Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Finishes disappointing third season
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Okwuegbunam caught 10 of 18 targets for 95 yards and one touchdown while playing eight games in the 2022 season.
Okwuegbunam entered the 2022 campaign with high expectations following the departure of Noah Fant and arrival of quarterback Russell Wilson in the offseason. However, the veteran tight end was a complete afterthought in the Broncos' struggling passing attack throughout the season, as he appeared in only eight games. Okwuegbunam eventually ceded No. 1 tight end duties to rookie Greg Dulcich (hamstring), who became a reliable option for Wilson during stretches of the season. Looking ahead to next year, Dulcich figures to lead Denver's tight end corps, but the 24-year-old Okwuegbunam may have a chance to prove himself. A new coaching staff should offer him a fresh start with the chance to earn more playing time in 2023. Okwuegbunam is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to become a free agent in 2024.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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Remember when Okwuegbunam was supposed to be a breakout candidate? That never happened, especially when Greg Dulcich emerged for the Broncos, but Dulcich (hamstring) is on injured reserve now, which allowed Okwuegbunam the chance to step up in Week 17 at Kansas City. He had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown on six targets, and hopefully he can have another productive game in Week 18 against the Chargers. It's not an easy matchup, but Okwuegbunam is worth a flier in deeper leagues now that he's back on the radar for the Broncos.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Finds end zone in loss
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Okwuegbunam caught three of six targets for 45 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Chiefs.
Okwuegbunam stepped into a 53 percent offensive snap share in the contest with rookie Greg Dulcich (hamstring) on injured reserve. Sunday marked only the seventh game the veteran has appeared in this season, and his snap percentage was his highest since Week 2. Additionally, Okwuegbunam's touchdown was his first trip to the end zone of the 2022 campaign. After entering the season as a candidate to take a major step forward, the season has been one to forget for the 24-year-old. Okwuegbunam should enter a Week 18 matchup with the Chargers looking to end the year on a high note as Denver's de facto No. 1 tight end.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Healthy scratch against Rams
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Okwuegbunam (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Okwuegbunam hasn't seen much playing time in recent weeks, and he'll be a healthy scratch for Sunday's Christmas Day matchup. As long as the Broncos' other tight ends remain healthy, Okwuegbunam is unlikely to see much of a role late in the regular season.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: No injury designation
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Okwuegbunam (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against Kansas City.
Okwuegbunam landed on the injury report Thursday as a limited participant, but he upgraded to full participation Friday and is ready to go for the Week 14 divisional matchup. The tight end has been a healthy scratch since Week 5, but he could return to the field in Week 14 with reserve tight end Andrew Beck (hamstring) sidelined. The Broncos could certainly benefit from the addition of Okwuegbunam's size (6-foot-5, 258 pounds) and pass-catching skills on offense, as Denver won't have any wide receivers taller than 6-foot-2 on the field Sunday with 6-foot-4 wideout and No. 1 target Courtland Sutton (hamstring) also ruled out.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Limited will illness
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Okwuegbunam (illness) was a limited paticipant in practice Thursday, Ellie Kinney of the Broncos' official site reports.
Okwuegbunam's limited participation is an encouraging sign that he'll be able to overcome this ailment before Denver's final injury report Friday. The third-year tight end caught seven of 11 targets for 50 yards over the first five weeks of the season, but he's been a healthy scratch since the emergence of rookie Greg Dulcich in Week 6. However, coach Nathaniel Hackett said Thursday that Okwuegbunam could be active again for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, as he could help supplement the team's depleted receiving corps with wideout Courtland Sutton considered doubtful to play with a hamstring injury.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Could suit up Sunday
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Okwuegbunam may be active Sunday against the Chiefs for the first time since Week 5, according to head coach Nathanial Hackett, Zac Stevens of the DNVR.com reports.
Okwuegbunam has been a healthy scratch since the Week 6 debut of Greg Dulcich. The former's inability to succeed in a blocking role has left him stuck behind Eric Tomlinson and Eric Saubert on the team's positional depth chart, while Dulcich handles more of a receiving role for the team at tight end. However, with Courtland Sutton (hamstring) considered doubtful for Sunday's game with the Chiefs, Okwuegbunam could find himself active and taking on a wide receiver role in the contest, as the Broncos would be lacking size at the position if Sutton were to sit.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Inactive for third straight game
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Okwuegbunam (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Okwuegbunam will be a healthy scratch for the third game in a row, and he'll likely continue to find himself outside of Denver's offensive game plans for the foreseeable future with rookie third-round pick Greg Dulcich having taking over as the Broncos' top tight end. Because he offers limited utility as a blocker or on special teams, Okwuegbunam also finds himself behind Eric Tomlinson, Andrew Beck and Eric Saubert on the depth chart. The 24-year-old Okwuegbunam could surely benefit from a change of scenery, and he could be a candidate to get dealt ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline if the Broncos find a suitor in need of a tight end with some pass-catching upside.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Another healthy scratch
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Okwuegbunam (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Sunday versus the Jets, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
For a second straight game, the Broncos have made Okwuegbunam a healthy scratch, instead going with the quartet of Greg Dulcich, Eric Saubert, Eric Tomlinson and Andrew Beck at tight end. Okwuegbunam's next opportunity to suit up arrives next Sunday at Jacksonville.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Taking seat Monday
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Okwuegbunam (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Monday at the Chargers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Okwuegbunam's usage has wavered all season, ranging from two to 66 percent of the offensive snaps and zero to six targets per game. Now, he won't play at all in Week 6. The Broncos will trot out Eric Saubert, rookie Greg Dulcich, Eric Tomlinson and Andrew Beck at tight end, while Okwuegbunam's next chance to play will come Sunday against the Jets.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Plays 15 snaps in loss
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Okwuegbunam caught his only target for five yards in Thursday's 12-9 overtime loss to the Colts.
Okwuegbunam's precipitous fall from fantasy relevance continued Thursday, as the veteran tight end was on the field for just 21 percent of the Broncos' offensive snaps, the lowest snap share of all Denver tight ends. Teammate Eric Saubert once again led the Broncos' tight end room in both snaps (41) and targets (7). However, Okwuegbunam's 15 offensive snaps were also behind Eric Tomlinson (35) and Andrew Beck (19) in the tight end pecking order. The 24-year-old Okwuegbunam's lack of playing time is a major concern, and it's unlikely things will get much better with rookie Greg Dulcich (hamstring) nearing a return from injured reserve. Okwuegbunam should remain off the fantasy radar as the Broncos visit the Chargers in Week 6.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Plays just one snap in loss
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Okwuegbunam played one offensive snap and didn't record any counting stats during Sunday's 32-23 loss to the Raiders.
Okwuegbunam played 42 offensive snaps in the team's season-opening loss to the Seahawks, but he's seen his snap count decrease in each of the past three games and hardly played at all in Week 4. Eric Saubert led the Broncos' tight end room with 41 offensive snaps against Las Vegas, while Eric Tomlinson (21) and Andrew Beck (12) both garnered solid roles as well. However, Saubert was the only tight end involved in the passing attack, catching one of two targets for 25 yards. Greg Dulcich, a rookie third-round pick, could be activated from injured reserve as early as Week 6, and his presence may make Okwuegbunam's path back into the offensive game plan even more difficult.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Catches one pass in win
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Okwuegbunam caught one of two targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 11-10 win over the 49ers.
Okwuegbunam continued his disappointing start to the 2022 season, seeing just two targets for the second straight week. What's more concerning is that the 24-year-old played on just 24 of the Broncos' 74 offensive snaps, 11 fewer than fellow tight ends Eric Saubert and Eric Tomlinson. Fantasy managers hoping for Okwuegbunam to take a major step forward this season will have to take a wait-and-see approach as Denver works to repair an offense that has been disjointed through three weeks. Until then, the 6-foot-5, 258-pounder will be extremely difficult to trust for fantasy purposes when the Broncos visit the Raiders in Week 4.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: TEs to Sit
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The 49ers are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to tight ends this year, and that should be bad news for Okwuegbunam. He was surprisingly not used enough in Week 2 against Houston with only two targets, and he finished with no catches. Even if Jerry Jeudy (chest) remains out this week, it's hard to trust Okwuegbunam as a No. 1 Fantasy option in the majority of leagues.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Held catchless in win
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Okwuegbunam was targeted twice, but failed to record a catch in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Texans.
Okwuegbunam was a non-factor in the contest on a day when Russell Wilson completed just 14 total passes and the team only managed to score 16 points. The 24-year-old had an opportunity to become more involved when Jerry Jeudy exited the game with a rib injury, but the Broncos offense could not get much going. The lone touchdown of the day came in the fourth quarter when Russell Wilson hooked up with tight end Eric Saubert on a 22-yard score. Fantasy managers hoping that Okwuegbunam could make a big leap this year should exercise caution while Denver's offense finds its groove. The 6-foot-5, 258-pounder will look to get more involved in Week 3 when the Broncos host the 49ers.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Albert Okwuegbunam should have scored a touchdown Monday night against Seattle, but he was tackled at the goal line. He finished the game with five catches for 33 yards on six targets, and he should continue to be a go-to option for Russell Wilson behind Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. I expect Wilson to bounce back and lead the Broncos to a win this week against the Texans, and Okwuegbunam could find the end zone in the victory.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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Russell Wilson consistently checked down Monday night at Seattle, and that could be a sign of things to come, even with Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy on the roster. Okwuegbunam caught five passes for 33 yards on six targets, and he should be the third pass catcher in Denver's offense moving forward. Okwuegbunam is worth up to 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Week 1 Streamers (TE Preview)
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The Broncos are letting Russ cook to the tune of 42 pass attempts in Week 1. That means plenty of targets for everyone, and Okwuegbunam gobbled up six of them and nearly scored a touchdown. We like his chances even more against a mediocre Texans defense in Week 2.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Six targets on MNF
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Okwuegbunam caught five of six targets for 33 yards in Monday's 17-16 loss to Seattle.
Okwuegbunam led all Broncos tight ends in catches and targets, though tight end/fullback Andrew Beck topped him in receiving yards with 52. Running back Javonte Williams caught 11 passes while Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton each topped 70 receiving yards, so Okwuegbunam could be the fourth option at best in Denver's passing game heading into a Week 2 visit from the Texans.
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Broncos' Albert Okwuegbunam: Start 'Em
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Okwuegbunam dealt with a lower-body injury in practice last week, but he's fine for Week 1. And he should hopefully be part of the fireworks from Russell Wilson in this matchup against Seattle. The Seahawks were among the league leaders in touchdowns allowed to tight ends last year with nine, and Wilson should know how to exploit this secondary better than anyone. Okwuegbunam is a low-end starter in all leagues.
