Commanders’ Chig Okonkwo is a top breakout fantasy football candidate

The Washington Commanders added plenty of new faces to their roster during the offseason. Many of their additions were to the defensive side of the ball, but there were notable offensive additions to the team, too. Tight end Chig Okonkwo and wide receiver Stefon Diggs lead that charge, but rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams can’t be left out either.

The Commanders are excited about their offensive additions, and Pro Football Focus recently named Okonkwo as one of five fantasy football breakout stars in 2026.

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After discussing Okonkwo’s time with the Tennessee Titans, reviewing some of his stats, and mentioning that the Commanders invested more in Okonkwo than any skill player outside of Terry McLaurin, the article says:

Expectations for Okonkwo will be higher than they were for (Zach) Ertz at ages 34 and 35. He played 12 of the first 14 snaps in the second preseason game, suggesting he will have a larger role than he did in Tennessee and that Ertz had in Washingotn. Given the uncertainty at wide receiver outside of McLaurin and recent free-agent addition Stefon Diggs, Okonkwo is third on the team in targets. That gives him a solid floor as a low-end TE2.

His ability to turn into a TE1 will largely depend on the quality of the Commanders’ offense in general. It’s unlikely Okonkwo becomes a frequent target near the goal line, given his lighter size for a tight end, but a few more touchdowns than usual are a possibility.

Okonkwo is one of the ideal targets at tight end for someone who wants to focus entirely on running backs and wide receivers earlier in the draft and punt on the position.

One thing you need to remember is that Tennessee did not use Okonkwo as effectively or as efficiently as they could have. David Blough may be a first-time coordinator, but he will have people in his ear about the best way to use the receiver-turned-tight end. There may be a bit of a learning curve, but once they figure it out, Okonkwo will become quite valuable.

Think about it. Jayden Daniels is going to be under serious pressure in 2026, especially with the questions around his offensive line. Having a target like Okonkwo on the field as a safety net, especially with his ability to get yards after the catch, is going to give Daniels a much-needed outlet when the pocket is collapsing around him.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders’ Chig Okonkwo is a top breakout fantasy football candidate