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Bengals drafts Tee Higgins with 33rd pick

Wide receiver Tee Higgins goes to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 33rd pick in the 2020 draft. We break down his fantasy football potential as a rookie and long term.

Clemson Tigers wide receiver Tee Higgins scores a touchdown in the College Football Playoff national championship game against the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tee Higgins will catch passes from No. 1 pick Joe Burrow in 2020 as the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the first pick of the second round.

The Clemson wideout notched 59 receptions for 1,167 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2019. He led his team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns while averaging 19.8 yards per catch. He hauled in 65.2 percent of his deep targets in last season, according to PFF. That was one of the highest marks in the country.

Scouting Report

Higgins’ 6’4” frame makes him ideal for jump ball situations. He has a nose for the end zone and scored on 20 percent of his 135 receptions in college. But he’s more than a possession receiver. He played all three receiver spots at Clemson and is an elite deep threat, despite his lack of top-notch speed. Expanding his route tree and being more precise could help him raise his upside.

Fantasy football impact

Rookie

Higgins will be an asset for the Bengals, but he might end up being a WR3 in year one. Cincinnati has a stud in A.J. Green to headline the receiving corps, and right now it seems like Tyler Boyd will be the second option after notching his first 1,000 yard season in 2019. Higgins probably won’t be a top 50 fantasy wideout unless either of the players ahead of him suffers a significant injury.

Long-term

Higgins is in no man’s land between being a WR2 and WR3 right now, but has the makings of a top target. His past touchdown production bodes well for his success at the next level. He could be a top 10 guy with an underwhelming receiving corps around him. If Higgins has a strong supporting cast in his team’s receiving corps, he might fall somewhere between 15th and 20th in standard leagues at his best.