O.J. Howard

Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard caught his only target for a 21 yard gain in Sunday's Week 2 win over the Falcons.

Fantasy Impact

Howard got into the action but it's not enough to garner fantasy relevancy. Howard's best hope is if the Bucs ever rest Rob Gronkowski, which is not happening anytime soon.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians says that TE O.J. Howard is "still catching up" physically at team practice as he recovers from a torn Achilles he suffered last season, per Greg Auman of The Athletic.

Fantasy Impact

Arians says that Howard is "getting back, but he's not there yet." Howard experienced a torn Achilles in October of last year and returned to practice on Friday. Arians pointed out that he "had a chance to make a couple of grimy catches in the end zone and didn't come up with them." O.J. Howard is a physically gifted player but sits behind TE Rob Gronkowski on the depth chart. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to provide much value this season.

Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard is practicing on Friday for the first time since tearing his Achilles in October 2020.

Fantasy Impact

Howard looked to be the primary TE option before suffering the Achilles injury early in the 2020 season. Recording 11 receptions for 146 yards and two TDs in September, he appeared on pace for a breakout in the Tom Brady-led offense. Can Howard return to form and prove himself worthy of the first-round pick the Bucs used on him in 2017? Only time will tell. For now, he should be on the fantasy radar as a streaming option with upside.

Fifth-year tight end O.J. Howard, is at training camp, but not practicing. He’s not ready yet, but has been seen working with trainers and catching passes.

Fantasy Impact

Last year, Howard played just four games before rupturing his Achilles. An injury like that typically takes roughly a year to fully rehabilitate post-surgery. It will affect his explosiveness moving forward. Generally speaking, it’s harder to return to full effectiveness post-Achilles surgery for players who rely on quickness and athleticism. He’s never lived up to expectations, and unless he defines all odds likely never will. He can be left on waivers for redraft leagues, with Gronkowski starting and the unknown time-table for his return. In deeper dynasty leagues there are worse players to roster, but don’t expect much.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard (Achilles) is expected to return and attend training camp, per head coach Bruce Arians.

Fantasy Impact

Howard suffered an Achilles injury in Week 4 of the 2020 season but is nearing a return and according to Bucs' head coach Bruce Arians, "...looks fantastic working out every day." Howard will enter his fifth year in the league but will have to solidify his role in a crowded tight end room alongside Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate. He saw the most targets of his career in 2019 (53) despite scoring only one touchdown, compared to the 11 touchdowns he scored across his first two seasons in Tampa Bay. Fantasy managers in 1QB redraft leagues can likely wait until the later rounds to take a flier on the talented tight end, as his Achilles injury and lack of touchdowns in 2019 has him as the TE29 in half-PPR formats according to the latest Expert Consensus Rankings.