Akins secured three of four targets for 30 yards in the Browns' 21-7 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. Akins was a distant second in receptions and receiving yards behind Jerry Jeudy on a day when the Browns were afflicted with mostly ineffective quarterback play. The veteran tight end did do a serviceable job while drawing the start in place of the absent David Njoku (hamstring), but Akins holds only modest fantasy value even if he remains in the top role for a Week 16 road matchup against the Bengals.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Jordan Akins news
Team
Cleveland Browns
Birthdate
4/19/1992 (32)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'4", 245 lbs
Draft Info
2018: Rd 3; Pk (HOU)
Birthplace
Locust Grove, GA, USA
Position
TE
College
UCF
Experience
7 seasons
Career History
Cleveland Browns
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
Houston Texans
2018-2023
(5 seasons)
New York Giants
2022-2022
(1 season)
Akins secured three of four targets for 30 yards in the Browns' 21-7 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. Akins was a distant second in receptions and receiving yards behind Jerry Jeudy on a day when the Browns were afflicted with mostly ineffective quarterback play. The veteran tight end did do a serviceable job while drawing the start in place of the absent David Njoku (hamstring), but Akins holds only modest fantasy value even if he remains in the top role for a Week 16 road matchup against the Bengals.
Akins is expected to start at tight end in Sunday's game against the Chiefs with David Njoku (hamstring) inactive for the contest, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports. Akins previously helped fill in for Njoku from Weeks 2 through 4 while the latter was sidelined with a high-ankle sprain and compiled a 6-49-0 receiving line on 10 targets over that span. While that level of production wasn't particularly noteworthy, all three of those outings came while Deshaun Watson (Achilles) served as the Browns' quarterback, so Akins could have a better opportunity to deliver fantasy value this time around while Cleveland's passing attack has taken off under the stewardship of Jameis Winston. The Browns are also without a key receiver in Cedric Tillman (concussion), potentially leaving Akins as high as third in the pecking order for targets behind wideouts Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore.
Akins did not catch his lone target in Monday's 41-32 loss to Denver in Week 13. Like many of Cleveland's receivers, Akins has experienced an uptick in activity and production with Jameis Winston at quarterback; however, he had a limited role Monday when Winston threw 58 times. Top tight end David Njoku had a team-high 17 targets Monday. Winston's not afraid to spread the targets around, so Akins, who averaged four targets over the three preceding games, could get some looks Week 14 against the Steelers.
Akins caught three of four targets for 38 yards in Thursday's 24-19 win over Pittsburgh in Week 12. Akins continued a renaissance in a Jameis Winston-led offense. The outing was his fourth in the last five games in which was targeted four times. The lone blemish Thursday was a drop on a play that looked like he had a clear path to the end zone if he secured the ball. David Njoku remains the clear No. 1 at tight end, but he had an off night in the wind and snow of Cleveland, holding to jus one of his five targets.
Akins caught one of four targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 35-14 loss to the Saints in Week 11. Akins was caught up in an offense that finished with 47 passing attempts. It was the third consecutive week the Browns have aired it out more than 40 times and the second straight week with four targets for Akins, who has four red-zone targets this season. He's not about to challenge the team's top targets, but all that volume could lead to a red-zone score.
Akins caught three of four targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Chargers. After a one-target performance a week ago, Akins saw a modest increase in volume Sunday. He was on the field for 25 snaps, the most he's seen since David Njoku returned from injury, but there's no reason to believe the boost is sustainable. The loss dropped the Browns to 2-7 as they enter a bye week, and the club may start preparing for 2025 by dealing veterans ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. The 32-year-old Akins, in the final year of his contract, is likely not part of the organization's future.
Akins failed to catch his lone target in Sunday's 29-24 win over the Ravens in Week 8. Akins, who played 15 snaps (22 percent share), had a bit role in Cleveland's first game following the season-ending Achilles injury suffered by quarterback Deshaun Watson. The tight end's usage had more to do with David Njoku being fully healthy than which quarterback was in the game, but Week 8 was a significant drop-off for Akins, who had four catches for 42 yards last week, including a 21-yard reception. Geoff Swaim, the other tight end competing for scraps behind Njoku, caught his lone target and was on the field for 21 snaps.
Akins caught all four targets for a season-high 42 yards in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Bengals in Week 7. Cleveland's tight ends had a big day in the first game after the organization traded Amari Cooper to the Bills. Akins and starter David Njoku combined for 18 targets, the most for the tight end position this season. In a related note that impacts all receivers, quarterbacks Deshaun Watson (Achilles) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) were removed from the game, leaving Jameis Winston to close out the contest. At this point, the Browns don't know who will be starting at quarterback next week against Baltimore.
Akins was untargeted over five snaps in Sunday's 20-16 loss to Philadelphia in Week 6. David Njoku finally stayed healthy for a full game, an event that was expected to limit Akins' involvement, but his severely reduced snap count was surprising. Geoff Swaim, a free agent that was added to the practice squad after Week 1 and eventually signed to the active roster, had the second-most snaps (19) behind Njoku's 42.