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Eight weeks into the NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has established himself as one of the top performers at his position. Having already taken his bye week, Higgins has recorded 43 receptions for 726 yards and four touchdowns, placing him eighth in receptions, second in yards, and eighth in touchdowns across the league.
Historic Pace and Efficiency
On a per-game basis, Higgins is averaging career highs with 6.1 receptions and 103.7 yards, putting him on pace for a full-season total of 104 catches, 1,763 yards, and 10 scores. Such numbers have been matched or exceeded only six times in NFL history, achieved previously by Jerry Rice and Isaac Bruce in 1995, Antonio Brown in 2015, Cooper Kupp in 2021, Tyreek Hill in 2023, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2025.
Higgins currently shares the exact same number of targets and receptions as teammate Ja’Marr Chase, yet he holds 234 more receiving yards than Chase. According to Tru Media, Higgins is experiencing career-best efficiency, being targeted at his highest rate on routes and converting those opportunities into yards, first downs, explosive plays, and expected points at unprecedented levels.
Contested Catches and Tight-Window Success
Higgins continues to excel in making difficult, contested catches by using his frame to shield defenders from passes delivered by Joe Burrow. NFL Pro data shows Higgins ranks 10th in the league in tight-window receiving yardage despite sitting 25th in tight-window targets, having caught 60% of passes thrown in his direction in those situations to claim the third-best catch rate among players with at least 10 such targets.
His average separation on targets stands at just 2.5 yards, marking the 10th-lowest figure among 138 qualified pass-catchers and demonstrating Burrow’s deep trust in him. Higgins remains particularly lethal on back-shoulder throws, using his deep-threat presence to freeze defenders before contorting to secure the ball underneath.
Expanded Route Tree and Middle-of-the-Field Impact
Beyond his traditional strengths, Higgins has diversified his offensive contributions this season, notably in the off-schedule passing game. Tru Media notes he already has more receptions and receiving yards on throws occurring at least 2.5 seconds after the snap than he managed during the entirety of last year.
Traditionally operating as an X receiver primarily outside the numbers, Higgins has incorporated more digs, posts, and slants into his route tree this year. This adjustment yielded 470 receiving yards on throws between the numbers, a new career high built on 29 receptions from 33 targets.
Furthermore, Higgins’ yards-after-catch numbers have rebounded, increasing by nearly a full yard per catch compared to last season despite an average target depth of 13.62 yards downfield. This evolution has transformed the Bengals’ offense, bridging the production gap between him and Chase as the season progresses.
