The NFL trial run is over. Rosters will soon be cut down to 53 as teams get ready to kick off the season. The preseason provided a glimpse of what is to come for many teams and a preview of how the newest rookie class will impact the league.
Fantasy football 2017: Performance of rookie tight ends in preseason Week 4
A look at the most notable rookie tight end performances of the final preseason game.
Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Fantasy owners are also getting ready for the start of their regular seasons. Whether your draft has passed or is coming up, there is still time to make some moves to ensure a winning season. Want to know which rookies to roll the dice on? Here is a look at how some of the most notable rookies performed in the final preseason game and how they can help or hurt your fantasy chances.
O.J. Howard, Tampa Buccaneers
Howard had a fairly quiet start to his NFL career and it is likely to remain that way once the regular season kicks off. The top tight end selected in the draft finished the preseason with a total of four catches on six targets for 43 yards. The Bucs will look for Howard to contribute as a pass-blocker early on.
Howard is competing with seasoned veteran Cameron Brate for targets. Brate tied Hunter Henry to lead all tight ends in touchdown catches last season. It will be tough for the rookie to overcome those numbers to get attention from QB Jameis Winston. Ironically, Howard is coming off draft boards before Brate in a lot of leagues. It would be wise to wait and see if Howard can build a rapport with Winston that will rival Brate’s. He is a low-end TE2 at best right now.
There has been a lot of hype in New York about Engram all preseason. The first-round pick caught six passes on nine targets for 75 yards through three exhibition games. He has been compared to Giant great Jeremy Shockey, and the team is excited about his ability to line up out wide and on the line.
Engram could be the next great tight end hope for the Giants or just a decoy to free up Odell Beckham Jr. Either way, he has worked his way into the receiving rotation and should make an impression right away. Rookie tight ends are always risky fantasy picks, but Engram may be one of the few first-year TEs who could be worth the gamble.
Njoku’s rocky preseason finished on a high note. The 29th-overall pick caught two passes for 28 yards in Cleveland’s exhibition finale. He battled injuries all camp but ended the preseason with four catches on seven targets for 41 yards.
Njoku did not have a good preseason at all. It is unclear whether the Browns are ready to give him the starting role. Give Njoku some time to develop, and he will be a beast. Owners may want to stash him on the bench while he gets stronger on the NFL level. Midseason he can be a fantasy game changer.
Kittle flew under the radar this preseason, but now that Vance McDonald has been traded to Pittsburgh, he is a rookie tight end to know. The fifth-round pick caught three passes on seven targets for 33 yards and one touchdown this preseason. He missed some time with a hamstring injury early in camp and sat out the first and last preseason games.
The Niners are excited about what Kittle can do, especially in the red zone. The 146th-overall pick is imposing and has good hands, both big pluses. He has been overlooked in most leagues, but he will get a lot of snaps this season. Owners on the hunt for a late round or waiver sleeper who can make a splash should have their eyes on Kittle.
