, but perhaps his best showing since Week 2 will propel him to even better numbers in a Week 9 home showdown against the Bills next Sunday night.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Expected to return
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Higgins (rib), who is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, is expected to play, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Higgins missed the Bengals' Week 5 win over the Cardinals with a fractured rib, but he turned in a pair of limited practices this week before logging a full session Friday. He thus appears to be trending in the right direction to play, but his status won't become official until the Bengals release their inactive list 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Considered game-time decision
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Higgins (ribs) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks and is viewed as a game-time call for the contest, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Per Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer, coach Zac Taylor indicated that things appear "positive" regarding Higgins' status, but it looks like the team will wait until Sunday before making a final call on the wideout's availability. Fortunately for those considering Higgins in Week 6 fantasy lineups, the Bengals face the Seahawks at 1:00 ET on Sunday.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Still limited at practice
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Higgins (ribs) remained a limited participant at practice Thursday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Higgins, who was forced out of the Bengals' Week 4 loss to the Titans with a rib fracture and was then inactive for the team's Week 5 win over Arizona, has now logged consecutive practices ahead of Sunday's game against the Seahawks. Per Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Higgins said Thursday that it's looking "promising" for him to play against Seattle, but unless the wideout practices fully Friday, he'll likely draw an injury designation.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not expected to play Sunday
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Higgins (ribs) remains listed as questionable but isn't expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Higgins looks poised to miss at least one game due to a rib fracture suffered in the Week 4 loss to the Titans. His availability, or lack thereof, should be made official roughly 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, when Cincinnati releases its inactive list. If Higgins indeed can't go, Tyler Boyd will stand to step into the No. 2 wideout role alongside Ja'Marr Chase, while Trenton Irwin will likely operate as the No. 3 man.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Status up in air for Sunday
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Higgins (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Arizona.
Higgins was forced out of Week 4 action at Tennessee due to what was eventually termed a rib fracture. Coach Zac Taylor called Higgins day-to-day afterward, per Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site, and the wide receiver was only able to muster one limited session (Friday) this week. The Bengals kick off Sunday's game at 4:05 p.m. ET, meaning Higgins' availability will be unveiled about 90 minutes prior. If Higgins is not 100 percent or out this weekend, Tyler Boyd stands to benefit most alongside Ja'Marr Chase, with Trenton Irwin likely taking on extra snaps as a fill-in No. 3 receiver.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Big rebound in Week 2
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Higgins had eight catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' Week 12 loss to the Ravens.
After getting shut out last week, Higgins led the Bengals' receiving corps in catches, yards and targets, taking advantage of the absence of the Ravens' Marlon Humphrey. Higgins and the Bengals next face the Rams on Monday night.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: No catches in season opener
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Higgins finished without a catch on eight targets in Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Browns.
After failing to work out a contract extension with the Bengals prior to the season, Higgins started this potential contract year with a goose egg. Higgins was blanked on three first-half targets as Joe Burrow threw for just 36 yards and the Bengals took a 10-0 deficit into the locker room. Things didn't get any better after halftime, as Burrow finished with just 82 yards and Higgins remained catch-less. Higgins topped 1,000 yards in each of the previous two seasons, so he's likely to shake off this clunker in Week 2 against the Ravens.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Back practicing
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Higgins returned to practice Wednesday with a compression sleeve on his right leg, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Higgins is back on the field in full pads after an awkward landing that occurred Monday. Despite the compression sleeve, there are no indications at this point that the 2020 second-round pick is still dealing with any lingering injury. It's also possible that some of Higgins' precautionary absences are related to the mutual hope between he and Cincinnati that a long-term extension can be worked out prior to the start of the regular season.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Present for voluntary workouts
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Higgins took part in the Bengals' voluntary offseason workout Wednesday, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Prominent players in contract years often skip the voluntary portions of offseason programs and sometimes the mandatory parts as well. Higgins' decision to do otherwise in the final year of his rookie deal suggests he's optimistic about signing an extension or doesn't mind playing out the season without one. He's been mentioned in trade rumors for a while due to the expectation of quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja'Marr Chase signing extensions that take up a big chunk of Cincinnati's budget, but it wouldn't be all that complicated for the Bengals to keep all three players, especially if they're willing to backload the cap hits and/or make sacrifices on the defensive side of the ball.
