Taylor: Chase and Higgins on pace to play Week 1

Chase suffered the brain injury in Week 4 and did not return. He entered the league’s concussion protocol after the game. Taylor didn’t give much of an update on where he stands for Week 5, but Chase has several hurdles to clear before he is given the green light. He is likely on the wrong side of questionable to start the week, but it’s too early to say anything definitively. If he can’t go, Tee Higgins, who is dealing with an injury of his own, would take on the lion’s share of the targets in the Cincy offense.

Chase exited Week 4’s game against the Jaguars with a brain injury and didn’t return to the game. He will now need to clear a series of tests in the coming days if he hopes to be cleared in time to play in the Bengals’ Week 5 game against the Dolphins. Chase caught three passes for 27 yards before leaving Sunday’s game against the Jaguars and has caught 21 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns this season. If he’s unable to play, Dohnte Meyers, who has seen 14 targets over the last two weeks, could be worth a stash in deeper leagues with Tee Higgins (adductor) also considered day-to-day to start the week.

Chase exited in the first half after his facemask was pulled by a Jaguars defender and his head slammed against the ground. He headed to the locker room to be evaluated for the concussion and was promptly ruled out coming out of halftime. Chase’s day ends after catching three targets for 27 yards. Tee Higgins will see a big boost in targets with Chase out while Dohnte Meyers will also see an uptick in usage.

Chase was injured after a second quarter facemask penalty by a Jaguars defender. His neck whipped back as he was taken to the ground and he promptly exited the game. After a brief amount of time in the blue tent, Chase headed to the locker room. The Bengals announced he is being evaluated for a concussion but a locker room visit indicates Chase is on the wrong side of questionable.

Chase’s 12 targets led the Bengals in this one. The star receiver caught all three of his targets on the Bengals’ first drive of the game, with his last target resulting in a three-yard touchdown. Chase would come up with a big 21-yard reception on a fourth-and-two in the third quarter that helped set up Evan McPherson for an eventual field goal and came up with two catches on third downs to extend drives. Chase has now scored in back-to-back games and has a dominant 16-173-3 line on 21 targets over that span. As usual, he’ll be a must-start in Week 4 against the Jaguars in a game that could have plenty of scoring.

His first touchdown was a breathtaking back-shoulder ball that required picture-perfect foot dragging to bring in for a score — it was such a good catch that CBS play-by-play man Kevin Harlan didn’t actually believe it was a touchdown at first. He added a second touchdown out of structure when Joe Burrow drifted to the right of the pocket and lured Reed Blankenship up to create a hole for Chase. Fantasy’s WR1 is back at it again and should (obviously) be started and trusted against the Steelers in Week 3.

Typically if you see 33 points for the Bengals, you are going to assume a big day for the No. 1 wideout, especially vs. an undermanned secondary. It wasn’t meant to be for whatever reason — one reason was short fields set up by Bucs turnovers — with Joe Burrow looking Chase’s way on only four of 35 attempts. Burrow was also more focused on the middle of the field than the boundary. It continues Burrow and Chase’s baffling habit of quiet Week 1 efforts, but there is nothing to read in to it heading into Week 2. Chase will be a locked-and-loaded WR1 vs. an elite Texans defense smarting for a Week 1 collapse vs. Buffalo.

Chase was a full participant in each of the Bengals’ first two practices to start the week and is good to go for Week 1, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Chase can be trusted as a high-end WR1 for fantasy players in a matchup against the Buccaneers that should be ripe for fantasy points.

Chase’s participation actually exceeds expectations. Beginning the week with a limited session would have been unsurprising. The Bengals’ star wide receiver hyperextended his knee on August 25th, but he is now good to go. Treat Chase as an elite WR1, per usual.

Tee Higgins (heel contusion) was also spotted at practice after both players were said to be limited participants last week. The Bengals won’t release their first official injury report of the week until Wednesday, but it doesn’t sound like either Chase or Higgins is at risk of missing Week 1’s game against the Buccaneers. As usual, Chase profiles as a high-end fantasy WR1, while Higgins should be viewed more as a WR2 with WR1 upside in any given week.