It’s been three weeks since fantasy football managers had access to an active Tee Higgins, and he was productive in that spot, posting eight catches for 110 yards in the win against the Buffalo Bills. Plenty has changed for the Cincinnati Bengals since that game — do we get to see how Higgins fits into the Joe Burrow-less offense this weekend?
Latest Injury Update on Tee Higgins
It was a hamstring injury that initially resulted in Higgins being sidelined, but a bulky ankle has also cropped up over the past week as the Bengals prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. The star receiver, however, was able to practice on Thursday, his first workout in over three weeks and a great sign for managers searching for answers at the receiver position.
To be clear, a single practice is just the first step. There is a recovery process that needs to take place that means just as much as his standing on a practice field does. That said, the fact that the team was willing to dress him this week and give him a chance to test the injuries is a step in the right direction.
Will Higgins Play This Week?
Editor’s note: Higgins is expected to play in Week 13, per Jay Morrison.
He said on Thursday that he is not concerned about either injury preventing him from returning to action on Monday night. Player-speak can’t be taken as fact, but all signs seem to point in the right direction for a return to action under the bright lights.
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Savvy fantasy managers will keep tabs on this situation, as it remains fluid given the extended absence and the potential for this injury to linger with time.
What Does This Mean for Higgins’ Fantasy Ranking?
Much like the Amari Cooper injury situation, Higgins being active for the Bengals and active for your fantasy team are two different things. While he has posted a pair of top-10 finishes this season, those performances came with Burrow under center.
Even while the QB situation was stable, Higgins’ fantasy value was anything but. Those two strong performances were helpful, but they were also his only top-40 finishes in his seven games played.
The risk/reward conversation makes Higgins a tough sell, and that is why he is sitting just outside of my top 40 this week. Not only is there risk within this Cincinnati offense, but the fact that you have to wait until Monday means you are forfeiting most of (if not all of) your viable replacement options.
Is there long-term hope for Higgins when it comes to your playoff run? Not in the scope of what you paid for him this summer. I have doubts about this passing game approaching anything close to league average, and the schedule does him no favors.
- Week 15 vs. MIN
- Week 16 at PIT
- Week 17 at KC
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense is certainly trending in the right direction, and the other two are more than capable of shutting down good offenses, let alone one struggling to find consistency. Higgins deserves to be rostered due to the potential we’ve seen him flash, but as things stand today, I have a hard time envisioning a week moving forward where I have him ranked as a startable fantasy option.
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