Tee Higgins has been elite at catching passes and blocking

Tee Higgins has been an exceptional player in the 2026 NFL season, particularly in terms of catching passes and blocking. Despite being overshadowed by other aspects of the Bengals' offense, Higgins has been performing exceptionally well. Through three games, he has amassed 14 catches for 244 yards, with an impressive average of 17.4 yards per reception and a touchdown. Higgins has also been off back-to-back 90-plus-yard performances, showcasing his ability to make significant plays.

Higgins' performance is further highlighted by his yardage average, which is 81.3 receiving yards per game. This projection puts him on pace for over 1,380 yards in a 17-game season, demonstrating his immense value to the team. Additionally, Higgins has shown great effectiveness as a run blocker, earning scores above 80 in both receiving and run-blocking grades. This dual-threat capability makes him a crucial asset for the Bengals.

Despite needing fewer than five receptions per game, Higgins has consistently contributed significant yardage, thanks to the Bengals' strategic usage of him. His presence on the field provides a strategic advantage to Ja'Jamr Chase, forcing defenses to allocate resources to defend against both players. This allows Joe Burrow to target whichever matchup benefits him the most.

Overall, Higgins is not only having a great start to his career but is also making it increasingly difficult for opposing defenses to decide how to handle Cincinnati's passing game. This promising development bodes well for the Bengals' offensive success in the upcoming 2026 season.