In 2025, the Bengals gave Tee Higgins $115 million to be their No. 2 target, but a year later, he’s playing like a true top option

Tee Higgins is performing like a true top receiving option for the Cincinnati Bengals five games into the 2026 season. After signing a four-year, $115 million contract last offseason alongside Ja'Marr Chase's extension, Higgins entered Week 6 as one of eight NFL receivers with at least 400 receiving yards. Despite matching Chase with 27 receptions, Higgins has recorded 134 more yards while producing superior efficiency numbers across the opening month.

A to Z Sports highlights that Higgins ranks 12th among starting receivers with 2.49 yards per route run, including an NFL-best 5.76 yards per route run against man coverage. While Chase leads in touchdown catches with four to Higgins' one, the report notes that Higgins' early-season surge strongly validates the organization's heavily scrutinized decision to commit massive financial resources to both wide receivers simultaneously.