Mike

Gesicki

The Bengals’ tight end situation is a bit of a platoon, but Gesicki is the primary pass-catcher of the group. He saw the first target of the game and showcased his athleticism on a 17-yard reception. Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, and Charlie Grandy all mixed in, but Gesicki is the receiving option fantasy managers should roster. He is a fantasy TE2 heading into Week 16 against the Browns.

Gesicki played a muted role against the Cowboys as alpha wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase went absolutely ham to the tune of a 14-177-2 receiving line. Both Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample saw increased offensive snaps in this one, which is going to limit Gesicki’s upside for the remainder of the season.

The tight end finished third on the team in targets and had a solid game with the Bengals trailing and needing to throw for most of the contest. It’s unlikely that the gamescript will lead to that much throwing next week against the Cowboys, but the Bengals should be able to move the ball with ease, which could set up a touchdown opportunity for the 29-year-old. That keeps him on the low-end TE2 radar for next week.

Gesicki immediately faded into irrelevance with the return of Tee Higgins following a three-game absence for the veteran wide receiver, failing to catch either of his two targets while seeing his snap rate plummet. It appears the mid-season surge in volume and production was just a flash in the pan, with fantasy managers clear to release him back to the waiver wire void.

4/30 wouldn’t be a bad Gesicki statline were Tee Higgins in the game, but it was his worst box score with the Bengals’ No. 2 wideout on the shelf. That’s due in large part to Ja’Marr Chase taking control of the Bengals’ passing attack and going thermonuclear for 11/264/3. Gesicki almost had a touchdown on the Bengals’ opening drive, but got wrestled down at the Ravens’ two-yard line. Gesicki’s Week 11 status seems as simple as: Start him if Higgins sits, bench him if Higgins plays. The Bengals will be in L.A. to take on the Chargers.

Higgins did not practice this week and is set to miss Cincinnati’s second matchup with the Ravens. It will be his third game sidelined because of the quad injury. Mike Gesicki has operated as the Bengals’ de facto No. 2 receiver in his absence. The veteran tight end caught five passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns last week. He will remain in the TE1 ranks for a potential shootout with Baltimore. Andrei Iosivas is running plenty of routes sans Higgins but is nothing more than a touchdown-or-bust WR5.

Gesicki was once again a big beneficiary of Tee Higgins’ absence in Week 9. He was second on the team in targets, tied for second in catches, and led the team in yards. An 11-yard touchdown was Gesicki’s first of the day in the third quarter, but his day was punctuated with a 47-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter where the Raiders left him wide open on an all-out blitz. Gesicki is a low-end TE1 against the Ravens for Week 10.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor called Higgins day to day on Monday. Though he could return to practice and ultimately play on Sunday, a DNP to open the proceedings is a bad sign for his Week 9 availability. Andrei Iosivas ran a route on nearly every Joe Burrow dropback last week but did not catch a single pass. Mike Gesicki was the ancillary pass-catcher who stepped up in Higgins’ absence, reeling in seven balls for 73 yards. He will climb to the top of the TE2 rankings if Higgins is sidelined once again.

Gesicki was the Bengals’ No. 2 pass-catcher on the day, finishing second in targets and receptions to Ja’Marr Chase with Tee Higgins (quad) out. He led the team in receiving yards, running many wide receiver-like routes and operating as Joe Burrow’s safety valve. If Higgins remains out, Gesicki will be a high-end TE2 against the Raiders in Week 9.

The Bengals’ tight ends were seldom used in the team’s win over the Browns in Week 7. Gesicki was the only one to catch a pass, while Erick All, Drew Sample, and Tanner Hudson each received one target and did not catch it. Gesicki is the Bengals’ primary tight end but is no more than a deep-league dart throw moving forward.