RADIO
The Cincinnati Bengals invested in their future this past draft. For a struggling franchise that can’t seem to even sniff the Divisional Round of the playoffs in recent memory, they now have a restored hope that it can be done soon.
The first domino to fall was picking Heisman winning QB Joe Burrow out of LSU number one overall in the 2020 draft and have him be the signal-caller of the future in the Queen City. That was an easy pick. The Bengals do return great talent on the offensive side of the ball despite their abysmal 2-14 record last season. Further bolstering the offense was the addition of WR Tee Higgins out of Clemson in the second round.
Higgins and Burrow could be a strong duo in the future though they will need to build chemistry and get acclimated to the NFL for right now. Higgins is a big-bodied receiver who can be a strong red-zone presence for Cincy. He could eventually be a huge part of this receiving corp, especially considering WR A.J. Green will be 32 soon. Let’s look at Higgins’ strengths and fantasy outlook:
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Profile
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
College: Clemson
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 215 lbs
2020 Pick: Round 2, Pick 1
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
Scouting Report
Tee Higgins came into the draft as one of the most intriguing prospects, but not the most intriguing. He was often placed under fellow WRs Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, and Henry Ruggs III in mostly all draft rankings. SI classified Higgins as a top-six receiver in the draft. Draftwire of USA TODAY saw the receiver as roughly a second-round pick. Those predictions were spot on as the Tennessee native was drafted at Pick 33 overall in the second round and was the seventh wide receiver taken.
The big-bodied wideout comes to Cincinnati with no major injury concerns at the moment though he did have ankle surgery in 2019.
Still only 21-years-old, Higgins can hopefully be a part of the Bengals’ plans for many years as Joe Burrow will look to give this franchise some success. At 6’4”, he is one of the biggest receivers on this unit alongside A.J. Green. He has the physical strength to challenge corners and grab the ball with superb hands. Higgins’ size makes him a worthy red zone target for Burrow and his catch radius is incredible.
The Clemson product also has great balance and ran a 4.54 40-yard dash, which is not far off from WRs like CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk, who each had a 4.50. Therefore, Higgins has good speed to make plays.
At Clemson, the WR had a dominant junior season in 2019 where he garnered 59 receptions, 1,167 yards, 19.8 yards per catch, and 13 touchdowns. With all his strengths, the wideout made the Clemson record books for WRs quite a few times during his three-year college tenure. To showcase his NFL potential, Higgins’ 2,448 total receiving yards in three seasons ranks eighth-most all-time in Clemson school history. His 1,167 total yards in 2019 is fifth all-time, behind the likes of Sammy Watkins, Mike Williams, and DeAndre Hopkins.
Adding onto that, the 21-year-old’s 182-yard receiving day last season is seventh most all-time, his 27 total college career touchdowns are tied for first alongside Hopkins/Watkins, his 13 receiving touchdowns in the 2019 season is second most, and his 12 from 2018 are third most. Again, his touchdowns in a season rival that of Hopkins and Watkins.
Higgins proved his abilities at Clemson and ranked among elite company. Per NFL.com, he even played slot, split end, and flanker in college. He drew a comparison to his new teammate A.J. Green.
2020 Fantasy Outlook
Tee Higgins will suddenly enter a crowded receiver room that features a lot of talent as the Bengals already have A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, John Ross III, and Auden Tate. He also enters 2020 in a spot further down the depth chart (likely WR3 or WR4), so it’s best to temper his fantasy expectations.
A.J. Green is expected back for the Bengals this season after only playing nine games in 2018 due to a toe injury and sitting out all last season because of an ankle injury. Just a few months ago, the Georgia product was labeled as healthy and it should be no surprise that the seven-time Pro Bowler is itching to get back onto the field and be a factor once again. Green should be considered the WR1 on this team despite recent injuries and his age (32).
Tyler Boyd broke out onto the scene while Green was absent. The Pitt product emerged as a top receiving target in 2018 and 2019, notching back to back seasons with 100+ targets, 1,000 yards, and over 10 yards per catch. The 25-year-old is in position to be a top receiving target once again in 2020 alongside A.J. Green.
At this point, it’s therefore realistic to slot Higgins into the WR3 spot on the depth chart, just ahead of the speedy John Ross, whose NFL career has been filled with injuries and very little production.
There is room for Higgins to grow as a player and a fantasy asset. Of course, that will take some time as he needs to adjust to the NFL playing level while also building rapport with Joe Burrow, who is also a rookie. 2020 will be a learning year for the Tennessee native, so consider him a flex piece at best in larger redraft leagues (14+ teams). There is potential for the big receiver to have some games with terrific numbers, no doubt, but those numbers are not expected to be consistent given the presence of proven veteran wideouts like Green and Boyd. Higgins’ fantasy value will certainly elevate in a few years though.
Dynasty Outlook
Higgins was widely expected to be one of the top receivers selected in the draft, so his slight tumble to the seventh WR taken to the top of the second round have caused him to slide a little in dynasty drafts. Much like the real draft, he is commonly taken as the first pick in the second round. He may not make the same immediate impact as Justin Jefferson or Brandon Aiyuk based on competition in the receiver room, so Higgins actually makes more sense for a team with a late pick that isn't in rebuild mode.
Higgins has as much upside as any receiver in this draft class, which could make him a tremendous value for patient fantasy players. If Joe Burrow is the real deal and Higgins' health isn't an issue, he may turn out to be a steal.
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