Ankle Injury Is No Joke For Njoku. David Njoku Fantasy Football Outlook

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku has been the saving grace for many fantasy managers looking to fill the void left by underperforming stars like Kyle Pitts and Darren Waller. Njoku is finally emerging as a valuable fantasy asset after achieving underwhelming production through his first five seasons in Cleveland.

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Njoku was forced off the field with an ankle injury during the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Ravens. While the injury wasn’t initially expected to be severe, he is now expected to miss two to five weeks with a high ankle sprain.

You know the injury is no joke for Njoku, but how will this impact his fantasy football outlook?

What Do We Know About David Njoku's Injury?

David Njoku was spotted using crutches and a walking boot shortly after suffering the injury in Week 7. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was hesitant to commit to a short-term outlook regarding Njoku’s availability, but he considers the tight end week to week with a high ankle sprain.

He may not be able to simply walk it off, but with the projected recovery timeline of 2-5 weeks without surgery, Njoku seems to have narrowly avoided a long-term injury.

What Has David Njoku Done So Far?

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett targeted Njoku early and often before he was forced off the field in Week 7. He led the team through three quarters with seven receptions for 71 receiving yards.

Through six full games, Njoku was on the field for 88% of offensive snaps. He commanded an average of 5.8 targets per game from an 18% target share, trailing only Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones. His team-high 77% completion rate on those targets translated into 27 completions for 347 yards.

Njoku’s career-high 8.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game are enough for TE6 on the season, including the Week 7 game in which he suffered the injury.

What Are The Fantasy Football Implications With David Njoku's Injury?

Until we have more clarity on Njoku's short-to-mid-term availability, the decision to keep him rostered in fantasy football will be a gamble. He is absolutely worth keeping if he manages to return at the early end of his recovery range. If he ends up missing over a month and you need wins now, your team may benefit from finding another use for that bench spot.

Njoku should make himself at home on your fantasy IR spot if your league offers that luxury. Also, keep an eye out for Njoku owners who neglect that IR spot and drop him to waivers.

The Browns have a bye in Week 9, so a Week 10 return is likely the best-case scenario. Expect tight end Harrison Bryant to see increased usage in Njoku’s anticipated absence, but don’t force him into your fantasy roster as a replacement.

Keep in mind that quarterback Deshaun Watson is eligible to return in Week 13 against the Houston Texans, so Njoku could return to a vastly different offensive structure. Not to imply that Njoku’s fantasy value will take a hit with Watson’s return, but it remains to be seen how Watson will distribute his targets to support a new scheme.

While Njoku’s injury raises concern for fantasy managers with limited options at the tight end position, at least we can turn to his Twitter to inspire some confidence.

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