Cade Otton DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Scott Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tight end Cade Otton (knee) logged a full practice on Thursday. This is an excellent sign for Otton, as he has been unable to fully participate since sustaining the knee injury during Week 15. Otton has missed the previous three games. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status on Friday's injury report, as he may be able to avoid an injury designation if he can log another full session. While sidelined, Payne Durham has taken over No.1 tight end duties and is currently riding a two-game touchdown streak. Over his previous eight contests, Otton saw seven targets per game and averaged 54.6 yards per game. If he is cleared to return on Sunday evening, he should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in DFS formats facing the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points to the position.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) returned to practice on Wednesday and was listed as a limited participant. It's good news for Otton after he missed the final three games of the regular season due to his knee injury, although he might need to upgrade to a full practice in the next two days to avoid taking a questionable designation into Sunday night's wild-card playoff game against the visiting Washington Commanders. Head coach Todd Bowles said that Otton is "trending in the right direction" to return this weekend, for what it's worth. The 25-year-old has been a low-end, touchdown-dependent TE1 for fantasy managers when healthy, but if he is a game-time decision on Sunday night, it would be wise to go in another direction at the position for starting lineups during wild-card weekend. Payne Durham and rookie Devin Culp saw more snaps with Otton sidelined to close out the regular season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as doubtful despite logging a limited practice on Friday. Otton finishes the 2024 regular season as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues, amassing 59 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns through 14 games. He was one of the best tight ends in fantasy football when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were both sidelined, but his productivity dwindled as soon as Evans returned to the mix. Payne Durham will step up as the Buccaneers' top tight end in Week 18, ranking as a mid-range TE2 for fantasy purposes. Devin Culp, a rookie tight end out of Washington who saw his first career target last week and ended up catching three passes for 52 yards, should also remain involved.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) is now being considered doubtful to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints after it was reported earlier on Friday that he would be a game-time decision. Otton has already missed the last two games with a knee injury and is now likely to miss a third straight as the team looks to punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Saints. Both Payne Durham (quadriceps) and rookie Devin Culp (ribs) were listed on the Week 18 injury report as well, but both have been cleared to play this weekend after practicing in full on Friday. With Otton unlikely to play, expect both Durham and Culp to share the tight end duties for the Bucs in a must-win game at home. For fantasy purposes, managers should be able to find better TE options.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) will be a game-time decision for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, according to head coach Todd Bowles. Otton has missed the last two games but returned to a limited practice on Thursday for the first time since Dec. 20, giving him a chance to suit up for a must-win game this weekend. Payne Durham (quadriceps) is also iffy for the regular-season finale for the Bucs, so in the event that both Otton and Durham are held out against the Saints, rookie Devin Culp would be in line for an elevated role for the second straight week after catching three of four targets for 52 yards in the Week 17 win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Otton went off for several weeks when receiver Mike Evans was injured, but he's since fallen to a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE1 when healthy.