New York Jets tight end C.J. Uzomah heads to New York after spending the first seven years of his career in Cincinnati. With a ton of competition for targets and uncertain quarterback play, what can fantasy football managers expect from Uzomah in the 2022 season, and is he a good value at his current ADP in fantasy drafts?
C.J Uzomah’s fantasy outlook for 2022
For the entirety of his career, Uzomah hasn’t really been a key part of the Bengals’ offense. His 12.3% target share last season matched his career-high from 2018. With it, he posted a career-best TE19 finish. Unfortunately, he only averaged 8 PPR fantasy points per game.
Last season, Uzomah benefited from being the primary tight end on a Joe Burrow offense. He played 79% of the snaps and ran the 11th-most routes amongst tight ends. Despite being on the field and running routes, Uzomah was nothing more than a touchdown-or-bust TE2.
Uzomah scored 26.5, 10.5, and 24.1 fantasy points in the three games where he caught touchdowns. He did not reach double digits in any other game.
How the Jets depth chart impacts C.J. Uzomah’s fantasy projection for the season
Uzomah’s fantasy outlook on the Jets isn’t much better. In fact, it’s worse. At least in Cincinnati, Uzomah was the clear starting tight end. On the Jets, he’ll be sharing the job with the very capable Tyler Conklin. As if that isn’t bad enough, the Jets spent a third-round pick on rookie Jeremy Ruckert.
Last season, Jets quarterbacks targeted the tight end position at a league-low rate of 13.3%. While that should increase this season with more talent at the position, there’s simply no way all of it will go to Uzomah. Even if he commands 75% of the targets that go to tight ends, it’s difficult to see him surpassing a 12% target share. Uzomah couldn’t be fantasy-relevant with 12% of Burrow’s targets. He’s not going to matter without more volume now that Zach Wilson is his quarterback.
The Jets have too many offensive weapons for Uzomah to matter
It’s not just the tight end position. The Jets have sophomore wide receiver Elijah Moore, rookie first-rounder Garrett Wilson, and the returning veterans Corey Davis and Braxton Berrios. Both running backs Breece Hall and Michael Carter are capable pass catchers as well.
I refuse to use the cliché “too many mouths to feed.” Instead, I will merely point out that even if Zach Wilson takes a step forward, which is no guarantee, he is unlikely to be able to support three wide receivers and a tight end. Someone — multiple players — will be left out. Uzomah is very likely to be one of them.
Uzomah’s ADP for 2022
In a standard-sized 12-team fantasy league, around 16-20 tight ends are drafted. Uzomah’s ADP is well outside the top 24. He will likely go untreated in your fantasy football league, which is exactly how it should be. As our consensus TE29, we’re not drafting him anywhere.
Uzomah inevitably pops off for a big game here and there each season. If he’s the Jets’ clear starting TE, perhaps he’ll emerge as a viable streamer when they face a team weak against the position. That’s about the extent of Uzomah’s utility in fantasy.