Tag: Chigoziem Okonkwo

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.

Titans’ Mike Vrabel praises Chig Okonkwo’s energy, leadership

Titans TE Chig Okonkwo wanted to be more of a leader going into his second year, and based on Mike Vrabel’s comments, he’s doing just that.

Since being drafted with the last pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, Chigoziem Okonkwo has been everything the Tennessee Titans could’ve ever hoped for.

Okonkwo was an electric playmaker in his rookie season, leading all first-year tight ends in practically every major category, despite the fact that he wasn’t the featured tight end for most of the season.

The Titans’ tight end was also among the most efficient players at his position, regardless of experience.

Outside of being one of Tennessee’s most naturally talented young players, the Maryland product also happens to be one of the most passionate and flamboyant personalities on the team.

Head Coach Mike Vrabel recently touched on Chig’s contagious energy and how the entire building tends to feed off it, both on and off the field.

“There’s a personality to [Okonkwo],” said Vrabel, per 104.5 The Zone. “There’s an energy to him, and I think that’s what we [as a team] need each and every day, I think that’s what that room needs each and every day.”

Vrabel also pointed to the leadership Okonkwo has displayed, which is something the young tight end was aiming to do more of in 2023.

“Coming into his second year, maybe explaining how important special teams are to helping these young guys find a role,” he said. “But Chig’s personality is such that every day we need that kind of energy, we need him bouncing around and I’m confident we’ll get that.”

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Sleepers and Value Picks: Tight Ends

2023 Sleeper and Value Plays at Tight End

The Average Draft order shows a general picture of how your draft will unfold and where values/sleepers and bad values/busts likely exist. Any green highlight means the player is a good value that could be taken earlier. A red highlight signifies an overvalued player that is a bad value or just too high of a risk for that spot. No color means the pick is a reasonable value at that spot.

See also:
 Sleepers and Value Picks: Quarterbacks
Sleepers and Value Picks: Running Backs
Sleepers and Value Picks: Wide Receivers

Average Draft order – Value picks

ADP Tm Tight End Starter Value
1 KC Travis Kelce Maybe the greatest fantasy career of all time.
2 BAL Mark Andrews A lock for Top-5 and the only tight end to ever net a No.1 fantasy rank during reign of Travis Kelce.
3 MIN T.J. Hockenson Fits into the Vikings scheme and reaps the   benefit of defenses chasing Justin Jefferson.
4 SF George Kittle Top-4 in four of the last five years. He gets dinged up, some years more than others. Final four games with Brock Purdy only totaled seven touchdowns. Plenty of upside.
5 NYG Darren Waller Agreed there is some upside in landing with the Giants, but he’s been average at best other than 2019 and 2020. Banged up the last two years, also 30 years old. Not many tight ends offer the potential for difference making fantasy stats, but his risk makes this a few picks too early. Derek Carr’s worst year was better than Daniel Jones best year.
6 ATL Kyle Pitts 2022 was an off year thanks to a new offense and Marcus Mariota. Pitts is still supremely talented. Coming off a torn MCL makes this spot reasonable and the Falcons passing schedule should make it profitable.
7 PHI Dallas Goedert He ends up around No. 10 every year but that’s because he misses three to five games. He’s a great start when he suits up.
8 JAX Evan Engram After struggling for four years with Daniel Jones, went to Jacksonville and had a career year with Trevor Lawrence. Just signed a three-year deal to keep the momentum.
9 PIT Pat Freiermuth He has a good shot at being better than this ranking, and yet three concussions in two years make him a risky bet. Solid pick this late but think about carrying another tight end just in case.
10 CLE David Njoku Never better than No. 9 in his six seasons. Browns get a full year of Deshaun Watson, but brought in more wideouts to help the passing. Didn’t connect that well with Watson in the few joint games last year.
11 BUF Dalton Kincaid Bills ranked No. 28 in tight end throws last year and this is as high as any Bills tight end reached in six years of HC Sean McDermott. He may end up elite, but   rookie tight ends on teams that are already Top-3 passing isn’t something to rely on. Next year…
12 HOU Dalton Schultz Top-10 for the last three years in Dallas and now with Houston where they’ll want to throw but the receivers are mostly “unproven”. Nice situation for dependable hands close by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

 

Sleepers and overvalued players

ADP Tm Tight End Depth Considerations
13 TEN Chigoziem Okonkwo He’s not a fantasy starter but he may become one. Okonkwo is a popular sleeper   this year and for good reason. His rookie year of 32-450-3 was encouraging. DeAndre Hopkins may hold Okonkwo back, so he’s a fantasy backup for now.
14 DEN Greg Dulcich Another popular sleeper and he managed a 33-411-2 rookie season with ten games played. He started to pick up steam later in the year and merits a roster spot that could end up as a fantasy starter.
15 LAR Tyler Higbee He’s   30 years old and enters Year 8 with the Rams.  Managed a No. 5 finish to 2023 while the Rams offense imploded. Matt Stafford is back and Rams did not add new receivers. Won’t win your league, but won’t lose it for you either.
16 CHI Cole Kmet Finished No. 7 last year but was last man standing. Bears added DJ Moore and get Darnell Mooney back. His outlook is dialed back but Kmet is a talented receiver when given the chance.
17 DET Sam LaPorta He’ll develop into a solid, and maybe spectacular, tight end. But the rookie has plenty to learn this year and the Lions have other options when they pass. Dynasty pick? Sure. Reliable pick this year? Not on my team.
18 CIN Irv Smith Jr. Never amounted to much in Minnesota despite high draft pick. Oddly goes from team with the No. 2 wideouts to the team that have the No. 3 wideouts. He’s no difference maker and not even a great bye week filler.
19 LV Michael Mayer The optimism placed on rookie tight ends has been overly kind in every case other than Kyle Pitts. Mayer could easily be the best receiving tight end from this year’s class, but is unlikely to offer the consistency to merit a fantasy start. He’s a fine pick and hold just in case, but the odds are against him offering any difference making stats.
20 NO Juwan Johnson Solid fantasy backup with seven scores last year. His ceiling is limited, but he’s a serviceable weekly fill in. Change in quarterback can only help.
21 LAC Gerald Everett First year with the Chargers ended as the No. 11 fantasy tight end. His production is capped by those wideouts and adding Quentin Johnson won’t help Everett improve on his 58 catches. He’s still a worthy backup.
22 ARI Zach Ertz He is 32 years old and returning from a torn ACL/MCL. Just no. Second-year Trey McBride is a better choice if you need a Cardinals’ tight end. And honestly, have you ever needed a Cardinals’ tight end?
23 NO Taysom Hill If your league considers him as a tight end, why not this deep? The plan is to throw to him more often and he’s making almost $10M this year.
24 NE Hunter Henry Solid backup pick and has shown chemistry with Mac Jones last year and again this summer.

Jelani Woods (IND) – Second-year tight end that’s 6-7 and yet runs a 4.6 40-time. The new offense should treat Woods as the new Dallas Goedert in HC Shane Steichen’s scheme.

Trey McBride (ARI) – Another second-year tight end and he plays on a Cardinals team that may very well end up throwing more to their tight end than ever before. Worth tracking at the least.

Ranking the TEs in the AFC South entering 2023

Ranking the TEs in the AFC South entering the 2023 season.

The AFC South tight ends feature a pair of proven veterans at the position and a couple of second-year players that will be looking to take the next step in 2023.

For this list, I took the top two tight ends from each team’s depth chart according to Ourlads.

Here is how they rank out across the division:

Titans’ Chig Okonkwo, Caleb Farley among fastest at their positions in ‘Madden NFL 24’

We also provide a look at how other Titans CBs and TEs fared in overall rating.

On Thursday, “Madden NFL 24” released the player ratings for two more positions, and while tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and cornerback Caleb Farley were not among the highest-rated players in terms of overall mark, they did register among the highest speed ratings at their positions.

Okonkwo, who notched a lackluster 71 overall rating, notched an 88 in the speed department, tying him for the second-best mark among tight ends, which is at least somewhat surprising considering how often Titans are overlooked in all areas.

Farley was not only given a 74 overall, which is pretty solid considering the extremely disappointing start to his career, he also scored a 95 speed rating, tied for sixth-best among corners.

Farley hasn’t had much of a chance to show his wheels in the NFL thanks to injury and poor play that has greatly limited his on-field time, but lest we forget this was a guy who ran a 4.28 40-yard dash.

Now, a look at how other Titans tight ends and cornerbacks fared in “Madden NFL 24” ratings.

7 ways DeAndre Hopkins improves the Titans’ offense

Shaun Calderon lists seven ways DeAndre Hopkins improves the Titans’ offense.

Now that the adrenaline and raw happiness from yesterday’s breaking news has finally settled down, it’s time to take a step back and look at the several different ways in which signing All-Pro wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, positively impacts the Tennessee Titans’ offense.

Many are seriously downplaying the type of impact this move could potentially have on the Titans’ offense.

The detractors are ignorantly assuming this move is destined for failure solely because of previous failed attempts at trying to get the most out of a 30-year-old future Hall of Fame wide receiver.

However, in reality, these situations are entirely different.

When Andre Johnson was signed by the Titans, he was coming off a season where he averaged around 32 yards per game.

Randy Moss was claimed off waivers in the middle of the season after being traded by the Patriots and subsequently cut by the Vikings within a span of six weeks.

Then you have Julio Jones, who was already showing major signs of decline in his health when the Titans decided to take their chance and sign him in order to take that next step.

Hopkins doesn’t have anything close to the injury concerns that Jones had, and he is coming off a season where he averaged nearly 80 yards per game and was on pace for another 1,300-yard (or more) season had he not been suspended for more than 35 percent of the campaign.

Adding to that, the Cardinals’ starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, missed four of those nine games and exited another one after throwing a single pass.

This move definitely has its risks, but the potential benefits far outweigh the concerns that would’ve been there had the Titans not secured the services of the superstar pass-catcher.

This article is going to discuss five different ways in which D-Hop makes the Titans better the second he arrives in Nashville. Let’s get to it.

Titans camp preview at TE: Locks, competitions, prediction

Titans TE Chig Okonkwo is set to lead the team’s tight ends room in 2023, but how will things shake out after him?

Our next training camp preview for the Tennessee Titans comes at tight end, a position that holds one of the team’s most promising young players, Chigoziem Okonkwo.

In a sea of disaster on offense in 2022, Chig was one of the few life rafts the team could cling to. Okonkwo finished the campaign with 450 yards, leading all rookie tight ends, and he tallied three scores while also proving to be one of the most explosive players at his position in the entire NFL.

Making Chig’s final numbers more impressive was the fact that former offensive coordinator Todd Downing seemed to not know his talented young tight end existed over much of the first half of the season, with Okonkwo being targeted just eight times over the first seven games.

If new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly wants to get in the good graces of Titans fans quickly, he has to do one simple thing: FEED CHIG!

While the spotlight is on Chig, who is expected to be a vital piece to the offense, other tight ends do exist in Nashville, one of which was a 2023 draft pick.

Here’s a look at the roster locks, players on the bubble, the competitions set to take place and a prediction for how things will shake out at tight end.

Titans’ best fantasy football options, deep-league sleepers for 2023

A look at the Titans’ best fantasy football options and some deep-league sleepers for 2023.

After their offense operated at an elite level in 2019 and 2020, the Tennessee Titans have taken steps backwards in each of the past two seasons, with the offense hitting rock bottom in 2022.

There was a lot that went into that fall from grace, as the unit was riddled with injuries, poor play from the offensive line and receivers, and absolutely dreadful play-calling from offensive coordinator Todd Downing.

Thankfully, the Titans have made significant changes to two of those problem areas this offseason, as the team replaced Downing with Tim Kelly and added three new starters to the offensive line.

One area where the Titans did not make significant changes was in the receiving corps., but as you’ll see shortly, Tennessee does have a pair of intriguing young pass-catchers who are poised for breakout seasons.

When taking everything into consideration, there are four Titans who stand the best chance at emerging as viable options for fantasy managers in 2023. They are as follows: