When you think of the WR1 for the Cincinnati Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase is probably the first player that comes to mind. Technically, he had 7.5 targets per game while Tee Higgins had 7.9. Chase also had 4.8 receptions while Tee had 5.3. Chase outscored Tee in fantasy because he was more efficient with his yardage and touchdowns. So based on targets and receptions, it can be argued that Tee Higgins was the WR1 for the Bengals this past season. However, I think most people project him to eventually be the WR2. Despite that fact, I still think Higgins is a top dynasty WR. This article will explain why Tee is a WR2 and a dynasty WR1.

Ironically, I also wrote an article on how Joe Burrow is overvalued. That being said, I still think he’s a great real-life QB and one that will be great for his team’s receivers’ fantasy numbers.

2021 Numbers

Using half-PPR numbers, last year, Tee Higgins was the WR22. That’s not bad, but not WR1 numbers. However, he also missed 3 games. So when we look at per-game numbers, he goes up to WR15. We’re getting closer, but that’s still not WR1 numbers. But some names above him include Kristian Wilkerson, Antonio Brown, and Cyril Grayson Jr. None of these guys are players who are likely to be fantasy-relevant this upcoming season. So if you take out those names, Tee would be a WR12 per game, making him a WR1.

Outlook

So I feel comfortable saying that of the players who are fantasy-relevant, Tee Higgins was a WR1 per game this past season. That being said, I don’t project him to be top-12 this upcoming season, though I think he could be close. So why would he still be a dynasty WR1? Because he’s young, he’s talented, and he’s on a great offence.

Tee Higgins is 23 years old. Not only does that mean he’s unlikely to regress as many older WRs might, but that also means that he’s likely still improving. Many of the WRs I have ranked around or above Tee this year are around 30 years of age (Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen). Historically, this often indicates that the players are likely past their peak and could get worse as real-life athletes from here on out.

History of WR2s as WR1s

We have also seen that WR2s can often do quite well. Here are the fantasy finishes of the top WR2s over the past few seasons in half-PPR formats.

2021: Tyler Lockett (WR13)

2020: Adam Thielen (WR8)

2019: Mike Evans (WR12)

2018: Stefon Diggs (WR11)

2017: JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR22)

2016: Davante Adams (WR8)

2015: Eric Decker (WR13)

As you can see, a team’s WR2 can still do very well for fantasy. Just saying that Tee Higgins is a team WR2 is a lazy argument that doesn’t actually disqualify him from consideration to be a dynasty WR1.

Wrap-Up

Tee Higgins is a fantastic real-life wide receiver with a great real-life quarterback. He is still someone I want in dynasty formats even though Ja’Marr Chase is his teammate. Both can still be successful. This is why Tee is a WR2 and a dynasty WR1.

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