Analysis
8/8/23
5 min read
Tennessee Titans 2023 Fantasy Football Team Preview
As we inch closer to opening day of the NFL season, we want to get you prepared for your fantasy football drafts. That process begins with our team previews, where we’ll break down each team’s offense while providing players we’re targeting and, in some cases, avoiding.
Titans Fantasy Football Preview
Head Coach: Mike Vrabel (fifth season as Titans HC)
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Kelly (first season as Titans OC)
Key Offensive Additions:
- OG Daniel Brunskill
- OT Andre Dillard
- WR DeAndre Hopkins
Key Offensive Departures:
- WR Robert Woods
- C Ben Jones
- OG Nate Davis
- OT Taylor Lewan
- K Randy Bullock
Key Offensive Rookies:
- OG/OT Peter Skoronski – first-round draft pick
- QB Will Levis – second-round draft pick
- RB Tyjae Spears – third-round draft pick
Points Per Game: 17.5 (28th)
Passing Yards: 171.4 (30th)
Rushing Yards: 125.4 (13th)
Vacated Targets: 207 (fifth)
Pass: 54 percent Run: 46 percent
Pace: 23rd
OL Rank: 31st
Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill suddenly has a strong supporting cast of skill position players. Not only does that group help Tannehill’s fantasy prospects, it signals Tennessee’s commitment to winning this season. That increased job security gives Tannehill extra value in deep leagues, superflex and best ball.
In 2021, Tannehill was 14th among qualifying quarterbacks in fantasy points per game with 16.6. After a down year last season, Tannehill’s improved supporting cast could make him a strong streaming option in 2023. If Tannehill struggles and the Titans fall out of contention, Tennessee will likely give Will Levis opportunities. In that scenario, Levis has enough value as a runner that it could make him a better fantasy option than Tannehill.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry is a throwback to simpler times when a team’s starting running back was given nearly every touch every Sunday. He’s topped 20 carries per game and double-digit rushing touchdowns in four straight seasons and showcased a consistent receiving role in both 2021 and 2022 — he had two receptions per game in each season.
Henry quietly had the ninth-most receiving yards (398) among all running backs in 2022, and he comfortably projects for the most touches per game at the position. While he’s 29 years old, Henry has been defying aging curves for the past few seasons. The real concern is the Titans’ offensive line, which is definitely bottom-five — and possibly the league’s worst unit. Henry is a high-end fantasy RB1 due to volume but carries some risk because of his age and offensive line.
Rookie Tyjae Spears was taken in Round 3 of the recent NFL draft, presumably as Henry’s direct backup. Spears compiled 1,581 rushing yards and 256 receiving yards in 2022, his fourth season at Tulane. He’s undersized (201 pounds) but likely steps into 15 touches per game if Henry goes down. Think of Spears as a bench stash who’s one injury away from weekly top-24 fantasy production.
No other Titans running back should be on your fantasy radar.
Wide Receivers, Tight Ends
The Titans added DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason, but he doesn’t have potential as a league winner because of the available volume in Tennessee’s offense. He’s now a lower-end WR2. Jordan Vanek has a neutral stance on Hopkins at his current ADP.
Vanek is more interested in Treylon Burks, who should benefit from not facing double teams with Hopkins on the field. Burks excelled against single-high coverage with Tannehill, averaging 3.1 yards per route run, similar to A.J. Brown in his rookie year with Tannehill. Burks is among Vanek’s favorite options to draft as the fourth wide receiver on his roster.
In the tight end room, Chigoziem Okonkwo is expected to start and be the top pass-catcher. While he has shown flashes of his athletic ability, he finds himself as the fourth option in the offense. Unfortunately, Okonkwo's projected volume is not enough to make him a reliable contributor at tight end, making him a player Vanek would avoid drafting.
Dynasty Sell
Ian Miller: Sell Okonkwo (TE13)
Miller understands the appeal of Okonkwo after he exceeded two yards per route run as a rookie. But when we look at rookie tight ends who have accomplished that feat with sub-40 percent route participation like Okonkwo did, Jimmy Graham is on that list. However, you’ll also see Trevon Wesco, Chris Gragg and Seth DeValve. Okonkwo’s current price tag doesn’t fully account for his downside risk.
Titans We’re Targeting or Avoiding in Fantasy Football
Josh Larky: Target Henry.
Ryan Reynolds: None.
Jordan Vanek: Target Burks.
Other Fantasy Previews
NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
NFC North: CHI | DET | GB | MIN
NFC South: NO | ATL | CAR | TB
NFC West: SF | LAR | SEA | ARI
AFC East: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
AFC North: BAL| CLE | CIN | PIT
Follow our Team on Twitter
Josh Larky: @JLarkyTweets
Ryan Reynolds: @RyanReynoldsNFL
Jordan Vanek: @JordanVanekDFS
Ian Miller: @Dynasty_IM
Our data is provided by Sports Info Solutions, and our vacated targets figure is provided by Tru Media.
Follow The 33rd Team Podcast Network on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
