Should I Draft Chigoziem Okonkwo As A Fantasy Football Starting Tight End?

Should I draft Chigoziem Okonkwo as a fantasy football starting tight end in 2023? Andrew Ball previews his fantasy football outlook.

There was a moment this offseason when the Tennessee Titans were at a crossroads. They drafted QB Will Levis in the second round of the NFL Draft and could have committed to a rebuild around him, Treylon Burks, and Chigoziem Okonkwo.

Instead, they opted for one more rodeo with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry and added another veteran superstar in DeAndre Hopkins. The stats show us there is still a lot to like about Okonkwo, despite being the fourth option on what is likely a run-heavy offense.

In the final seven weeks of 2022, he was a top-12 fantasy tight end, despite only cracking 60% of the snaps one time. When he was on the field and running routes, the ball often found him.

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Should I Draft Chigoziem Okonkwo as a Fantasy Football Starting Tight End?

The pick sure had more appeal before the Titans signed free agent DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins drew a 29.4% target share last season as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Incumbent Treylon Burks garnered 17.6% of Tennessee's targets. That likely means that Okonkwo is third in target share.

Even with a potentially limited target share, Okonkwo flashes big-play potential. In back-to-back games last season (Weeks 9 and 10), Okonkwo came down with a reception of over 40 yards. Fourteen of his 32 receptions went for over 20 yards. That ranked fourth among all tight ends, despite far fewer opportunities. Numbers one and two on that list? Travis Kelce and George Kittle.

In order to earn more targets, Okonkwo is going to need to be on the field on early downs. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel recently said the tight end needs to improve his blocking. In an offense still centered around Henry, if Okonkwo's blocking isn't up to par, his playing time could suffer.

What Other Tight Ends Should I Consider Besides Okonkwo?

Fellow sophomore Greg Dulcich is being drafted just four spots ahead of Okonkwo, according to ADP. Like Okonkwo, Dulcich showed flashes of potential but was held back by a subpar offense. He finished tied for second on the team in receiving touchdowns, only behind Jerry Jeudy, while only playing in 10 games. With the Broncos losing Tim Patrick to an Achilles injury, the tight end should have more opportunities to work out of the slot.

If you're selecting Okonkwo or Dulcich as your starting tight end, you've likely punted on the tight end position. Both players are high-upside swings late in drafts, and if they don't pan out to start the season, be prepared to stream the position.

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