Sep 17, 2026, 4:37 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase told The Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway on Thursday that his knee feels great. Chase hyperextended his knee in a training camp practice on Aug. 25 and was on the injury report heading into the season opener, but he was active in the Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 26-year-old five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro played 94% of the offensive snaps last Sunday, but he caught only two passes on four targets for 12 yards in a bust performance for the No. 1 WR off the board in most fantasy football drafts. Fantasy managers might have been wondering if Chase's knee was to blame. The former fifth overall pick from LSU says his knee is fine, though, so he should be expected to have a much better performance in Week 2 on the road against the Houston Texans. It is even better news that Chase has not been on the Bengals' injury report at all heading into this weekend. Start him with confidence.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway

Sep 13, 2026, 5:26 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught three passes for 59 yards in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Higgins was able to lead the wide receiver room in receptions and yards with a down game from fellow WR Ja'Marr Chase, who only caught two passes for 12 yards. Higgins and the rest of the Bengals offense were the beneficiaries of an outstanding performance by the Cincinnati defense. With the Bengals defense forcing four turnovers and coming away with a score, the offense found themselves in advantageous situations often. Higgins and the rest of the offense will likely be more relied upon in next week's matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans are known to be one of the strongest units in the league, so fantasy points may be at a premium for the Bengals playmakers. Still, Higgins should be viewed as a strong WR2 because the ceiling for the Cincinnati offense is among the highest in the league.--Joshua Costello
Source: ESPN.com

Sep 13, 2026, 4:20 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had two catches for 12 yards on four targets in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chase was uncharacteristically uninvolved in the offense and the Bengals still managed to snag a win. Chase was the fourth-most targeted Bengal, trailing Mike Gesicki, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown. It may be relevant to note that despite not entering the game with an injury designation, Chase was listed DNP in Friday's practice. It remains to be seen if the knee issue had anything to do with his abnormal performance in Week 1. If all is well, Chase should be considered a massive bounce-back candidate for Week 2 against the Houston Texans. The Texans were one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, but the Buffalo Bills were able to drop 36 points against them in Week 1, so Cincinnati may be able to do the same. Chase should still be considered a must-start WR1 heading into Week 2, despite the disappointing season debut.--Joshua Costello
Source: Bengals.com

Sep 12, 2026, 1:11 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas opens the year as a starter, but that still does not make him easy to trust in fantasy. Cincinnati lists him with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and Tampa Bay was vulnerable through the air last season, allowing 4,049 net passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns. The matchup is not the problem. The targets are. Iosivas saw 58 targets in 17 games last year and turned them into 33 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. Chase and Higgins are both on track to play, so it is hard to project much more than a handful of opportunities unless Cincinnati gets Iosivas involved near the goal line or the game turns pass-heavy. RotoBaller has him at WR81 in its Saturday update. That puts him well outside normal starting range. Managers in deeper leagues can take a shot if they need a receiver from a strong passing offense, but Iosivas is better left on the bench in most formats for Week 1.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 11, 2026, 3:07 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was listed on the Week 1 injury report with a foot injury but was a full participant in all practices and has since been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday. Higgins and the Bengals will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 of the 2026 season. Despite his quarterback missing nine games last season, Higgins still managed to finish as the WR15 in PPR formats. Higgins will have the opportunity to pick up where he left off against the Buccaneers in what should be one of the highest-scoring games of the week. The highly talented WR2 for the Bengals is a strong WR2 option for fantasy with the upside to finish as a WR1 if he and Burrow can both stay healthy. Higgins is ranked WR11 in our RotoBaller Week 1 PPR rankings, making him a low-end WR1 option in a positive offensive environment. Fantasy managers should start Higgins with confidence this week.--Joshua Costello
Source: Kelsey Conway - Twitter

Sep 11, 2026, 3:05 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was previously listed on the Week 1 injury report with a knee injury, but he has since been removed from the report and is ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Despite losing his superstar quarterback, Joe Burrow, for nine games, Chase still managed to finish the season as the WR4 in PPR formats. Chase's ability to perform at a high level despite playing with backup quarterbacks for the majority of the season is just a testament to his immense talent and reliability. Now with his quarterback fully healthy, the runway should be clear for Chase to have another historic season. The 26-year-old completed the receiving triple crown in 2024 and now has his eyes set on the touchdown record. Chase said he wants to score 23 touchdowns this season, and he certainly has the opportunity to do it. Chase could get his scoring started this Sunday against the Buccaneers, in a game with a 50.5-point total. The Buccaneers defense gave up over 24 points per game in 2025 while the Bengals defense gave up nearly 29 points per game. If the Bengals find themselves chasing points, Chase could be in for a very hefty workload. Chase is ranked as the overall WR1 in our RotoBaller Week 1 PPR rankings, making him a smash play this Sunday. Fantasy managers should be prepared to see a massive fantasy output from Chase every week.--Joshua Costello
Source: UnderdogNFL - Twitter

Sep 11, 2026, 12:35 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) is good to go for Sunday's Week 1 season opener versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. The Bengals announced last week that Higgins was dealing with a minor heel injury that was never expected to put him in danger of missing the start of the 2026 season. Fantasy managers need to have the 27-year-old locked into their starting lineups for this weekend's matchup against the Bucs. Higgins was a first-time Pro Bowler for the Bengals last season, catching 59 of his 98 targets for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns in 15 games played. He has not had a 1,000-yard season since 2022, but Higgins has remained productive when he has been on the field, and he has scored 21 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons in Cincy. Higgins has had issues staying on the field for a full season, but when he is out there, he has a strong floor as a high-end WR2 for fantasy managers, even in the shadow of star wideout Ja'Marr Chase.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby

Sep 11, 2026, 12:30 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is good to go for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Chase suffered a hyperextended knee during the late stages of training camp and was limited from practice work until practicing in full on Wednesday, which signaled that the 26-year-old was looking good to play this weekend. That is now confirmed, so fantasy managers need to have Chase locked into all starting lineups to kick off the regular season on Sunday. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro has hit the 1,000-yard mark in all five of his NFL seasons with the Bengals and is poised for a sixth this year if he stays healthy. Chase led the league in 2024 with 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, and he has scored an incredible 54 times in 78 games so far in his NFL career. If quarterback Joe Burrow stays healthy for another full season, Chase is the odds-on favorite to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby

Sep 9, 2026, 2:22 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Wednesday that he likes the pace that wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) is on and feels good about him playing in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, Sept. 13, according to BengalsTalk.com's Jay Morrison. The Bengals announced last week that Higgins has been dealing with a bruised heel, but it is a minor injury and should not impact his availability or snap count in the regular-season opener this weekend. In addition to Higgins, quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to have top receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) available against the Bucs after hyperextending his knee a few weeks ago in a training camp practice. Even though he is in the shadow of Chase, the consensus No. 1 overall fantasy WR, Higgins has WR1 upside on any given week in Cincy's explosive passing offense. The Bengals could ease Higgins into practice this week and keep him limited on Wednesday, but that should not concern fantasy managers whatsoever. UPDATE: Per The Athletic's Paul Dehner, Higgins was a full-go in Wednesday's practice.--Keith Hernandez
Source: BengalsTalk.com - Jay Morrison

Sep 9, 2026, 2:13 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he likes the pace that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is on and feels good about him playing in Week 1 on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Jay Morrison of BengalsTalk.com. Chase suffered a hyperextended left knee late in a training camp practice, but he has recovered nicely with some rest and is fully expected to suit up and be a full-go in the regular-season opener this weekend against Tampa. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins (heel), who has been dealing with a minor heel injury, should be a full-go as well, so quarterback Joe Burrow's fantasy managers should have nothing to worry about to open the 2026 campaign. Chase was the first receiver off the board in most fantasy football drafts this summer, and he should be locked into all starting lineups for this weekend's game against the Bucs. The Bengals could list Chase as limited in Wednesday's practice, but that should not set off alarm bells for fantasy managers. Until further notice, Chase is expected to play in Week 1. UPDATE: Chase was a full practice participant on Wednesday, according to Paul Dehner of The Athletic.--Keith Hernandez
Source: BengalsTalk.com - Jay Morrison

Sep 7, 2026, 2:20 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) was back on the practice field on Monday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway. In addition to Higgins, star wideout Ja'Marr Chase (knee) was also participating in the portion of practice open to the media. Both wideouts could be limited, but the fact that they are both practicing early in the week bodes well for their availability in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Zac Taylor said early last week that Higgins was dealing with a minor bruised heel, so the 27-year-old has never really been in danger of missing the start of the 2026 campaign this weekend. The former second-rounder was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, catching 59 of his 98 targets for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in only 15 games played. Higgins also had 10 TDs the year prior, and he will be a must-start in all fantasy football formats this Sunday against the Bucs if he is active, as is expected. Fantasy managers will want to check back in on Cincy's first official practice report of the year on Wednesday for a better idea of Higgins' status.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway

Sep 7, 2026, 2:15 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) was back at practice on Monday as the team prepares for its regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins (heel) was also seen practicing on Monday, so quarterback Joe Burrow figures to have both of his top pass-catchers available to kick off the 2026 campaign. The 26-year-old Chase, who is the consensus top overall fantasy receiver, hyperextended his left knee in practice on Aug. 25 while trying to come down with a pass and was held out of action last week as a precaution. Thankfully, the star wideout avoided a serious injury that would sideline him for the start of the upcoming season, and he should be active as a must-start in all fantasy football leagues against the Bucs. The Bengals will release their first official practice report of the year on Wednesday, at which point we should have a clearer picture of Chase's Week 1 status. For now, though, fantasy managers should have him locked into starting lineups until further notice.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway

Sep 5, 2026, 1:40 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas is still holding onto the No. 3 job, but the players behind him made that spot feel a little less comfortable this summer. Iosivas caught 33 passes for 435 yards and two touchdowns last season, numbers that already left him well outside the weekly fantasy picture behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He had a good camp himself, and Cincinnati's current depth chart still lists him with the first-team offense. The concern is what happened behind him. Fourth-round rookie Colbie Young kept making plays downfield and scored in the preseason, while Dohnte Meyers finished August with a team-high 11 catches for 121 yards and repeatedly stood out in practice. Bengals coaches have continued to point to Iosivas' experience as an advantage, so this is not a case of him losing the job. It is a case of the margin getting thinner. With Chase and Higgins already soaking up most of the useful volume, even a small reduction in snaps would make Iosivas tougher to justify outside of deeper leagues.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 2, 2026, 7:10 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) did not practice with the team on Wednesday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins also missed practice on Tuesday with a bruised heel, but head coach Zac Taylor said it was a minor issue. Barring a setback, Higgins should be ready to rock for the Week 1 regular-season opener next Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Top wideout Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is also out this week with a knee injury that he suffered last week, but he, too, is expected to be fine for Week 1. Higgins' minor heel injury should not make fantasy managers hesitant to use an early-round pick on him as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2. The 27-year-old former second-rounder from Clemson would be the WR1 on many teams around the league. Even in Chase's shadow, Higgins has managed to put up high-end production while battling through injuries. As a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, Higgins had 59 receptions for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 15 games. Higgins has 21 touchdown catches in the last two seasons and has averaged a healthy 14 yards per catch in his six NFL seasons.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby