Week 2 at Philadelphia
The Higbee Hype Train didn’t exactly get off the right start as his Week 1 performance saw him garner three catches for 40 yards on for targets. Not terrible numbers for the position, however, his usage isn’t anywhere close to how he finished the final five games of the previous season. Things look better got him against Philadelphia, who allowed the passing score of the game to Washington TE Logan Thomas. Keep Higbee in your lineups this week as he should produce low-end TE1 numbers.
Week 1 vs. Dallas
Tyler Higbee’s late season breakout last year made him a favorite of the fantasy community, and for good reason as the final five weeks of the season same him garner 56 targets for 43 receptions, 522 yards and two touchdowns. The combination of becoming Jared Goff’s favorite target and an excellent matchup against the Dallas Cowboys has Higbee poised for a huge game to start the year. Dallas has been awful against TEs the last few seasons and last year’s Week 15 matchup against the Rams allowed Higbee to have a career day as he went 12-111-0. Fire up Higbee as an upside TE1 for Week 1.
Fantasy Upside
Tyler Higbee’s rise to prominence was a unique one. Fighting off teammate Gerald Everett for the starting role all season, Higbee was only targeted 23 times before the Rams Week 8 bye Week. After that, LA switched over to a two-TE set and Higbee broke out all over the place. His final five weeks of the season were something to behold - 56 targets to tune of 43 receptions, 522 yards and two touchdowns. His final four weeks saw him get double-digit targets in each of those games, a clear sign that he’s the new focal point of the Rams offense. In trading away WR Brandin Cooks and failing to improve the offense line, the Rams two-TE set is here to stay and so should be the production of Higbee.
Fantasy Downside
At age 27, TE Tyler Higbee broke out in the final five games of the season—this isn’t something that typically happens. It’s for this reason that his production might be just a mirage that stays in 2019. Higbee certainly has the requisite size to be a star TE at 6’7” and 250 pounds, however, his lack of athleticism doesn’t compare to the truly elite TEs in the league, thus adding on to his already questionable breakout. Higbee is still sharing TE targets with an elite athlete at the position in Everett and there will always be a competition for targets with Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, so it’ll interesting to see if he can continue his elite level of production.
2020 Bottom Line
We have Higbee ranked seventh among tight ends and his current ADP in 12-team leagues has him going in the middle of the seventh round. Higbee has become a darling in the fantasy community given how ended the season, however, the small sample size has potential to trap fantasy owners given is ADP.
Week 17 vs Arizona Cardinals
Tyler Higbee's late-season surge into TE1 territory has been truly remarkable to watch. He stands as the TE9 through 15 games despite not seeing a snap share above 64% for the first 11 weeks of the season, and despite being targeted just 27 times over that same period. Higbee has lined up for 88% of the Rams' offensive snaps over the last five games, and he's not just the most-targeted tight end since Week 12; he's been the seventh-most-targeted offensive player in the league in that span.
Higbee now faces a Cardinals defense in Week 17 that has been historically bad against tight ends. They rank 27th in aFPA to the position, and Higbee stared this matchup in the face in Week 13 and laughed to the tune of seven receptions, 107 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. Higbee is a no-doubt TE1 for the final week of the regular season.
Week 16 at San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Higbee continued his recent target dominance in Week 15, garnering 14 targets and turning them into 17.1 fantasy points, the third-highest total for the week among tight ends. Over the past three weeks, Higbee as averaged the most fantasy points per game of any tight end, and that's not simply a result of his absurd target volume. Higbee's 3.48 yards per route run over that same timeframe also leads all tight ends.
Higbee's usage indicates a clear shift for the Rams offensively, as they take advantage of his skill as a blocker and receiver and the mismatches that a two-way tight end can create. The imminent return of Gerald Everett may cause concern for Higbee's target share, but Higbee maintained a sizeable snap share with Everett active before his recent breakout, and Everett's return should also mean more offensive formations utilizing both tight ends. The 49ers do own the sixth-lowest aFPA to tight ends, but they've allowed four touchdowns to the position over their last three games. Higbee is a clear TE1 start for Week 16.
Week 15 at Dallas Cowboys
If Gerald Everett continues to miss time as it appears he will this week, Tyler Higbee is an excellent option at the tight end position. Higbee has the second-highest target rate on the team over the past two games at 13.6%, and he's lined up for 94% of Los Angeles' offensive snaps in that same period. In fact, Higbee's 19 targets in Weeks 13 and 14 were tied with Zach Ertz for the most among all tight ends, while his seven red-zone targets led the position. The Cowboys rank 23rd in aFPA to tight ends and eighth in aFPA to wide receivers, which could mean Higbee could often be Goff's primary read. Watch Everett's status, and if he sits as expected, start Higbee as a TE1.
Week 14 at Seattle Seahawks
With Gerald Everett missing practice again on Thursday and looking likely to miss Sunday night's game, Tyler Higbee should once again be the starting tight end for the Rams. Last week, Higbee had seven receptions, 107 yards and a touchdown on eight targets in Everett's absence. Granted, he faced a Cardinals defense that practically puts out a welcome mat in the end zone for opposing tight ends, but the Seahawks rank 23rd in aFPA to tight ends, and that's who travels to Los Angeles in Week 14. Higbee was the highest-scoring tight end of Week 13, and while he's highly unlikely to repeat that feat against Seattle, he does remain a low-end TE1 start if Everett is ruled out as expected.
Week 13 at Arizona Cardinals
Tyler Higbee saw 70% of the Rams' offensive snaps in Week 12, a game in which Gerald Everett injured his knee. Higbee drew six targets that he converted into five receptions for just 20 yards. Should Everett miss the Rams Week 13 matchup with the Cardinals, Higbee would be a viable start as a low-end TE2.
Week 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Tyler Higbee caught one pass for nine yards in the Rams’ Week 14 loss to the Bears. The entire L.A. offense struggled against Chicago’s vaunted defense but Higbee hasn’t done much since recording a season-high 63 yards in Week 11. Ranked as our TE24 for Week 15, avoid Higbee when the Rams host the Eagles on Sunday.
Week 14 at Chicago Bears
Tyler Higbee caught two passes for 19 yards in the Rams’ Week 13 win over the Lions. Following a wild win over the Chiefs in Week 11 and then a Week 12 bye, the Rams’ passing game looked sluggish in Detroit. Even if they rebound Sunday night in Chicago against a tough Bears defense, neither Higbee nor Gerald Everett are recommended plays in Week 14. Both are outside the top-25 in our rankings this week.
