Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo put up steady yet modest production across the 2025 NFL season, recording 56 receptions for 560 yards and two touchdowns over 17 games. Now entering free agency, Okonkwo’s future fantasy outlook is uncertain as he faces the possibility of joining a new team and competing for a significant role in 2026. Despite consistent playing time and reliability, Okonkwo’s fantasy ceiling has remained limited so far, raising questions about his potential as a top-tier fantasy asset.
Okonkwo’s 2025 Season and Projected Outlook
At 26 years old, Chig Okonkwo has demonstrated durability and consistency, having played in every game since entering the NFL and logging at least 50 receptions for three consecutive seasons. Last year, he posted career highs with 79 targets and 56 catches but managed only two touchdowns. His role within the Titans’ offense has been stable but unspectacular, with no season surpassing 80 targets or three touchdown receptions. The presence of rookie teammate Gunnar Helm, who shared snaps and targets, further caps Okonkwo’s opportunities.
Okonkwo’s upcoming unrestricted free agency could represent a pivotal moment. A fresh start with a different team may offer a chance to unlock untapped fantasy potential. However, the reality that Tennessee has featured one of the league’s most struggling offenses recently, coupled with the emergence of Helm as a tight end option, suggests that his path to a true TE1 designation might be difficult. His dynasty fantasy value has been gradually declining, making 2026 a critical year for his career trajectory.
Insights into the Titans’ Offensive Development
The Titans’ overall offense has underperformed, ranking near the bottom of the league in total yardage, which directly impacts the fantasy value of players like Okonkwo. Rookie quarterback Cameron Ward, who started all 17 games in 2025, has faced growing pains and inconsistency, completing just 59.8% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Despite these struggles, Ward has shown promise toward the season’s end, throwing eight touchdowns with a single interception in his last four full games.
Ward is currently rehabbing an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder but continues offseason work focusing on footwork and mechanics. Tennessee’s new offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, is expected to implement more play-action and run-pass option (RPO) plays suited to Ward’s skills, offering optimism for offensive improvement in 2026. Daboll previously helped elevate Josh Allen from a raw rookie to an All-Pro, giving fantasy managers reason to monitor Ward’s development closely.
“Tennessee Titans quarterback Cameron Ward (shoulder) is recovering well from his right-shoulder AC sprain that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. Ward has been working with the team’s quarterbacks coach on his lower body, and the plan is for him to resume throwing the football in March.” ?Cameron Wolfe, NFL Network
“Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said that quarterback Cameron Ward (shoulder) is doing well as he rehabs a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Barring some sort of setback, though, he should be fully recovered well before training camp, the preseason, and the 2026 regular season.” ?Mike Borgonzi, Tennessee Titans GM
With Daboll’s system potentially increasing Ward’s involvement in RPOs and play-action concepts, the Titans offense could become more dynamic. This situation may also benefit tight end Gunnar Helm, who is poised to take on a larger role in 2026 if the Titans move on from Okonkwo.
Gunnar Helm Poised to Lead Tennessee’s Tight End Group
Gunnar Helm, a rookie tight end in 2025, demonstrated solid potential in his first NFL season. In 16 games, he recorded 44 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets, sharing playing time with Okonkwo. The absence of a clear lead tight end limited both players’ upside, but with Okonkwo entering free agency, Helm appears set to become Tennessee’s primary option at the position.
Though Helm may lack star-level upside, his rookie performance combined with an improving supporting cast and offensive scheme under Daboll offers a promising outlook for dynasty league managers. Helm’s role could increase alongside Cameron Ward’s expected growth, potentially elevating the Titans’ tight end production overall.
Additional Fantasy Implications for Titans Skill Players
Several other Tennessee players impact the team’s fantasy landscape and contextualize Okonkwo’s value moving forward. Rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike earned attention with his return abilities and receiving potential. After being selected in the fourth round out of Florida, Dike made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player, returning two punts for touchdowns and averaging a league-leading 17.3 yards per return.
While Dike finished outside the top 50 wide receivers in half-PPR scoring, he impressed with 48 receptions on 74 targets for 423 yards and four touchdowns. His elite speed (4.34-second 40-yard dash) and special teams impact secure him a promising role, though concerns about his size and long-term durability remain.
Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor carved out a meaningful role after midseason injuries to veteran Calvin Ridley. Ayomanor finished with 41 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (14 starts), finishing as the WR52 in full-PPR formats. Ayomanor closed the season strongly, suggesting upside if the Titans’ offense improves.
Calvin Ridley, once a consistent high-volume receiver for Tennessee, endured a disastrous 2025 season limited to seven games due to a hamstring injury and a broken fibula. His production dropped sharply to 17 receptions for 303 yards with no touchdowns. Ridley, 31, still has two years left on his contract, but his health and recent performance raise serious questions about his fantasy value and long-term role with the team.
At running back, Tony Pollard struggled to fully deliver in 2025 despite a solid yardage total with 1,082 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. Pollard finished as the RB23 in full-PPR formats, bolstered by a brief three-week surge of 367 yards and three touchdowns. However, inconsistency, coupled with the Titans having one of the worst offenses in the league, suppressed his overall fantasy impact.
The Titans’ backfield situation remains fluid heading into 2026, as the team holds a contractual out clause on Pollard before his third season. Should Tennessee release Pollard, he could emerge as a valuable complimentary back (a “1B” role) elsewhere if landing with a contender. Fantasy managers might explore trading Pollard now to capitalize on his RB23 finish.
Outlook for Tennessee and Implications on Fantasy Strategies
The 2026 season promises to be a year of transition for the Tennessee Titans, especially in fantasy circles. Chig Okonkwo’s likely departure and Gunnar Helm’s ascendancy at tight end will reshape the team’s pass-catching hierarchy. Meanwhile, Cameron Ward’s recovery and integration into Brian Daboll’s offense will be critical for all skill players’ fantasy outcomes.
Given the team’s offensive struggles in 2025 and the infusion of youth and new coaching, incremental improvement seems plausible but not guaranteed. Ward’s expected development and a more creative scheme could unlock added opportunities for players like Dike, Ayomanor, and Helm, while veterans such as Ridley and Pollard face uncertain futures.
For dynasty managers, Okonkwo’s fading fantasy value suggests caution in holding or acquiring him. His steady production has provided a floor, but a higher ceiling remains elusive, especially with competition rising in Tennessee. Those weighing moves on Titans players will need to balance optimism for growth against the reality of a rebuilding offense and health questions.
Overall, Chig Okonkwo’s fantasy ceiling may be nearer than many expect—not soaring beyond his current capabilities but rather staying within a limited production range. His next contract and landing spot will be the biggest factors influencing whether he can exceed this threshold or gradually fade from top-tier fantasy relevance.
