Fantasy analysts, myself included, have fallen into the trap of saying "this is the year of the tight end" when we get a quality group of players at the position. Well, if you said it in 2025, you were right. And it could get even better this season.
Last year, 15 tight ends averaged at least 8.0 half-PPR points per game. That was up from 10 in 2024, and we had 15 tight ends combined average at least 8.0 half-PPR points in 2022 and 2023. There was also 10 tight ends who hit that average in 2021.
Part of the increased production in 2025 was a standout rookie class, which included Harold Fannin Jr., Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland. The old guard of George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert and Hunter Henry were still successful. And we saw Trey McBride dominate the position, while Tucker Kraft, Brock Bowers and Kyle Pitts all had quality campaigns.
Most of those tight ends should be productive again in 2026, and we have high expectations for Sam LaPorta and Isaiah Likely, among others. Fantasy managers should have fun drafting tight ends this season, but you should have a plan to attack the position. And that's where tiers come into play.
These are tight end tiers you can follow on Draft Day, and they are a better guide than just going down a rank list. I'll tell you the round range for these tight ends, as well as some stats of note, and this blueprint should help you dominate your league. Even though McBride was the No. 1 Fantasy tight end last season, I like Bowers in the top spot this year.
I expect him to lead the position in targets, and he should finish as the best Fantasy tight end in 2026. He is worth drafting as early as the middle of Round 2. Bowers had an amazing rookie campaign in 2024 with 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns on 153 targets.
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