After being franchise tagged for the second consecutive season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins enters 2025 in a pivotal position for fantasy managers. Despite playing in just 12 games during the 2024 season, Higgins demonstrated his elite potential by posting 73 receptions, 911 yards, and a career-high 10 touchdowns on 109 targets. For fantasy managers eyeing the talented wideout this draft season, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what to expect from Higgins in 2025.
Contract Situation – The Double Tag
The Cincinnati Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins for a second straight year, securing his services for the 2025 season with a $26.2 million tender if no long-term deal is reached by July 15. This decision was expected, as the Bengals have consistently expressed their desire to maintain their explosive offensive trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Higgins.
Multiple NFL teams reportedly contacted Cincinnati about Higgins’ availability after the franchise tag was applied, but the Bengals have maintained that he remains unavailable as they work toward giving him a long-term deal. This commitment to keeping Higgins indicates that the Bengals value him highly in their offensive scheme, which bodes well for his fantasy production.
Health Concerns – The Risk Factor
Injury history remains the primary concern for Higgins’ fantasy outlook. Higgins carries the highest injury probability of any wide receiver according to some injury predictors, which has contributed to his fantasy draft position sometimes falling below his potential production value. In 2024, ankle issues plagued him toward the end of the season, causing him to exit early in Week 18.
This injury risk creates both a challenge and an opportunity for fantasy managers. The injury concerns have typically suppressed Higgins’ ADP (Average Draft Position), potentially creating excellent value for managers willing to accept the risk.
Production When Healthy – The Reward
When on the field, Higgins has proven to be a fantasy difference-maker. Despite missing five games due to injuries in 2024, Higgins finished as the WR17 in half-PPR scoring. His red zone prowess was particularly notable, resulting in a career-high 10 touchdowns.
In just 12 games last year, Higgins hauled in 73 catches for 911 yards and those 10 touchdowns. Extrapolated over a full 17-game season, those numbers project to approximately 104 receptions, 1,294 yards, and 14 touchdowns—production that would place him firmly in WR1 territory.
Role in the Bengals Offense – The Opportunity
The Bengals’ offensive structure continues to provide Higgins with substantial opportunities despite playing alongside superstar Ja’Marr Chase. With Joe Burrow healthy in 2025, Higgins should benefit from playing in one of the league’s most prolific passing attacks.
What makes Higgins particularly valuable is his consistent production when available—he has recorded over 100 targets, over 1,000 yards, and at least six touchdowns in three of his four NFL seasons prior to 2024. This level of consistency in a high-powered offense makes him a reliable fantasy asset when healthy.
Draft Strategy – The Value Proposition
The key question for fantasy managers is where to target Higgins in drafts. Given his injury history but immense upside, Higgins represents one of the higher risk-reward selections in 2025 fantasy drafts. Current projections typically place him in the WR15-20 range, making him a potential steal if he falls to the fourth or fifth round.
Fantasy managers should consider the following approach:
- Target Higgins as your WR2 with WR1 upside
- Ensure you have solid WR depth behind him to account for potential missed games
- Recognize that his touchdown upside (10 TDs in just 12 games last year) gives him a higher ceiling than many receivers drafted in the same range
Conclusion
Tee Higgins enters 2025 as one of fantasy football’s most intriguing options. The double franchise tag indicates Cincinnati’s commitment to featuring him prominently in their offense, while his rapport with Joe Burrow remains strong. While injury concerns create risk, they also suppress his draft cost below what his actual production merits.
Fantasy managers who can stomach some potential missed games could reap massive rewards from drafting Higgins, particularly in PPR formats where his high-volume role translates to consistent scoring. When building your 2025 fantasy roster, consider Higgins a high-upside WR2 with legitimate WR1 potential in the Cincinnati offense. Just make sure to have solid backup options for those weeks when the injury bug might strike again.
Filed under: Free Articles
