Fantasy Football Week 7 Thursday Wide Receiver Who Should I Start? Tee Higgins, Jakobi Meyers, and More

Maybe no player was affected more in fantasy football by the loss of Joe Burrow than Tee Higgins. Keeping Higgins in Cincinnati was a major point of consternation during contract negotiations, making it seem as if he were an essential player, but the reality is that he's the clear second receiver, and when the level of play under center goes down, the secondary pass catcher feels it most.

That has him out of the weekly fantasy starters and into the large group of receivers who must be vetted based on matchups each week. With a more questionable fantasy status, owners are doing a lot of investigation into Higgins' place in the Week 7 hierarchy.

Let's look at Higgins and four receivers who he has been matched up with often on the FantasySP start/sit tool. We'll do a head-to-head quick-hit exercise to determine the best starter in each situation. Most stats are from NFL.com.

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Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

In the four full games since Burrow went down, Higgins has averaged just three receptions and 32.8 yards per game while scoring once. For comparison, Ja'Marr Chase averaged 6.5 catches and 69.3 yards with three touchdowns during that time. Higgins has been a fringe fantasy player without his QB.

The Bengals traded for Joe Flacco in an attempt to salvage the season, and he started last week after just a few days in the building. Chase caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown, while Higgins had five receptions and 62 yards; it was Higgins' best game without Burrow.

Maybe that means better things are coming, but I'm still skeptical of Higgins. Chase is a must-start player, but Higgins must be evaluated each week before he can just be inserted into lineups.

The Steelers are right in the middle in both yards per pass attempt allowed and fantasy points given up to wide receivers. They started poorly against the pass, getting beat up by Justin Fields and Sam Darnold, but things have looked better the past few weeks; the makings of a good defense are here.

In a middling matchup with Flacco under center, I'm not excited about Higgins. He has some value, but there are also plenty of better players you can find. Higgins is in the WR3/4/flex range under consideration.

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles

After a three-game suspension to start the season, Addison returned for a game in Ireland, a game in England, and the bye week. He racked up nine catches, 155 yards, and a touchdown overseas, fine production for the team's second receiver. Like Higgins, Addison has a big-time receiver in front of him who will always steal the spotlight, but Addison is good enough to still make an impact.

While the Eagles are trending the wrong way, they still present only a middling matchup at best. Philadelphia has given up the seventh-fewest yards per pass attempt while ranking right in the middle in fantasy points given up to receivers.

Quinyon Mitchell suffered an injury last week and is questionable, and his absence would make things easier for Minnesota's passing game. I still expect better things from a talented group of players in Philadelphia, but the numbers point toward a bit of vulnerability.

Advice: Start Jordan Addison over Tee Higgins. I'm not enthused about either guy this week, but I like Minnesota's outlook a little more coming off the bye.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

Doubs continues as one of the top targets in Green Bay while they await the return of injured receivers. Doubs and rookie Matthew Golden have been leading the way, sharing the top role depending on the game. Last week, Doubs had nine targets, and no other Packer had more than five.

Arizona has a good pass defense, allowing the ninth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to WRs. They haven't rated out as a top defensive unit, but the Cardinals are better than average and have a deep group of skilled players who are likely to continue playing well.

I'm not a fan of going after the Cardinals, though injuries are tearing apart the defense right now. Doubs is something close to the top option in Green Bay, but he shares that distinction with at least one other guy (and maybe tight end Tucker Kraft as well). Doubs is an OK player to put into your lineup but not a great option, much like Higgins.

Advice: Start Tee Higgins over Romeo Doubs, though it's close.

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs

Meyers is the top receiver on the Raiders, and he has been the top pass catcher overall with Brock Bowers out. Meyers leads the team in targets and receptions, though fellow receiver Tre Tucker is at the top with 356 yards and four touchdowns. The Las Vegas offense has been shaky, leaving both receivers as questionable options.

Meyers is also dealing with a few minor injuries, and while he's expected to play, it's another thing to worry about. There's more going against the Raiders right now than working for them.

Kansas City is right in the middle in yards per pass attempt allowed, but they have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. The lower fantasy score comes because the Chiefs have allowed just five touchdowns to WRs, including only two in the past five games.

Advice: Start Tee Higgins over Jakobi Meyers. Kansas City poses a tough matchup, and injuries are hurting the Raiders' offense right now, allowing teams to key in more on the top guys who remain, like Meyers.

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It seems right to finish with another secondary receiver, and Williams really might be the fourth option in the passing game behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs.

He subsists on big gains, which are great when they happen, but they leave for more inconsistency. Williams has two games this season in which he went over 60 yards and had a touchdown, but there are two others in which he combined for just 29 yards. The final two contests each produced around two catches and 40 yards from Williams, low fantasy scores.

Tampa Bay has allowed the eighth-most yards per pass attempt, but they are another team right in the middle in fantasy points given up to wide receivers. A poor performance from Philadelphia receivers in Week 4 pulls things down, but the Bucs have otherwise allowed over 170 receiving yards and one touchdown per game to WRs.

Advice: Start Jameson Williams over Tee Higgins. I don't generally like counting on boom-or-bust players like Williams, but the matchup is in his favor, and Higgins isn't showing must consistency to offset the high-ceiling, low-floor nature of Williams' game.