O.J. Howard

O.J. Howard

29-Year-Old Tight EndTE
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2023 Fantasy Outlook
The 2017 first-rounder landed in Houston last year after spending his first five seasons with the Buccaneers, but he posted an underwhelming 10-145-2 line on 23 targets across 13 games in 2022. The Raiders traded Darren Waller to the Giants and ultimately let Foster Moreau walk in free agency this offseason, creating a major need at tight end before signing both Howard and Austin Hooper. Las Vegas would go on to select Michael Mayer with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the polished Notre Dame product could limit Howard's involvement in the Raiders' passing game right away. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Released by the Raiders in August of 2023.
Raiders move on
TEFree Agent
August 1, 2023
The Raiders are slated to release Howard, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
ANALYSIS
The 2017 first-rounder joined the Raiders in March, but the team has evidently been impressed enough with Michael Mayer and Jesper Horsted to feel comfortable moving on from Howard. Also in Las Vegas' TE mix as the 2023 season approaches is free-agent addition Austin Hooper.
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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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2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where O.J. Howard lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 O.J. Howard Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do O.J. Howard'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' 6"
 
Weight
251 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.51 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.16 sec
 
Cone Drill
6.85 sec
 
Vertical Jump
30.0 in
 
Broad Jump
121 in
 
Bench Press
22 reps
 
Hand Length
10.00 in
 
Arm Length
33.75 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring O.J. Howard See More
2023 Las Vegas Raiders Preview: Roster Moves, Depth Chart, Schedule, Storylines and More
234 days ago
In Las Vegas, QB Jimmy Garoppolo's situation has been resolved, but RB Josh Jacobs' has not. In any case, the Raiders retain the services of top-end WR Davante Adams, who produces no matter who's under center.
2023 Houston Texans Preview: Roster Moves, Depth Chart, Schedule, Storylines and More
235 days ago
After back-to-back directionless seasons, the Texans are embarking on a full rebuild under the guidance of new coach Demeco Ryans and rookie QB C.J. Stroud.
NFL Draft: Day 2 Fantasy Fallout
324 days ago
Joe Bartel reviews the litany of moves that occurred during Day 2, including the selection of Will Levis early in Round 2. Does the new Titan become one of the top QBs off the board in dynasty formats?
NFL Free Agency: Devil in the Details
352 days ago
Jerry Donabedian lists the top free-agent signings at every position and breaks down contract details to see how teams truly value their new players.
Target Breakdown: 2022 Tight End Recap and 2023 Early Fantasy Rankings
February 8, 2023
Jerry Donabedian takes a look back at some of 2022's standouts and gives his early 2023 fantasy rankings for tight ends.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
An exciting athletic profile pushed Howard into the first round of the 2017 draft, but he's never been able to put it all together in the NFL. He maxed out in 2018 with 34 receptions for 565 yards, and his average yards per target has gone down every year since. The Bills gave him a shot, but Howard ultimately was released at the end of the preseason, making him a free agent again.
Howard's career arc is less than promising, but even after back-to-back disappointing seasons, we don't need to look too hard for signs of the talent that made him a first-round pick in 2017. After struggling through his first year in Bruce Arians' offense, Howard came out of the gate strong in 2020, scoring a Week 1 touchdown en route to catching 11 passes for 146 yards and two TDs in the first quarter of the season. Unfortunately, he suffered an Achilles tear Week 4, bringing his season to an early end while opening the door for Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate to see more targets. Gronkowski wasn't the peak version of himself by any means, but he largely avoided mistakes and even scored a pair of TDs in the Super Bowl. The 32-year-old thus figures to remain the starter this season, so Howard's upside scenario likely entails a major injury or a trade.
A popular breakout pick last summer, Howard took a big step backward instead of a big step forward, despite setting career highs for snaps (782) and targets. He played at least 75 percent of snaps in 13 of his 14 games, but drops (six) and penalties (five) led to criticism from coach Bruce Arians, whose limited praise focused on Howard's blocking. Howard's 71 pass-blocking snaps were 14th most among TEs, while 21 TEs bested his 145 slot snaps, in part because he was replaced by Cameron Brate on some passing downs. Howard averaged 56.5 yards in a four-game stretch Weeks 13-16, but his solid finish wasn't enough to prevent the Bucs from trading for Rob Gronkowski, and it isn't quite clear how Howard fits the plan, if at all.
If you're low on cash but feeling thirsty, head down to the local tavern armed with some O.J. Howard trivia. Howard led tight ends in YPC and YPT last year, which is sure to win you a few free libations. He certainly made an impression with quarterback Jameis Winston, who initially said the sky was the limit for Howard, then changed that to the moon. We always knew Winston was something of a space cadet; now we have deeper confirmation. A high-ankle sprain kept Howard out of six games last year and probably masked what was in all actuality a breakout season. He's also a capable blocker, which can be a double-edged sword - the teams love it, the fantasy honks not so much. A third-year breakout would make sense from a linear perspective, and we're also expecting coach Bruce Arians to have a ball with Howard's size and athleticism. There are other talented pass catchers in Tampa Bay (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin wave hello), but Howard deserves consideration as the top tight end chosen after the first tier is depleted.
The Buccaneers were judicious in their usage of Howard, but the rookie made splash plays when his number was called. A mark of 16.6 YPC is snappy for any player, but especially for a rookie tight end. And Howard somehow scored six times on just 26 catches. He also deserves high marks for snagging two-thirds of his 39 targets. Howard is an elite athlete, and that might actually work against his fantasy potential a bit - unlike teammate Cameron Brate, Howard is a strong blocker and will be deployed in that role often. But if you're merely thinking about TE upside in the secondary stages of your fantasy draft, Howard is a name to underscore. He has a pedigree (the 19th overall pick in 2017) and most of his Combine stats were impressive. At the end of the day, Tampa Bay can't ignore that Howard is slightly bigger than Brate, significantly faster and has a much wider catch radius. Both Howard and Brate played for Crimson-colored colleges (Alabama and Harvard, respectively), but if we're picking between them, we'll tap the Tide for maximum upside. Just remember that both tight ends likely will face a challenge early in the year, as QB Jameis Winston will serve a suspension for the first three weeks.
The Bucs have to feel good about landing Howard at No. 19 overall, as his realistic range stretched as high as the No. 6 pick to the Jets. He was the top tight end prospect in the draft, and he received plenty of exposure playing at Alabama. When examining his college stats, it's probably best to focus on the 15.1 YPC and not the seven TDs in 46 games -- Nick Saban is in the business of winning NCAA titles, not assembling a pinball offense. What's realistic for a rookie tight end, production wise? In this century, we've seen eight go past 500 yards and 10 get five touchdowns or more. Howard should have an immediate role, but Tampa already has an elite WR in Mike Evans, a proven red-zone TE in Cameron Brate and a deep threat in DeSean Jackson. And keep in mind a big part of Howard's appeal is his in-line blocking ability.
More Fantasy News
Lands with Las Vegas
TELas Vegas Raiders
March 20, 2023
The Raiders agreed to terms with Howard on Monday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore reports.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play Sunday
TEHouston Texans
Hip
January 8, 2023
Howard (hip) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the Colts.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable for Week 18
TEHouston Texans
Hip
January 6, 2023
Howard (hip) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts.
ANALYSIS
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Pops up on injury report
TEHouston Texans
Hip
January 5, 2023
Howard was a limited participant during practice Thursday due to a hip injury.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play vs. Kansas City
TEHouston Texans
Coach's Decision
December 18, 2022
Howard (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game versus the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
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