We have some considerable changes in Cincinnati with far-reaching fantasy football implications. News broke that star quarterback Joe Burrow has returned to practice, and the ripples are being felt throughout the fantasy community. Fantasy managers with Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins have to be feeling good.
Higgins is the most interesting among their big three of skill-position players. The WR2 on the depth chart, whose value is more than any other, could see an even bigger boost with Burrow. With his QB1 coming back, is now the time to capitalize on the hype and trade him for a big return?
Analysis
So far this season, Tee Higgins has been a high-end WR2 in season-long scoring. The trade for Joe Flacco has revitalized his campaign. In four games with Flacco under center, Higgins averages 4.8 catches for 80.8 yards and four total touchdowns. It certainly clears his numbers before that, when he was averaging 2.6 catches for 31.6 yards with two total scores across five games. He’s riding high into the bye week on the back of his 7/121/2 receiving line against the Bears.
It’s great timing to see both Higgins and Chase cooking as Burrow nears a return. Cincinnati’s playoff hopes are on life support, and if this team wants to make a charge for the division, it needs the offense firing on all cylinders.
Flacco can still sling the football. But Higgins’ upside increases considerably with a healthy Burrow under center. Given his hot recent play, is now the time to cash in the Higgins chips and sell high?
The verdict
If you get blown out of the water with a Higgins offer, he’s worth selling. But there’s a good chance he can produce like a WR1 for the rest of the season and put on a show in the playoffs against some porous defenses. The Bengals get the Ravens, Dolphins and Cardinals in Weeks 15-17 when the fantasy playoffs traditionally take place, so there’s plenty of upside with the star wideout. I’d hold on to Higgins and hope he can deliver the hardware.
