Fantasy Football- A Breakdown on why O.J. Howard Will Breakout This Season

By Dylan Tice | Jul 9, 2019

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard (80) runs after a reception during the first half of an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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FanDuel NFL: TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signals a first down after making a 24-yard reception during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 2, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 26-23 in overtime. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Fantasy Football – O.J. Howard Breakout Year?

Entering the 2019 fantasy football season, it seems like every other season where we are scraping the bottom of the barrel at the Tight End position to find value in our drafts. I mean of course we have the sure things in Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, and George Kittle but there is a price to pay as if you plan on drafting one of the big 3 TE’s, you are going to have to invest high draft equity.

If you don’t get Kelce, Ertz, or Kittle in round 2/3, you wont have them on any of your rosters in 2019. After tons of research, I can safely say that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE O.J Howard is going to breakout in 2019. Before we get into all we need to know about Howard, keep in mind that you can currently draft Howard 2-3 rounds behind Kelce, Ertz, and Kittle. When it’s all said and done in 2019, I firmly believe that Howard will be considered an elite TE and put up fantasy statistics that far exceed his current ADP.

Wide Receivers Adam Humphries and Desean Jackson both left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this off-season. With the two of them now off the roster, that freed up an enormous 224 targets heading into 2019. The Buccaneers did not address the WR position throughout the draft and their only WR free agent signing was Breshad Perriman. Sure Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will soak up some freed up targets, but after them it’s all O.J. Howard!

With 224 targets freed up, wouldn’t you expect Howard to get 4+ targets a game in 2019? I’d say so! With that being said, I went back and looked at every game where Howard received 4+ targets in his 2-year career and found 12 games.

Per Game Average Where Howard Get’s 4+ Targets:

4 Receptions

68 Receiving Yards

1 Touchdown

Pretty impressive right? Let’s take a look at what a full season of 4+ target games would look like!

Season Totals With 4+ Targets Per Game:

64 Receptions

1,088 Receiving Yards

16 Touchdowns

That’s insane! Who would have thought that all it takes is targets to succeed in the NFL?

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