Tee Higgins's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is requesting a trade, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The organization used the franchise tag on Higgins this offseason and reportedly wants to keep him around, but it appears Higgins is ready to move on. The 2020 second-round pick has racked up 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns through his first 58 NFL games. He posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and 2022, but he was limited to just 656 yards in 12 games last season. With Ja'Marr Chase on the roster, Higgins is stuck in the WR2 role, meaning he's unlikely to post monster seasons that will earn him a high-figure contract. He could operate as a team's top receiver if he lands in an ideal spot, but we'll see if the organization is willing to move him before the start of the 2024 campaign.

Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin hinted that the team doesn't plan on trading impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was given the franchise tag. "Really simple. He's a good player. We want to keep him. We have resources to do that. We're a better team with Tee," Tobin said. While it's great news for the Bengals if they keep Higgins around for another season, it's also bad news for his fantasy value entering the 2024 campaign. The 25-year-old would make $21.8 million this year if he ends up playing on the franchise tag. He played in just 11 games in 2023 due to hamstring and rib injuries, finishing with a disappointing 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns on 76 targets. A bounce-back season in 2024 for Higgins should be expected if he's healthy, but the presence of Ja'Marr Chase will continue to affect Higgins' ceiling if he remains in Cincy.

The Cincinnati Bengals informed impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins on Friday that they will place the franchise tag on him, according to a source. Instead of trying to negotiate a long-term contract extension with Higgins right now, they will place the franchise tag on him by the deadline next week. This was always the most likely outcome for the 25-year-old, who played in just 12 games in 2023 due to injuries. He was a disappointment for fantasy managers, finishing with a career-low 42 catches on 76 targets for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Higgins could certainly bounce back with better health in 2024, but getting out from under the shadow of No. 1 receiver Ja'Marr Chase in Cincinnati would have been the best scenario for Higgins' fantasy value moving forward.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that all indications are pointing to the Cincinnati Bengals using their franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. The franchise tag for a receiver for 2024 would cost Cincy $20.7 million. One league source suggested the Bengals could place the tag on Higgins early in the window as a statement acknowledging that no long-term deal will be reached and opening the door for the rest of the league to consider or submit tag-and-trade offers. The team could also tag Higgins again in 2025 but would do so at 120 percent of this year, which would be for $24.8 million. The 25-year-old wideout was a major source of frustration for fantasy managers in 2023, as he played in a career-low 12 games, finishing with 42 catches for 656 yards and only five touchdowns. If he remains in Cincy, his ceiling and floor will be capped as long as he's in the shadow of Ja'Marr Chase.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is officially inactive for the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, as expected. Higgins was listed as doubtful on Friday's final injury report, so fantasy managers should have already been ignoring Higgins everywhere for the final game of the year. The 24-year-old tweaked his hamstring in last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and with the Bengals not having anything to play for in Week 18, they understandably aren't going to let Higgins suit up. He finishes his fourth year in the NFL with his most disappointing season to date, catching 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns on 76 targets over 12 games. Higgins should be able to bounce back in 2024 with better health, but his fantasy value will depend on where he winds up in free agency. Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd will be Cincy's top two wideouts on Sunday.