O.J. Howard News

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.