| {{ column.label }} |
|---|
| {{ column.value }} |
Okonkwo gets a fresh start in Washington after four underwhelming fantasy seasons in Tennessee. The target competition behind Terry McLaurin is weak, and Jayden Daniels will give him the best QB play of his young career. New OC David Blough also plans to leverage Okonkwo’s after-catch ability. He has the ingredients to become a useful streamer or TE2 with an ADP in Round 13.
Customize his projection for your exact league settings inside the Draft War Room.
Okonkwo set career highs with 56 catches and 560 yards. He added just 2 TDs for the second consecutive season.
That left him 30th in PPR points per game and 32nd in half-PPR. Okonkwo flashed with finishes of TE5, TE6, TE8, and TE12 twice, but he also logged 11 weeks at TE20 or worse.
Okonkwo played ahead of Round 4 rookie Gunnar Helm, holding the edge in route rate (57.9% to 37.5%) and target share (13.6% to 10.1%).
But low goal-line volume capped his TD chances, as he trailed Helm in both red-zone targets (8-5) and end-zone targets (4-1).
Okonkwo’s efficiency profile was mostly underwhelming.
Among 49 TEs with 30+ targets, he ranked:
Tennessee badly needed pass catchers last season, especially after Calvin Ridley was limited to seven games. Round 4 rookie Elic Ayomanor wound up leading the team in receiving, followed by Okonkwo and fellow Round 4 rookie Chimere Dike.
Rookie Cam Ward played all 17 games but wasn’t a difference maker. Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts, he ranked 35th or worse in completion rate, completion rate over expected, and yards per attempt.
The Titans finished 12th in pass attempts but fell to 30th in passing yards and 31st in passing TDs.
An October foot injury cost Okonkwo practice time, but Okonkwo appeared in all 17 games for the fourth straight season.
The Commanders signed Okonkwo to a three-year deal with $16.7 million guaranteed. That amount ranks 15th among all TEs.
Washington’s depth chart gives Okonkwo a shot at a fantasy-friendly role. Terry McLaurin is the clear No. 1, but the WR room behind him is unsettled between Round 3 rookie Antonio Williams and veterans such as Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, and Van Jefferson.
TE competition also looks light after Zach Ertz left behind 72 targets in 13 games. Okonkwo’s main competition there is third-year TE Ben Sinnott, who’s notched just 16 catches in two seasons.
Injuries ruined Jayden Daniels’ 2025, with elbow, hamstring, and knee issues all costing him games. But his stellar rookie campaign in 2024 points to a major QB upgrade for Okonkwo. Among 28 QBs with 300+ attempts that year, Daniels ranked sixth in catchable-throw rate and eighth in adjusted completion rate.
Outside of Ward, Okonkwo’s first four seasons found him catching passes from Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, Josh Dobbs, Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, and Brandon Allen. So Daniels doesn’t need to perform at an elite level to supply an upgrade.
The Commanders promoted assistant QBs coach David Blough to OC. He’s never called plays, but he’s built early trust in Okonkwo.
"So far, there's been so many more opportunities I've had to just run different things … and use my true talents and abilities," Okonkwo said. "It's awesome, man. I can't wait."
Okonkwo also hinted that Blough wants to feature him more on catch-and-run opportunities.
"I feel like a player like me who's really good with the ball in his hands is going to enjoy this offense.”
The Commanders should look different schematically, shifting from an up-tempo, shotgun-heavy offense to more under-center and play-action concepts. Our projections put Washington at a 52% pass rate, just above last year’s 51.1%. Still, that would have ranked 29th in 2025.
A lower-volume approach would put a greater importance on Okonkwo’s efficiency, as well as his ability to boost a low career TD rate of 4.1%.
Washington doesn’t have an established No. 2 target, giving Okonkwo room to claim that role. His after-catch ability fits screens and quick-hitters if Blough chooses to feature him that way. Add a healthy Daniels supplying the best QB play of Okonkwo’s career, and the former Titan could emerge as a useful streamer.
Okonkwo entered the league as a Round 4 pick and hasn’t finished better than TE20 in PPR points across four seasons. His surroundings haven’t supported a breakout, but we simply haven’t seen more than glimpses of TE1-level play. There’s a chance he remains a role player, even if Washington’s receiving depth looks shallow behind Terry McLaurin.
Unable to load trends.
No trend data is available.
No trend data is available.
Stefon Diggs Arrives to Help Jayden Daniels, Cloud Terry McLaurin's Target Outlook
Stefon Diggs Arrives to Help Jayden Daniels, Cloud Terry McLaurin's Target Outlook
We read rosy reports earlier this week about TE Chig Okonkwo and WR Treylon Burks at Commanders camp, but the team clearly believed it needed a pass-catching upgrade. So Wednesday brought an agreement with veteran WR Stefon Diggs, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Adam Schefter says it's a one-year deal worth "up to $12 million."
Every Day Without a New WR Is Good for Chig Okonkwo
Every Day Without a New WR Is Good for Chig Okonkwo
The Commanders continue to head toward the season with little proven depth at WR behind Terry McLaurin. That looks like good news for TE Chig Okonkwo, as well as former Titans first-round pick Treylon Burks.
Chig Okonkwo Pumped for New Offense, But Playing TIme's a Question
Chig Okonkwo Pumped for New Offense, But Playing TIme's a Question
New Commanders TE Chig Okonkwo sounds excited about what he's seen so far in the scheme of first-time OC David Blough. The fifth-year vet signed a three-year, $27 million deal in free agency after finishing each of the past three years in the range of 52 to 56 catches.
Chig Okonkwo Agrees to Three-Year Deal with the Commanders
Chig Okonkwo Agrees to Three-Year Deal with the Commanders
Former Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo agreed to terms with the Commanders for a three-year deal worth up to $30m. TE Zach Ertz entered free agency, leaving the Commanders with John Bates and Ben Sinnott as the only TEs on their roster. Okonkwo should step in as the starter in 2026 with Bates and Sinnott handling duties in 12 personnel. With Jayden Daniels at QB (and currently a lack of receiving options behind WR Terry McLaurin), Okonkwo could be a sleeper TE this season.
Gunnar Helm Out For Week 18
Gunnar Helm Out For Week 18
Titans TE Gunnar Helm (toe) is out for this weekend’s game vs. the Jaguars. He’s been basically splitting routes with TE Chig Okonkwo lately, so the rookie’s absence should mean a boost in playing time for Okonkwo. He’s a very viable Week 18 fantasy start.
See whether Chigoziem Okonkwo is available in your leagues.
Sign In to Check Your LeaguesNo related articles are available yet.
You have our personal money-back guarantee: If you’re not happy with our service for any reason, just reach out by December 31, 2026, and we’ll give you 100% of this purchase back. No strings attached. You can cancel with one-click from your account page anytime.
