Cade Otton Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Otton tallied 59 catches, 600 yards, and four TDs across 14 games last year. He ranked 14th among TEs in total PPR points and 12th in points per game.

Otton was a volatile weekly producer, with six top-12 outings but another six weeks outside the top-20 TEs in PPR points.

Usage & Role

Otton drew 87 targets across his 14 games last year — ninth most among TEs. He climbs to eighth in targets per game (6.2). Otton’s 18.8% target share in his 14 games ranked 11th at the position.

But a big chunk of his targets and production came in three games with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out. Here are the splits:

3 games without Evans and Godwin

• 9.7 targets per game
  • 26.4% target share
• 19.8 PPR points per game

Other 11 games

• 5.3 targets per game
  • 16.4% target share
• 7.6 PPR points per game

Otton ranked third among TEs in PPR points per game without Evans and Godwin but just 22nd in the other 11. He scored as a top-12 TE in three of those 11 games.

Efficiency Metrics

Otton registered a 67.8% catch rate and 10.2 yards per catch last year.

He ranked 26th among 36 qualifying TEs in yards per target and 25th in yards per route. He finished 31st in Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

Offensive Context

Otton played in a strong Tampa Bay offense that ranked third in total yards and fourth in points. The Buccaneers ranked sixth in total plays. So, despite a 55.9% pass rate that ranked just 20th, they finished 10th in total pass attempts.

Tampa Bay leaned more on the pass in the red zone, ranking 14th in red-zone pass rate and sixth in red-zone pass rate over expected.

Historical Production & Trends

Otton has climbed from 5.8 to 6.9 to 10.2 PPR points per game over his three NFL seasons.

2024 brought career highs in targets per game and target share, as well as yards per target, yards per route, and Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

Still, Otton went from disastrous to still-bad in most efficiency metrics. His career 6.6 yards per target ranks 34th among 40 TEs with 100+ targets over the last three years.

Injury History

Otton missed the final three games of last season with a knee injury but was able to return and play his usual role in Tampa Bay’s playoff loss.

Otton did not miss any games with injury across his first two NFL seasons but suffered a high-ankle sprain and fibula fracture that ended his final college season in 2021.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role

The Buccaneers made no additions at TE this offseason, returning Payn Durham, Ko Kieft, and Devin Culp behind Otton. Those guys combined for two catches (both from Durham) in Otton’s 14 games last year.

Otton is entering the final year of his rookie deal but is relatively safe as Tampa Bay’s clear lead TE this season.

Target Competition

Otton will face tough competition for targets in 2025, with WRs Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan all back. Godwin is working back from the dislocated left ankle that ended his 2024 season but is tentatively expected to be ready come Week 1. Tampa Bay gave him a new three-year, $66 million deal in March, so there doesn’t seem to be any long-term concern about the ankle.

The Bucs also used the 19th overall pick of this spring’s draft to add WR Emeka Egbuka. Ohio State’s all-time leader in career receiving yards (2,868) is an NFL-ready prospect who figures to surpass and upgrade on McMillan.

Tampa Bay also has a pair of strong pass-catching RBs in Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Former OC Liam Coen left to take the Jaguars’ HC job this offseason after leading Tampa Bay to top-four finishes in points and total yards last year.

He’ll be replaced by Josh Grizzard, who was the team’s passing game coordinator last year. Grizzard spent the previous seven seasons with the Dolphins, moving from offensive quality control to WRs coach. He has no play-calling experience at any level, but the Bucs are prioritizing continuity after the big 2024 season under Coen.

Production & Efficiency Trends

Otton heads into his fourth NFL season at 26 years old. TEs peak at age-25 on average, according to our aging-curve research, but we can still expect 96-98% of peak production at 26.