While last week we touched on the continued emergence of Eric Ebron, Vance McDonald and Austin Hooper, this week we will take a look at two players who have arrived and could figure into the TE1 conversation for the next decade. The two players in question are none other than the Cleveland Browns David Njoku and the San Francisco 49ers George Kittle.
George Kittle has seen his targets, receptions per game and yards per game spike since college teammate CJ Beathard took over at quarterback. Kittle currently ranks third among tight ends with a solid 21.6 percent target share, a number that is growing by the week. Other metrics Kittle is among the leaders in include ranking fifth in receptions with 32, yards per target with 10.8 and yards after catch with 363. Kittle has been a monster this season placing second among tight ends with 16.5 yards per reception, placing sixth with 0.61 yards per route and eleventh with 1.97 fantasy points per target. Kittle is an exciting talent who leads his team in targets, receptions, receiving yards, WoPR and is second in air yards all suggesting that Kittle is functioning as the teams top option and possession ‘receiver’ in addition to his role as one of the teams top downfield playmakers. Kittle is for real.
David Njoku likewise has been on fire since seeing a quarterback change in Cleveland, becoming much more involved in the offense following the switch to Baker Mayfield. Njoku has led the Browns in receptions and receiving yards since the switch and is second in both targets and is third in air yards suggesting that he has finally become a focal point of the offense. Seventh among tight ends with 31 receptions, tenth with 297 receiving yards and eighth with 188 air yards David Njoku’s numbers suggest that he has staying power as a TE1 this season and with Njoku still not playing up to his immense potential, the sky is truly the limit here.
The tight end position is no longer a fantasy wasteland as more legitimate options have emerged at the position, unfortunately many fantasy teams are rostering two or more tight ends making things still a bit tricky especially if an injury befalls a player you tabbed as your season log starter.
As always we will be updating our rankings up until kickoff Sunday afternoon so be sure to check back often for our latest updates and thoughts.
