Tee Higgins Injury Update: Can You Rely on the Bengals’ WR in Your Fantasy Football Lineups?

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was back on the rehab field in street clothes today for the second consecutive practice.

It’s the third consecutive practice he’s missed due to the hamstring injury he suffered last week, and it all but rules out any chance that he plays Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Latest on Tee Higgins’ Injured Hamstring

If Higgins doesn’t play, it will be the third straight contest he’s missed due to hamstring injuries dating back to last year’s Week 18 finale.

In all, Higgins has missed five games due to hamstring injuries and left four others early in his five seasons with the Bengals.

Tee heading to rehab field again.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 12, 2024

Joe Burrow Needs Higgins Back (and So Does Your Fantasy Team)

With Higgins on the sideline and Ja’Marr Chase still working his way back into shape due to a training camp hold-in (and a Saturday bout with what he said was food poisoning), Joe Burrow had one of his least productive games since his rookie year.

Burrow completed 21 of 29 passes for 164 yards in a 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots.

The 164 yards marked the fifth-lowest total of Burrow’s career, while his 5.66 average yards per attempt was the 11th-lowest since his rookie year.

The Bengals are 1-4 in the five games Higgins has missed due to hamstring injuries, with the lone win coming in Week 18 last year when the Cleveland Browns were resting their starters.

And Cincinnati is 1-3 in the games he’s left early, three of which resulted in him playing 10 or fewer snaps.

In five games without Higgins as a running mate, Chase has averaged 3.5 receptions for 49.7 yards and has caught two touchdowns.

Who Can Step Up if Higgins Is Out?

Based on what we saw Sunday against the Patriots and what we’ve heard from the coaches since the offseason work began, Andrei Iosivas should be the biggest beneficiary if Higgins doesn’t play.

The original plan was for Iosivas to start in the slot with Chase and Higgins on the outside. But the Bengals ripped up that blueprint with Higgins shelved Sunday.

Iosivas played all 48 snaps, but he lined up in the slot only 15 times, as Trenton Irwin led the team with 19 slot snaps.

Chase lined up in the slot 15 times, which is something the Bengals have been looking to utilize more well before Higgins got hurt.

Iosivas tied Chase for the team lead in targets against the Patriots with six, but he converted on three of them into receptions for 26 yards.

Breaking down the #Bengals snap counts, personnel groupings and Ja'Marr Chase's route tree from Sunday's loss: https://t.co/2ZzM6IduCo

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) September 9, 2024

And with the Chiefs’ history of double-teaming Chase since his 266-yard game against them as a rookie, plus the likelihood of Burrow bouncing back with a better performance, Iosivas should get plenty of opportunities Sunday.

Tight end Mike Gesicki, running back Chase Brown, and Irwin could spend time in the slot as well, sliding Iosivas to the boundary. And you can expect Burrow to look to answer his critics questioning his ability to throw deep — and even intermediate passes.

If Burrow sees Iosivas with one-on-one coverage, he won’t hesitate to try to exploit it.

The sleeper in this scenario is rookie Jermaine Burton. He had a rough training camp picking up the offense and earned four snaps against the Patriots, three of which were running plays.

But head coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday he’s been impressed with Burton’s progress, and he’s gained confidence from his coaches and from within.

Burton scored a pair of touchdowns in the preseason. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bengals increase his workload a little bit and just run him out there for a few go balls to try to loosen up Kansas City’s defense.