Tennessee Titans Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

It's not hard to see why some fantasy football drafters are excited for Titans TE Chig Okonkwo's second season. After delivering a 94th-percentile 40 time among TEs at the Scouting Combine, Okonkwo was efficient as a rookie. Among 43 TEs who drew 30+ targets for the season, Okonkwo ranked third in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and first in yards per route. He ranked third in targets per route among all TEs who ran at least 10 routes. So what's not to like? Okonkwo's biggest question will be playing time. No Titans TE cracked 56% playing time for the season last year. No Titans TE has reached 71% in HC Mike Vrabel's five seasons. Okonkwo's per-route efficiency can combat that and still give him fantasy value, but playing time was the main drag on the fantasy value of Jonnu Smith -- a similarly enticing athlete with intriguing efficiency. Okonkwo moved slightly down our fantasy football rankings with the DeAndre Hopkins signing. He remains an upside play for 2023, as long as you don't reach for him too early. We'll also be watching reports on the role of rookie TE Josh Whyle through training camp and preseason.

Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley has played just five NFL games since 2020. But he delivered WR1 production the last time he reached double digits. That 2020 campaign found him ranking fourth among WRs in PPR points per game. Ridley also checked in 11th among WRs in target share that season, fourth in receiving yards, eighth in TD catches and seventh in yards per route. It marked a third-year breakout for Ridley, in a season that saw then-teammate Julio Jones miss seven games with injury. Ridley is now 28, coming off a full missed season and a five-game 2021 with a new team. He joins a Jacksonville offense that supported WR Christian Kirk ranking 23rd at his position in target share, WR Zay Jones at WR33, and Evan Engram at TE14. Ridley hits 2023 as an enigma, with questions none of us can answer before the season starts. But he sits significantly lower in our WR rankings than he does in early ADP.

WR DeAndre Hopkins is signing with the Titans, according to multiple reports. Tennessee has ranked among the front-runners for a while now and could certainly use the help at WR. Second-year WR Treylon Burks arrived in Round 1 of the draft last year and followed a disappointing 2022 with a buzzy spring. But there’s little aside from him at the position. Hopkins’ arrival will challenge the target-share upside for Burks and TE Chig Okonkwo. But it wil also clearly add upside to QB Ryan Tannehill. He has been going near-last among starting QBs throughout best ball draft season. Tennessee doesn’t sport the highest ceiling for Hopkins, who isn’t a lock to beat Burks in targets or fantasy points. Even if he does, the Titans have ranked among the league’s most run-leaning offenses under HC Mike Vrabel. See where all the Titans sit in our 2023 fantasy football rankings.

Update: Hopkins got a two-year, $26 million contract with another $3 million available in incentives each year, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal lands Hopkins 23rd among WRs in average annual salary.

Titans insider Jim Wyatt writes that RB Tyjae Spears “was among the team’s offseason standouts.” Wyatt specifically notes the rookie’s “shiftiness and speed.” Those traits certainly showed up on his Tulane tape. Then, Spears confirmed his exciting athleticism at the combine with a 91st-percentile vertical jump and an 87th-percentile broad jump (per MockDraftable). Currently the No. 2 RB behind Derrick Henry, Spears is a late-round handcuff worth circling on your cheat sheet.

Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website expects a "big leap" from TE Chig Okonkwo this year. "He's had a solid offseason," Wyatt adds. Okonkwo didn't see quite enough volume to be a real fantasy factor as a rookie last season, turning 46 targets into 32 catches, 450 yards, and three TDs. But he averaged a huge 14.1 yards per catch and shined in underlying metrics like targets per route and yards per route. With very little target competition in Tennessee, Okonkwo has breakout potential in 2023.

Titans RB Hassan Haskins has been charged with "aggravated assault by strangulation," according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. Haskins reportedly fought with his girlfriend, who was also arrested. We'll see how this situation plays out. Haskins doesn't look likely to be a fantasy factor even if these charges don't produce any league or team discipline.

Per ESPN's Turron Davenport, Titans WR Treylon Burks is "playing at a different speed from his rookie season" in OTAs and minicamps this offseason. Davenport also notes that Titans QB Ryan Tannehill is highly comfortable throwing to the 2022 first-round pick "whether he is wide open or in tight coverage," which is certainly exciting to hear for fantasy managers. Burks' rookie season was marred by injury (turf toe in Week 4, concussion in Week 12, six total missed games), though he closed 2022 on a high note. Burks drew 6+ targets in five of his final six healthy games, catching 4+ balls in four of those five games while averaging 13.7 yards per catch over that entire span. Assuming better health, he could be a sneaky PPR value pick in drafts this year. We feel very good about Burks' chances to lead the Titans' offense in targets and be a high-volume receiver without a lot of other talent around him. See where Burks comes out in our current WR rankings.

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard is expected to be ready for training camp, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Pollard's 2022 season ended with a fractured left fibula on January 22, but his recovery has gone smoothly based on reports throughout the offseason. That leg injury shouldn't be a factor by the time this coming season kicks off. Pollard sits inside the top 10 RBs in our 2023 PPR Rankings.

Titans OC Tim Kelly gave his thoughts on QB Will Levis’ ability to throw with different speeds. That, of course, proved problematic at Kentucky. “I think that’s part of learning how to be a professional quarterback,” Kelly said. “Yeah, he can sit there and he can rip it. He’s got a strong arm. But it’s also, to use the baseball reference, having a different pitch in your bag, too, if you need it. It’s not just having it — it’s knowing when to use it, the location of the balls, and all that.” Per long-time beat writer John Glennon, Levis’ accuracy has remained an issue in offseason practices. The 24-year-old remains just a dynasty stash.

WR Treylon Burks has been QB Ryan Tannehill's "favorite target" throughout OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official website writes. "It seems like Tannehill connects with Burks at the start of every period, and I haven't seen Burks drop a ball intended for him yet in the open OTAs," Wyatt adds. Frankly, it'd be disappointing if Burks wasn't Tannehill's favorite target considering the sorry state of Tennessee's pass-catching corps. But that's part of Burks' 2023 fantasy appeal: He has a chance to dominate Titans targets. The second-year WR is a legitimate breakout candidate this year.

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard supplied an update on his health. Recall that he sustained a fractured fibula in January. “I’m a little bit ahead of schedule,” Pollard said on Thursday. “I’m not really limited at this point, it’s just being smart with it.” In other words, the 26-year-old is on track for full clearance come training camp. A top-8 fantasy season looks attainable if Pollard’s health cooperates.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer spoke to NFL executives on free-agent WR DeAndre Hopkins and found mixed opinions on what the 31-year-old has left in the tank. “Not much," one executive said. "He can’t run anymore.” Another was more optimistic: “He’s still a good player. Good route runner, big, physical target that can play a ball in the air. He’s still a threat.” The Cardinals spent the offseason trying to trade Hopkins but found no suitors willing to pay his $19.45 million salary. Per Breer, the Chiefs and Bills were the only two teams that engaged Arizona in trade talks. Those two teams sound like two of the favorites to sign Hopkins now that he's a free agent. Either landing spot would be good for his fantasy football value. Stay tuned.

The Cardinals announced that they have released WR DeAndre Hopkins. Trade rumors have swirled around the veteran all offseason. This move clearly indicates that the team couldn't find a suitable partner. That almost certainly comes down to the money involved, as Hopkins carried a $30.75 million cap hit for 2023. By waiting for the release, other teams can now negotiate their own deal with Hopkins rather than pay his huge existing contract. Arizona moves on with Marquise Brown as the lead WR. He was scoring in WR1 range last season before fracturing a foot and getting Hopkins back from suspension. Rondale Moore figures to operate as the No. 2 WR. The big question will be how much time he spends in the slot vs. outside. Candidates for the 3rd WR spot include veteran Greg Dortch and third-round rookie Michael Wilson. Dortch is clearly a slot guy, having spent 82.5% of his career pass snaps there. Wilson stands 6'2, 213 pounds and ran 76% of his college routes outside. Of course, Arizona also might play more 2-TE sets under new coaches, if Zach Ertz makes it back from his ACL tear in time to join second-year TE Trey McBride. For now, move Brown and Moore up your draft board, and consider taking late best ball shots on Dortch and Wilson. We'll continue watching the recovery of QB Kyler Murray (ACL tear). See where everyone sits in our updated fantasy football WR rankings.

Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (leg) is on the field for OTAs this week. HC Mike McCarthy called these "reduced-tempo" workouts, but the fact that Pollard is doing anything after his January fibula fracture is encouraging. We'll continue to track his progress, but he should be ready to rock come Week 1.

Jon Machota of The Athletic gave an update on the health of Cowboys RB Tony Pollard. “From everything I’ve heard, I think Pollard will be fully healthy by the start of the season,” Machota said. “They might ease him in during training camp.” Pollard suffered a left fibula fracture on January 22, but Dallas showed some confidence in the 26-year-old by applying the franchise tag in March. Pollard is routinely drafted as a top-8 fantasy RB.

Jaguars OC Press Taylor gave his early impressions of WR Calvin Ridley at OTAs. "I've been really impressed with Calvin,” Taylor said. “I've watched every snap Calvin's played in the NFL, just like a lot of our guys have. So we're very confident in the player we're getting.” Taylor also praised Ridley’s preparation and work ethic. Meanwhile, beat writer John Shipley wrote Monday that Ridley’s off to a great start in Jacksonville. “Ridley simply moves differently than any other wide receiver on the field,” Shipley observed. “The pacing and tempo in his routes, the quickness of his feet, and his ability change up his approach to routes even when he isn't getting the ball all stand out.” Fantasy drafters certainly expect Ridley to rebound quickly, as his current Underdog Fantasy ADP stands at WR17. See where he slots in our 2023 WR rankings.

Titans WR Treylon Burks commented on his health ahead of OTAs. Burks struggled with asthma for parts of his rookie season but is confident he can control the condition better in 2023. "I feel faster because I can breathe," Burks said via The Tennessean. "I didn't go to train at the beach or anything. I stayed here. I wanted to stay around the facility, to make a connection with the coaches but also to get ahead on things.” The second-year WR added that he was “clueless” when he first turned pro. "My biggest things was not repeating what I did last year, coming into the offseason," he said. "I feel like I've mastered that.” The Titans certainly anticipate a big leap forward, as no significant offseason investment arrived at WR or TE. At WR35, Burks is fairly priced in early FFPC ADP.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed more information on Titans rookie RB Tyjae Spears' right knee. Spears has torn the ACL in that knee twice, most recently in 2020. A medical check at the Combine revealed "a full thickness cartilage loss and no ACL in his knee. Plus arthritis," Rapoport said. "It is unclear how long he is gonna be able to [play.] Is he gonna be a one-contract guy?" Spears' Round 3 draft capital is a mark in his favor. But the longevity question is especially problematic considering Spears is unlikely to make an immediate fantasy impact behind Derrick Henry this year. He's no better than a Round 2 pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

Titans GM Ran Carthon says RB Tyjae Spears is a three-down RB, according to John Glennon of the Nashville Post. We're not taking this to mean Spears will get workhorse usage. But it does indicate the team can see him fitting any situation. We'll see whether RB Derrick Henry remains on the team when the 2023 season begins. As it is, there's at least 2024 upside to Spears.

The Titans selected Tulane RB Tyjae Spears in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Spears is the small-school darling of this 2023 class. He put up monster numbers over his last two seasons at Tulane, including a total of 1,837 scrimmage yards that ranked 4th in the NCAA in 2022. He wasn’t a highly regarded high school recruit and didn’t do much early in his career due to an ACL tear in 2020. He even considered quitting the team and going home during the rehab process. But Spears persevered. He’s an incredibly flexible athlete with great elusiveness and long speed. One of the dangers with Spears is his frame (5’10, 201 pounds), especially given how skinny his legs are and his injury history. That said, it seems likely his pass-catching skills will get him on the field in Tennessee. That’ll be his main role for 2023, assuming Derrick Henry sticks around. Spears has the talent to emerge as Tennessee’s lead back come 2024.