Week 5 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Tyler Higbee is a TE1 by virtue of the current state of the position. It's been a rough go for Higbee. The emergence of Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell have led to few targets for Higbee.
The Eagles got carved up by TJ Hockenson, but outside of that and a luck-box touchdown for Hunter Henry in Week 1, they've locked down tight ends the last few weeks. He's TE12 in our projections and worth a start if you have no other options but expectations should be reasonably low.
Week 4 at Indianapolis Colts
As of Thursday, Tyler Higbee has yet to see the practice field this week. Higbee reportedly has some Achilles "soreness" which has kept him from participating.
He's coming off of the best game of his season so far, but that isn't saying much. Higbee is a TE14 with a decent amount of risk so hopefully you have a better streaming option.
Week 3 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
With Puka Nacua hoovering up all of the targets in Los Angeles, Tyler Higbee hasn't accomplished much this year. He's earned just 10 targets, turning them into 61 yards. Even in a rough tight end landscape, that's not going to get it done.
The Bengals were picked on a bit by Mark Andrews and Lamar Jackson last week. So, the site that hosts your league might have you thinking it's an easy matchup, but Andrews should do that to every defense. Hopefully you have better options on your team, Higbee is a mid-tier TE2.
Week 2 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Higbee was 4th among tight ends in receiving yards in Week 1. The concerning part is that he got there on efficiency alone and didn't find the end zone. Only three targets in a game where Matthew Stafford threw the ball 38 times is not the output you were looking for from Higbee.
Now, he gets a tough matchup against the 49ers. Pat Freiermuth only managed three (3!) receiving yards against this defense in Week 1. We have him projected at TE13, so if you have him you likely have to start him. I wouldn't be expecting much from him until that target share swings in his direction.
Week 1 at Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Higbee comes into this week projected as the TE5 for Week 1. Higbee played in 16 games last year and saw at least seven targets in half of his games played. He faces off against a Seattle defense that gave up eight touchdowns to the tight end position a season ago. With Cooper Kupp out of the picture, it's a very real possibility that Higbee leads the team in targets to start the year.
Fantasy Upside
Tyler Higbee has proven himself as a reliable tight end for the Rams. In the 2022 season, he played in all 17 games, catching 72 passes for 620 yards and 3 touchdowns. His consistency in the passing game and his role in the Rams' offense provide a solid foundation for his fantasy value. Higbee's ability to find the end zone and his steady target share from Matthew Stafford make him an attractive option in the 2023 season.
Fantasy Downside
The main concern with Higbee is the competition for targets in the Rams' offense. With receivers like Cooper Kupp and the possible emergence of other pass-catching options, as well as running back Cam Akers, all vying for touches, Higbee's opportunities could be limited. Additionally, while Higbee has been consistent, he hasn't shown the same ceiling as some of the top-tier tight ends in the league.
2023 Bottom Line
Higbee is a steady, reliable option for the 2023 fantasy season. While he may not have the highest ceiling, his consistent production and role in the Rams' offense make him a valuable asset. We currently have him ranked as TE10 for 2023. He's worth considering as a TE1 but there are plenty of tight ends in the same tier as him if you miss out on him at your draft.
Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Tyler Higbee has emerged as Baker Mayfield’s go-to receiver delivering a week-winning performance in Week 16. Higbee dropped a season-high 94 receiving yards and two touchdowns while running 23 routes on 29 Mayfield drop-backs. Higbee’s role has continued to grow with Mayfield under center seeing three, five, and 11 targets over the past three games. The key for Higbee to continue this role is the health of the offensive line. It seems that Sean McVay and the Rams have found some continuity upfront, leading to Higbee’s reemergence as a TE1 in the fantasy playoffs.
Heading into Week 17, Higbee once again has the best matchup among all the receiving core for the Rams. The Chargers are in the middle of the pack when it comes to fantasy points allowed to tight ends. However, they currently have allowed the 10th most receiving yards while allowing the eighth fewest receptions to the tight ends. This has led to the Chargers allowing the second-highest yards per reception to tight ends in 2022. Notable tight ends Darren Waller (4-70), Travis Kelce (6-115-2), and David Njoku (6-88) all had solid days vs. the Chargers. This matchup and Baker Mayfield’s emergence have put Higbee back on the TE1 map in Week 17.
Week 16 vs. Denver Broncos
Who would have thought prior to the season that Tyler Higbee would have caught his first touchdown of the season in Week 15 from Baker Mayfield. It has been a very up-and-down season for Higbee as he has seen his usage plummet due to terrible offensive line play over the past few months. In Week 15, Higbee secured four receptions for 27 yards on five targets. This production was his best showing since Week 11 vs. the Saints. Higbee’s underlying usage is still not there as he only ran a route on 15 of 27 (55%) Mayfield drop-backs.
This week Higbee does have the best matchup in the receiving core vs. the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have allowed the fifth most receptions and the eighth most receiving yards to tight ends in 2022. However, due to his limited route participation, it will be tough to trust Higbee as his floor doesn’t justify his ceiling. Yes, the loss of Ben Skowronek should force the Rams to look Higbee’s way a bit more, but it’s probably best to view Higbee as a desperation high-end TE2 at best in Week 16.
Week 15 at Green Bay Packers
Tyler Higbee’s roller coaster of a season has continued. Week 14 marked the third straight week where he failed to top 15 yards receiving in a game going for 2-11 vs. the Raiders. It is a tough pill to swallow for Higbee owners as he looked like one of the biggest steals in the draft over the first half of the year. The lone bright spot for Higbee is it looks like his underlying usage has stabilized. Last week he was third on the team in routes with 30 running a route on 73% of Baker Mayfield’s drop-backs. Higbee has slipped off the TE1 map rest of the season as it’s going to be tough to trust him on this struggling offense. However, his outlook as a low-end TE1 in 2023 could be salvaged if he continues to see similar route participation for the rest of the year.
Week 14 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
After a strong performance back in Week 10 with backup quarterback John Wolford, Tyler Higbee flopped in a great matchup vs. the Seahawks in Week 13. Higbee was third on the team in routes with 20 and was tied for first with five targets on the day. However, he was only able to produce two receptions for 14 yards. This was a very disappointing outcome vs. a Seattle team that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends so far in 2022.
This week Higbee will get another great matchup vs. a Raiders DST that has allowed the sixth most fantasy points to the tight end position. On paper, the matchup should make Higbee a solid streamer tight end for Week 14. The issue is, he was disappointing in a better matchup just a week ago. Now on a short week with many people’s fantasy seasons on the line, can we trust Higbee in Week 14? The short answer should be no, and we would prefer Hunter Henry vs. Arizona and Evan Engram vs. the Titans as streaming options. That being said, if you are stuck streaming a tight end and don’t have those options available, then Higbee should be able to yield high-end TE2 numbers in Week 14.
