Titans TE Chig Okonkwo Named “Intriguing Breakout Candidate” by ESPN’s Mike Clay

The Tennessee Titans offense needs a ton of help heading into 2023, but one of the things that could give it the biggest boost would be the continued ascension of second-year tight end Chig Okonkwo.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans struck gold with their fifth round selection in the 2022 NFL draft. The Titans added Maryland tight end Chig Okonkwo and by the end of the season he was one of the most dynamic players on the team. Okonkwo still needs to develop his game and is far from a finished product, but he is garnering attention from those around the league after a strong rookie campaign.

After putting up 32 catches for 450 receiving yards with three touchdowns, Okonkwo has caught the eye of many, but especially those in the fantasy community. Mike Clay, one of the top fantasy football analyst at ESPN, had Okonkwo on his list of things that stood out during his initial research for the 2023 NFL season.

Clay had this to say about Okonkwo:

“Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo first played more than 30% of the offensive snaps in Week 7 last season. From that point forward, the 2022 fourth-round pick handled a 13% target share (3.3 per game) despite running a route on only 37% of Tennessee's pass plays. He wasn't much of a fantasy option (he ranked 26th with 6.9 PPG) and struggled with drops, but he flashed upside by finishing in the top two at TE in yards per target (10.0), yards per reception (14.1) and RAC (7.9). Unless the team replaces departed Austin Hooper via free agency or a Day 1-2 draft pick, Okonkwo will be an intriguing breakout candidate this season.”

Even if the Titans add a tight end through the remainder of the offseason it would be hard to see that player eating into Okonkwo’s snaps enough to prevent him from being a fantasy asset in 2023. The Titans certainly won’t be foolish enough to limit Okonkwo the way they did early in 2022. Okonkwo is the only tight end in the NFL in 2022 to have three catches of forty yards or more. Simply, he is one of the most explosive playmakers on the Titans and at the tight end position around the NFL. As Clay points out, Okonkwo is primed for a breakout season in 2023.

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