Cade Otton goes 3/26 in loss to Bengals

Otton led the Bucs in targets while running nearly every route. This has been Otton’s role for quite some time. You know what you’re getting if you use Otton in fantasy lineups: He’s something of a PPR cheat code when the Bucs hit a negative game script. He’ll be a deep league option in Week 3 against the Vikings.

This is the kind of thing we like to hear for QB Baker Mayfield and his pass catchers. Robinson did not feature play action during his two seasons as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, nor did former Buccaneers OC Josh Grizzard, so Otton’s comments are reassuring. Per PFF, NFL offenses averaged 7.76 yards per pass play with play action and just 6.72 without it. Upping the play action rate should help the Buccaneers run a more efficient offense in 2026.

Delp last week made pre-draft visits with the Vikings, Patriots, and Ravens. Delp at Georgia was a little-used tight end who totaled 65 receptions for 793 yards and seven touchdowns over his final three collegiate seasons. He was targeted on a meager 13 percent of his pass routes over those three years. Delp, 23, profiles as a rotational tight end to start his NFL career, though he has some upside if he lands in the right spot. In LA he would compete with Oronde Gadsden II for tight end snaps and routes, and in Tampa he would compete with Cade Otton, who recently re-signed with the Bucs.

Otton, 26, will remain with the Bucs for the foreseeable future on a new deal that guarantees him $20 million. The former fourth-round pick has gone for 500-plus yards in each of his last two seasons, and caught 59 passes for 572 passes and one touchdown last season. A versatile tight end who can play in line, out wide, and in the slot, Otton has finished second in receptions each of the last two seasons for the Buccaneers. He’ll be a decent plug-and-play tight end for the upcoming fantasy season but is unlikely to have consistent TE1 value.

Calling Otton the top target for Tampa Bay in the passing game is quite the understatement; as no other receiver had 40 yards. The 26-year-old tight end not only had a touchdown, but picked up what was essentially a game-clinching first down late in the game on a connection with Baker Mayfield. Amazingly it was the first touchdown of the season for Otton, but outside of those lack of scores it was a solid season for the fourth-year player. Otton will head to free agency after the season. He could get a chance to find the end zone again in the playoffs, but they’ll need the Saints to upset the Falcons.

Otton has a fixed role as the TE1 in the Bucs’ offense. This meant the sixth-most targets on the team against the Dolphins, mostly in the short area and over the middle of the field. With Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan also taking many of Baker Mayfield’s targets between the sticks, Otton barely has TE2 utility heading into Week 18.

Otton missed Week 15 with a knee injury and returned to his starting tight end role in Week 16 against the Panthers. With a fully healthy pass-catching group, his role yielded just two targets on 23 routes run. Otton has little upside with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan in the lineup, making him a borderline TE2 for Week 17 against the Dolphins.

With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan all back, Otton is drawing dead on any sort of upside play. He’s probably only a borderline TE2 against the Panthers in Week 16.

Otton missed Week 15 with the knee issue. He was listed as doubtful after getting in a lone limited practice to end the week. It was a short turnaround to Thursday’s game, making it almost impossible for the banged-up tight end to play. He has a better shot of suiting up this week. With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka all healthy, Otton will not be on the fantasy radar for Week 16.

Otton is, unfortunately, sidelined by a knee injury. The pass-catching corps gets WR Mike Evans (collarbone) and WR Jalen McMillan (neck) back tonight, though, boosting QB Baker Mayfield’s fantasy-scoring potential. Mayfield will also helpfully have LT Tristan Wirfs (oblique) protecting his blindside this evening.