Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow might be without his favorite target when the club faces off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins is doubtful for the divisional clash with a shoulder injury. He didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday.
Rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase led the team in receiving yards (101) in Week 1, before Tyler Boyd (73) paced the receiving corps last Sunday. However, Higgins has seen a team-high 15 targets.
The second-year Clemson product has hauled in 10 passes for 118 yards and two scores in two games this fall. He owns the lowest yards per target (7.9) among the receiving trio.
Higgins went off for a career-high seven catches in Cincinnati's first meeting against Pittsburgh last season, registering 115 yards and one score. However, he was shut down in the second tilt to the tune of just three receptions and 31 yards.
Fantasy expert Samantha Previte profiled Higgins in her Week 3 Injury-O-Meter, noting the potential ripple effects.
"This would be a major blow to the Bengals’ receiving corps given Higgins has seen the highest target share through two weeks. If he plays, consider him a WR2. If he sits out Week 3 against the Steelers, both Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd would get significant boosts and quarterback Joe Burrow would take a slight downgrade."
Cincinnati threw the ball on more than 60% of designed plays last season. Head coach Zac Taylor's balancing the scales so far, throwing on just 54.5% of snaps.
The Bengals are three-point road favorites at DraftKings, with the total at 43.
