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Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst is enjoying the best season of his career in 2022 with Joe Burrow, but after leaving the Week 13 game against the Kansas City Chiefs early, his Week 14 status is in doubt.
Hurst might not be a fantasy superstar, but with Zach Ertz (knee), Dallas Goedert (shoulder), Darren Waller (hamstring), and Kyle Pitts (knee) all spending time on Injured Reserve, he has become a steady player at the position and a weekly streaming candidate. He is the TE11 on the season in PPR leagues, so he's very much on the fantasy radar.
Will Hurst play in Week 14 and who will see more targets if he does not suit up?
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Hayden Hurst Injury Update for Fantasy Football
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Hurst (calf) is doubtful to play in Week 14 against the Cleveland Browns. Hurst suffered a calf injury in the Week 13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs and finished with just two catches for 12 yards.
With Taylor coming out so early in the week to announce this, it feels almost certain he won't play on Sunday. That said, surprises happen and fantasy managers should stay updated until his game-day status is officially announced.
Should I Start Tyler Boyd and/or Mitchell Wilcox?
Mitchell Wilcox will likely play the most snaps at tight end, but without a proven track record it's tough to trust him against the Browns, who have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends through 13 weeks. There are ultra-deep tight end premium leagues where he can be considered in lineups as a part of a great offense, but he's not on the fantasy radar in the vast majority of leagues and formats.
Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are must-starts in all matchups, but Tyler Boyd might be the biggest beneficiary of Hurst's absence. Boyd has played 487 snaps in the slot (second-most among qualified wide receivers) and often operates in the middle of the field. With Hurst out, there will be targets up for grabs in that intermediate, mid-field area.
Not every offense can support three fantasy-relevant pass-catchers, but the Bengals' offense led by Burrow is one of them. In deep leagues, Boyd is virtually a must-start, but he warrants real flex consideration in traditional shallower leagues, too. He's had a rough stretch over the past few weeks, but this sets up for a big bounce-back spot.
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