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2026 Fantasy Football TE Draft Analysis: Backups, Matchup Plays, and Best-Ball Fliers

By Cory Bonini Athlon Sports

Updated May 28, 2026 6:33 PM

This 2026 fantasy football tight end analysis focuses on backups, matchup plays, best-ball fliers, and depth options who sit outside the reliable starter tier. Most of these tight ends need injuries, touchdown spikes, improved route participation, or favorable weekly matchups to matter in managed leagues.

Best-ball formats widen the pool, since low-volume tight ends with red-zone roles or big-play ability can help without requiring weekly lineup decisions.

2026 Fantasy Football TE Draft Analysis

Tier 6: Reliable Fill-Ins and Matchup Plays

17) TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers | Bye: 9 | Projected Fan Pts: 136.3

It's a little surprising the 2025 Steelers couldn't find a way to make Freiermuth a thing with Aaron Rodgers and a former TEs coach calling the plays. In 2026, the former Penn State star won't have his predictably boring playcaller hindering the outlook, and TE Jonnu Smith also is gone. Rodgers, however, is expected to return for a reunion with new head coach Mike McCarthy. Tight ends always have been part of his offenses. More competition for intermediate work from Michael Pittman Jr. is disconcerting, however.

18) TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans | Bye: 8 | Projected Fan Pts: 135.7

Schultz is boring but reliable, and there's something to be said for that at such a volatile position. His 106 targets of a year ago mark a career high, and the Stanford alum converted over 77% of them for another personal best. Never much of a touchdown threat, Schultz also should see fewer looks in 2026 with ascension expected from the receiving corps. C.J. Stroud will keep him involved as a checkdown, but there's virtually no upside in that for fantasy.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images

Tier 7: Useful in a Pinch

24) TE AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 122.2

In the last two years, Barner has been solid but heavily reliant on finding the end zone, scoring once every 8.2 grabs since entering the league. He has averaged the sixth-lowest aDOT among qualifying tight ends, and the Michigan product has eclipsed 10 PPR points only three times in 34 games when he didn't score a TD. Seattle remains committed to the run, and it's hard to pile up targets with Jaxon Smith-Njigba hogging all the looks. At any rate, Barner should remain in the TE1 chair but may lose meaningful targets to 2025 second-round tight end Elijah Arroyo this year.

25) TE Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans | Bye: 9 | Projected Fan Pts: 120.8

The Titans turned the offense over to Brian Daboll, whose tight ends have been solid in the past. Chig Okonkwo left in free agency, paving the way for Helm to assume the TE1 chores. However, despite there being a hint of sleeper appeal for the sophomore, Tennessee added Daniel Bellinger, who played under Daboll in New York. Inexperienced quarterbacks tend to lean on TEs, which is a plus for Helm, but Cam Ward has a fairly deep receiving corps in Year 2.

26) TE David Njoku, Los Angeles Chargers | Bye: 7 | Projected Fan Pts: 110.4

The veteran turns 30 before the season opens, and he'll play on a one-year deal inside this crowded offense that runs a system not known for TE success. The Bolts saw 2025 rookie Oronde Gadsden II sort of break out as most of his fantasy offerings came in a three-week span. The Chargers have a wealth of young talent in the passing game, and Njoku hasn't been able to stay healthy throughout his career, especially over the last two years. This projection bakes in some of that likely downside, and it's not hard to see how he'll be overvalued based on name-brand recognition.

27) TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 106.6

A late-season 2023 ACL tear doomed his '24 campaign before it began, and Hockenson played only 10 games. He was limited to 15 appearances last year and ended the season on IR with a shoulder injury. Hockenson turning 29 the day before America turns 250 makes a rebound dubious but not entirely without merit. Kyler Murray upgrades the passing game over J.J. McCarthy, and making Justin Jefferson terrifying again helps Hock in coverage. That said, Hockenson will lose valuable targets to WR Jauan Jennings, rendering the TE a flimsy matchup play.

28) TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers | Bye: 5 | Projected Fan Pts: 101.6

Sanders is a curious case to project. There's an opportunity to be had in Carolina's passing game behind Tetairoa McMillan, and the third-year tight end could surprise. That said, it's a wild leap of faith to get there. In his first two years, Sanders averaged just 8.6 yards per catch, and his average depth of target in 2025 was a lowly 4.8 yards. Bryce Young showed growth in 2025, but there's still too much working against Sanders, including TE Tommy Tremble's presence, to fully buy into a sleeper effort.

29) TE Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 100.0

Parkinson's mini breakout in 2025 was far too touchdown-dependent for fantasy owners to get excited, and his athletic profile isn't particularly appealing. Nearly 36% of Parkinson's targets came in the red zone. He hasn't averaged more than 9.9 yards per grab in three straight years, and his aDOT was just 4.4 yards. Los Angeles has two elite receivers and a trio of other capable tight ends on this depth chart. Parkinson mustered a lone double-digit PPR performance in '25 without scoring a TD. That's a tough sell.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Tier 8: Will Matter with a Few Breaks

30) TE Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers | Bye: 8 | Projected Fan Pts: 98.0

George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in the Wild Card Round and will be cutting it awfully close to being ready for Week 1. Even if he makes the deadline, the 49ers are likely to include Tonges more in the early going. Last year, he caught 34 of 46 targets and scored five TDs, with 22 grabs for 209 yards and two scores coming during Weeks 2-6 as Kittle missed time with a torn hammy. In the event Kittle misses extended action, Tonges' value soars.

31) TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 95.8

Following a small rebound effort in 2024, Gesicki went on IR with a pec injury after Week 5 and didn't return until Week 12 last season. He caught two touchdowns for the third straight year, but the 28 grabs were the fewest since his 2018 rookie season. The Bengals simply have too many weapons, and a large factor in his '24 uptick was Tee Higgins missing time. Unless something similar happens again, and presuming Joe Burrow can stay healthy, Gesicki's ceiling is low. In fact, backup Erick All Jr. could leapfrog him.

32) TE Evan Engram, Denver Broncos | Bye: 10 | Projected Fan Pts: 90.0

Engram was allergic to the end zone in his first year with the Broncos, scoring only once on 50 grabs over 76 targets, and he now has found paydirt just twice in the last 97 catches. Turning 32 in September, the veteran is not a reliable fantasy option, and the Broncos spent fifth- and seventh-rounders on the position. While hardly an immediate threat, it's an indicator. Also, Sean Payton favorite Adam Trautman returns to interfere. More problematic for any hope of an Engram rebound is Jaylen Waddle's arrival.

33) TE Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers | Bye: 7 | Projected Fan Pts: 85.2

Gadsden has NFL bloodlines and didn't waste any time showing he belongs in the pros. As a 2025 rookie, the fifth-rounder from Syracuse snatched 49 of his 69 targets for a hearty 13.6-yard average. Gadsden stole the show from Weeks 6-9 by averaging 18.4 points in PPR and scoring two of his three TDs over that four-game stretch. Unfortunately, he then disappeared just as quickly, generating only 15.8 total fantasy points in the next month. Too many mouths to feed existed before the David Njoku signing, and now it will practically require an injury for Gadsden to prove useful for more than a rare matchup play.

34) TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears | Bye: 10 | Projected Fan Pts: 87.3

The Bears drafted Colston Loveland in Round 1 last year, but it took him some time to catch on. It wasn't until Week 9 that he made a dent, and Ben Johnson really leaned on the rookie into the playoff run. Kmet's involvement never really changed much, outside of a season-high nine looks in Week 4. He slightly improved down the stretch, but we're talking about going from one grab to two per game. With Loveland firmly latched onto the TE1 role, Kmet doesn't belong on the fantasy radar without an injury opening the door.

35) TE Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | Bye: 7 | Projected Fan Pts: 78.5

In the middle of the pack with an overall PFF grade of 68.6, Knox ranked only 25th of 37 TEs in receiving metrics in 2025. After snaring a TD every nine grabs last year, he's more of a nuisance to Dalton Kincaid owners than a true fantasy asset in his own right. Knox played a full slate for the first time in his career, and he's a viable waiver option if Kincaid were to miss time, but there's not enough of a role here.

36) TE Theo Johnson, New York Giants | Bye: 8 | Projected Fan Pts: 71.6

The Giants brought in flex tight end Isaiah Likely during free agency, and he's expected to be New York's primary target at the position. Johnson was starting to make a dent as a receiver in his second year, hauling in five TDs on 74 targets. A closer look shows the sophomore ranked 33rd of 37 qualified TEs by PFF, and he's expected to assume more of a blocking role in 2026.

Tier 9: TE3 Best-Ball Fliers

37) TE Matthew Hibner, Baltimore Ravens | Bye: 13 | Projected Fan Pts: 71.1

One of two midround TE selections by Baltimore, Hibner transferred from Michigan to SMU, where he scored eight total touchdowns spread evenly over the last two years. There's a chance to make a difference in 2026 if veteran Mark Andrews were to miss significant time, but rookie TEs rarely pick up the game quickly enough to capitalize on opportunities. The athletic Hibner is not even a lock for the TE2 gig after Isaiah Likely's departure, so watch how this plays out in camp and preseason play.

38) TE Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins | Bye: 6 | Projected Fan Pts: 69.1

Dulcich may be the veteran on the depth chart, but he's not a fantasy-relevant option, and Miami invested a pair of picks in the position this year. There's an opportunity here with such a flimsy receiving corps, but the overall passing game is suppressed with Malik Willis starting under center, and most short-area targets will go toward De'Von Achane.

39) TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 68.3

Unless Tucker Kraft (knee) doesn't return on time from his 2025 Week 9 ACL tear, Musgrave is entirely devoid of fantasy value in classic formats. He failed to score a touchdown in 2025, which includes the Weeks 9-18 stretch without Kraft, and Musgrave didn't even get into double-digit PPR territory.

40) TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams | Bye: 11 | Projected Fan Pts: 63.8

While Higbee keeps plugging away in Year 11, he has played only 13 games in the last two years combined and has tallied only 33 catches, rendering him irrelevant in traditional fantasy football. With younger, more dynamic options around him, Higbee's role is far too small for fantasy purposes.

This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 6:09 PM.