David Njoku injury fantasy tip: Why Browns rookie TE Harold Fannin is ideal waiver wire pickup

Billy Heyen

David Njoku injury fantasy tip: Why Browns rookie TE Harold Fannin is ideal waiver wire pickup image

David Njoku is still one of the better fantasy football tight end options.

That's not the case in Week 7, though. Njoku was officially ruled out on Friday with an injury.

That leaves anyone who planned on starting Njoku in a bit of a bind. What do you do now?

This one is pretty simple: Pick up Harold Fannin.

The rookie tight end from Canton, Ohio was a record-setting tight end at Bowling Green. Literally no TE has had a better statistical season in Division I football than the one Fannin did in 2024, which included big games against Penn State and Texas A&M.

That earned Fannin a selection in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

And unlike many rookies, Fannin has played from the outset. The Browns have actually had him on the field with Njoku a lot.

That's because Fannin can line up anywhere. The backfield, the slot, out wide, in motion, you name it and the Browns' rookie wearing No. 44 can do it.

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Fannin might not take over Njoku's specific role in Week 7. Blake Whiteheart is a more traditional tight end.

But as far as targets and touches? Fannin is the dude.

He was a popular pickup in the first couple weeks, but a bit of a quieter stretch likely has Fannin available in your league.

And if he's there to be had, pounce. Fannin can be an impact contributor with Njoku out.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle