Is Chigoziem Okonkwo Or Josh Whyle The Titans TE1? Fantasy Football Outlook

The Tennessee Titans haven’t had a consistent threat at tight end since Delanie Walker’s best years with the franchise. Jonnu Smith was a solid starter for a year before signing with the New England Patriots in free agency.

Tennessee signed Austin Hooper last offseason to a one-year deal. The Titans had no threat at tight end in 2021, with Geoff Swaim and Anthony Firkser listed as the top two players on the depth charter. However, the team has spent a pair of draft picks over the past two years on tight ends.

Last year the Titans spent a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Maryland’s Chigoziem Okonkwo. They also used a fifth-round in this year’s NFL Draft on Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle. With Hooper now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, which young tight end will take over as the starter in Tennessee?

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What Did The Titans Tight Ends Accomplish Last Year?

Okonkwo started his rookie year barely playing on offense. Over the first eight weeks of the year, the rookie tight end had only five receptions on eight targets for 52 receiving yards and a touchdown. Furthermore, he played over 30% of the snaps in only two games.

However, things changed starting in Week 9. From that point through the end of the regular season, Okonkwo had 27 receptions on 38 targets for 398 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, he was the TE10 during that span, averaging 6.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.

More importantly, the rookie averaged 3.5 receptions on 4.3 targets for 40.5 receiving yards per game over the final six games last season. Okonkwo was the TE8 over those six weeks, averaging 8.2 fantasy points per game. He had a higher fantasy points per game average during that span than Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert.

Meanwhile, Whyle had 32 receptions for 326 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season at Cincinnati. The former Bearcat finished second on the team in receiving touchdowns, only behind Tyler Scott.

Who Will Be The Top Tight End For The Titans In 2023?

While the Titans used a fifth-round pick on Whyle a year after drafting Okonkwo, fantasy players shouldn’t worry about the second-year tight end. Despite his limited role to start the year, the former Maryland star finished second on the team in receiving touchdowns in 2022.

More importantly, Whyle never had more than 32 receptions of 353 receiving yards any year at Cincinnati. While Whyle will provide depth, Okonkwo is still the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in Tennessee.

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