Around the NFL

February 25, 2025

Cincinnati prepared to ante up

Bengals expect to sign Higgins, Chase to long-term deals

The Bengals are hopeful they can sign both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term deals, says the team’s director of player personnel.

The expectation is that Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, and the Tobin believes they’ll have more than enough money to also retain Higgins while adding other options.

“We are fortunate. We’ve got a lot of really good football players, fantastic football players, and we’re fortunate to be in position to fit them all in,” Tobin says. “We’ve managed our cap well. We’ve got low debt money. We want a high payroll and low-debt money, so the people in Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money. That’s what we want. We’re in position to sign these guys, and it’s a good position to be in. It really is. We’re going to attack it. We don’t want to just re-sign these guys and have the same football team we had last year. We want to add to it as well.”

If Chase and Higgins are both coming back, that probably will nudge Joe Burrow to the top of some people’s quarterbacks boards. (I’ll definitely be thinking about it.) And Chase today is looking like the game’s No. 1 receiver.

Higgins had some injury issues last year, but when he was healthy, he put up about the best non-Chase receiving numbers in the league. Looking at per-start production in PPR leagues, Chase and Higgins ranked 1st and 3rd among wide receivers last year.

It’s unusual for teams to have two top-10 wide receivers in the same season. It’s happened only 22 times in the last quarter century.

In chronological order …

TEAMS WITH TWO TOP-10 RECEIVERS (per start)
Year	Player	St	No	Yards	TD	PPR	Rk
2000	Rod Smith, Den.	16	6.3	100.1	.56	20.3	3
2000	Ed McCaffrey, Den.	16	6.3	82.3	.58	18.0	7
2000	Randy Moss, Min.	16	4.8	89.8	.96	19.6	4
2000	Cris Carter, Min.	16	6.0	79.6	.56	17.3	10
2000	Isaac Bruce, St.L.	16	5.4	91.9	.56	18.1	6
2000	Torry Holt, St.L.	16	5.1	102.2	.38	17.6	8
2002	Eric Moulds, Buff.	16	6.3	80.4	.63	18.1	5
2002	Peerless Price, Buff.	16	5.9	78.3	.56	17.0	6
2004	Marvin Harrison, Ind.	16	5.4	69.6	.94	18.0	6
2004	Reggie Wayne, Ind.	16	4.8	75.6	.75	16.9	9
2005	Anquan Boldin, Ariz.	14	7.3	100.1	.52	20.8	2
2005	Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	16	6.4	88.1	.63	19.3	4
2005	Chad Johnson, Cin.	16	6.1	89.5	.56	18.6	5
2005	T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.	14	5.6	68.3	.57	16.3	10
2006	T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.	14	6.4	77.2	.64	18.1	3
2006	Chad Johnson, Cin.	16	5.4	85.6	.44	16.8	10
2006	Marvin Harrison, Ind.	16	5.9	85.4	.75	19.0	1
2006	Reggie Wayne, Ind.	16	5.4	81.9	.58	17.1	5
2007	Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	15	6.7	93.9	.67	20.1	4
2007	Anquan Boldin, Ariz.	12	5.9	71.1	.75	17.6	10
2007	T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.	16	7.0	71.4	.75	18.7	7
2007	Chad Johnson, Cin.	16	5.8	90.0	.50	18.1	8
2008	Anquan Boldin, Ariz.	12	7.4	86.5	.92	22.1	1
2008	Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	16	6.0	89.4	.75	19.4	3
2009	Wes Welker, N.E.	14	8.8	96.3	.29	20.4	2
2009	Randy Moss, N.E.	16	5.2	79.0	.83	18.1	5
2010	Austin Collie, Ind.	9	6.4	72.1	.89	19.0	5
2010	Reggie Wayne, Ind.	16	6.9	84.7	.38	17.7	8
2011	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	16	4.3	78.9	.94	17.8	4
2011	Greg Jennings, G.B.	13	5.2	73.0	.69	16.6	10
2013	Brandon Marshall, Chi.	16	6.3	80.9	.79	19.1	6
2013	Alshon Jeffery, Chi.	16	5.6	88.8	.46	17.9	9
2013	Demaryius Thomas, Den.	16	5.8	89.4	.88	19.9	3
2013	Eric Decker, Den.	16	5.4	80.5	.69	17.6	10
2014	Demaryius Thomas, Den.	16	6.9	101.2	.71	21.3	3
2014	Emmanuel Sanders, Den.	16	6.3	87.8	.58	18.9	7
2014	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	16	6.1	94.9	.81	20.5	4
2014	Randall Cobb, G.B.	16	5.7	80.4	.77	18.6	8
2018	Antonio Brown, Pitt.	15	6.9	86.5	1.00	21.6	2
2018	JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.	16	6.9	89.1	.46	18.7	9
2019	Chris Godwin, T.B.	14	6.1	95.2	.67	19.7	2
2019	Mike Evans, T.B.	13	5.2	89.0	.64	17.9	5
2021	Chris Godwin, T.B.	14	7.0	78.8	.43	17.6	7
2021	Mike Evans, T.B.	16	4.6	64.7	.88	16.4	10
2024	Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.	17	7.5	100.5	1.00	23.7	1
2024	Tee Higgins, Cin.	12	6.1	75.9	.75	18.7	3

At the same time, this is tackle football. If there’s one certainty, it’s that there will be significant changes every year, with injuries, personnel alterations and guys simply not playing as well. Of those 42 previous top-10 receivers, only 12 averaged top-10 per-game numbers again the next season. (That’s when measuring them against other receivers who started at least half the season).

Of those previous 21 pairs of top-10 receivers, only three came back the next year, with both guys again in the top 10. Two of those pairs, at least, were Cincinnati pairs – going back almost 20 years, when Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh were catching balls from Carson Palmer.

In chart below, guys who again finished with top-10 numbers are tagged with black dots.

TOP-10 RECEIVING PAIRS -- THE NEXT SEASON
Year	Player	St	No	Yds	TD	PPR	Rk
2001	• Rod Smith, Den.	15	7.5	89.5	.76	21.2	2
2001	Ed McCaffrey, Den.	1	6.0	94.0	1.00	21.4	--
2001	• Randy Moss, Min.	16	5.1	77.1	.63	16.8	8
2001	Cris Carter, Min.	16	4.6	54.4	.38	12.3	30
2001	Isaac Bruce, St.L.	16	4.0	69.1	.38	13.3	26
2001	Torry Holt, St.L.	16	5.1	85.2	.44	16.2	12
2003	Eric Moulds, Buff.	13	4.9	60.0	.08	11.4	28
2003	Peerless Price, Atl.	16	4.0	52.4	.19	10.4	34
2005	• Marvin Harrison, Ind.	15	5.5	76.4	.80	17.9	7
2005	Reggie Wayne, Ind.	16	5.2	65.9	.31	13.7	18
2006	Anquan Boldin, Ariz.	16	5.2	75.2	.25	14.4	20
2006	Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	13	5.3	72.8	.46	15.4	15
2006	• Chad Johnson, Cin.	16	5.4	85.6	.44	16.8	10
2006	• T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.	14	6.4	77.2	.64	18.1	3
2007	• T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.	16	7.0	71.4	.75	18.7	7
2007	• Chad Johnson, Cin.	16	5.8	90.0	.50	18.1	8
2007	Marvin Harrison, Ind.	5	4.0	49.4	.20	10.1	--
2007	• Reggie Wayne, Ind.	16	6.5	94.4	.63	19.7	5
2008	• Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	16	6.0	89.4	.75	19.4	3
2008	• Anquan Boldin, Ariz.	12	7.4	86.5	.92	22.1	1
2008	T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.	15	6.1	60.3	.27	13.8	20
2008	Chad Johnson, Cin.	13	4.1	41.5	.31	10.1	44
2009	Anquan Boldin, Ariz.	15	5.6	68.3	.33	14.5	16
2009	• Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	16	6.1	68.3	.81	17.8	7
2010	Wes Welker, N.E.	15	5.7	56.5	.48	14.3	26
2010	Randy Moss, 3 tms	12	2.3	31.3	.42	7.9	65
2011	Austin Collie, Ind.	16	3.4	32.1	.06	7.0	62
2011	Reggie Wayne, Ind.	16	4.7	60.0	.25	12.2	30
2012	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	12	4.1	62.1	.61	14.0	21
2012	Greg Jennings, G.B.	8	4.5	45.8	.50	12.1	37
2014	Brandon Marshall, Chi.	13	4.7	55.5	.62	13.9	22
2014	Alshon Jeffery, Chi.	16	5.3	70.8	.63	16.4	12
2014	• Demaryius Thomas, Den.	16	6.9	101.2	.71	21.3	3
2014	Eric Decker, NYJ	15	4.9	64.1	.33	13.3	28
2015	Demaryius Thomas, Den.	16	6.6	81.5	.38	17.0	15
2015	Emmanuel Sanders, Den.	15	5.1	75.7	.40	15.2	21
2015	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	0	.0	.0	.00	.0	--
2015	Randall Cobb, G.B.	16	4.9	51.8	.44	13.1	30
2019	Antonio Brown, N.E.	1	4.0	56.0	1.00	16.1	--
2019	JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt.	12	3.5	46.0	.25	9.6	60
2020	Chris Godwin, T.B.	12	5.4	70.0	.58	15.9	15
2020	Mike Evans, T.B.	16	4.4	62.9	.81	15.5	16
2022	Chris Godwin, T.B.	15	6.9	68.2	.22	15.1	14
2022	Mike Evans, T.B.	15	5.1	74.9	.40	15.0	17
2025	Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.	?	?	?	?	?	?
2025	Tee Higgins, Cin.	?	?	?	?	?	?

—Ian Allan

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Around the NFL

Cincinnati prepared to ante up

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service