The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to get back on track in 2024 after injuries derailed their 2023 campaign. Quarterback Joe Burrow and some of his weapons were not consistently in the lineup, leading to an up-and-down campaign.
One of the players who dealt with injuries was wide receiver Tee Higgins. He played in only 12 games last season, setting career-lows in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns with 42, 656 and five.
Over at PFF, Nic Bodiford has identified Higgins as one of the riskiest players in the early portion of Fantasy Football drafts to avoid in 2024. His health, declining performance and competition for targets around him are all a detriment to being selected in the first six rounds.
“Higgins was correctly identified as one of five players to fade in 2023, finishing as a Weeks 1-17 back-end WR4 in both half-PPR and PPR scoring formats. He is available two rounds later as a high-end WR3 in the mid-to-late fifth round this year but remains one of the worst Rounds 1-6 fantasy football draft picks due to declining play, poor health and ascending young teammates. His 72.1 PFF overall grade in 2023 ranked 37th among 80 NFL wide receivers with at least 545 offensive snaps,” Bodiford wrote.
2023 continued the trend from 2022 when Higgins’ performance was not as efficient. His continued hamstring issues could already be catching up with him, as Bodiford noted that he has suffered five since the start of the 2018 season.
Even with youth on his side, things aren’t trending in the right direction. Seeking a long-term contract earlier this offseason, he wasn’t participating in the entire offseason program either.
Could those signs be a reason why the front office has avoided paying him a long-term deal? It could certainly be playing a part. He has shown signs of positive progression in the preseason, but as Bodiford shared, younger teammates have as well.
“Higgins has fared well in the preseason thus far, earning a wide receiver corps-high 77.2 PFF receiving grade, but Iosivas (76.2 PFF preseason-receiving grade) and Burton (77.0) are hot on his heels. Among 137 Power Five wide receivers with at least 55 targets in 2023, Burton’s 2.75 yards per route run tied for 15th,” Bodiford wrote.
This seems like a situation that is not worth getting involved in. The Cincinnati Bengals have a locked-in No. 1 in Ja’Marr Chase and if they don’t see Higgins as part of their long-term plans, they could opt for Iosivas or Burton to take on a larger role as the season rolls along.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here.
Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
