Fantasy Football Player Notes

Chase followed up a stellar rookie campaign with a banner sophomore season. He was sixth in target share (29.3%), ninth in air yard share (36.6%), and the WR4 in fantasy points per game. Despite only playing 12 regular season games, he finished third in red zone targets and fourth in total touchdowns. Chase is a top-three fantasy receiver in 2023 and a locked-in top-five pick.

Tee Higgins saw declines across the board last season as he fell from WR12 in fantasy points per game to WR26. His final stat lines look eerily similar, but we must remember he accomplished his 2021 accolades in only 14 games. Higgins saw declines in his PFF receiving grade (82.8 vs. 78.8), target share (23.9% vs. 18.6%), and yards per route run (2.18 vs. 1.80 per PFF). In 2021 Higgins competed with Ja'Marr Chase as the complimentary co-lead of the Bengals' passing attack, but we saw that change in 2022. After Chase returned in Week 13, he saw a 29.6% target share and 38.3% air yard share, while Higgins lagged at 20.2% and 31.1%. With Chase distancing himself more from Higgins in the pecking order, Higgins is best valued as a WR2 in 2023.

After back-to-back seasons as a WR3 in fantasy, Boyd dipped to WR45 in fantasy points per game last year. Boyd's target share dwindled to 13.5% (71st) as he finished outside the top 60 wide receivers in yards per route run and route win rate. Boyd isn't a sexy name to plug in your starting lineup, but he remains tied to Joe Burrow, and when the Bengals get a soft matchup against a nickel corner, expect Burrow to feed him. Despite the down season, Boyd still had two weeks with WR1 fantasy finishes and eight games with WR36 or higher fantasy output. Boyd is a WR5/6 worth a bench spot for his weekly flex week upside.