Tag: Chigoziem Okonkwo

Titans offseason preview at TE: Pending free agents, biggest needs

In our latest installment of offseason previews for the Tennessee Titans, we take a look at the tight end position.

In our latest offseason preview for the Tennessee Titans, we’re taking a look at the team’s pending free agents and biggest needs at the tight end position.

Tennessee’s best tight end in 2023 was 2022 fourth-round pick, Chig Okonkwo, who led the position with 528 yards and one touchdown.

While it wasn’t the true breakout campaign Titans fans were expecting, Chig still managed to top his rookie yardage total after a slow start that was filled with bad drops. Okonkwo no doubt saved face with a strong finish.

The other notable tight end was 2023 fifth-round pick, Josh Whyle, who showed flashes both as a pass-catcher and blocker but ultimately didn’t do much because of a lack of playing time and injury.

The Titans will be depending on both of those tight ends in 2024, but what’s the situation beyond them? We’ll go over that and more in our Titans offseason preview for the tight end position.

Titans highlights: Derrick Henry throws TD pass to Chig Okonkwo

Titans RB Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry added another chapter to his illustrious career as a passer in Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks.

In the second quarter with the Titans in the red zone, Tennessee drew up a play that had quarterback Ryan Tannehill hand it off to Henry, who then pulled up to throw a touchdown pass to tight end Chig Okonkwo.

Including playoffs, Henry has completed 8-of-10 passes for five scores during his career. It was his second touchdown pass of the season, which is the same amount Tannehill has.

Also, the score was Chig’s first of the season and he’s now 29 yards shy of his single-season career-high in receiving yards.

The touchdown pass gave Tennessee its first score and a 7-0 lead.

It has been a blast to watch the “Young Peyton Manning” throw touchdown passes since 2019. As sad as it is to think about, that could be the last one Henry throws in the two-tone blue.

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Derrick Henry throws 12-yard TD pass for Titans

Derrick Henry got the call to throw a pass and it wound up as a Titans TD

The Seattle Seahawks need the game far more than the Tennessee Titans. The NFC West squad will be climbing from behind after a TD pass from an unlikely source.

Mike Vrabel called a trick play and it worked perfectly as star running back Derrick Henry threw a 12-yard pass to Chigoziem Okonkwo.

After the PAT, the Titans led 7-0 early in the second quarter.

Henry has thrown TD passes in 2021, ’22 and ’23.

Titans’ Week 11 snap counts: Snaps split evenly at LB, TE

A look at the Titans’ snap counts from Week 11.

There were some interesting takeaways from the Tennessee Titans’ snap counts following their Week 11 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tennessee had a full-blown timeshare at linebacker between Monty Rice and Jack Gibbens. It was the second-straight week in which Rice eclipsed his season-high number of snaps.

Meanwhile, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo saw a season-low number of snaps and did not lead the team in playing time at the position.

On top of seeing how the Titans divvied up snaps at linebacker and tight end, we’ll also be taking a look at how the team replaced some of their missing players at wide receiver, cornerback and offensive line.

Titans’ Chig Okonkwo ranks dead-last in success rate when targeted

Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo has had a rough first six games of the 2023 season.

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo was among the most hyped-up players throughout the entire offseason.

Many local and national outlets had the Maryland product listed as a breakout candidate after he led all rookies in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns while also being among the most efficient players at his position.

Sadly, Okonkwo has actually regressed in nearly every possible way. The Maryland product went from a reliable playmaker who you expected big things from whenever he touched the ball, to someone who fans now hold their breath for in hopes that he makes a routine catch when targeted.

Chig’s overall grade currently sits at 55.2, per Pro Football Focus, which is more than 20 points lower than where he was a season ago.

The second-year tight end has caught just 68 percent of his targets for 122 scoreless yards. His 17 catches are already more than half of the 32 he had in 2022, but his yardage is less than a third of what he totaled last season.

As if that wasn’t disappointing enough, Okonkwo is currently producing the lowest success rate when targeted in the NFL (MIN. 15 targets).

According to data collected by Arjun Menon, the Titans’ tight end has been targeted a total of 26 times, yet is only producing a success rate of 26.92 percent at the moment.

That percentage ranks dead-last out of 132 players who qualified.

In order for the Titans’ offense to get back on track, they desperately need Okonkwo to get back to being the electric playmaker he was expected to be.

Thankfully, the team is coming off a bye, and maybe that time to rest and reflect can be what catapults him back to being one of the most productive young tight ends in the NFL.

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Colts vs. Titans: Keys to victory in Week 5

Here’s how the Colts can beat the Titans in Week 5.

The Indianapolis Colts continue their homestand in Week 5 with an AFC South rivalry game against the Tennessee Titans.

The division is currently a very contested race. All four teams hold the same record entering this week and need a win to continue their push for the South’s best. The Colts, in particular, are looking to right the wrongs of several games past and break a five-game losing streak against Tennessee.

Here are the keys to victory for overcoming the prowess of the Titans:

 

Fantasy start or sit Week 4: Treylon Burks, Chig Okonkwo, Titans D/ST

A look at some fantasy football start or sit advice for the Titans’ D/ST, WR Treylon Burks and TE Chig Okonkwo.

The Tennessee Titans had their second awful offensive performance of the season in Week 3, and as you’d expect that led to zero production from Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo.

Burks and Okonkwo were considered breakout candidates going into the 2023 campaign, but they’ve been anything but after three games.

Burks has just 99 receiving yards, 70 of which came on one catch in Week 2. Meanwhile, Okonkwo has been non-existent, with the second-year tight end tallying just 42 yards on seven receptions.

There’s a lot that goes into their respective showings thus far, with a lot of it having to do with Tennessee’s offensive line, which has been bad in pass protection.

Looking ahead to Week 4, should Burks or Okonkwo be in your lineups? We’ll take a look at some start or sit advice for both, as well as if the Titans’ D/ST can be started in a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 3

Check out our starts and sits in fantasy football for Week 3.

With the season in full swing, fantasy football managers enter Week 3 with some crucial start/sit decisions as injuries and performance trends continue to have major impacts on lineups.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 2:

Fantasy start or sit Week 1: Treylon Burks, Chig Okonkwo, Titans D/ST

Some fantasy football start or sit advice for the Titans’ defense, WR Treylon Burks and TE Chigoziem Okonkwo.

With Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season just days away, it’s time to take a look at some fantasy football start or sit advice for the Tennessee Titans’ defense, as well as tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and Treylon Burks.

Okonkwo was one of the few bright spots for the Titans in 2022 after he led all rookie tight ends in receiving yards and proved to be one of the most explosive players at his position overall.

In fact, Okonkwo’s yards per route run were on par with some of the best pass-catchers in the entire NFL, regardless of their position or experience.

Tennessee’s 2022 first-round pick, Burks no doubt flashed promise in his rookie season, but he only appeared in 11 games thanks to injuries. This year, Burks looks to not only be in better shape, but he’s gained confidence, also, which has his arrow pointing up going into 2023.

Now, a look at some Week 1 start or sit advice for Burks, Chig and the Titans’ defense, which was ravaged by injuries last season but has the potential to be one of the league’s best.

Fantasy football: 5 sleeper tight ends for 2023 NFL season

Greg Dulcich is being picked as TE17 in fantasy football drafts, which could end up being a steal.

Football season has returned!

The 2023 NFL season will kick off later this week when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

Before the regular season begins, fantasy football drafts will be wrapping up this week and fantasy managers will all have the same question — who are the sleepers to target this season?

Over the next three days, we will be publishing sleepers at tight end, quarterback, wide receiver and running back for 2023. Today, we’re starting with the tight end position.

Each player is listed in order of his average draft spot relative to his position. We consider a “sleeper” to be a player who we expect to outperform his ADP during the season.