Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was once again a big part of Cleveland's offense in his second career game in the 41-17 Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Fannin tied for the team lead with five catches on five targets while going for 48 yards, which ranked second on the team, behind only receiver Jerry Jeudy. Through two weeks in 2025, the 21-year-old Bowling Green product ranks first on the team in receptions (12), third in targets (14), and second in receiving yards (111). While the Browns' offense is among the worst in the league, it doesn't appear that Fannin is going anywhere in terms of usage. However, his target share could change if Cleveland eventually benches quarterback Joe Flacco. Fannin should once again be a popular waiver-wire target this week if he's still available. He's currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues.
Sep 15, 2025 12:53 PM EST
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. will get a chance to build on his rapport with quarterback Joe Flacco in Week 2 when his team squares off with the hosting Baltimore Ravens. Fannin Jr. was surprisingly involved in his NFL debut, leading all Cleveland pass-catchers with nine targets. While the Browns airing it out to such an extent every week seems unlikely, it's encouraging that the rookie was on the field a ton, recording 55 snaps (72%) -- only nine fewer than teammate David Njoku. There are quite a few mouths to feed in Cleveland, so Fannin Jr.'s floor could be volatile. That said, his Week 1 performance is impossible to ignore. He's RotoBaller's PPR TE20, and profiles as a TE2 with upside.
Sep 12, 2025 11:46 AM EST
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is quickly emerging as a trusted target in the passing game. Rostered in just 34% of leagues, the rookie turned nine Week 1 targets into seven receptions for 63 yards, moving the chains three times and even getting a designed rush for three yards. That blend of volume and versatility suggests the Browns want him involved, especially with Joe Flacco favoring quick reads over the middle. A tough road matchup with the Ravens could funnel even more short-area looks his way as Cleveland tries to keep the pass rush at bay. In PPR formats, Fannin profiles as a TE1 with streaming appeal and upward momentum. If he's on your wire, he's worth a proactive add before the role expands further.
Sep 10, 2025 2:55 PM EST
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. saw a team-high nine targets during their Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. On these targets, Fannin was able to catch seven of them for 63 yards. Even though Fannin opened the season as the team's No. 2 tight end behind veteran David Njoku, the third-round rookie appears to have a significant role in the team's passing attack. Fannin's nine targets were three more than Njoku's total and one more than both top wide receivers, Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his usage as Fannin could find a fantasy viable role despite sitting second on the depth chart. For the time being, Fannin should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in deeper 12+ team leagues heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Sep 8, 2025 8:53 AM EST
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. will make his NFL debut at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Fannin drew rave reviews for his pass-catching skills throughout training camp and hopes to carry that over to the field once the regular season starts. The rookie tight end was insanely productive in 2024, setting an FBS record for tight ends with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards. Fannin draws a nice matchup for his debut game as the Bengals allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends in 2024. That being said, Fannin's role on offense could be limited with David Njoku ahead of him on the depth chart. For now, Fannin is a player worth keeping tabs on in case he gets a larger-than-expected role on the team's offense.
Sep 5, 2025 10:11 PM EST
An AFC scout told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that he sees Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. "breaking out in 2027." The same scout said that Fannin Jr. has "glue hands" and is "crafty before and after the catch." Finally, Rodrigue writes that Browns quarterback Joe Flacco recently said Fannin Jr. is gaining confidence. A third-round pick out of Bowling Green who led the FBS in receptions and receiving yards in 2024, Fannin Jr. will play his entire rookie season at just 21 years old. Given his age and the relatively low level of competition he saw in college, it wouldn't be surprising to see an adjustment period for Fannin Jr. early in his NFL career. If the scout quoted in Rodrigue's article is correct, now may be the time for dynasty managers to look to stash Fannin Jr.
Sep 1, 2025 9:14 PM EST
Cleveland Brows tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has played his way into a significant role with the team after a productive training camp and preseason. Quarterback Joe Flacco praised his rookie tight end by saying, "he's going to be...an important piece for us." Fannin worked out of the slot this preseason and played alongside veteran tight end David Njoku, which should make both solid fantasy names to watch coming into the season. The Browns drafted Fannin Jr. in the third round out of Bowling Green, after he racked up 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games last year. Fannin Jr. is the TE30 in the RotoBaller rankings since his role is still uncertain, but he brings enough upside to target late in the draft or off the waiver wire if you need tight-end depth in deep leagues. He would also be a priority pick-up if Njoku deals with any injury issues like he did last year.
Aug 30, 2025 8:49 AM EST
Zac Jackson of The Athletic expects Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. to "play a lot, immediately" in 2025. Jackson also writes that Fannin Jr. and veteran tight end David Njoku will be both deployed together and moved around in different offensive formations. A third-round pick out of Bowling Green, Fannin Jr. recorded 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns across 13 games in his final collegiate season. He may not be ready to overtake Njoku as Cleveland's TE1 right away, but it appears that the Browns are searching for ways to utilize Fannin Jr.'s obvious talent as a receiver. The 21-year-old is definitely a name to know in dynasty leagues, and he could become a priority waiver-wire target in redraft formats if Njoku were to get injured.
Aug 27, 2025 8:49 AM EST
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught both of his targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in a 19-17 preseason win over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Fannin played throughout the first quarter in tandem with David Njoku and caught Joe Flacco's lone touchdown toss, a 15-yarder with 6:33 left in the first. The rookie tight end was lined up as a wide receiver on the play, showing his versatility as the Browns have been trying to capitalize on his pass-catching skills. Fannin is unlikely to have a huge role from a fantasy perspective this season but he remains an intriguing dynasty prospect moving forward. He will now turn his attention toward the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.
Aug 24, 2025 7:17 AM EST
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has been reportedly looking good in joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles this week. On Thursday, Fannin dropped a potential touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco. However, Fannin responded by catching the next one and later scoring on a corner route. The rumors are that Fannin could line up all over the field, which could give him fantasy value right away in Cleveland. If everything keeps going well, Fannin could very well earn the backup job behind David Njoku to begin the season.
Aug 15, 2025 9:51 AM EST
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has "already played his way into significant snaps with the No. 1 offense," according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. A third-round pick out of Bowling Green, Fannin Jr. led FBS in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) while scoring 11 total touchdowns in his final collegiate season. The Browns have established veteran David Njoku atop their tight end depth chart, but Jackson writes that Fannin Jr. is "going to play a role" as a rookie. The Browns could deploy both of their tight ends on the field together, but it's also possible that Fannin Jr. eats into Njoku's snaps and targets. Fannin Jr.'s deployment is something to monitor throughout the preseason, both for 2025 and beyond.
Aug 3, 2025 2:11 PM EST
Cleveland Browns rookie third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had a busy day earlier this week at mandatory minicamp and could have a big role in his first season in the NFL with the Browns expected to use more two-tight end sets in 2025. "He's got really strong hands," tight ends coach Christian Jones said. "He tracks the ball well and you see it on tape every time he's been playing when you study him and we're getting ready to see what he'd be for us. The guy catches everything, tracks the ball well and really adjusts to the ball in the air." Fannin is on the small side for a TE, but his production last year at Bowling Green speaks for itself (117 catches, 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns). It's unclear if he has the athleticism to exceed regularly in the NFL, though, and he'll have a tough time making a fantasy impact in 2025 as long as David Njoku stays healthy.
Jun 13, 2025 3:10 PM EST
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Lance Reisland suggests that the Cleveland Browns need rookie third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr.'s big-play abilities in their offense in 2025. Fannin, who stands at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, had a whopping 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final college season in 2024 at Bowling Green. He consistently created separation with elite route-running and reliable hands, but the question is whether Fannin can continue to do that consistently against better competition in the NFL. The 20-year-old has excellent yards-after-the catch skills, which the Browns desperately need, and is a matchup nightmare. There's a lot to like about Fannin's pure skills as a receiving tight end, but he's on the small side for a TE and will need to work on his blocking skills before he has any chance of unseating David Njoku as the team's primary pass-catching tight end.
May 27, 2025 1:26 PM EST
The Cleveland Browns and rookie third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr. agreed to term on a four-year, $6.7 million contract on Friday, a source tells FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Fannin set FB single-season records for catches (117) and receiving yards (1,555) by a tight end at Bowling Green in 2024 and will now join a Browns tight end room that includes David Njoku and Blake Whiteheart, among others. The 20-year-old was selected with the 67th overall pick in the third round. Although his production in college speaks for itself, he's undersized at the position at 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds and also isn't fast enough to have a ton of long-term fantasy upside. The Browns will try to develop Fannin's pass-catching skills so that he can eventually overtake Njoku as their starting TE, but that's unlikely to happen in 2025, if ever.
May 16, 2025 12:07 PM EST