Week 13 vs. Seattle Seahawks
The player that will be most impacted by the potential starting quarterback this week is Tyler Higbee. In Week 10 with John Wolford, Higbee had one of his best games of the season catching 8-73 on eight targets. More important, was Higbee’s underlying usage. In that game, Higbee was third on the team in routes running a route on 26 of 36 (72%) Wolford drop-backs. Flash forward to Week 12 and Higbee’s production looks a lot different with Bryce Perkins. Higbee failed to crack the box score not recording a single target in the game. Higbee did play 59% of the snaps, but only ran a route on 11 of 29 (38%) of Perkins’ drop-backs. Based on this usage if Wolford starts in Week 13, Higbee could be viewed as a low end TE1. If Perkins gets the nod, it is best to look elsewhere in Week 13.
Week 12 at Kansas City Chiefs
After a game and a half without Cooper Kupp, it is clear the biggest beneficiary of his loss is Tyler Higbee. Higbee after a very strong start to the season began to see his routes dwindle due to offensive line issues. Now with the loss of Kupp, Higbee is back to seeing an elite role in the passing game. In Week 11, Higbee ran the second-most routes on the team and saw a team-high eight targets in the game. This led to a solid 4-45 receiving line even while dealing with Bryce Perkins in the second half. The routes and targets are a great sign for Higbee’s rest of season outlook granted of course that one of the other starting quarterbacks (Matthew Stafford or John Wolford) returns to start the rest of the year. Even if they don’t, Higbee did show enough in limited action with Perkins to warrant low-end TE1 status in a game where they are expected to trail vs. the Chiefs in Week 12.
Week 11 at New Orleans Saints
The player that might see the biggest bump in usage overall after the loss of Cooper Kupp is Tyler Higbee. After seeing his routes and targets plummet due to issues with the offensive line, Higbee saw a boost immediately after the injury to Kupp. In Week 10, Higbee was third in routes, but paced the team in targets with eight and led the team with eight receptions, and 73 receiving yards. If this trend continues, Higbee should immediately return to TE1 production as the Rams look to fill the gigantic void left by Kupp.
This week it might be tough sledding for Higbee as the Rams take on a very solid New Orleans Saints defense. The Saints have allowed the fewest fantasy points to the tight ends position so far in 2022. This includes holding notable tight ends Kyle Pitts (2-19), Hayden Hurst (3-21), Isaiah Likely (1-24-1), and Pat Freiermuth (4-36). Granted the new potential role that Higbee should play still puts him on the TE1 map, but due to the matchup, he’s probably best viewed as a borderline TE1 for Week 11.
Week 10 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Tyler Higbee’s usage continues to plummet since his hot start to the year. In Week 9, Higbee was third on the team in routes on the week with 19 but only saw one target in the game. This seems to be a common theme for Higbee as he has seen his average number of targets drop from nine in Weeks 1-5 to three over the last three games. Most of this has to do with a struggling offensive line as Higbee has been asked to block more in passing situations. Another issue for Higbee has been the return of Van Jefferson. Jefferson’s demand for more targets in this offense has provided the Rams with another pass-catching option for a team that is currently struggling to throw the ball. This has left very few targets to go around behind Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson. For this week’s matchup vs. the Cardinals, Higbee had a strong game back in Week 3 securing 4-61 on four targets. However, it will be tough to trust him in your lineups as it is clear his role has changed for the time being making him a high-end TE2 at best for Week 10.
Week 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After an extremely hot start to begin the year, Tyler Higbee has cooled off a bit as of late. A lot of this has to do with the struggles of the Rams’ offensive line as Higbee has been asked to block more in recent weeks. This is clearly represented in his route participation as he has only run a route on a 35 of 70 (50%) Matthew Stafford drop-backs over the last two games. Prior to this role change, Higbee ran a route on 184 of 217 (85%) Stafford drop-backs. This drastic dip in routes has led to very poor receiving lines of (1-7) and (2-15).
Heading into Week 9, Higbee’s matchup isn’t terrible vs. the Buccaneers. Back in 2021, Higbee put up solid performances vs. Tampa Bay going for (5-40-1) and (5-51). This season Buccaneers have allowed big games to Isaiah Likely (6-77-1), Travis Kelce (9-92-1), and Dalton Schultz (7-62). However, due to his change in role, it will be tough to trust Higbee as anything more than a high-end TE2. Until we see improvements in the Rams’ offensive line to allow Higbee to run more routes, it might be best to fade him for the time being.
Week 8 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Higbee has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers scoring double-digit fantasy points in PPR in four of six games to start the season. Higbee is one of only three tight ends that is averaging over eight targets a game. This target volume has led to Higbee being second in the NFL among tight ends in receptions per game, and eighth in yards. The biggest issue for Higbee has been touchdowns as he has yet to find the end zone this season. Another issue to potentially look at for Higbee was his usage in the Rams’ Week 6 victory vs. the Panthers. In that game, Higbee saw his routes run per drop-back drop to 58% while seeing just two targets in the game. This trend could be due to the injuries to the Rams’ offensive line which could lead to Higbee blocking more. Now we shouldn’t let one week deter us from starting him this week as he had a very strong 10-73 performance vs. the 49ers back in Week 4.
Week 6 vs. Carolina Panthers
Tyler Higbee is quietly the TE7 this season and he’s coming off seven catches and 46 yards in a losing effort against the Cowboys last week. Higbee has at least nine targets in all but one game this year and has become a steady PPR option, despite having yet to find the end zone.
This week, Higbee faces a Panthers defense that ranks eighth in aFPA to opposing tight ends. While it’s a tougher matchup for him, expect his role to stay prominent in the offense, making him worth starting as a fringe top-five tight end in most leagues. Given the dearth of options at the position, Higbee provides some much-needed steadiness in fantasy lineups. Start him.
Week 5 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Ironically, the same team that has one of the biggest disappointments so far in 2022 also has one of the biggest surprises in Tyler Higbee. Higbee leads all tight ends in targets, tied for first in receptions, and is fourth in yards. This production has led to Higbee being the TE5 through Week 4. The only issue for Higbee is he has yet to find the end zone, but the good news is that should be coming soon. Higbee is one of only two players in the NFL with at least five targets inside the ten to not score a TD. At some point soon, one of those targets will find pay dirt which only makes Higbee more intriguing for the rest of the season.
Heading into Week 5 Higbee gets a tough matchup on paper as the Rams take on the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have allowed the 9th fewest points to tight ends so far this season. The main thing Higbee managers can hang their hat on is the Cowboys have yet to face a solid tight end as the Buccaneers, Bengals, Giants, and Commanders don’t feature a tight end like the Rams. Therefore, Higbee is an auto-start in season-long leagues as he continues to see elite usage in 2022.
Week 4 at San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Higbee had four catches for 61 yards last week against the Cardinals. He hasn’t found the end zone yet this season, but he does have 24 targets and 171 receiving yards so far, giving him value as a fringe TE1 in most league formats.
This week, Higbee faces a 49ers defense that has absolutely shut down the tight end position so far this season, but they haven’t really faced one of Higbee’s talent – or at least history of production. Expect more fringe-TE1 numbers in a low-scoring affair. We have him ranked just inside our top-10 options this week.
Week 3 at Arizona Cardinals
One of the most underrated surprises of the NFL season is the emergence of Tyler Higbee. Through the first two weeks, Higbee is second in the NFL in targets (20), fourth in receptions (12) and eighth in receiving yards among tight ends. This production has made Higbee the TE7 so far in 2022. The next question we should be asking is how sustainable will this usage be for Higbee. Currently, Higbee is top 12 in routes run to drop-back percentage among tight ends which means he is running plenty of routes when Stafford has dropped back to throw. Higbee is also top three in targets per drop-back and fourth in targets per routes run among tight ends so far this season. It is clear by this usage Higbee should be able to stay a TE1 all season long.
As for Week 3, Higbee should once again be able to put up solid numbers vs. a Cardinals team that has allowed the most fantasy points to the tight end position in 2022. Now there is a huge caveat to this as the Cardinals have faced Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. Still, the Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most points over expectation so far this season. This matchup along with the elite usage puts Higbee firmly on the TE1 map for Week 3.
