Week 2 vs. Atlanta Falcons
The fallout of an uncertain Rams wide receiver core led to a solid day for tight end Tyler Higbee. Higbee was third on the team in routes, running a route on 46 of 50 Matthew Stafford drop-backs. This led to him being second on the team in targets, receptions, and yards on the week. Now his 5-39 receiving line doesn’t jump out at you but Higbee did finish as a top-15 tight end on the week. Plus, outside of Cooper Kupp none of the Rams’ pass catchers had a big day vs. the Bills’ top-ranked pass defense.
This week Higbee will face off vs. the Atlanta Falcons. On the surface, it looks like the Falcons are a plus matchup for tight ends after allowing the fourth most points to the position in Week 1. However, most of that production came on the ground as Taysom Hill rushed for 4-81-1. The Falcons only allowed three receptions for 45 yards through the air, so the matchup isn’t as great as it looks on paper.
Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills
Avoid. That is all I can say for tight end Tyler Higbee. After an unreal stretch of five games back in 2019, it has been consecutive disappointing seasons for him. Relying on him to find the end zone to make him worth a start, the upside is just not there. Look elsewhere at the tight end position for this week.
2022 Fantasy Upside
At the shallow fantasy tight end position, Tyler Higbee brings consistency. He produced eight games of TE1 performances, but only finished the year as the TE13 with 9.8 FPPG. Higbee remains a nice value at TE20 that rarely bombs on a weekly basis. If you chose to wait on the fantasy tight end position, Higbee is a safe choice that resides in a pass-first offense with a great quarterback.
2022 Fantasy Downside
Fantasy drafters were disappointed with Higbee’s 2021 performance, after former tight end Gerald Everett signed with Seattle. Higbee saw the second-highest snap share of any tight end, yet ranked just 14th in target share among all tight ends. If he can’t produce under those circumstances, why would 2022 be any different?
2022 Bottom Line
Higbee is one of the safest picks in all of fantasy football. Won’t hurt your weekly output but rarely wins you a week. The addition of Allen Robinson should prove to siphon even more targets than Robert Woods, and a healthy Cam Akers will now compete for short to intermediate targets. Higbee is a fine fantasy selection, provided you don’t need him to be a top fantasy producer.
Week 17 at Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are okay against tight ends compared to receivers, but the only tight end that Baltimore has played the past month that is worth his weight in salt is Pat Freiermuth. C.J. Uzomah collected five passes for 36 yards in Week 16, and he has a similar trio of talented wideout teammates that Higbee does. A good but not great week is a safe expectation Week 17.
Week 16 at Minnesota Vikings
Higbee remains on the COVID-19 list and is in danger of missing Week 16.
Week 15 versus Seattle Seahawks
Higbee is back with the team after missing Week 14’s game due to health and safety protocols. He cleared protocols and will have his usual role in Week 15. If Odell Beckham Jr. or any other pass catchers were to miss their game against Seattle as the team struggles with positive COVID-19 tests, Higbee’s role could be larger than normal (around 15-20% target rate). Only one team is worse against tight ends according to 4for4’s aFPA than Seattle.
Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals
UPDATE: Higbee will miss Week 14's game because of health and safety protocols.
Higbee continues to play a lot of snaps and was able to bounce back from Week 12’s three-yard dud. With the Cardinals defense applying pressure as well as any defense in the NFL, Higbee could be in for another five-plus target game in Week 14. The Cardinals have allowed two tight-end touchdowns all season, but those two have come since Week 9. Higbee’s upside will continue to be attached to the end zone, which may be where he is best utilized in Week 14.
Week 13 versus Jacksonville Jaguars
Higbee has played at least 97% of snaps each of the past three games but has seen his yardage output drop each week and his target totals plateau. Odell Beckham Jr.’s arrival does not help but it is not like the Rams have run three excellent receivers out each game this season. According to aFPA, Jacksonville is Higbee’s best matchup since Week 8 at Houston. Fingers crossed he bounces back as a TE1/2 Week 13.
Week 12 at Green Bay Packers
It is a good week for Tyler Higbee to shine. He has the best matchup amongst the Rams offensive groups and could have his third consecutive double-digit fantasy output in PPR formats in as many games. Higbee has shown that his upside is getting into double-digit scoring, so play Higbee knowing he has a safe but unexciting fantasy floor this week.
Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers
While Higbee is not matchup-proof, he keeps producing at about the same rate each week. Over the past month, Higbee has at least three targets, three receptions, and 25 yards per game, but no more than 10 targets, 5 receptions, and 51 yards in a game. Treat Higbee as a borderline TE1 on the road against the 49ers.
