Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or Tee Higgins

Friday, October 3, 12:42 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for the second straight week in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Evans has not been able to practice since straining his left hamstring in Week 3, and he'll be missing his second straight game this weekend. With the future Hall of Famer out again, expect both rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, who will be playing in his second game this year, to be peppered with targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield again. Sterling Shepard will continue to see an elevated role with Evans out, but he'll merely be a low-upside WR4/flex option in deeper fantasy leagues. The 32-year-old Evans will need to get back on the practice field at some point next week if he wants to have any chance of returning for a Week 6 tilt against the San Francisco 49ers.

Saturday, October 4, 1:55 PM

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football through the early part of the 2025 season. He's managed just 10 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown on 20 targets, ranking 68th in target share (17.5%), 82nd in receiving yards, and 110th in receptions. Without Joe Burrow at quarterback, Higgins has struggled to command a consistent role in an offense that looks far less dynamic than it did in 2024. In Week 5, Higgins faces the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Detroit's defense has been steady, though they were exposed in Week 2 by Bears' WR Rome Odunze, who torched them for 100+ yards and two scores. Still, Higgins' involvement has been too shaky to trust. Given his lack of volume and inconsistent production, Higgins is a very risky play in Week 5.