Cameron Latu | Alabama 6’4” 242 lbs. | 02/24/2000 (23) 

PAST PRODUCTION (College)

Originally a four-star EDGE defender recruit coming out of high school, Cameron Latu signed with Alabama in 2018 and redshirted. During the latter half of the 2019 season, Latu navigated a position change from EDGE to TE. His first two seasons of statistics are, thus, left out of his collegiate production below. Latu played in 12 games as a reserve for the 2020 National Champion Crimson Tide but did not record any receptions. In 2021, he beat out Jahleel Billingsley and other highly-touted TE recruits to earn the starting TE position for the Tide. He started 14 in 2021, catching 26 passes for 410 yards and eight TDs (Alabama TE record). He started 11 games for Alabama in 2022, grabbing 30 receptions for 377 yards and four TDs. 

Latu has a twin brother who chose to play community college football and eventually played at Oklahoma State. They went their separate ways for the first time after high school. Considering the late position switch, Latu has accomplished a lot in his three short years as a TE. He flew under the radar playing alongside 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young, as well as WRs DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Jameson Williams, John Metchie, and others. 

Latu is a willing block that needs to add strength, bulk, and a little technical refinement. He takes criticism for having a thin lower body, but we’ve seen other similar builds at TE find success (Jelani Woods). He is more athletic in space than he is given credit for, as suggested by his high YPC statistics for a TE. He has surprisingly natural hands, though he has shown focus drops on film. He has shown a good feel for shaking and stemming routes and finding openings in zone coverage for such a brief time at the position.

2023 OUTLOOK

Latu will undoubtedly play limited game snaps as a reserve behind George Kittle. However, it is important to note that George Kittle hasn’t always had a clean bill of health in the past. Additionally, Kittle turns 30 in less than two months. Kittle is under contract for three more seasons but can be let go after 2024 (his age-32 season) to save the team $13.2M. 

Latu is already listed as the backup TE on the 49ers’ depth chart, ahead of veterans Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, and fellow rookie Braydon Willis.

Expect to see Latu play a few snaps a game and potentially records a few receptions as a rookie if he stays healthy. However, he will have an outstanding opportunity should Kittle miss any time this coming season and beyond. The 49ers’ offense is loaded on the offensive line and at all of the skill positions, so in the times he does earn opportunities, he should be an afterthought to opposing defenses. 

Dynasty owners will have to wait on their investments in Cameron Latu. The good news is, this offseason, and the Twitter community, have shown that the investment will not have to be an expensive one. Even though Latu was drafted in the third round (as predicted by your author) of the NFL Draft, he’s been going late and sometimes undrafted in Dynasty leagues. If George Kittle does go down with an injury, Strange is a competent replacement. Ultimately, he is an excellent taxi squad stash for the future. 

Dynasty Analysis

It is important for Dynasty owners to understand the importance of patience and allowing players to develop. A handful of rookies in the past few seasons have become major fantasy football producers–these are outliers. Many of the most productive players, especially at the TE position, took several years to become consistent producers. Latu has reliable hands and he can adjust to make out-of-frame catches. It is rare and difficult for a prospect to move from the defensive side of the ball to offense, and it is even harder to do so at a skill position. Latu looks like one of the exceptions in this situation.

Latu is an extremely hard worker who gives maximum effort whether running routes, blocking downfield, or hammering in the trenches. He also shows great football IQ and is adept at finding openings against zone coverage. Being a late-declare senior is excusable in this instance given his dramatic positional change.

Latu’s primary deficiencies come from being a little underweight and new to his position. He needs to develop as a route-runner and gain weight and strength to become stouter in the run game, however, these are generally not traits that affect fantasy football production directly (though we’d like to see improvements so he can remain on the field for as many snaps as possible). If he can develop in these areas, surrounded by the talent and coaching acumen in San Francisco, he has the potential to break out as a top-15 TE in 2024 and beyond.  

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