The Cincinnati Bengals receiver who once seemed like a reliable WR2 option is quietly becoming one of fantasy football’s most traded players. According to PFSN’s Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Tee Higgins has been shipped out in 56% of August trades involving him, a troubling trend that reflects growing concerns about his reliability and inflated price tag.
The Durability Red Flag Fantasy Owners Can’t Ignore
Higgins hasn’t completed a full season since his rookie campaign in 2020, and that injury history is finally catching up to his fantasy valuation. The 26-year-old receiver has managed just 40 games over the past three seasons, missing significant time due to various ailments that have prevented him from establishing the consistency fantasy managers desperately need from their second or third-round picks.
PFSN users have been steadily moving away from Higgins throughout the summer months, with trade data showing more exits than acquisitions in June, July, and August. This pattern suggests experienced fantasy players are recognizing warning signs that casual drafters might overlook when they see his impressive 2024 touchdown numbers.
TEE HIGGINS 42-YARD TOUCHDOWN ON 4TH DOWN!!! đŸ”¥ #WHODEY pic.twitter.com/j5XTjkQT3n
— Cincinnati đŸ’” (@CincyProblems) November 18, 2024
Why Last Season’s Numbers Tell a Misleading Story
Higgins’ 2024 season stood out for its unusual efficiency, with 14 end zone targets in just 12 games, which matched his total from the previous 28 combined. He also doubled his touchdown output from 5 to 10 despite playing the same number of games as in 2023.
This sharp jump in red zone usage created an outlier campaign that inflated both his scoring totals and his current draft stock. Savvy fantasy managers know that counting on a repeat of those unsustainable numbers could set them up for disappointment.
The volume that supported both Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase came from Cincinnati’s pass-heavy approach, which saw them complete 460 passes in 2024. That total exceeded every other NFL offense by at least 47 attempts and topped the league average by 97 completions. However, relying on this offensive volume while dealing with Higgins’ injury concerns creates a risky proposition for fantasy teams.
The receiver’s current asking price assumes he’ll stay healthy and maintain his elevated touchdown rate, two assumptions that recent history suggests are questionable at best. Fantasy managers who recognize these underlying concerns are positioning themselves to avoid potential roster headaches by moving Higgins before his value potentially craters during the season.
Rather than chasing last year’s touchdowns, smart fantasy players are identifying this as the perfect time to sell high on a player whose durability issues and unsustainable production metrics make him a prime candidate for regression.
