Higgins will be a polarizing Fantasy option this season given his contract situation, his injury-plagued 2023 campaign, and concerns over Joe Burrow's injury status. But as long as he's ready for Week 1, Higgins should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and he's worth drafting as early as Round 3 and no later than Round 5. In June, Higgins signed the franchise tag placed on him in February, which means he should report for training camp on time. He will make $21.8 million on the one-year tag, and hopefully the motivation of a new contract will help improve his Fantasy stock. That said, he still has plenty to prove, including putting 2023 behind him when he played just 12 games and averaged a career-low 11.5 PPR points per game. It didn't help that Burrow missed the final seven games of the season with a wrist injury, but Higgins still had four games with at least 19 PPR points. Higgins also scored at least 13.8 PPR points per game in each of the previous two seasons, and he's capable of reaching that level of production again. Keep an eye on Higgins heading into training camp, and hopefully he's ready to put up a big season with potentially a lot of money on the line.
Higgins (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game versus the Patriots.
After being added to the Bengals' injury report Thursday as limited with a hamstring issue, Higgins didn't practice Friday and was deemed doubtful for Sunday's contest. With Higgins unavailable, some combination of Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones and Jermaine Burton are positioned to see added work versus New England alongside Ja'Marr Chase (illness), who is listed as active, but figures to have his Week 1 workload somewhat limited. Higgins will target a potential return to action Sept. 15 against the Chiefs.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Status in doubt for Week 1
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Higgins (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Patriots.
Higgins made an appearance on the Bengals' Week 1 injury report Thursday as limited due to a hamstring issue, which didn't allow him to practice at all Friday, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Coach Zac Taylor told Geoff Hobson of the team's official site, "We'll see," when asked about the status of Higgins and fellow WR Ja'Marr Chase (non-injury related/rest) for Sunday's contest. With Higgins unlikely to suit up and Chase listed as questionable, there's a chance QB Joe Burrow will be without his top two options at the position this weekend. In such a scenario, Andrei Iosivas and rookie Jermaine Burton would be thrust into larger roles in Cincinnati's offense.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not seen at walkthrough
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Higgins (hamstring) wasn't spotted during the initial stage of Friday's walkthrough, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Higgins was added to the Bengals' Week 1 injury report after being limited Thursday by a hamstring issue. Friday's official practice/injury report will provide further context with regard to his status, but either way this is a situation to monitor, especially given the uncertainty surrounding fellow WR Ja'Marr Chase ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: WRs to Start
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Even though Ja'Marr Chase should play in Week 1 despite his contract situation, Higgins should still have the chance for a big game against the Patriots. I like Higgins as a top-20 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. Higgins has been performing like the No. 1 option for Joe Burrow while Chase was out, and that rapport should be on display in this matchup at home. New England's pass rush should be non-existent, and Burrow should have plenty of time to lean on Higgins and Chase in this game.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Shows up on injury report
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Higgins (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Higgins didn't show any notable signs of injury during his post-practice locker room availability, per Dehner, but it looks like a hamstring issue is at least slightly bothering him ahead of Sunday's regular-season opener against the Patriots. Then again, with Ja'Marr Chase still limited amid an ongoing contract dispute, the Bengals could simply be taking a cautious approach to the health of Higgins ahead of Week 1 action. Friday's final practice/injury report of the week will reveal whether he heads into the weekend with a designation.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not suiting up Thursday
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Higgins isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Colts, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Higgins thus will make just one appearance during exhibition season, having hauled in two of three targets for 19 yards and a touchdown from QB Joe Burrow back in preseason Week 1 versus the Buccaneers. Fellow WR Ja'Marr Chase returned to the Bengals' facility Monday after he was away from the team for most of the previous week due to his ongoing contract dispute. It doesn't seem likely that the situation will linger into the regular season, but if it does, Higgins would be the clear-cut top pass catcher in Cincinnati's offense for as long as Chase doesn't suit up.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not likely to play
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Higgins is unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Chicago, as the Bengals plan to rest most of their starters, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Higgins played in the preseason opener against Tampa Bay last Saturday and caught two of three targets for 19 yards and a TD on his only drive (with the lone incompletion being a near-miss on a deep ball into double coverage in the end zone). He's been healthy all summer after battling hamstring injuries for much of last season, set to play out 2024 under a franchise tag for $21.8 million. Ja'Marr Chase, meanwhile, still hasn't practiced this summer amidst a contract dispute.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Won't sign extension
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Higgins and the Bengals will not agree to a contract extension by Monday's deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Higgins signed his franchise tag in mid-June and will play on that tag this year before likely becoming a free agent in the 2025 offseason. Per Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site, it's possible the Bengals could franchise-tag Higgins again or work on a tag-and-trade scenario, though it's likely that this will be his final season as a Bengal. Higgins missed five games last season due to injuries but racked up over 1,000 receiving yards in both of the prior two campaigns.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not at OTAs, as expected
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Higgins and teammate Ja'Marr Chase are not present at voluntary OTAs on Tuesday, Ben Baby of ESPN reports.
Higgins still hasn't signed the franchise tag Cincinnati placed on him back in February, and with Chase also eligible for an extension, both of the Bengals' top wideouts appear to be vying for new deals. Until Higgins signs the franchise tag, he won't be eligible to report for organized team activities. He formally requested a trade after having the franchise tag placed on him but has since indicated he anticipates suiting up for the Bengals for the 2024 season, and coach Zac Taylor plainly stated that he's not worried about the absence of either Higgins or Chase at this time.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not expected for start of OTAs
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Higgins is not expected to sign his franchise tender by the end of the week, which will make him ineligible to report in time for the start of OTAs next week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Higgins formally requested a trade from Cincinnati after the team placed the franchise tag on him prior to free agency. He appeared to have a change of heart in April, as the wideout hinted that he anticipated playing for the Bengals in 2024 at his youth camp, per Ben Baby of ESPN.com. It remains to be seen if that will occur via the franchise tag or the long-term extension the pass catcher has been seeking. As of now, it looks like this conflict will linger into OTAs.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Expected to receive franchise tag
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The Bengals informed Higgins (hamstring) on Friday that he will receive the franchise tag, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
With the tag deadline still a week away, the Bengals have skipped negotiations for a long-term deal by letting Higgins know he will be franchised. A new contract still is a possibility, but this is apparently the most likely route as of now. The 25-year-old battled injuries during his fourth season in Cincinnati en route to career lows in yards (656) and touchdowns (five) in 12 games.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Won't play Sunday
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Higgins (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's season finale against the Browns.
With the Bengals eliminated from playoff contention, Higgins will sit this one out, thus finishing his 2023 campaign with 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns on 76 targets in 12 games. The 2020 second-rounder is eligible for free agency this offseason and his contract situation with the franchise will be something to monitor in the coming months. In his absence Sunday, added Week 18 snaps alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd will be available for Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones and Stanley Morgan.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Misses another practice
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Higgins (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice Thursday.
Higgins also didn't practice Wednesday, so he'll presumably need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid approaching Sunday's game against the Browns with an injury designation. On the plus side for the Bengals' Week 18 wideout corps, Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) participated fully in Thursday's practice.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Misses practice Wednesday
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Higgins (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Baby previously noted that both Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) were spotted in uniform stretching prior to the session, but Higgins was ultimately deemed a non-participant, while Chase was a limited participant. Higgins now has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's season finale against the Browns, and he'll presumably need to upgrade to full activity by Friday in order to avoid a Week 18 injury designation.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Limited by injury in Week 17
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Higgins recorded one reception on two targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 25-17 loss to the Chiefs.
Higgins made a 19-yard reception on the Bengals' first possession, but he was held out of the game for a lengthy period of time due to a hamstring injury. While he was able to re-enter the contest, it's doubtful he was playing at close to full health. That puts him in a questionable position to take the field in a Week 18 matchup against the Browns, particularly with the Bengals eliminated from playoff contention.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Back in Sunday's game
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Higgins (hamstring) has returned to Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Higgins previously left the contest with a left hamstring injury, but the wideout was able to return to action in the third quarter. Prior to his earlier departure versus Kansas City, Higgins had caught his only target for 19 yards.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Injures hamstring Sunday
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Higgins was forced out of Sunday's game against the Chiefs with a left hamstring injury.
Prior to his exit from the contest, Higgins caught his only target for 19 yards. In his absence, Tyler Boyd, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin and Charlie Jones are available to handle wide receiver snaps behind top option Ja'Marr Chase.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Scores 80-yard TD in loss
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Higgins caught five of eight targets for 140 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 34-11 loss to the Steelers.
Higgins had just two targets in the first half. He caught one for a 23-yard gain, and the other fell incomplete in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the 5-yard line. Higgins' third target came on Cincinnati's first offensive play after halftime, and he took it to the house for an 80-yard touchdown. That was the start of a strong second half from Higgins, which was too little, too late for the Bengals, who dropped to 8-7 heading into a difficult Week 16 road matchup against the Chiefs. It remains to be seen if Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) will be available to reclaim his starting role opposite Higgins in Kansas City after missing Saturday's loss.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Jake Browning came alive last week because he started pelting Higgins with targets, pushing his passing metrics to new season-highs while Higgins himself reaped a near-30% target share in the fourth quarter and overtime (some of that with Ja'Marr Chase on the field). Chase is out for at least one game, paving the way for Higgins to be the Bengals' top receiver. While it's possible, if not likely, for Joey Porter Jr. to shadow Higgins in coverage, it's definite that the Steelers will start two new safeties. Higgins is also the big-bodied type of receiver who can pull down contested catches against anybody. Really it's the opportunity to see a ton of targets from a better-than-expected quarterback that gives Higgins appeal as a WR2 ahead of Terry McLaurin, Zay Flowers and any Steelers WR.
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Bengals' Tee Higgins: WRs to Start
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If Higgins wants to get a big contract this offseason, then this is a great week to prove himself as an impending free agent. With Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) not expected to play in Week 16 at Pittsburgh, Higgins can show he's an alpha receiver with a strong outing as the No. 1 guy. He looked the part in Week 15 against Minnesota in the game where Chase was injured with four catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets. He now has five games this season with at least eight targets, and he scored at least 19 PPR points in three of them. The Steelers secondary is beat up with both safeties out in Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Domatnae Kazee (suspension), and Jake Browning should lean on Higgins in this matchup. He's worth starting as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
