We’re back trying to project the next Mark Andrews – Darren Waller. Noah Fant is another good guess who heads into his 2nd NFL season. Fant has great athletic traits and seems poised as a possible breakout candidate. Denver drafted Fant in the first round expecting big things. Can Fant deliver and become a game wrecking tight end for Denver?
The biggest concern with Fant are drop issues. He had them in college and they popped up in the NFL too. The positives are that explosion to make big plays down the field. The former Iowa product posted an average yards per catch mark of 14.1 as a rookie. That was the 2nd highest mark in the last 25 years for rookies at the position. Number one? That was Mark Andrews. Maybe Fant is next.
One concern would be target share. Even if the talent continues to develop, are there enough balls to go around? Courtland Sutton is established, Jerry Jeudy was picked in the first round, and KJ Hamler was taken in the 2nd. Denver also invested a pick in Albert Okwuegbunam who was Drew Lock’s collegiate tight end. They obviously think fondly of him or they wound’t have picked him.
The Albert O pick is more interesting to me than others are making it out to be. What if Fant continues to struggle with drops and doesn’t take a step forward? I think the Missouri product is a real threat to take over the starting role. Maybe not super likely but not out of the realm of possibility.
So how do we approach Noah Fant when it comes to fantasy this year? Probably just like any other with his profile. A dart throw worth taking hoping that you hit the bullseye. Nevertheless, Fant is certainly an X-Factor for Denver and someone who can help them reach the playoffs again if things break right.
