It was a tough week on the field for the Cincinnati Bengals, as they lost 24-3 in the opener to the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for only 82 yards, and it looked like the lack of work in the preseason with his receivers played a role in the game.
It was an especially rough day for fantasy football managers of Tee Higgins. The former Clemson star had zero catches. It was only the second game in his career where he was held without a catch, with the other being the final game of the 2020 season.
Even though it was only one week, the question has to be asked: Is it time to go in a different direction?
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Should Fantasy Football Managers Trade Tee Higgins?
When you see the zeros in the box score, you may get a little worried about whether or not you should keep Higgins. However, dig a little bit deeper into the box score, and there is definitely a sign that Higgins will be having much better games in the future.
Tee Higgins makes a spectacular catch with two defenders around him! #RuleTheJungle
📺: #BALvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/tEfmNEp7D5— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2021
In the loss to the Browns, Higgins had eight targets. Last season, he had 109 targets in 14 regular season games, which is an average of 7.8.
So, while it was a tough first game for Higgins, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic moving forward.
The fact he got that many targets is big. Burrow missed most of the offseason with a calf injury, and their timing was off last Sunday. The weather in Cleveland was also miserable, as many of Burrow’s missed throws were sailing on him.
However, if you’re still not convinced and want to get rid of Higgins, what type of return should you be looking for?
What Should Fantasy Managers Look To Acquire When Trading Higgins?
While it is still way too early to be giving up on a wide receiver of Higgins’ ability, if you do decide to trade him, there should be a nice haul coming back.
Last season, Higgins finished 20th in receiving yards (1,029 yards) and 29th in catches (74). Those are numbers that make him a viable No. 2 fantasy option but also a great flex option.
MORE: 2023 WR Fantasy Football Rankings
If you are trading him, then you have to be getting someone back who is capable of winning you a week. Higgins had 11 games of at least 10.7 PPR points, including five games with at least 19.1.
Simply put, to trade Higgins off one bad week is a low-reward, high-risk move right now. The Bengals, despite the performance on Sunday, should still be one of the very best teams in the AFC.
You’re not going to get the value for Higgins, who, on a bunch of other teams in the NFL, would be the primary option. Take a deep breath, realize it is only the second week of the season, and enjoy the Bengals offense getting back to being the explosive group we know it is.