David Njoku

David Njoku

28-Year-Old Tight EndTE
Cleveland Browns
Questionable
Injury Knee
Est. Return 5/1/2025
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Njoku has performed admirably through a series of underwhelming QB situations in Cleveland, so he’ll be well prepared to handle a 2025 QB room with five viable candidates to make starts. He saw the second most targets (97) of his career last season, despite missing six games, while averaging a career-low 7.9 yards per catch in one of the NFL's worst offenses. He scored five TDs in those 11 games and averaged 45.9 receiving yards, down from a career-high 55.1 receiving yards in 2023 (when he also had personal bests for every major counting stat). Njoku averaged 7.3 targets per game over the past three seasons, and he appears to be the second option in Cleveland's passing game again, behind only WR Jerry Jeudy. The Browns did spend a third-round pick on fellow tight end Harold Fannin, last year's FBS leader in catches, but he may only play in multi-TE sets as a rookie rather than threatening Njoku's usage right away. Apart from Fannin's presence, the biggest concerns for Njoku are the overall quality of Cleveland's offense and a lengthy history of nagging injuries as he approaches his age-29 campaign. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a four-year, $54.75 million contract with the Browns in May of 2022.
May lose routes to rookie?
TECleveland Browns
Knee
April 28, 2025
Njoku (knee) will be joined in Cleveland's TE room by No. 67 overall pick Harold Fannin.
ANALYSIS
Fannin is a unique prospect, lacking ideal size (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) and speed (4.71 40) but still attracting plenty of NFL interest thanks to his FBS-leading 117 receptions at Bowling Green last season. Njoku is bigger, faster, stronger and a better blocker, but Fannin may ultimately push for some passing-down snaps in single-TE formations if he runs crisp routes and is quick to learn the offense. It's a comparable situation to the one in Baltimore with Isaiah Likely, who also put up huge numbers at a mediocre college program and notably didn't have much impact on Mark Andrews' role until their third season playing together. Of course, Njoku isn't held in the same regard as Andrews, and the Browns may take more of an interest in developing young players during a likely rebuilding year than the Ravens did while trying to win a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, there hasn't been any update on the knee injury that held Njoku out for the final two games of last season. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as it might just mean he avoided surgery and completed his recovery without incident.
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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
44.4
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.87
 
% Team Air Yards
10.1%
 
% Team Targets
15.3%
 
Avg Depth of Target
5.0 Yds
 
Catch Rate
66.0%
 
Drop Rate
8.2%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
4.1
 
% Targeted On Route
25.1%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.31
 
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2024
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2018
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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

56150%
43038%
19517%
12711%
151%
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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
386 routes   97 targets
← More Blocking
% Routes Run
More Receiving →
69%
10 routes   1 target
24%
10 routes   0 targets
24%
75 routes   9 targets
38%
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where David Njoku lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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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
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
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.
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
Placed on IR
TECleveland Browns
Knee
January 3, 2025
Njoku (knee) has been placed on IR by the Browns.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play Saturday
TECleveland Browns
Knee
January 2, 2025
Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
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Still not practicing
TECleveland Browns
Knee
January 2, 2025
Njoku (knee) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
ANALYSIS
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Misses practice Wednesday
TECleveland Browns
Knee
January 1, 2025
Njoku (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Fails to practice Tuesday
TECleveland Browns
Knee
December 31, 2024
Njoku (knee) was listed as a non-participant for Tuesday's walk-through practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Ruled out for Week 17
TECleveland Browns
December 27, 2024
Njoku will not play in Sunday's game against the Dolphins due to a knee injury, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Njoku's injury-riddled stretch run continues Sunday, as he'll sit out for a second time over the last three games after playing through a hamstring issue in Week 16. The veteran tight end sustained the knee injury in the loss to the Bengals, and he wasn't able to participate in any practices this week before being ruled out.
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