Must-Target Fantasy TEs at Every Level
- Source: Must-Target Fantasy TEs at Every LevelPublisher: FTN - Fantasy Football, DVOA, Betting, DFS | Author: Colin McTamanyArchived: August 23, 2026
- Favorite Tight Ends to Target from Each Tier
Source: Must-Target Fantasy TEs at Every Level
Publisher: FTN - Fantasy Football, DVOA, Betting, DFS | Author: Colin McTamany
Archived: August 23, 2026
Must-Target Fantasy TEs at Every Level
Contents
Share
Next Updated PPR Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet For 2026 (Aug. 22, 2026)
Close
Summary
- Organize players into tiers to gain value without overdrafting: Tiered planning offers insight into where to pounce and which targets justify drafts at each pick.
- Target specific tight ends who can vault your TE position: Consider Warren, Pitts, LaPorta, Kelce, Likely with varied upside and roles to fit your strategy.
- Use late-round stashes and sleepers to boost depth: Keep Juwan Johnson, Terrance Ferguson, Dulcich as potential week-one contributors or late-season value.
Whether it’s your first time playing fantasy football, or you’ve been playing for a long time, organizing your players into tiers is optimal draft preparation. Anyone can print out a rankings sheet that simply lists all of the players at each position. Organizing players by tiers provides better insight to value on the board and can often direct managers to which player at which position is worth drafting with each pick.
Once your players are organized into tiers, it’s natural to have favorite targets from each tier. Below are some notable names to underline or circle as we move down tiers during drafts. These players stand out as values for different reasons and very much worth the investment at cost if they fit into your 2026 strategy.
Check out our must-target QBs, must-target RBs and must-target WRs. And don’t forget to check out our fantasy football rankings.
Favorite Tight Ends to Target from Each Tier
TE Not Named Bowers or McBride Who Could Finish as Overall TE1
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren finished his rookie campaign last season as the TE10 averaging 11.1 PPR fantasy points per game. However, across his first 10 games, prior to quarterback Daniel Jones’ injuries, Warren averaged 5.8 targets, 54.1 yards and 13.6 PPR points per game. His nine end zone targets also tied for fifth among the position. Warren’s 88.9% route rate and 19.4% target share just narrowly missed placement into a group of just six different tight ends who have logged both an 80.0% or greater route rate and 20.0% target share in a single season since 2021. He led the 2025 Colts in targets (112) and could very well do so again given the current state of their wide receiver room.
Top-3 TE Potential with an ADP Outside the Top-5
Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta Falcons
There might already be some managers in your league who refuse to draft Kyle Pitts Sr. based on previous disappointment. I’m asking you to remain open-minded. Pitts had a position-high 95.1% route rate and drew a 20.7% target share in 2025. Under head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns ranked fifth, sixth, sixth, sixth, fourth, and second in total targets to tight ends over the last six seasons. Stefanski is now the head coach of the Falcons. Furthermore, Atlanta gave Pitts a three-year extension this offseason. Pitts only has Drake London and Bijan Robinson as his legitimate competition for targets.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Last year was a struggle for Sam LaPorta who missed eight games due to a season-ending back injury. Prior to that, LaPorta finished as the TE1 and TE8 in PPR points per game in 2023 and 2024. In his fully healthy 2024 season, LaPorta ranked ninth in yards per receptions (12.1), eighth in explosive catch rate (13.3%), sixth in yards after the catch (343) and tied for third with 10 end zone targets, all among 49 qualified tight ends. He’s a major bounceback candidate, especially with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, formerly of the Cardinals, in the same role, notably working with Trey McBride over the last three seasons.
Safe, Solid Options as One of the Last Teams to Select a Starter
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s certainly not a flashy pick to select soon-to-be 37-year-old Travis Kelce as your starting tight end in 2026. However, he’s entering what is likely his final season and should provide a high floor to lineups at the very least. Last season, Kelce ranked fifth in both route rate (87.2%) and snap rate (77.0%) among all tight ends. His 108 targets ranked fourth, his 50.1 yards per game ranked eighth and he even drew the sixth-highest rate of team air yards (16.2%) among the position. Though he averaged just 11.8 PPR points per game, Kelce finished as the TE5. You’re not getting a positional advantage in your lineup with Kelce anymore, but you’re also not paying for such a luxury either. Kelce is just a more reliable option than most in drafts if you find yourself as one of the last managers to select a starter.
Isaiah Likely, New York Giants
Seeing is believing, and we just haven’t seen anything consistent yet with Isaiah Likely. He set career-highs across the board in 2024, though just 42 receptions, 477 yards and six touchdowns. Likely gets a fresh start following head coach John Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants. Though it’s an entirely new coaching staff, it’s worth noting that Wan’Dale Robinson ran a team-high 328 routes from the slot for the Giants last season. Likely coincidentally ran a career-high 74.3% of his routes from the slot in 2025, as well. He also ranked sixth among all tight ends in yards after the catch per reception in both 2023 and 2024 with a fully healthy Lamar Jackson at quarterback. Likely could see a high volume of quick looks from the slot just to get the ball in his hands. It doesn’t cost much to invest in Likely who could have a huge season especially given his competition for targets on the Giants.
Speculative Streamers and Stashes
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Especially considering rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, Juwan Johnson is firmly back on the fantasy football radar. In nine starts from quarterback Tyler Shough in 2025, Johnson averaged 5.6 targets, 57.9 yards and 11.7 PPR points per game. The Saints play the Lions, Ravens, Raiders and Falcons across the first four weeks. Their passing game, including Johnson, could be very busy.
Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
All throughout training camp, Terrance Ferguson has been referred to as the Rams’ third wide receiver. Albeit a small sample size, Ferguson average 4.0 targets, 43.5 yards and 12.7 PPR points per game in two games played without Davante Adams last season. In one game without Puka Nacua, Ferguson caught one pass for a 31-yard touchdown. He’s not a player you can realistically start in Week 1, but if there’s bench space, Ferguson is a cheap piece of the Rams offense with major upside worth stashing especially if one of their top two wide receivers becomes unavailable.
Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins begin their season in Las Vegas against the Raiders. There are plenty of worse options and matchups to consider than Greg Dulcich if you are simply looking for a Week 1 streamer. Dulcich could emerge as a top target for the Dolphins who have arguably the least experienced and proven wide receiver rooms in the league. New quarterback Maik Willis has only attempted 155 career passes, as well. Dulcich caught just 26 passes for Miami last season, but his 2.4 yards per route run ranked 12th league-wide among 182 qualified pass catchers at all positions. Picking Dulcich later in drafts is a swing for the fences early on in the season.
Write a comment