DKNetwork Logo DKNetwork Logo
Is Mike Gesicki a must-start if Tee Higgins sits in Week 9?

Is Mike Gesicki a must-start if Tee Higgins sits in Week 9?

DraftKings Fantasy Advice NFL NFL DFS DFS Rail

Published:

By: Alex Hunter

Higgins ($6,400; quad) missed last week’s loss to the Eagles and the wideout has yet to practice this week as of Wednesday. Higgins is trending towards missing Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders, which would mark his fourth missed contest of the season.

With Higgins inactive this season, Gesicki ($3,100) has been the primary beneficiary for the Bengals. This past Sunday, the tight end hauled in seven of his eight targets for 73 yards vs. Philadelphia, bringing Gesicki’s average up to 12.7 FPTS per game for the three contests Higgins has missed this season.

In those tilts, Gesicki’s garnered a target on a team-best 34% of his routes, including three redzone targets. His route rate hasn’t increased, remaining at 53%, but Gesicki’s target per route usage is too much of an upgrade from his usual to ignore. In the games that Higgins has been active for this season, Gesicki has seen far fewer looks, obtaining a target on only 9% of his routes.

The Raiders are a subpar matchup – they are allowing the ninth-fewest yards per pass this season (6.3) – but Gesicki will be a solid starter for season-long leagues and DFS if Higgins remains unavailable this Sunday.

On the DraftKings Sportsbook, the Bengals are a seven-point favorite over Las Vegas.

The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.