Two Tennessee Titans Selected in 'Perfect' Fantasy Football Draft by Pro Football Focus
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are not expected to have one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL in 2023, but they do have two young pass catchers that have not only Titans fans, but fantasy football players incredibly excited for what they could do in 2023.
Wide receiver Treylon Burks and tight end Chig Okonkwo have consistently been named as breakout candidates this offseason. Most of that conversation is more about their general play on the field, but of course, the fantasy football community has noticed and agreed that Burks and Okonkwo are players to watch.
With that said, it should be no shock that Burks and Okonkwo were a part of the "perfect" fantasy draft put together by Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus. Let's take a look at where both players were drafted.
Round 7 - Treylon Burks
"When he was relatively healthy in the middle of the season, he put together a two-game stretch with 11 catches for 181 yards. He shined most by making big plays and producing after the catch. He caught a pass for at least 20 yards on 3.1% of his routes, which was tied for 15th best out of 116 wide receivers with at least 170 receiving pass routes last season. He is the clear favorite to lead the Tennessee Titans in targets this season and will hopefully stay healthy and build on some momentum."
Burks has all the talent in the world and that was on display at times last season. One thing to keep in mind, Burks struggled out of the gate with the Titans and even this offseason admitted he had some struggles with the playbook.
Burks has been in the building training and learning the offense since February. He looks leaner and faster and in much better shape this offseason. As a rookie, your offseason is insane due to the pre-draft process and then stepping up into the league.
Burks should be settled now and prepared to live up the the fantasy football expectations and his draft slot in the first round in the 2022 NFL draft.
Round 12 - Chig Okonkwo
"He was the most efficient tight end on a per-play basis. Out of 55 tight ends with at least 150 routes, he ranked second in targets per route (0.26), first in receptions per route (0.19), first in yards per route (2.61), fifth in touchdowns per route (0.017) and fourth in avoided tackles per catch (0.219). Austin Hooper and Geoff Swaim were the two players ahead of him on the depth chart at times, and neither is on the roster entering the 2023 season. Tennessee added run blocker Trevon Wesco, who will not be a threat to Okonkwo on passing downs."
Out of the two players, in my opinion, Okonkwo is the better value. Any fantasy player would know the tight end position is a wasteland currently outside of the top three players at the position in Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Mark Andrews. Everyone else has their warts.
If you don't get one of those top three it makes a ton of sense to go hunting for value later on and Okonkwo is the perfect target. Along with the stats above, Okonkwo led the NFL in catches of 40 yards or more with three such catches.
He has shown a propensity for big plays and should get even more snaps than he did his rookie season when he only played 37% of offensive snaps. Fantasy is all about volume and talent. Okonkwo showed he has the talent, so with the expected volume increase, you could have a league-winner.
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