Tight end is no longer a "draft and pray" position--it’s where championships can be won or lost. The margin for error is thin as fantasy difference makers become harder to find.
I'm reviewing the top-12 TEs from this season and laying out the blueprint for 2026 with a set of rankings that will give you a head start in preparing for your draft.
2025 Top-12 Fantasy PPR Wide Tight Ends
| Rank | Player | Rec. Yards | TDs | Fantasy PPG |
| 1 | Trey McBride (ARI) | 1,239 | 11 | 18.6 |
| 2 | Kyle Pitts (ATL) | 928 | 5 | 12.4 |
| 3 | Travis Kelce (KC) | 851 | 5 | 11.4 |
| 4 | Tyler Warren (IND) | 817 | 4 | 11.1 |
| 5 | Jake Ferguson (DAL) | 600 | 8 | 11.1 |
| 6 | Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) | 731 | 6 | 11.7 |
| 7 | Dallas Goedert (PHI) | 591 | 11 | 12.3 |
| 8 | Juwan Johnson (NO) | 889 | 3 | 10.6 |
| 9 | Hunter Henry (NE) | 768 | 7 | 10.5 |
| 10 | Dalton Schultz (HOU) | 777 | 3 | 10.5 |
| 11 | Brock Bowers (LV) | 680 | 7 | 14.7 |
| 12 | Colston Loveland (CHI) | 713 | 6 | 10.3 |
Rankings are sorted by total fantasy points. Brock Bowers and George Kittle (13th) had higher PPG averages, but finished lower in the total season rankings due to games missed.
More: Way too early 2026 fantasy football wide receiver rankings
2026 TE Fantasy Projected Rankings
| Rank | Tight End | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey McBride | ARI |
| 2 | Brock Bowers | LV |
| 3 | Sam LaPorta | DET |
| 4 | Tyler Warren | IND |
| 5 | Tucker Kraft | GB |
| 6 | Colston Loveland | CHI |
| 7 | Harold Fannin Jr. | CLE |
| 8 | Kyle Pitts | ATL |
| 9 | Jake Ferguson | DAL |
| 10 | George Kittle | SF |
| 11 | Hunter Henry | NE |
| 12 | Oronde Gadsden | LAC |
No Travis Kelce? - At 36 years old, Kelce is facing heavy retirement speculation after the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and his 2025 usage fell to its lowest levels since 2015. Even if he returns, his days as an elite top-12 fantasy asset are behind him.
Bank on Fannin - Harold Fannin Jr. Led the Browns as a rookie in receptions, receiving yards, and tied for total touchdowns. He was an overwhelming favorite target for Shedeur Sanders, but proved uber reliable to draw the attention of any Cleveland QB.
More NFL News:
- Way too early 2026 fantasy football running back rankings
- Way Too Early 2026 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings
- Sam Darnold can make history: The 2018 draft class and USC milestones within reach
- Who's going to the Super Bowl? ESPN NFL insider predicts wild match-up
- The 'Berry Barrier': Why top coaches will decline the Browns job