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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans tight end O.J. Howard will join the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. Howard agreed to a deal with the team and will join an offense of Jimmy Garoppolo, Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, and Hunter Renfrow.
After being selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Howard hasn't lived up to expectations yet at age 28. However, we've seen tons of late-career tight end breakouts, so he could be worth monitoring ahead of the 2023 fantasy football season.
How did Howard play in 2022 and what is his fantasy football outlook for next season? Let's dive in.
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O.J. Howard 2022 Season Review
In 13 games for the Texans, Howard caught just 10 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdown receptions came in Week 1 in a tie against the Indianapolis Colts. He looked like he had a chance to be at least a standard league and Best Ball touchdown-or-bust option, but he never produced a fantasy-friendly week afterward.
Howard hasn't eclipsed 146 receiving yards since 2019 and has never reached 600 receiving yards. He has been a complete bust given his 2017 draft capital, but his athletic profile has kept him in the league, and he has a chance to carve out a role in Josh McDaniels' offense.
O.J. Howard 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook
If rosters were finalized today (March 21), Howard would be the clear-cut starting tight end for Las Vegas this season. However, there's a good chance the Raiders' front office brings in another tight end in free agency and/or selects one in April's upcoming draft. Darren Waller was traded to the New York Giants for the 100th overall pick. That spot could be prime position for the team to draft his replacement.
However, rookie tight ends usually take time to develop, so there could be a window early in the year for Howard to produce. The 6'6" 250-pound tight end has 4.5 speed and unreal athleticism and could be a premier red zone target for Garoppolo. If Howard plays significant snaps and the Raiders' offense is efficient, he'll have at least some value.
If the Raiders bring in formidable tight ends, he could have next to no value by the time the 2023 season kicks off.
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