Tyler

Higbee

Higbee tore his ACL and MCL in LA’s Wild Card Round loss to the Lions. He was taken down on a blindside hit to the leg. Though Snead didn’t set a timeline for his recovery, it’s safe to assume Higbee will not be available for the first month of the season. He could miss more than half of the year. Davis Allen didn’t do much in his rookie season but did serve as Higbee’s backup for the majority of his debut campaign. He could be in line for a larger workload in year two.

Higbee was injured on a blindside low hit. The same type of hit that led to knee injuries for both T.J. Hockenson and Sam LaPorta earlier in the season. It seems like a fairly simple tackle to get out of the game, and one that might prevent a lot of knee injuries. In Higbee’s case, he will undergo surgery and almost certainly will miss the start of the season, most likely at least the first half of the season. That could lead to a bigger workload in 2024 for rookie TE Davis Allen.

Higbee took a low hit to his knee from safety Kerby Joseph and left the field only to never return. Sunday’s loss only adds insult to injury, as the Rams’ season is now over and Higbee will spend all offseason recovering from his injury in hopes of being ready for Week 1. Higbee will have an MRI to confirm the full extent of his injury.

Higbee left the game in the fourth quarter after a low hit that resulted in his knee being bent awkwardly. He ends the 2023 season as the TE21 in PPR points per game, a massive slide after back-to-back productive seasons. Rookie tight end Davis Allen also came on strong to end the season and could eat into the veteran’s snap rate in 2024 while playing on the first year of a two-year contract extension signed in September of the 2023 season.

Higbee missed a mostly meaningless Week 18 game with the shoulder issue and was limited in practice for all three sessions this week. He looks likely to suit up for LA’s playoff opener versus Detroit. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp soaking up most of the targets for LA, Higbee will be one of the weaker options at tight end this weekend.

Higbee was held out of Week 18’s contest against the 49ers, but the Rams rested several starters last weekend with their playoff spot already secured. He suffered a dislocated shoulder in Week 17, but with nearly two full weeks to recover, we’d expect Higbee to be good to go barring any unexpected announcements.

Higbee suffered a dislocated shoulder in Week 17. With the Rams stuck at either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, they can afford to rest their starters with no repercussions. Davis Allen will likely start in Higbee’s place. When Higbee was out in Week 14, Allen turned five targets into four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.

If he’s able to go in Week 18, Higbee will have some TE2 upside in the final week of the season. With that said, the Rams have already secured a wild card spot and could opt to play it safe with their veteran tight end. Higbee has had an up-and-down season for the Rams this year and is coming off a season-high six receptions vs. the Giants.

Higbee was more involved in the Rams’ game plan this week than in any game over the past two months. He earned a season-high in receptions and the last time he went for more than 60 yards was in Week 4. Though it’s hard to bet on this type of usage continuing into Week 18, it does give him life as a TE2 for fantasy managers still playing. Higbee will look to replicate the solid outing versus the 49ers.

Higbee was one of just four Rams to draw a single target in a narrowly-concentrated evening for Matthew Stafford. Cool, though Higbee has now been held below 40 yards receiving in six straight starts. He’s undoubtedly being hurt by the surprisingly productive emergence of DeMarcus Robinson as the Rams’ new No. 3 wideout. You can do better in your TE2 spot for Week 17 against the Giants.