A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft; grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. To point out this value, we asked our staff to identify players available in the top half of your draft who should outperform their draft position.
RELATED: See 3 Underrated Quarterbacks here
Three tight ends quickly gathered interest. See what our staff has to say about each underrated player.
Underrated TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Mauricio Gutierrez: You should avoid players from offenses that lack explosiveness, especially those with so many unknowns (or rather, all the unknowns) at the most important position: quarterback. But at every taco stand, there will always be at least one taco worth eating. Njoku is that taco at the Dawg Pound taco stand.
Do we regret drafting Malik Nabers last year? Situations aren't identical, but some similarities serve as a way to put things in context.
Njoku is the cornerstone of Cleveland's offense. He has improved his fantasy points per game every season since 2020 (4.0, 6.7, 10.1, 12.6, and 13.5). He has two consecutive seasons with at least 97 targets. In 2024, finished as the top-five TE in target share (22.8%), TE4 in fantasy points per game, and TE2 in expected fantasy points.
I understand that the situation could be even more critical than last year. But even so, as a key player on the team and with the talent he has shown, he can produce top-eight numbers. The team has such a poor overall perception that it's pushing him into low TE1 territory or even outside the Top 12 in drafts.
Jason Wood: The Cleveland Browns may be an offense to avoid, given the quartet of unappealing quarterback options on the roster. But head coach Kevin Stefanski is a talented offensive game planner, and Njoku is one of the few legitimate mismatches on the team.
Let's not forget Njoku has finished as TE8, TE6, and TE5 on a per-game basis over the last three seasons, despite operating in a volatile and uncertain quarterback environment. Jerry Jeudy enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, but beyond him, there are no receivers or tight ends who should prevent Njoku from being an integral part of the offense, regardless of who's under center.
Dave Kluge: David Njoku has produced top-ten numbers over the last three seasons, maintaining an upward trajectory. A former first-round pick, Njoku took time to acclimate to the NFL. After showing some promise in Year 2, back-to-back injury years cooled expectations. But now, heading into his age-29 season, he's playing the best football of his career.
The concern about Cleveland's quarterback rooms merits mention, but Njoku has played with eight different starters over the last three seasons. Behind Jerry Jeudy, Njoku projects to be the team's secondary option. Since the start of the 2023 season, he is third among tight ends in targets, trailing only Travis Kelce and Trey McBride.
Njoku uses his off-the-charts athleticism to plow through defenders and make plays after the catch. He has the size to be a weapon in the red zone. We've seen success with Joe Flacco. And the younger quarterbacks will see him as a large and friendly target running easy-to-find underneath routes. Many fantasy members were scorned during the inconsistent and injury-plagued start to Njoku's career. You can leverage their visceral distaste by drafting Njoku, a thrice-consecutive top-ten tight end, at a steep bargain.
Bob Harris: Winding up on injured reserve seemed like a fitting end to a difficult 2024 season for David Njoku, who was coming off a Pro Bowl campaign in 2023. The tight end missed three games because of a high ankle sprain suffered in the opener. He missed the last two games of the season with a knee injury sustained in Week 16, a game he was playing on a tender hamstring he injured the week before.
He finished the year with 64 receptions for 505 yards and a team-leading five touchdowns in 11 games. Despite the missed time, Njoku still drew 97 targets, tied for fifth-most in the league, giving him an impressive 26.6 percent target share.
Though he closed out the year as TE12 in total points, Njoku was TE5 on a points-per-game basis, with 13.1. Even with the addition of athletic, talented rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., expecting Njoku to continue handling his usual role seems reasonable.
And if you're looking for upside, I'll remind you that with Joe Flacco as his quarterback in Weeks 13-17 in 2023, Njoku was TE5. Flacco is back in Cleveland and the early favorite to be their starter.
Ben Cummins: David Njoku is an amazing athlete at the tight end position and put that on full display in 2023, finishing with 81 receptions on 123 targets for 882 yards and 6 touchdowns in 16 games. That was good for a TE6 finish in Standard Footballguys Scoring points per game (7.8).
With the market lower on Njoku entering the 2025 season, he must've disappointed last season, right? Wrong. He missed six games due to ankle, hamstring, and knee injuries, so recency bias is likely affecting his cost; however, he showed improvement in 2024.
Here are his 2023 per-game stats: 7.7 targets, 5.1 receptions, 55.1 receiving yards, and 0.375 touchdowns. Now let's compare those to his 2024 per-game stats: 8.8 targets, 5.8 receptions, 45.9 receiving yards, and 0.45 touchdowns. Njoku commanded more targets, caught more passes, and scored more touchdowns per game last season.
He'll be just 29 years old this year. The Browns led the NFL in pass attempts in 2024. Their record was 3-14. There should be no shortage of passing volume for him, as Cleveland is projected to struggle once again. Take full advantage of this discount and draft Njoku.
Maurile Tremblay: Despite Cleveland's league-worst 15.2 points per game and quarterback instability in 2024, David Njoku quietly produced elite-level efficiency. He ranked fourth among tight ends with 13.5 fantasy points per game, driven by an average of 8.1 targets per game and an impressive 23.4% targets-per-route rate, both among the top five at his position. Even amid offensive turmoil, Njoku recorded 64 catches, 505 yards, and five touchdowns in only 11 appearances, demonstrating a reliable floor regardless of quarterback play.
In response to their struggles, the Browns promoted tight ends coach Tommy Rees to offensive coordinator and reinstated play-calling duties to Kevin Stefanski. These moves keep Njoku connected to a coaching staff that consistently directs approximately 25% of targets to tight ends and explicitly trusts him in crucial situations. The lack of significant depth behind him further secures his snap share.
With his consistent target volume, Njoku is an underrated and dependable anchor at tight end for fantasy drafters in 2025.
Phil Alexander: The quarterback uncertainty dragging down David Njoku's ADP might actually be a blessing in disguise. While none of the options in Cleveland are ideal, each offers a realistic path for Njoku to beat his draft cost.
We already saw what he can do with Joe Flacco. In five games together in 2023, Njoku averaged 8.6 targets, 6.2 receptions, 79.8 yards, and 0.6 touchdowns — production that would've made him the TE2 in points per game over a full season. If Flacco wins the job, Njoku is a weekly difference-maker.
If it's Kenny Pickett, Njoku gets a quarterback who can at least deliver the ball accurately to the short and intermediate areas of the field. That complements Njoku's ability to separate early in routes and find soft spots underneath.
And if rookies Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders start at some point, tight ends are often a young quarterback's best friend, especially one who can break tackles and generate yards after the catch like Njoku.
Tight end projections flatten quickly after the elite tier. Njoku has the talent, usage, and versatility to finish inside the top five, and he costs a fraction of what that ceiling usually requires.
