Tee Higgins DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that multiple NFL teams have contacted the Cincinnati Bengals about the availability of wide receiver Tee Higgins after the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him on Monday, according to sources. Those teams have been told that Higgins remains unavailable as the Bengals work on giving him a long-term deal. Had the 26-year-old been allowed to reach the free-agent market next week, he would have been the top pass-catcher on the open market. But instead, it looks like the Bengals are going to keep him, at least for the 2025 season. If Cincy doesn't change their stance if contract talks break down, Chris Godwin would be the best free-agent wideout this offseason. Despite playing in only 12 regular-season games in 2024 due to injury, Higgins was the WR17 in half-PPR scoring with 73 receptions, 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He'll be a strong WR2 if he stays in Cincy.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins announced on Monday that the team placed the franchise tag on him for the second straight year. This was the expectation all along as the Bengals keep Higgins from hitting the open market as they look to lock him into a long-term contract extension before the deadline on July 15. If Higgins and the Bengals cannot work out an extension, he'd make over $26 million in 2025. However, placing the franchise tag on the 26-year-old pass-catcher won't prevent the Bengals from trading Higgins, although their preference is to sign him to a long-term deal. Higgins' fantasy value for the 2025 season would most likely be higher if he went elsewhere, but he proved last year that he can still be a strong WR2 for fantasy managers despite being on the same team as All-Pro receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Despite missing five games due to injuries in 2024, Higgins finished as the WR17 in half-PPR scoring with a 73-911-10 line on 109 targets.

The New England Patriots are not expected to pursue pending free-agent Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The Bengals are expected to use the franchise tag on Higgins in hopes of reaching a long-term extension, but the Patriots are out on Higgins either way, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Instead, New England is focused on building its offensive and defensive lines, something new head coach Mike Vrabel valued highly during his tenure with the Tennessee Titans. New England needs to get better at the wide receiver position, but it sounds like the team is not looking to spend big on a wideout this offseason.