The Cleveland Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, specifically regarding TE David Njoku.
Is David Njoku Playing in Week 1?
Njoku is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he will play.
We’ll continue to monitor the Browns’ injury report leading up to kickoff for any changes. You can also visit and bookmark our Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit David Njoku in Week 1?
David Njoku was a first-round pick in 2017 and has begun to round into form for our purposes. Over the past two seasons, he ranks as TE4 (minimum 20 games played) in terms of PPR points per game and posted five top-5 finishes during his 11 games in 2024. There’s a lot to like in the player. There might be more to hate about the situation around him.
But is that new?
As mentioned, he was drafted in 2017, the same year that Mike Williams entered the league—the recently retired Mike Williams. Njoku isn’t a new commodity in the NFL, and yet, he hasn’t had 100 regular-season catches from a single quarterback during his professional tenure. Think about that.
His debut came before Black Panther hit theatres, and not a single quarterback has hooked up with him 100 times in the regular season throughout his career (for reference, Patrick Mahomes has hit Travis Kelce 100+ times in three separate regular seasons).
He’s had questions under center for his entire career, so I’m more willing to think he can overcome this year and churn out another productive season than not. The Bengals were the seventh-worst scoring defense in 2024 while allowing the eighth most yards: this is a profile and a matchup that, in my opinion, do more to prop up his fantasy stock this week than the mess at QB does to tear it down.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em article.
David Njoku’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 1
Njoku is projected to score 10.8 points in PPR formats. This includes 4.3 receptions for 44.1 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFSN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Week 1 Weather Impact: Browns vs Bengals
Weather could be a factor in this outdoor game with temperatures at 72 degrees Fahrenheit and winds of 12 mph. The wind may impact deep passes and field goal attempts.
