The Bengals have been easing WR Tee Higgins into practice so far in training camp, after his pursuit of a long-term contract kept him away from spring workouts. The team also is going without WR Ja'Marr Chase, who's in camp but not practicing as he seeks an extension. That has left opportunities for other wideouts, and second-year WR Andrei Iosivas has impressed, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.
Dehner: "On Wednesday, he spent the entire day working the slot for the first time in his life. He looked like he belonged, even beating Mike Hilton in seven-on-seven on a cross over the middle. On Thursday, he moved back outside and caught everything thrown his way."
WRs coach Troy Walters: "He had a great spring. You want to get your best three players on the field. Right now, he’s probably No. 3 and playing well. We had to find a way to get him on the field. He processes quickly and does everything you ask. He’ll probably grow into that role and see if he can handle it."
Iosivas vs. rookie Jermaine Burton looks like one of the most interesting battles in Bengals camp.
Best ball ADP has dramatically favored Burton so far. He sits WR69 in Underdog Fantasy ADP as of this writing, vs. Iosivas all the way down at WR107.
Our half-PPR WR rankings look similar, with Burton at WR76 and Iosivas at WR114 in 3D Value points. But that could certainly change based on camp buzz and preseason usage.
We'll also see how long Chase remains on the sideline, though we wouldn't bet on him carrying his hold-in to a point that jeopardizes the start of his season.
Burton's the dynasty bet between these two, even if Iosivas hits the regular season ahead of him on the depth chart.
That said, Higgins' expiring contract and this offseason's departure of WR Tyler Boyd leaves room for both young wideouts to fit into the team's 2025 top 3.
Now might be a good time to pursue Iosivas either on waivers or a cheap trade offer in your dynasty league.
Keep in mind, though, that Iosivas will already turn 25 in mid-October. That's old for a second-year player.
The Bengals drafted WR Charlie Jones two rounds before selecting Iosivas in last year's draft. But he doesn't appear to be competing with his classmate and Burton for roles.
That's especially bad news for a guy who entered the league as an old prospect. (Jones will turn 26 on Oct. 29.)
We're not changing much yet, but watch for a potential Iosivas climb. And keep him in mind at the end of best ball tournament drafts if you've already rostered QB Joe Burrow.
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