Tee Higgins: A Reincarnation Of AJ Green?
Replicating the success of AJ Green is a near-impossible task. One of the modern game’s most gifted receivers and a treasure to the city of Cincinnati, the longtime Bengals standout has thrilled audiences with a ridiculous catch radius combined with silky smooth route running and prowess after the catch, making him a dream on tape and in the stats.
Finding “the next AJ Green” is a brutal goal, but the Bengals themselves have certainly put great effort into that task, as rookie wideout Tee Higgins will tell you. A terrific receiver at Clemson, he fell to the Queen City in the early second round, paralleling a decision the franchise made a decade ago.
In 2011, the Bengals drafted Green in the first round, soon drafting Andy Dalton in the following round. Nine years later, quarterback Joe Burrow was taken first overall, and the organization saw fit to give him some help at the receiving front with Higgins. In short, the NFL is a cycle, and this cycle looks to achieve the same success Green and Dalton did.
Fortunately for Cincinnati, the selection has impressed thus far, as Higgins has been quite productive through eight games. In this span, he has caught 33 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns. FantasyData has him ranked 22nd among all receivers in fantasy points through week eight (69.6). In regards to his class, he’s third among all rookies, only trailing Chase Claypool and Justin Jefferson in fantasy output.
Higgins has met exact expectations and is on track for a cozy rookie season, and to me, he has the skill-set to be an impact player for a long time. That goes for in the league and in dynasty, so let’s take a look and see what he has to offer in his enticing bag of tricks.
One of the first things to stand out about Higgins is his physical appearance. At 6’4 he’s the exact same height as Green, in addition to being around his weight as well (Higgins’ 216 to Green’s 210). Higgins combines that physique with a unique wide wingspan thanks to his long, tentacle-like arms.
Receivers are taught not to catch with the body, and these bad boys Higgins refers to as arms stretch far enough for him to quickly lasso in some passes from Burrow, even if the ball is a bit late or underthrown.
With a good out route, Higgins separates and is able to corral this in. Burrow isn’t known for having exceptional arm strength, so this pass floats in the air for a significant amount of time. But whereas a lesser rookie may have this pass broken up, Higgins’ long arms give him the advantage, as it helps strengthen his frame and make it difficult to break into his security.
Separation is the most important thing for a receiver to do outside of catching the ball. Green could do both with relative ease in his prime, and Higgins, though with fewer opportunities, has shown the ability to consistently separate against his foes.
This slant route is distinct because of how it’s executed. Normally these routes have quick, jerky footwork that allows receivers to create an instant window to throw into, but Higgins uses a far more cautious approach. Here, his hesitant footwork manipulates the corner like a puppet, bending him to his will. His controlled acceleration allows him to sneak in a burst off his left foot, letting him break inside for an easy first-down catch.
Higgins tends to face softer coverage than, say Green, but that doesn’t mean what he’s been asked to do isn’t all that impressive. Getting back to the physique comparisons between the two, the most appealing part of Higgins’ game is his ability to make mind-bending receptions at the catch point.
Check this out; There are three defenders breathing on Higgins with the breath of vengeance, so in addition to Burrow having to make a tight throw to the middle of the field, the fellow rookie receiver has to be trusted to snatch this out of the air and out of harm’s way.
He does so.
This catch has the incredible law-defying concentration that reminds me of a player like Tyler Lockett. Lockett catches the tightest of throws regardless of how big or small the window crease is, and Higgins understands he’ll have to sacrifice his body in order to successfully complete this process of a catch.
Going up against Denzel Ward on this play, Higgins gets away with a push-off, but does it subtly, allowing him to connect with Burrow on the back shoulder toss. This is a move veterans like DeAndre Hopkins have been able to execute flawlessly, infuriating opposing fans and players for years, so to see Higgins showcase this same skill is pretty impressive at a rookie level.
Of course, Higgins’ most iconic catch to date comes from week eight against the Jaguars, where AJ Green comparisons geysered for good. Though he fails to separate initially, once Burrow buys time so does his receiver.
The aggressive hands work way better than having the ball land in his body, and as the ball thus arrives in his hands quicker, Higgins is able to concentrate on contorting his lower body and keep his feet in bounds. His footwork is crazy good, as a simple toe-tap sets up the first half of the completion of a reception. Next, Higgins clings the ball to his chest as he braces for impact with the turf, making this a football move and allowing him to establish control for a marvelous play.
Like most rookies, Tee Higgins has had some issues with drops, as Pro Football Reference has him down with five. I would also like to see him face more opportunities against press coverage to prove himself. Otherwise, however, Higgins has the kind of skill set that echoes a younger, less refined AJ Green, where his skills at the catch point and at any length of the field are superb.
Despite some rookie pains, Higgins looks smooth as a route runner and in terms of concentration and spatial awareness. He’s versatile in usage, as he operates as both Burrow’s safety blanket (in addition to Tyler Boyd) and a vertical threat as well. With quality technique against coverage and phenomenal hands, Higgins has the kind of skill set that at full health should help him last a long time as a favorite for Burrow and for dynasty leagues alike.
It’ll take some time before we see something truly as good as AJ Green’s 2013, but Higgins is crafted from a similar mold in terms of skill set, and he’s a must-have for dynasty owners willing to make future investments in some fresh rookie receiving talent.
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