David Njoku
Tight End #85
David Njoku News
David Njoku Headed to Injured Reserve With Fibula Injury
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end David Njoku (leg) will go on Injured Reserve with a fibula injury that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, according to Taylor Bisciotti of the NFL Network. The 30-year-old veteran was carted off the field on Sunday with what was initially being described as a knee injury. Later on, tight end Charlie Kolar left with a forearm injury, and he, too, will head to IR, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the Chargers' clear No. 1 tight end going forward. Njoku was a waiver-wire option following his performance in the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, in which he caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. He caught one of his three targets for nine yards on Sunday before suffering his injury. At the very least, Njoku will have to miss the next four games, but it is unclear yet if his fibula injury is more serious than that. Fantasy managers looking for depth at TE should definitely set their sights on Gadsden going into Week 3.
Sep 21, 2026 1:36 PM EST
David Njoku Leaves Game Against Raiders with Knee Injury
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (knee) was carted off the field in the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and did not return to the game. Njoku finished the 26-14 loss to the Raiders with one catch on three targets for nine yards. Following the game, Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh said he did not have an update on Njoku, according to Alex Insdorf of Bolts Breakdown. Fellow L.A. tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) also exited the game with a forearm injury after recording three receptions for 21 yards. Meanwhile, Oronde Gadsden caught each of his two targets for 18 yards. The severity of the injuries to Njoku and Kolar is something to monitor.
Sep 20, 2026 3:51 PM EST
David Njoku Questionable to Return After Being Carted Off the Field
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (knee) is questionable to return for Sunday's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team reported via the X platform. The veteran had to be carted off the field on Sunday and couldn't put weight on his right leg. Njoku had one reception for nine yards before exiting the game in the first half.
Sep 20, 2026 1:02 PM EST
David Njoku A Risky Play in Week 2 Matchup vs. Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku appears to be the Chargers' lead tight end heading into Sunday's home matchup against division rival Las Vegas Raiders. Njoku led the position group in targets, catches, and receiving yards in the home opener last week. The 30-year-old enters Week 2 as RotoBaller's PPR TE24 against a shaky Raiders secondary. The Raiders defense allowed 220 passing yards to an inexperienced Miami Dolphins passing game last week. Njoku will receive a slight bump in value if Ladd McConkey (ribs) is unable to play, but will still have to compete with Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden for snaps. McConkey exited Week 1 after taking a big hit and was held out of practice until participating in a limited amount on Friday. Njoku is a touchdown-dependent tight end and should remain off fantasy radars heading into Week 2.
Sep 19, 2026 9:51 AM EST
David Njoku Deserves Waiver Consideration After Five-Catch Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku came to the Chargers in the offseason to little fanfare and was considered the TE3 going into the Bolts' Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Njoku surprisingly led the Chargers' tight ends in the 26-14 loss by catching all five of his targets for 58 yards in his first game with the team. His 58 receiving yards were second on the team, behind only receiver Ladd McConkey's (rib) 82 yards. The 30-year-old played the same number of offensive snaps (30) as Charlie Kolar, who was talked up all summer during training camp as a potential TE sleeper in his first season in L.A. Njoku fell out of favor with the Cleveland Browns last year due to the immediate emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr., catching 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler will have competition for targets all year from Kolar and Oronde Gadsden, but Njoku has by far the most pass-catching experience in his 10-year NFL career, racking up over 4,000 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. With McConkey up in the air to play in Week 2 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, Njoku should definitely be on the waiver-wire radar for fantasy managers in need of depth at the TE position.
Sep 15, 2026 3:25 PM EST
David Njoku Sees Five Targets in Week 1 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku caught all five of his targets for 58 yards in Sunday's shocking 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old tied for the team high in catches and had the second-most receiving yards among Chargers pass-catchers. Additionally, he was the team's most impactful tight end in the passing game, as Oronde Gadsden and Charlie Kolar combined for two catches. Njoku appears to be the Chargers' tight end to roster for fantasy football as of now. However, it remains a murky room and should remain out of fantasy lineups next week. The Chargers will host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 as they try to find their way into the win column.
Sep 13, 2026 7:50 PM EST
David Njoku Generating Positive Camp Buzz For Chemistry and Athleticism
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku, who was brought over in the off-season from the Cleveland Browns, has generated positive buzz throughout training camp for his athleticism and chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert. Njoku joins a crowded tight end room with Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden. Njoku has dealt with injuries over the past few seasons, playing in only 11 and 12 games over the past seasons after he finished as the TE6 overall in 2023. In 2024, he finished as the TE4 in fantasy points per game, while 2025 was a lost season, as he only had 293 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 33 receptions. While the 30 year old is getting up there in age, with a new offensive scheme with Mike McDaniels, an improved offensive ecosystem, he profiles as a tight end worth monitoring. He is currently RotoBallers 37th ranked tight end, meaning he likely wasn't drafted in many drafts throughout the summer.
Sep 10, 2026 6:12 PM EST
David Njoku Does Not See a Target in Chargers Debut
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku saw no targets in his limited action in Thursday's 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Njoku shared the field with fellow tight end Charlie Kolar in 12-personnel sets during the first few drives of the game. After a handful of plays, Njoku was removed from the game with other starters. Njoku may not have seen a target in his limited action, but he played with the first-team offense and only one series with backup quarterback Trey Lance. His usage could point towards a key role in the offense during the regular season. Managers should continue to monitor the Chargers' tight end room before investing in Njoku. He is currently being drafted outside the top 20 tight ends in fantasy but has interesting upside.
Aug 22, 2026 9:15 AM EST
David Njoku Hard to Trust in Crowded Tight End Room
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku landed with a much better quarterback this offseason, but the fantasy setup around him is a lot less comfortable. Njoku caught 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games for Cleveland last season, well below the 81-882-6 line he posted in 2023. Justin Herbert gives him a chance to rebound, especially near the goal line, where 26 of Njoku's 34 career touchdowns have come. The problem is finding enough work between the 20s. Oronde Gadsden II is coming off a 49-catch, 664-yard rookie season, Charlie Kolar was added in free agency, and the Chargers' first unofficial depth chart lists all three with an OR designation at tight end. Njoku has flashed in the red zone during camp, but there still isn't much separation in this group. RotoBaller has him at TE33 in half-PPR. The quarterback upgrade is real, but without a clearer route and target advantage, Njoku looks more like a touchdown-dependent TE3 than someone to trust in standard redraft leagues.
Aug 14, 2026 12:02 PM EST
David Njoku Helping to Unlock Chargers Offense
The Los Angeles Chargers' new-look offense is thriving in the early days of training camp, and one of the reasons, as pointed out by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, is the addition of tight end David Njoku and the improvements made to the position as a whole. Veteran Charlie Kolar was an early free agent signing, and as expected, he has been used primarily as an inline blocking tight end throughout the early days of training camp. With Njoku signing later in the process, there were questions about how his usage would impact second-year player Oronde Gadsden II, and Breer mentions that the former first-round pick of the Browns was brought in to play the F or "move" tight end position. A split between Njoku and Gadsden in that role could make both difficult to consistently trust for fantasy production, making any information coming out of camp all the more important. While that situation has pushed the veteran down to TE24 by current ADP, Gadsden is going around TE18, still in a range where some of the other available options appear to provide more certainty but a lower ceiling.
Aug 3, 2026 6:49 AM EST
David Njoku Could Still Have His Place in Fantasy in 2026
With Los Angeles Chargers veterans reporting for training camp on July 28, one of the most interesting position battles to pay attention to will be at tight end, after the late free agent signing of 10th-year professional David Njoku helped to make theirs one of the more well-rounded tight end rooms in the league. The Chargers return 2025 fifth-round pick Oronde Gadsden II after he reached some historic highs as a rookie, and the team made an early commitment to free agent Charlie Kolar, one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. It was the addition of Njoku in mid-May, though, that brought true multi-functionality to the room in Mike McDaniel's new offense. A first-round pick in 2017, Njoku had fallen clearly behind rookie Harold Fannin Jr. in his final season with the Browns, but given a fresh start with one of the most creative playcallers in the league, he could again find sporadic fantasy relevance in 2026. At RotoBaller's TE32, he is not a player worth targeting in redraft leagues, but he is a low-cost depth piece for contending dynasty managers and is worthy of the occasional late-round swing in best ball drafts.
Jul 16, 2026 5:51 AM EST
Should Dynasty Managers Look to Buy Low on David Njoku?
After spending the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, veteran tight end David Njoku signed a one-year contract for the 2026 campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers in May. Njoku's production declined significantly in 2025, as he missed five games with a knee injury and finished the year with 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. Njoku also had his role in the Browns' offense largely usurped by tight end Harold Fannin Jr., whose emergence as a rookie in 2025 made Njoku largely expendable. Njoku could now be facing a similar dynamic in Los Angeles, as he will be sharing the field with up-and-coming Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II. The Chargers should provide a significantly healthier offensive ecosystem for Njoku than the Browns did, which could lead to a production boost even in a limited role. Still, Njoku's upside appears to be capped as long as Gadsden II remains healthy. As Njoku enters his age-30 season, his dynasty value appears to be at an all-time low.
Jun 23, 2026 8:50 AM EST
David Njoku a Short-Term Dynasty Buy
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku was one of the latest additions to the team, signing a one-year deal in mid-May, but he has a chance to make a legitimate fantasy impact in his tenth professional season. New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has found great success in recent seasons by involving his tight ends, and the room he has already helped to build in Los Angeles boasts a variety of skill sets. Free agent acquisition Charlie Kolar is one of the league's most impactful blockers, while second-year player Oronde Gadsden II flashed game-breaking athleticism as a rookie, but with Njoku being the most well-rounded of the three, he could become the most difficult to pull from the field. Coming off a down year and turning 30 before the start of training camp, he has fallen to dynasty TE26, making him a low-cost trade target. Having finished as the TE13 or better in three of the past four seasons, while playing in a low-scoring Browns offense, Njoku offers obvious short-term upside to contending managers.
May 30, 2026 8:25 AM EST
David Njoku Visiting the Chargers on Monday
Free agent tight end David Njoku is scheduled to visit with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, as reported by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Njoku has been a productive fantasy tight end across his nine seasons with the Browns, but his play fell off in 2025 as he ceded opportunities to breakout rookie Harold Fannin Jr. At almost 30 years old, Njoku still offers rare athleticism and a massive catch radius, and Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has seen past success utilizing tight ends Jonnu Smith and a 33-year-old Darren Waller. As such, Los Angeles looks to be one of the better landing spots for Njoku, though his presence would likely frustrate the dynasty managers of Oronde Gadsden II. Gadsden showed some historic flashes as a rookie, and the thought of him in that same McDaniel offense has pushed him up to RotoBaller's dynasty TE10. Njoku, meanwhile, has fallen to TE26, though his value would spike should Monday's visit result in a contract.
May 3, 2026 5:22 AM EST
With the NFL Draft Over, David Njoku Could Soon Find a Team
Former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku remains unsigned after a down year led to his release. The 29-year-old veteran ceded a considerable workload to breakthrough rookie Harold Fannin Jr. and finished his ninth season in Cleveland with only 293 yards on 33 catches. Njoku is a plus blocker and a huge target who has long been a menace after the catch, and despite seeing 21 tight ends selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including nine through the first three rounds, there are still tight end-needy teams on the market. With NFL offenses gearing more towards heavy personnel, this recent draft was evidence of the growing need for depth at the position, and Njoku's versatility could still make him a factor in fantasy regardless of where he ultimately lands. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE23, he's a low-cost dart throw depth piece who is likely to see his value spike as soon as he finds a new home.
Apr 29, 2026 5:27 AM EST
David Njoku One of the Top Remaining Free Agents
Free agent tight end David Njoku was unable to find a home in the early wave of free agency, and at this point, it would seem he is waiting until after the NFL Draft to make a decision on his future. The soon-to-be-30-year-old former first-round pick was released by the Cleveland Browns after nine seasons with the team, largely in part to the emergence of Harrold Fannin Jr., who led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns as a rookie. This is considered to be another deep rookie class, with a record 27 tight ends receiving invites to the NFL Combine, so many teams might opt to look for a younger, cheaper option at the position, with Njoku seeing a year-over-year decline in production since recording career highs across the board with 81 catches for 882 and six touchdowns in 2023. That said, even approaching his second decade in the league, Njoku's athleticism is rare for the position, and he could still find a fantasy-relevant role, even if it comes as a mid-season injury replacement.
Apr 5, 2026 11:24 AM EST
David Njoku Visits Ravens as a Free Agent
Free-agent tight end David Njoku visited with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The former Cleveland Browns tight end has been greeted with a cold free-agent market after the Browns cut him following the 2025 season. The Ravens let Isaiah Likely walk in free agency and could use some more depth at the position behind veteran Mark Andrews. Baltimore signed Durham Smythe, but he's more of a blocking TE. The 29-year-old Njoku fell into a backup role in Cleveland last year due to the swift emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr. The former first-rounder in 2017 out of the University of Miami regressed with 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets in 12 games played. Injuries didn't help, but it was clear that Fannin is the future in Cleveland at tight end. If Njoku were to land with the Ravens, he'd probably be in a similar role as the TE2 behind Andrews, limiting his bounce-back potential in fantasy football.
Mar 17, 2026 4:09 PM EST
Browns Officially Release David Njoku
The Cleveland Browns officially released tight end David Njoku and right guard Wyatt Teller with post-June 1 designations on Thursday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The Browns will break Njoku's dead salary cap into $9.5 million in 2026 and $14.7 million in 2027 while getting a bit of cap relief after June 1. Njoku's fantasy value in 2025 tanked with the quick emergence of rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr., who surprisingly led the team in receiving in his first year in the NFL. The 29-year-old Njoku's opportunities shrank, and he also missed some time late in the year with a knee injury. He finished with 33 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets over 12 games. Njoku's 293 yards were his fewest since 2020. Now healthy, Njoku will seek employment elsewhere in 2026 and could bounce back as a low-end TE1 option in fantasy if he lands in the right situation.
Mar 12, 2026 7:53 AM EST
Eagles Interested in David Njoku
The Philadelphia Eagles are interested in Cleveland Browns impending free-agent tight end David Njoku, league sources told Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com. Dallas Goedert will also be a free agent soon, and Njoku would give the Eagles one of the best athletes in the league and would finally give Njoku an elite, consistent quarterback to play with for the first time in his career, writes Shorr-Parks. The 29-year-old former first-rounder in 2017 out of the University of Miami took a big step back in 2025 with the emergence of rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. in Cleveland. Njoku had just 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets in 12 games played. His fantasy football stock is obviously way down, but a bounce back would be expected if he were to join the Eagles as their top pass-catching tight end. It's something to keep an eye on in free agency.
Mar 3, 2026 7:11 AM EST
David Njoku Says he Won't be Back in Cleveland
Cleveland Browns impending free-agent tight end David Njoku said on his Instagram account on Monday that "the time for me to find a new home has come," according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Njoku is set to become a free agent on March 12, one day after the new league year begins. The 29-year-old has spent his entire nine-year career in Cleveland and made it known that he'd love to return to the Browns, but it's not in the cards. The former 29th overall pick by the Browns in 2017 out of Miami took a clear back seat to rookie Harold Fannin Jr. in 2025 and is now expendable. Njoku wasn't a reliable fantasy tight end with the reduced role last season, as he caught 33 passes on 48 targets for 293 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played. It was one of the worst years of Njoku's career, but a bounce-back could be possibly, depending on where he lands in free agency.
Feb 9, 2026 3:09 PM EST
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