David Njoku

David Njoku

28-Year-Old Tight EndTE
Cleveland Browns
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Njoku set career highs across the board last year in his seventh season with the Browns, catching 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns on 123 targets. He was a big part of Cleveland's passing game all year, but it wasn't until Joe Flacco took over at QB late in the season that Njoku's production really surged, with his final four games accounting for 42 percent of his yardage and four of the TDs. It feels like Njoku has been around forever, but he’ll be only 28 years old during the 2024 season and might be right in his prime. He has a firm grip on his starting job and a near-every-down role, and while he won't get to work with Flacco this season, Njoku has also shown decent chemistry with starting QB Deshaun Watson. Njoku’s 123 targets last year were five back of Amari Cooper’s team-leading total and trailed only Evan Engram (143) and T.J. Hockenson (127) among tight ends. Eighteen of those targets came in the red zone, which was third-most among TEs, behind Jake Ferguson (25) and Travis Kelce (20). Throw in Njoku’s track record of durability -- he’s played 16 games in four of seven seasons and less than 13 just once -- and it all adds up to one of the higher floors among tight ends. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#92.23
ADP
$Signed a four-year, $54.75 million contract with the Browns in May of 2022.
Cleared to play Thursday
TECleveland Browns
November 20, 2024
Njoku (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Steelers, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The Browns listed Njoku as a full practice participant Wednesday, so he should be ready to handle his usual role Thursday. As productive as he's been since Jameis Winston took over as the Browns' starting quarterback beginning in Week 8, Njoku faces a couple of relevant obstacles Week 12. Not only will be taking aim at a tough Pittsburgh defense, but the forecast in Cleveland on Thursday night is calling for cold, windy and wet conditions.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do David Njoku's 2024 advanced stats compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
31.3
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.67
 
% Team Air Yards
7.3%
 
% Team Targets
13.9%
 
Avg Depth of Target
4.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
75.0%
 
Drop Rate
9.6%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
4.9
 
% Targeted On Route
22.5%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.45
 
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Cleveland BrownsBrowns 2024 TE Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

32950%
17482%
23536%
5425%
12719%
4019%
7211%
00%
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How often does David Njoku run a route when on the field for a pass play?
This data will let you see how David Njoku and the other tight ends for the Browns are being used. Some tight ends may have a lot of snaps, but they're not that useful for fantasy purposes because they're not actually running routes. This data will help you see when this is the case.
David Njoku
231 routes   52 targets
← More Blocking
% Routes Run
More Receiving →
70%
171 routes   30 targets
73%
38 routes   1 target
30%
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where David Njoku lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Steelers pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
PIT
vs Steelers
Thursday, Nov 21st at 8:15PM
Overall QB Rating Against
68.0
 
Cornerbacks
54.3
 
Safeties
84.7
 
Linebackers
80.1
 
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2024 David Njoku Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do David Njoku's measurables compare to other tight ends?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 4"
 
Weight
246 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.64 sec
 
Broad Jump
0 in
 
Bench Press
0 reps
 
Hand Length
10.00 in
 
Arm Length
35.35 in
 
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Njoku flirted with career highs in 2022, but his sixth NFL campaign had the potential to be significantly more impressive than it turned out given his frequent usage inside the 20-yard line. Working as Cleveland’s clear-cut No. 1 tight end after enduring timeshares over the previous few seasons, Njoku scored exactly four touchdowns for the fourth time while catching a career-high 58 passes for 628 yards — 11 yards short of his career high from 2018. His 80 targets were also the second most of Njoku’s career, eight short of his 2018 total. Of those 80 targets, 19 came in the red zone, which ranked second among NFL tight ends behind Travis Kelce’s 32. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Njoku is a big, fast target, and he'll be getting a lot of snaps in an explosive offense if Deshaun Watson can replicate the success from his Houston days under center. Watson threw for 33 touchdowns and a league-high 4,823 yards in 2020, but last year he plummeted to 183.7 yards per game and seven TDs (two to Njoku) in six games for Cleveland after returning from a lengthy layoff.
Fantasy managers have been waiting for Njoku's breakout season since Cleveland drafted him 29th overall in 2017, but this could be the year he lives up to his first-round status. The Browns released tight end Austin Hooper, making Njoku the clear No. 1 option at the position, and they upgraded at quarterback with the trade for Deshaun Watson (after he serves an 11- game suspension). Cleveland also gave Njoku a four- year, $56.75 million contract extension in May with $28 million guaranteed, making him the fifth- highest paid tight end in the league. Njoku's best year came back in 2018, when he had 56 catches for 639 yards and four touchdowns on 88 targets. Last year, he set career highs in yards per target (9.0) and catch percentage (67.9) while tying his career high with four touchdowns. Tight end is a big part of coach Kevin Stefanski's playbook - the Browns ranked fourth in the league last season in target rate to the position. If Njoku can scale up those 2021 rate stats with more volume, he could finally have that elusive breakout.
Njoku is coming off a 2020 campaign in which he caught 19 of his 29 targets for 213 and two TDs in 13 games. Now in his fifth season with the Browns, the 2017 first-rounder remains behind Austin Hooper in the team's tight end pecking order, and Harrison Bryant is also around to compete for targets. In that context, Njoku is probably an injury break or two away from garnering fantasy-worthy volume, but if given the chance, the 6-4, 246-pounder does possess more than enough athleticism to produce as a pass catcher.
In 2019, Njoku occupied a spot in the doghouse under then-head coach Freddie Kitchens. He looked positioned for a big year after catching four of six targets and a touchdown in Week 1, but a Week 2 wrist injury KO'd the 2017 first-rounder's next 11 weeks (10 games). Upon Njoku's return, Kitchens questioned his effort and made the 23-year-old a healthy scratch. With a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski, one who utilizes tight ends, Njoku's fantasy outlook takes on a slightly more positive feel. However, the team spent big money to bring in Austin Hooper, likely leaving Njoku as the No. 2 TE. The Browns did pick up the fifth-year option on Njoku's rookie contract, but that wasn't enough to dissuade him from requesting a trade in July. It isn't clear if the team has any interest in honoring his request.
The first thing to remember with Njoku is that he came into the league at a young age. He was 21 during his rookie year of 2017- which was held back by the clown car of the Hue Jackson Browns - and will be a third-year pro this season at 23 years old. Tight end is a complicated position as is, but especially when you've spotted an age advantage to your peers. The Baker Mayfield switch didn't push Njoku through the roof, but The Joker did increase his catch rate by 10 percent from his rookie year and was eighth in the league in TE yardage. The Browns didn't prioritize Njoku in scoring areas, with his eight red-zone targets tying Rob Gronkowski for 18th place among tight ends. There's obvious room for growth in that regard, especially if the Cleveland offense takes a big step forward with Mayfield in his second year and having a full offseason to work with coach Freddie Kitchens. On the flip side, the Browns need to find room for Odell Beckham Jr. on the receiving tree, and they also have a deep backfield that demands touches. But Njoku's impressive 2017 combine is still fresh in our minds, and maybe a spike is possible this season.
No one doubts the Njoku pedigree. He was a first-round pick out of the University of Miami. He crushed the 2017 Combine, finishing top-three among TEs in the vertical jump, broad jump and three-cone drill, with a solid 40 time (4.64) to boot. Ah, but Njoku landed in Cleveland, joining a team with a clueless head coach and a revolving door at quarterback. Given the challenges of the position and the chaos around Njoku, a 32-386-4 haul was rather impressive. Strangely, most of his production came early; he had just one touchdown after Week 5. His biggest problem this year could be competition for targets. Josh Gordon is around, at least to start the year. Target-gobbling Jarvis Landry joined the team. Two primary running backs were added, and Duke Johnson is still around. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if you think Njoku's talent can overcome the gridlock he's staring down.
The Browns traded up to land Njoku in April's draft, selecting him with the No. 29 overall pick. Perhaps other teams were struggling with the pronunciation; for the record, it's en-JOE-koo. The University of Miami has a rich legacy of tight ends, including Jimmy Graham, Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. The exciting thing about Njoku's fantasy potential is that he's seen more as a receiver than a blocker. One of the fantasy hacks we're always looking for is a tight end who's used as a hybrid WR more than anything else, and Njoku seems to have that club in his bag. The cold water to the case? The Browns haven't had quality QB play since dinosaurs roamed the planet, Njoku is still young for his class (he turned 21 in July), and rookie tight ends are notoriously a risky investment. We love his future, but we'll try to stay grounded with initial expectations.
More Fantasy News
Maintains limited practice activity
TECleveland Browns
Knee
November 19, 2024
The Browns listed Njoku (knee) as a limited practice participant Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Listed as limited on practice report
TECleveland Browns
Knee
November 18, 2024
The Browns listed Njoku as a limited participant on Monday's estimated practice report due to a knee injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Nine grabs in Sunday's loss
TECleveland Browns
November 17, 2024
Njoku caught all nine of his targets for 81 yards in Sunday's 35-14 loss to the Saints.
ANALYSIS
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Does little with five catches
TECleveland Browns
November 3, 2024
Njoku secured five of seven targets for 29 yards in the Browns' 27-10 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Good to go for Week 9
TECleveland Browns
November 1, 2024
Njoku (ankle/hand) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Rising up tight end rankings
TECleveland Browns
July 13, 2024
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com has Njoku ranked seventh among tight ends heading into 2024, based on his yearly survey with NFL executives, coaches and scouts.
ANALYSIS
Despite catching passes from four different quarterbacks in 2023, Njoku finished with a career-best 81 catches on 123 targets for 882 yards and six touchdowns across 16 regular-season games. While he led all tight ends last season with nine drops, he also led the position with 247 yards after contact. The eighth-year tight end found particular success with Joe Flacco toward the end of 2023, and with Deshaun Watson returning from shoulder surgery, Njoku should remain heavily involved in the passing game alongside wide receivers Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy.
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