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Don’t Trust the Box Score: The Tee Higgins Revival Starts Now

Trust The Film
Fantasy football is all about the box score: Yards and TDs equal fantasy points, and fantasy points win your league.
But not every 5-100-1 is built the same. That’s why we use not only advanced analytics, but also film to identify talented players on the verge of delivering numbers.
Every week, I’ll bring my 21 years of experience analyzing college and NFL film to highlight when the box score doesn't match reality, showcasing a few players who performed significantly better or worse than the box score indicates.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins had his best game of the season with Joe Flacco under center after only a few days on the team, catching five of eight targets for 62 yards. The year has been filled with disappointing box scores for Higgins, especially considering his third-round PPR ADP.
Replacing Joe Burrow with Jake Browning contributed to the slow start, but Flacco offers hope that Higgins can return to form. His film shows a talented player ready to thrive once he builds chemistry with his new QB.

On this play, Higgins settles into a short curl against Green Bay’s deep zone. He turns upfield and converts the first down. As the first read, it’s an easy throw for Flacco that lets Higgins show off his yards-after-catch ability.
The Bengals’ simplified scheme with Flacco made curls a staple route for Higgins. He consistently found the right depth and space against zone coverage.

Here, Higgins runs a slant with a clean release. He throttles down in front of the linebacker, keeping space between levels of the defense.
It’s a clinic in helping the QB: Higgins’ awareness of the coverage creates an easy window for Flacco despite tight traffic around him.

Flacco evades pressure and rolls right, toward Higgins’ side. Higgins finishes his route, then freelances upfield past the defender. Flacco targets him deep, but the throw comes up short.
It’s the kind of play that could have gone for a long gain, even a touchdown, with more timing between the two.
Once they develop chemistry, those plays should start to hit -- and the fantasy points will follow.
Higgins Ready to Take Off
Higgins’ box score could have been bigger if he and Flacco were more in sync. The offense stayed simple, with few route combinations, which limited explosive opportunities.
When Higgins returns to the deep posts and corner routes he excelled at last season, production should climb.
Flacco has the arm and instincts to get him there.
Now might be the time to buy Higgins before the connection fully clicks.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Omarion Hampton’s ankle injury landed him on injured reserve, opening the backfield to Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins. After a 50-50 split in Week 5, the situation looked murky.
But Vidal emerged in Week 6, rushing 18 times for 124 yards and adding 3 catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. Haskins managed just 21 total yards on seven touches.
Still, Vidal’s film reveals some red flags.

Vidal hits a wide-open lane off-tackle but fails to adjust with a cut at the second level. He runs into his own blocker. Turning straight upfield would have gained more yards, especially if he’d broken another tackle.
His indecisiveness led to several missed opportunities.

Here, Vidal has a clear hole to follow but hesitates again, dancing in the backfield and changing direction. Instead of taking the sure yards, he hunts for a big play and loses ground.
Part of the issue is vision, but Vidal also lacks the power to finish through contact.

On this play, Vidal is overly patient instead of driving into the pile for a few yards. He’s tracked down from the side and goes down quickly.
He won’t create his own space between the tackles, though he does have the acceleration to exploit outside runs with proper blocking.

Here, Vidal breaks a one-armed tackle near the edge and takes a clean angle to the sideline for a big run. With a solid seal block, his burst outside can produce chunk plays.
Still, this type of run was rare, as the Chargers struggled to keep defenders from sealing the edge against a weak Dolphins defense.

Vidal catches a pass in the flat with no defender in range, turning it into an easy touchdown.
He displayed reliable hands throughout the game but had trouble finding soft spots in zone coverage. His route awareness may limit his effectiveness against stronger defenses.
Stay Cautious with Vidal
Vidal outperformed Haskins but didn’t show starting-caliber traits. He offers burst and receiving ability but lacks the instincts and suddenness to consistently create against quality defenses.
The week before, Rico Dowdle went 23-206-1 on the ground against the same Dolphins unit and looked far more polished. Don’t expect Vidal to sustain similar production.
Treat him as a matchup-dependent flex, not a locked-in RB2. If his value rises, consider selling.
The Chargers’ RB situation could also shift quickly. The team has explored trade options, and a move remains possible.
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
The Jets had one of the worst offensive performances of the season in Week 6. The team officially finished with minus-10 passing yards after nine sacks from the Broncos defense and only 45 yards passing from Justin Fields.
That meant leaning on the run -- and on Hall. He ended with 22 rushes for just 59 yards, but the film shows an RB still playing at an elite level.

Hall runs off-tackle, but the hole closes with a strong push from the defense. An average back likely gets dropped for no gain or tries to cut back and loses yards.
Instead, Hall drives forward and keeps his legs churning, turning nothing into a 2-yard gain.
It might not show up in the box score, but that play highlights Hall’s toughness and control.

By the time Hall gets the ball on this play, a defender has already filled the hole. It should be a loss, but Hall’s awareness and burst take the play outside. He slips an arm tackle for a 6-yard gain.

On another play, defenders close in before Hall reaches the line, but he jukes through both to pick up 8 yards.
Once again, his explosiveness turns a loss into a gain. He nearly breaks free if Josh Reynolds holds his block on the edge.
Trust The Talent
Hall’s skills haven’t diminished. He’s playing some of the best football of his career, but it isn’t translating to fantasy points because of the Jets' offense.
Trade rumors have followed him, and a change of scenery would help. The lack of a passing game has allowed defenses to stack the box, while mismatches along the offensive line have limited Hall’s running room.
If the Jets offense improves -- or Hall lands somewhere better -- his acceleration, balance, and footwork should make him a fantasy force again.
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