Browns' Jordan Akins: Loses playing time in Week 4
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Akins caught one of two targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Raiders.
Akins filled in for starter David Njoku (ankle) for a third consecutive game, but he saw his fewest snaps of any of those contests. Blake Whiteheart (21 snaps) and Geoff Swaim (24) shared the load at tight end Sunday. Akins has nine receptions on 14 targets for 76 yards over four games this season.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Likely to start again in Week 4
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Akins again is expected to operate as Cleveland's top tight end Sunday against the Raiders, as David Njoku (ankle) has been ruled out for a third consecutive game.
Akins set season bests in last week's loss to the Giants, working 67 percent of the offensive snaps into a 4-29-0 line on seven targets. The veteran tight end has eight catches for 66 scoreless yards on 12 targets through three games but hasn't shown much of a ceiling for fantasy purposes. He looks like a touchdown-or-bust fantasy bet versus Las Vegas.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Akins had seven targets in Week 3 against the Giants with David Njoku (ankle) out and finished with four catches for 29 yards. We'll see if Njoku can return in Week 4 against the Raiders, but Kevin Stefanski didn't seem optimistic. In deeper leagues, Akins is worth adding as a streamer for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Four catches in Week 3 loss
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Akins caught four of seven targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 21-15 loss to the Giants.
Akins tied Jerry Jeudy for second on the team in targets, five behind Amari Cooper's team-leading 12. David Njoku (ankle) has missed Cleveland's last two games, but Akins has just 39 yards over that pair of contests while filling in atop the tight end depth chart. If Njoku's ready to return against the Raiders in Week 4, Akins would fade back into obscurity.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Set to remain starter Week 3
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Akins is set to operate as Cleveland's top tight end again Sunday against the Giants, as David Njoku (ankle) has been ruled out for a second consecutive game.
Akins had just one target and actually handled a lower snap share (49 percent) in Njoku's absence Week 2 than he did in the season opener, when Njoku exited early and Akins proceeded to catch three of four targets for 27 yards while playing 57 percent of the snaps on offense. Blake Whiteheart was elevated from the practice squad to provide depth behind Akins last week, which may happen again for Sunday's game.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Set to fill in for Njoku in Week 2
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Akins is the only healthy tight end on the Browns' roster heading into Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
David Njoku (ankle) is considered week-to-week after hurting his ankle in the Browns' 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1, and he has already been ruled out against Jacksonville. Akins filled in capably after Njoku got hurt, finishing the season opener with three catches on four targets for 27 yards. The Browns will likely elevate at least one of Geoff Swaim, Cameron Latu or Blake Whiteheart from the practice squad to provide depth behind Akins.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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For now, Akins is the No. 2 tight end for the Browns behind David Njoku, who could be out in Week 2 with an ankle injury. In Week 1 against Dallas, Akins had three catches for 27 yards on four targets. In deeper leagues, if Akins were to get the start in Cleveland in Week 2 against Jacksonville, he would be worth adding in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Untargeted in playoff loss
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Akins was not targeted while playing 16 of 71 offensive snaps in Saturday's 45-14 wild-card playoff loss to the Texans.
Akins finished up a quiet first season with the Browns; he had fewer than two targets in 13 of 18 games. For the regular season, Akins caught 15 of 23 targets for 132 yards with zero touchdowns. He was signed to a two-year contract during the offseason, which made sense given his history with franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder); however, he was never able to rekindle any of their prior on-field chemistry. Most of that was by design -- Cleveland had several other priority weapons on offense -- and part of that was the quarterback's gimpy shoulder. He's under contract for 2024 at a relatively affordable wage and could elevate to the primary backup to David Njoku, as Harrison Bryant will become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Nabs six-yard catch in loss
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Akins played 12 of the Browns' 71 snaps on offense and recorded a six-yard reception on his lone target in Sunday's 36-19 loss to the Rams.
Akins technically drew a start Sunday after the Browns opened their first possession with a three-tight end set, but the 31-year-old still ranked comfortably behind David Njoku (59) and Harrison Bryant (31) in snaps on the day. While he spent the previous five seasons in Houston, Akins showed some occasional prowess as a pass catcher, but he's unlikely to produce splashy receiving lines in Cleveland so long as Njoku and Bryant are both available.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Two targets in loss
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Akins caught one of two targets for six yards in Sunday's 28-3 loss to Baltimore.
Akins has not seen much playing time through the first four weeks as the No. 3 tight end. Sunday's effort was the first time he's seen multiple targets, but the Browns were forced out of their usual offense in the blowout loss. Cleveland was also missing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, which resulted in usage patterns being skewed and reduced production across the board. The Browns are off in Week 5.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Secures catch in loss
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Akins caught his lone target for two yards in Monday's 26-22 loss to the Steelers.
Thus far, Akins has not been a high-volume target for Deshaun Watson, his former quarterback when the pair were in Houston. The tight end's snap count dropped from 23 in Week 1 to nine in Week 2. He's been targeted once in each of the first two games, catching both for 14 total yards. A rosy offseason scenario which speculated Akins would rekindle the chemistry he had with Watson and vault Harrison Bryant (26 snaps Monday) to become the No. 2 tight end behind David Njoku has not materialized.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Targeted once in win
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Akins caught his lone target for 12 yards in Sunday's 24-3 win over Cincinnati in Week 1.
Akins was reunited with his former quarterback in Houston, Deshaun Watson, but it didn't lead to a big day for the tight end. Instead, it was Harrison Bryant (two catches, one TD, 27 snaps) getting more time on the field and targets than Akins behind starter David Njoku. Cleveland threw the ball only 29 times on a rainy day more suited for running, but there is an expectation that Watson will do more with his arm when conditions are more favorable, which could lead to more volume for Akins.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Practicing once again
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Akins returned to practice earlier this week after missing time with a knee injury, Scott Petrak of BrownsZone.com reports.
Akins missed about a week while recovering from the injury, but he's been back at practice since at least Monday. The 31-year-old is working to earn a spot as the top backup to No. 1 tight end David Njoku.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Resting knee to start training camp
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Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday that Akins hasn't been practicing this week to rest his knee, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Akins missed a third straight day of practice Sunday while monitoring a knee injury. The severity of the issue remains unclear, but when healthy, Akins should compete with Harrison Bryant for playing time behind David Njoku. It's never good to miss valuable training camp snaps, but Akins' history with Deshaun Watson should give the tight end some leeway with his new squad.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Looking forward to new role
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Akins anticipates a role in Cleveland greater than what he had in Houston the previous five seasons, Ashley Bostock of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "In Houston, I was kind of labeled as a catch-and-run type in the flat," Akins said. "Here I'm more down the field."
Akins signed with the Browns during the offseason, and his history with quarterback Deshaun Watson when the two were Texans teammates was undoubtedly a factor. He wasn't a top target of Watson in Houston, but Akins achieved a level of success with the quarterback, catching 90 of 129 targets for 1,046 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons from 2018 to 2020. The tight end anticipates an expanded route tree in Cleveland and an opportunity to not be so one dimensional as a receiver. He'll compete with Harrison Bryant to back up lead tight end David Njoku.
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Browns' Jordan Akins: Happily reunited with Watson
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Akins was on the field for Cleveland's organized team activities this week, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
Akins signed with the Browns during the offseason and acknowledged that reuniting with quarterback Deshaun Watson as a primary reason. The two played three seasons together in Houston. The Browns placed plenty of offseason focus on improving targets for Watson, and the 6-foot-6 Akins brings familiarity and serves as a red-zone threat. Akins is expected to back up David Njoku at tight end.
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Jordan Akins: Draws interest from Browns
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Akins is slated to visit the Browns, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Akins is coming off a 2022 campaign with the Texans in which he tied his career high in catches (37), while recording season bests in receiving yards (495) and TDs (five). If the 2018 third-rounder signs with the Browns, he'll add depth to a Cleveland tight end corps led by returnees David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.
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Texans' Jordan Akins: Plays hero in season finale
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Akins secured four of eight targets for 70 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans' 32-31 win over the Colts on Sunday. He also caught a game-winning two-point conversion pass.
The journeyman tight end played the unlikely hero in an unlikely win, corralling a 28-yard touchdown grab on a 4th-and-20 heave from Davis Mills late in the fourth quarter and then securing the subsequent two-point conversion pass that proved the difference in the contest. Akins' Week 18 production allowed him to finish the 2022 campaign having tied his career high in receptions (37) and setting new personal bests in receiving yards (495) and touchdowns (five). The fifth-year pro played this season on a one-year contract, and given his ability to once again offer solid production as a pass catcher, Akins shouldn't have much trouble finding an NFL home in 2023.
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Texans' Jordan Akins: Makes two receptions
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Akins caught two passes for 38 yards on three targets against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Akins has been productive on a per-snap basis in 2022, but he hasn't been able to scale up that production over a bigger workload. It's possible that Akins could do more if the Texans gave him more snaps, but with Brevin Jordan and O.J. Howard also in the mix, his opportunity is capped to an extent.
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Texans' Jordan Akins: Three grabs in win
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Akins caught all three of his targets for 39 yards in Saturday's 19-14 win over the Titans.
Akins continued his career renaissance with another three grabs, giving him 31 receptions and 387 yards for the season, tops among the team's tight ends. The 30-year-old was off the radar to start the season, but Akins has moved to the top of the depth chart since joining the active roster in Week 3. Houston's passing attack is unreliable, but with Nico Collins (foot) done for the season and Brandin Cooks dealing with injuries, Akins has averaged 4.4 targets and scored twice over the last five weeks. He leads all Houston pass-catchers with three TDs and is second with nine red-zone targets.
