It may not be Easter Day, but in this series, we are going on a football-themed Easter egg hunt for one veteran player at each position that should be on your dynasty roster this season and beyond. We will also throw in a few “Easter eggs” about each player to have fun and help you understand why I’m such a believer.
I’ve been invested in the players we will cover for multiple years in dynasty, so I’ve experienced the highs and lows. Still, I’m personally counting on these guys to lead my teams to fantasy glory in 2022 and believe each player can help you win as well.
Will Tee Higgins continue his ascent and finish as a Top 20 wide receiver in 2022? Let’s hop to it.
Be sure to read the first article in this series covering Lamar Jackson, and check out my latest article covering Aaron Jones!
2021 Recap
The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense was dominant last season. It led the team to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. The offensive output and final result were beyond anyone’s expectations heading into 2021. Joe Burrow made his mark as a top ten QB, Joe Mixon lit up the run game, and the trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd proved to be one of the best receiving corps in the league.
The elite nature of the Bengals’ offense combined with Higgins WR1 type performance next to the top five performance of Chase has led to a very understandable hype train. In 14 games played last season, Higgins was the WR24 in PPR with 74 receptions on 110 targets for 1,091 yards (15th) and six TDs. Higgins averaged an impressive 15.6 FPTS/G and his 9.9 yards/target last season was 8th in the NFL.
Compare that to Chase, who was the WR5 in PPR with 81 receptions on 128 targets for 1,455 yards (4th) and 13 TDs. Chase averaged 17.9 FPT/G and 11.4 yards/target. Overall, Higgins wasn’t very far behind the incredible statistical season Chase had. If both wide receivers had played all 17 games together, the numbers might even be closer. No matter how they compare, it’s clear that Burrow leaned heavily on his two favorite weapons to carry the team close to a championship.
2022 Fantasy Outlook For Higgins
I believe Higgins will finish the 2022 season as a Top 20 wide receiver, and you can see I’m not alone. In his first two seasons, Higgins logged 100+ targets/900+ receiving yards/6 TDs and averaged 14.2 yards/reception. Tee Higgins is a WR1 talent who finds himself in a loaded offense. Entering his third season, he should only continue to build upon his impressive career.
For as great as the Bengals played last year, the team is only getting better. As Ryan Ramsarran wrote in his Mixon article, the Bengals addressed their offensive line issues this summer which helps immensely. Burrow has also discussed how the Bengal’s offense will evolve and improve next season. It’s scary to think they could perform better than last year. Chase could even be more dominant this year, according to Jake Oliver.
Higgins is a core piece of this offense that can be utilized similarly to Chase. Higgins had ten End Zone targets and 1,300 Air Yards in 2021 compared to twelve End Zone Targets and 1,532 Air Yards for Chase. Both receivers are lethal for opposing defenses, and that’s not factoring in how great Boyd is. It’s no wonder this receiving corp is considered among the best in the NFL. I’m excited to see how Higgins continues to dominate in this offense.
Dynasty Outlook For Higgins
At just 23 years old, Higgins is a big-time dynasty asset. I can’t tell you how many trade offers I get where I have him rostered. Alex Matteo wrote about taking him 3.12 overall in a Superflex mock draft, and I don’t think that’s crazy at all. If you have Higgins on your roster, I would do everything to keep him unless you get a great offer. If you’re going to sell high, I would be looking to acquire first-round draft capital and a comparable skill player with top 20 potential.
WR is always a great position to focus on in a dynasty because if you find a special player, you can roster him for a long time. In my home league, I have Justin Jefferson and Higgins as part of my core, so I can operate in contender mode for a while if I choose. At the very least, I know as long as I have Higgins on my squad, my team won’t be laying any eggs.
*All stats from Fantasy Data unless otherwise noted
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