Honestly, the tight end position in fantasy football is a nightmare. You spend all summer convincing yourself that this is the year you’ll find the next Sam LaPorta in the 12th round. Then Week 1 hits. Your "sleeper" finishes with two targets and a pass-blocking grade that would make a left tackle proud, while the guy you passed on puts up 20 points. It’s brutal.
But looking at the NFL fantasy football TE rankings for the 2025-2026 cycle, things are actually shifting. We aren't just stuck in the "Kelce or bust" era anymore. The youth movement is real.
If you're still drafting like it’s 2019, you're going to lose. The data from the 2025 season showed us that target share is king, but the "how" and "where" of those targets matter more than the name on the jersey. Let’s break down who actually moves the needle and why your league mates are probably overvaluing the wrong veterans.
The Tier 1 Elites: The Target Hogs
Trey McBride didn't just have a good 2025. He was a monster. He broke the single-season record for receptions by a tight end in Week 17, finishing with 119 catches for 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns. That's WR1 production from a guy who used to be a secondary thought.
He is the clear-cut TE1 for 2026.
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Then you’ve got George Kittle. People keep waiting for the age cliff, but the man just keeps producing. Even at 32, he was the TE1 in points per game for much of the 2025 season. He caught 78 passes for over 1,100 yards. When the 49ers get banged up at receiver, Kittle becomes the entire offense. He’s the safest high-end bet you can make.
Why Trey McBride is the New Standard
- Target Share: He commanded a 27.39% target share in 2025. That is absurd for a tight end.
- TD Regression: He finally found the end zone. After only scoring 2 TDs in 2024, those 11 scores in 2025 proved the volume was sustainable.
- QB Proof: It didn't matter who was under center in Arizona; McBride was the first read.
The Breakouts and the "Almost" Superstars
Kyle Pitts. I know, I know. You’ve been burned before. We all have. But 2025 was different. He finished second only to McBride in total fantasy points.
That 11-catch, 166-yard, 3-touchdown game he had against Tampa Bay wasn't just a fluke—it was a glimpse of what happens when a team actually uses a unicorn like a unicorn. He’s finally out of the fantasy "doghouse."
Then there's the rookie class that just graduated into stardom. Harold Fannin Jr. in Cleveland is the name nobody wanted to say in August. By December? He was the Browns' number one option. He finished as the TE6 overall despite starting the year behind David Njoku. If you’re looking for the 2026 version of a league-winner, Fannin is the archetype.
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Watch Out for Tyler Warren
The Colts took Tyler Warren 13th overall, and he immediately paid dividends. He’s basically a massive wide receiver. With Daniel Jones taking over the QB spot in Indy, Warren became a safety blanket on steroids. He finished the season with 76 catches and over 800 yards. In PPR leagues, that is gold.
The Veteran Decline: Proceed with Caution
We have to talk about Travis Kelce. It’s hard. He’s a legend. But the 2025 season was the first time we truly saw the ceiling lower. He finished with 851 yards and 5 touchdowns. Those are "good" numbers, but they aren't "third-round pick" numbers.
The Chiefs have leaned more into Rashee Rice and their run game, leaving Kelce as a high-floor, low-ceiling option. If he’s sitting there in the 5th round, sure. But don't reach.
Similarly, Mark Andrews is entering a weird phase. Isaiah Likely is too good to keep off the field. Andrews still gets the red zone looks—he had 11 touchdowns last year—but his yardage (422) was a career-low for a full-ish season. He’s becoming the tight end version of a touchdown-dependent goal-line back.
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Modern NFL Fantasy Football TE Rankings for 2026
If I'm drafting today, here is how the board looks. Forget the "consensus" for a second and look at the actual upside.
- Trey McBride (ARI): The undisputed king. 120+ targets is the floor.
- George Kittle (SF): High efficiency, elite YAC, and the heartbeat of a top-5 offense.
- Kyle Pitts (ATL): The breakout finally happened. He's a WR in a TE slot.
- Brock Bowers (LV): Even with a knee injury limiting him to 12 games in 2025, he showed elite talent. He's a yardage machine.
- Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE): The new "it" guy. Cleveland's offense flows through him.
- Tyler Warren (IND): Pure volume. He’s the focal point for a team that lacks a true WR1.
- Sam LaPorta (DET): A back injury derailed his 2025, but the talent is top-3. He’s a massive "buy low" candidate.
- Juwan Johnson (NO): Shockingly finished with 889 yards last year. He’s the most underrated vertical threat at the position.
- Travis Kelce (KC): The floor is safe, but the days of 1,300 yards are likely over.
- Dalton Schultz (HOU): The ultimate "boring but effective" pick. 80+ catches is almost guaranteed with C.J. Stroud.
Strategy: To Wait or Not to Wait?
The "Late Round TE" strategy isn't as viable as it used to be. Why? Because the gap between the TE1 (McBride) and the TE12 (someone like Cole Kmet) is now nearly 10 points per game. You can't make that up at other positions easily.
If you don't get one of the top six guys, you're basically streaming.
Look at Brenton Strange in Jacksonville. He took over for Evan Engram and looked great in spurts, but he’s inconsistent. Same with Colston Loveland in Chicago. Loveland has the draft pedigree (10th overall), but he’s competing with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore for targets. You’re praying for a touchdown every week.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Draft
Don't just look at a list. Use these rules to win your league:
- Prioritize Target Rate per Route Run (TPRR): In 2025, McBride and Kincaid led this. It’s the best predictor of future success.
- Fade the "Name" Value: If someone is drafting Travis Kelce in the top 30 based on 2022 stats, let them. Take the value elsewhere.
- Target the "Two-Punch" in TE Premium: If your league gives 1.5 or 2.0 PPR for tight ends, you should legit consider taking two in the first six rounds. The points-over-replacement value is insane.
- Monitor the Rookie Landing Spots: Keep an eye on the 2026 draft. If a guy like Oscar Delp or Mason Taylor lands in a pass-heavy offense with no established WR2, they are immediate late-round targets.
The tight end position has evolved. It’s no longer a wasteland; it’s a strategic goldmine if you’re willing to stop chasing ghosts of the past and start drafting the target earners of the future.