What to do with David Njoku, Harrison Bryant in Week 7 fantasy football

Game day update: As the Browns travel to Cincinnati, Njoku should be considered one of the best tight end options if you’re in a bind for Week 8. The Browns have targeted the tight end position on 32% of pass attempts — the third-highest rate among NFL offenses. He should finish the week as a top-10 tight end, especially considering that possession receiver Jarvis Landry’s broken rib.

With Browns tight end Austin Hooper officially ruled out for Week 7 due to appendix surgery on Friday, it’ll be up to David Njoku and Harrison Bryant to fill the gap in his absence. The young players will have to cover for Hooper for at least a week, with a possibility of his absence extending into Week 8 as well.

Fantasy Football analysis: Browns TE David Njoku, Harrison Bryant

Njoku and Bryant both got a couple of targets last week in the Browns’ 38-7 loss against the Steelers. Bryant caught 1-for-2 for 11 yards while Njoku went 1-for-3 for a total of 7 yards. There’s no official word on whether Bryant or Njoku will get the start in place of Hooper, but all signs and common sense would point to the 24-year-old Njoku, who has gone 5-for-7 with 63 yards and a touchdown in only 3 games this season. Conversely, Harrison Bryant has made appearances in 6 games, going 8-for-13 for a total of 70 yards and a touchdown.

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

If you’re choosing between the two for the Browns’ Week 7 matchup against the Bengals, Njoku is the most obvious choice as he looks to be the favorite to fill in for Hooper. But there are certainly some better tight end options available in most leagues than both of these guys, so if you can pick up someone like a Jimmy Graham or Jared Cook, they’d probably be a better bet than any of the Cleveland options.