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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins took a major step forward in 2021, forming a strong rapport with Joe Burrow while emerging as a fantastic complement to rookie sensation Ja'Marr Chase. However, as the 2022 season opener inches nearer, an injury has threatened Higgins' availability.
Higgins underwent shoulder surgery this past offseason and did not play in the preseason. Although his status is trending up, the threat of him missing some time shouldn't be ignored.
Will he play in Week 1? What is his fantasy outlook for this coming week?
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Will Tee Higgins Play In Week 1 for Fantasy Football?
As mentioned, Higgins sat out the entire preseason and was quite limited during practice throughout the duration of training camp. However, it appears his absence was merely a precaution. Higgins was a full participant on Monday as the Bengals began to gear up for their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What Is Tee Higgins' 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook?
Higgins exceeded expectations in 2021, turning 110 targets into 74 catches, 1,091 yards, and six touchdowns. He averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game and was the WR11 over the period from Week 7 to Week 18.
He averaged 0.62 targets per game and 0.33 more targets per game than Chase, but he also missed more time than the rookie while finishing with fewer yards and touchdowns. Still, if Higgins can log a full season and increase his productivity in the red zone, it's not unreasonable to think that he could be the best fantasy receiver on the Bengals. Undoubtedly, the two will both be quite productive in 2022, though Higgins might be the better investment at his current ADP of 29.5 (compared to Chase's 6.0).
Heading into Week 1, Higgins faces a Steelers secondary that surrendered 21.5 fantasy points per game last season. He'll line up against cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who put together a strong second half in 2021. Over the final five weeks of the season, he averaged a PFF grade of 75.6.
He picked up three interceptions during that span, allowed zero touchdowns, and held opponents to a 39.1 percent reception rate. When he faced Higgins and the Bengals in Week 2, Witherspoon allowed just one reception and earned a grade of 69.2.
Since he has a tricky matchup on tap, Higgins should be started with caution. It would be too bold to bench him, but fantasy managers should temper expectations and try to pad the rest of their lineup with higher-upside plays who could counter a potential subpar performance from Higgins.
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