The fantasy tight end landscape is largely a barren wasteland beyond the top few options. With little difference between the mid-tier and lower-end names, finding a breakout candidate who can provide a little extra pop in the scoring column can make a massive difference in swinging the outcomes of contests. With David Njoku nursing an injury ahead of Week 15 — the start of the fantasy football playoffs — Cleveland Browns rookie Harold Fannin Jr. sees the opportunity to make a major impact
If the veteran sits, is Fannin Jr. a must-start tight end for Week 15 fantasy lineups?
Analysis
Njoku’s status for Week 15 is up in the air after suffering a knee injury during this past Sunday’s contest. Head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t have a comment on the tight end’s outlook immediately after the game, and while it’s early in the week, it’s possible he misses the Browns’ next game. For the purposes of Fannin’s fantasy production though, let’s assume the veteran doesn’t suit up for the upcoming contest against the Chicago Bears.
Fannin, a third-round rookie out of Bowling Green, has shown plenty of upside in his first professional campaign. Despite dealing with a rotating cast of quarterbacks and playing alongside Njoku in a lot of two-TE sets, he’s posted 59 receptions for 619 yards and four touchdowns on 85 total targets. Those numbers are good for the seventh-most catches and sixth-most receiving yards among all NFL tight ends, and his target share of 20.24% is good for fifth as well. Fannin also leads all players at the position in targets per route run at 0.24 (minimum 100 routes run), showing just how much of a focus this Browns offense puts in ensuring the ball goes his way.
These stats don’t come as a surprise by any means, though. At Bowling Green last year, he set new NCAA records for tight ends with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards in his final collegiate season — since targets are largely earned rather than simply given, he’s proven he can command significant target share as the focal point of a passing attack. As a fluid route runner with excellent ability after the catch (he’s fifth in YAC at his position with 310 yards), Fannin looks quite comfortable at the professional level. The skills have translated for fantasy production as he averages 11.1 FPPG and comes in as the current PPR TE6 on the year overall.
The rookie enters Week 15 coming off a career-best performance of eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. While quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ play may be inconsistent, he showed great poise this past week and a growing connection with Fannin, so there’s room for optimism that the tight end can continue to produce at an elite level. This upcoming matchup against the Bears sets the stage for the rookie since Chicago allows the eighth-most receptions and 12th-most yards to tight ends. While the unit has largely improved in recent weeks from early struggles thanks to the return of some injured players into the lineup, that defense could still prove somewhat vulnerable. Even if not though, volume alone could prop up Fannin’s production if the Browns play from behind against one of the NFL’s top-10 offenses.
Given his recent momentum and the potential to see the field more than usual, Cleveland’s rookie tight end deserves starter consideration entering the fantasy football playoffs. Fannin is one of the top young talents in the game and will likely serve as the top option in the Browns’ passing game moving forward — as a bona fide TE1 already, there’s no reason to bench him moving forward. Pencil him in as a weekly must-start option.
