Harold Fannin
vs DK Metcalf

“Browns Fantasy Tight End Preview Harold Fannin After a quiet season opener, Fannin has rebounded with games of 5-45-0 and 7-51-2. He scored both Cleveland touchdowns on Sunday, becoming the first Cleveland player to get an end-zone target other than Boston to open the season. Fannin is averaging only 9.0 yards per catch, but with Watson focusing on getting rid of the football, he has regained opportunities in the offense.”

“Fannin played 85.7% of the snaps, ran 68.8% of the routes, and earned a 30% target share. On that improved usage, he earned nine targets, catching seven of them for 51 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 24.1 PPR points on the day. Fannin won’t get 30% of the targets every game, but this is also a ceiling that most tight ends don’t have.”

“Fannin had 72 catches for 731 yards and six TDs last year. He led all FBS pass catchers — both tight ends and wide receivers — in catches and receiving yards in his final college season at Bowling Green in 2024. Fannin is a legitimate dude, and he could be the answer to a fantasy team’s TE problem.” – Pat Fitzmaurice ( FantasyPros )”

“Fannin was fourth on the team with a 13.6% target share and 7.1% first-read share. He had only two receptions and 21 receiving yards (0.95 YPRR). Fannin also didn’t get any high cholesterol usage, as he didn’t have any red zone, end zone, or deep targets.”

“Fannin caught two passes for 21 yards all afternoon, even though Cleveland was in catch-up mode all game long. As long as Deshaun Watson is under center, it will be difficult to trust anyone on the Browns as a startable asset moving forward.”

“Fannin has to compete with two outstanding rookie receivers for targets in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston . Veteran Jerry Jeudy remains as well.”

“Harold Fannin is one in this range, which should be the top target option on his team, and he doesn’t have to compete with Njoku this year.”

“The Browns have added more weapons and Njoku is gone, so it will be interesting to see if Fannin was a product of necessity or talent. I believe it is the latter, and the second-easiest opening schedule gives him a great opportunity to prove it.”

“Harold Fannin is coming off the board around the sixth-round/seventh-round turn.”

“Fannin exploded onto the scene as a rookie, finishing as the TE5 on a team that was pretty miserable in Cleveland. The hope for Fannin is that he will continue to be at least the second target for the Browns, though he may be limited due to questionable QB play.”

“He drew the second-most targets per route run at tight end last season (25.5%). While the Browns have questions at quarterback, Fannin is unquestionably the top target in the offense, and new head coach Todd Monken's track record would suggest he plans to rely heavily on him.”

“Fannin averaged 9.3 PPR fantasy points per game in the 11 contests with seven or fewer targets last year. By comparison, Fannin averaged 16.9 fantasy points per game in the five contests with eight or more targets.”

“Metcalf has averaged 63 receptions per season in each of the last three years, and will now deal with stiffer competition for targets, in the form of Michael Pittman Jr. and second-round selection Germie Bernard from Alabama.”

“Now the Steelers get an offensive-minded coach in Mike McCarthy who should give a boost to every skill position player. I don’t know if Metcalf will ever be a 100-catch receiver, but he established career-lows in receptions and yards, things I believe will be remedied in 2026.”

“Going as the WR34 in PPR leagues, DK Metcalf finished last season as the WR23 in the same format. While he had a lot of middling performances toward the back half of the season, the first six weeks (including a Week 5 bye) featured games with some nice production.”

“While DK Metcalf finished last year as the WR26, averaging 12.5 PPR fantasy points per game, fantasy players couldn't trust him in their lineups. The veteran scored single-digit fantasy points in 40% of his games, including five of the final eight contests. Furthermore, the Steelers vastly improved their wide receiver room this offseason, adding Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard.”

“DK Metcalf has established himself as the number one option in the Steelers offense and is the only wide receiver of note to have already played with Aaron Rodgers. Last season, Metcalf became a yards after the catch monster, generating 7.2 YAC per reception, the fourth-most among wide receivers with 50+ targets, a massive increase from his career average of 4.25 YAC.”

“Don't be surprised if Metcalf gets back to his 2023 form, when he racked up 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns.”

“DK Metcalf averaged 10.5 fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats last season (WR24). Metcalf recorded his lowest receiving yards per game (56.7) since his rookie year.”

“Metcalf led the team with six receiving touchdowns, but only three came from throws inside the red zone, despite his size advantage down there. If McCarthy's scheme features him more in that area and he can jump to double-digit touchdowns, Metcalf has a chance to be a top-18 fantasy wideout once again.”