Cade Otton and Harold Fannin Jr. headline Tight End Sunday: one a proven safety valve, the other a rookie rising

Tight ends took center stage again this weekend—and two names stood out for very different reasons. Cade Otton continues to be a stabilizing force for Tampa Bay’s offense in the short and intermediate game, while Harold Fannin Jr. is fast-tracking from intriguing draft pick to reliable contributor in Cleveland. Here’s how both tight ends are shaping the stretch of the season after Week 8.

Cade Otton’s evolving role in Tampa Bay

For Tampa Bay, Otton has become the dependable answer when coverage shells push the ball inside. The playbook leans on him in three high-leverage spots:

• Third down: Stick/option routes and shallow crossers against man match, often from bunch looks that free his release.

• Red zone: Leak and throwback concepts off split-zone and play-action, designed to punish linebackers who step downhill.

• Two-minute offense: Quick outs and seams that function as clock-friendly chunk gains.

Through eight weeks, Otton’s line reflects volume over splash—low double-digit target shares, steady chain-moving production, and a yards-per-catch profile around the first-down marker. That may not pop in highlight reels, but it’s precisely the kind of usage that holds an offense together on long drives, especially when the wide-receiver room is shorthanded or drawing bracket coverage.

What it means for Tampa Bay’s outlook: With defenses capping perimeter explosives, Otton’s route inventory keeps the quarterback on schedule. Expect continued involvement on scripted opening drives and in high-leverage red-zone sequences, where his frame and hands translate into trustworthy windows.

Harold Fannin Jr. is giving the Browns a new dimension

Cleveland drafted Fannin Jr. for his after-the-catch ability and formation versatility, and the rookie has already carved out a real slice of the passing game. He’s comfortable detached from the formation, in the slot, or as a move tight end, and that flexibility lets the Browns disguise intentions without subbing.

• Rookie snapshot (through Week 8): low-to-mid 30s in receptions, just under 300 yards, and his first career touchdown on the board—evidence of early trust and a full route tree.

• How he wins: sudden stems and efficient footwork at the breakpoint, plus balance through contact that turns five-yard catches into eight- or nine-yard gains.

• Why it matters: Defenses already allocate resources to the Browns’ primary options; Fannin’s emergence forces nickel defenders and safeties to play honest, opening space for in-breakers and the run game.

What to watch next: If his snap share continues to climb on third down and in the red zone, Fannin’s raw counting stats will follow. The next step is consistent production versus press looks when he’s aligned outside—an area where his release plan has progressed week to week.

Same position, different levers: how their teams deploy them

The common thread is versatility. Both players allow coordinators to toggle between heavier personnel (to influence fronts) and spread looks (to control spacing) without tipping run/pass tendencies.

Fantasy and matchup lens

• Otton: A top-end streamer with a stable target floor. He’s most valuable in PPR formats when Tampa faces two-high structures that funnel targets inside. Touchdown equity rises on weeks when the offense lives in the red zone.

• Fannin Jr.: A viable bench hold who can jump into the TE1 fringe when Cleveland’s game plan tilts pass-heavy or when injuries elevate his route rate. Watch his third-down usage; that’s the tell for sustained production.

Why this matters beyond Week 8

Tight ends often define winning football in November: they convert third-and-medium, survive contact in the middle, and give play callers answers when defensive looks get muddy. Otton’s reliability and Fannin’s ascent are timely—both teams face a gauntlet of defenses that prefer to keep a lid on perimeter explosives. When that happens, the tight end becomes the offense’s thermostat.

Cade Otton is the Buccaneers’ steadying compass in money situations, while Harold Fannin Jr. is shaping up as one of the season’s most impactful rookie tight ends. Different ages, different asks, same result: their teams are harder to defend because of them.