As the dust settled and the 2017 NFL Draft now in the books, there is another draft that fans will be salivating over, fantasy football.
Much like the recent NFL Draft held in Philadelphia, the fantasy football draft is all about obsessively arguing, debating various forms of analytics and arguing over a multitude of variables.
And while the fantasy draft isn’t going to be for a couple of months, once training camps and pre-season games are set to happen, it is often better to be prepared and have a strategy, than not have one at all.
One thing that may have caught all the eyes of fantasy football players and veterans is the quality of this year’s incoming tight ends. Love them or hate them, one can only begrudgingly tip their hat to the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots for bring the once-dead position of tight end back in vogue.
Look no further than the unstoppable party animal and one-man wrecking crew of a man-child in Rob Gronkowski, who single-handily destroys gridiron seams, and the deadly two-tight end sets that New England has help perfect in their run of Lombardi’s over the last fix-six years.
While there is no proverbial Gronk in this class, names such as Evan Ingram (New York Giants), O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Adam Shaheen (Chicago Bears), Jordan Leggett (New York Jets) and Bucky Hodges (Minnesota Vikings).
One tight end worth taking a look at in deeper leagues is the Cleveland Browns’ first round pick, David Njoku.
Njoku, drafted 29th overall via a trade with the Green Bay Packers, is the Browns new de facto starter, thanks to the release of Pro Bowler Gary Barnidge.
If you are in a league that counts PPR (points per reception), then the 6’4 250-pound former Miami Hurricane, may be the man for you, as he will likely be the go-to safety blanket for whichever quarterback, Cleveland decides to roll with in 2017.
Thanks to a upgraded offensive line and the addition of veteran wideout Kenny Britt, Njoku will likely flex out as an extra WR in three-WR sets, thus giving Cleveland’s offense another deadly target.
As with all West Coast Offense-based teams, the tight end will be used like a WR and see lots of targets, so look for Njoku to rack them up with regularity.
If you do decide to take a flier on Njoku, please be sure to have an ear to the ground about Cleveland’s perennially shaky QB situation first, as depending on who is under center, will likely determine Njoku’s FFL value fro one week to the next.
But, if you’re looking for a quality player to stash on the bench or use during the bye or due to sudden injury, look no further than the athletic Njoku.