Hitting on a productive fantasy tight end with a late-round pick in your draft is like playing Mario Kart and successfully completing that one shortcut jump on Rainbow Road. It’s one of the best feelings in the entire game and everyone you’re competing against sneers in disdain as you cross the finish line for gold. That’s the feeling we’re looking for here.
How it felt the second half of the season after drafting and stashing Colston Loveland pic.twitter.com/MMmE7zTwuv
— Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan) July 29, 2026
We’ve peeled through pages of SPARQ scores, dabbled in vacated targets and tried to piece together the puzzle of new faces in new places among the tight end ranks and their play-callers. Everybody and their mother knows the Drew Petzing is in Detroit and he likes tight ends, but with so many changes in personnel, both on the field and in the coach’s booth, there is more uncertainty across the league than there has been entering previous seasons.
Most of us, myself included, would love to land one of the elite names at the tight end position at a value in drafts, but that won’t always be the case in every league. The key is to have a backup plan in the later rounds, identifying spots where we can lean into the uncertainty and try to find a place to jump the track and give ourselves a massive advantage later in the season. WAH-Hooooo!
Mark Andrews, BAL
ADP: TE14, 115.3
Everyone is so excited about Sam LaPorta’s new situation in Detroit with a tight end-friendly coach brought in, but there isn’t a single tight end in the NFL whose situation has improved more over the course of the offseason than Andrews. The Ravens got rid of head coach John Harbaugh and sent offensive coordinator Todd Monken packing too. Now, Ben-Johnson-disciple Declan Doyle, who just helped Loveland become the alpha in Chicago late last season, comes in to call the plays. Baltimore let both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar walk in free agency and then signed blocking tight end Durham Smythe and drafted a day three tight end to be his backup. All signs are pointing to the Ravens putting more on Andrews’ plate this season.
In 2025, Andrews reached the 75% snap percentage plateau in four of his first six games of the season, and then didn’t reach it again after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye, including fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps in three of the team’s final four games. Even with a lower percentage in snaps, he still managed to pull in 48 receptions and five touchdowns. With increased time on the field, a coaching staff who seems to appreciate tight end talent and what should be a healthy Lamar Jackson under center, Andrews seems likely to finish closer to the 2021-2023 version of himself that averaged 7.8 targets per game from 2021-2023.
Currently being drafted as TE14, he has potential to finish as one of the top-12 players at the position. The Ravens are projected to be one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league, he’s shown a history of chemistry and connection with his veteran quarterback and has a new play-caller with a penchant for creating mismatches. I’m in at the discounted price tag.
AJ Barner, SEA
ADP: TE25, 170.7
Barner is about as exciting as a Netflix documentary mini-series about paint drying. But there’s something to be said for his 2025 totals. As a streaming tight end option, Barner caught 52 passes for 519 yards and six touchdowns, good for a TE14 finish on the year, including seven top-12 finishes at the position. In his second season, Barner was on the field for 77.7% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps, and only fell below a 60% snap share in two games all year long.
Although offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has made the journey to Las Vegas as the Raiders’ head coach, not much in this offense is likely to change as Kubiak’s Tight Ends coach, Run Game Coordinator and close friend Brian Fleury will take over calling plays. He’s already on the record as saying that his “goal would be to maintain as much of [Kubiak’s playbook] as possible,” and could even lean harder into feeding Barner in 2026. He already has the trust of his quarterback and this coaching staff – as evidenced by what appeared to be a scripted touchdown pass in the Super Bowl last February.
20 weeks ago Sam Darnold and AJ Barner connected for a Super Bowl touchdown pic.twitter.com/9QQpODpLRZ
— 12 AS ONE (@12ASONE24) June 28, 2026
From a personnel standpoint, the Seahawks project to be a less run-heavy team. Not only have they lost both of their starting running backs from a year ago, one in free agency and one to injury (for at least a few weeks to begin the season), they are also projected for only 10.5 victories this season, four fewer than last year’s regular season, implying that they may be in fewer run-heavy game scripts in 2026. Second-year Elijah Arroyo is still lurking in Seattle and could increase his role from a year ago (which was virtually non-existent), but my faith lies with Barner.
Greg Dulcich, MIA
ADP: TE30, 195.5
I need to have a word with my good friend QB List Senior Analyst, Jay Felicio. He didn’t even rank Dulcich in his Top 35 TEs for Fantasy Football 2026 article that dropped last week. Come on, Jay! You ranked Evan Engram but didn’t bother to include future star of Head and Shoulders commercials everywhere, Greg Dulcich? For shame. Imagine James Franco playing the titular character in a Weird Al Yankovic biopic. That’s Dulcich.
He’s also good at football! Dulcich played through the preseason as a member of the New York Giants and looked as if he could make an impact for Big Blue, but instead was cut before the start of the year as the team trimmed down its roster. Later on, Dulcich caught on with the Miami Dolphins and made an impact down the stretch including a 5/58/1 performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.
Dulcich made his mark as a YAC monster, averaging 7.69 YAC per reception (2nd in NFL) and looked darn good doing it, lock flowing in the wind. The Dolphins are struggling in the pass-catcher department with their only receiver who WAS being drafted among the top-100 WR (rookie Chris Bell) currently on the NFI list. Malik Willis may be in need of a go-to-guy, and he might pick the one with the best hair.
It helps that head coach Jeff Hafley is coming from Green Bay where he saw first-hand the impact of a YAC-Monster tight end (Tucker Kraft). Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik also made Dalton Schultz a thing during his previous stint as the Texans’ OC. The stars are all aligning for Dulcich to potentially post a fantasy-relevant season in South Beach. Don’t be surprised to see his name at the top of waiver claim lists in the first few weeks of the season.
Eli Stowers, PHI
ADP: TE32, 209.5
I don’t know, Brett. Goedert had a pretty great year in 2025. I really don’t see a reason for the Eagles to move away from their veteran tight end. He caught a career-high 11 touchdowns and was a favorite red zone target for Hurts!
Did you watch any Eagles games last season? I’m pretty sure more than half of Dallas Goedert’s touchdown receptions were short-yardage shovel passes that my three-year old daughter could have pulled in for a score. Entering his age-31 season, Goedert is less of a downfield threat than he has been in the past. And unlike the also-aging Mark Andrews, the Eagles DID spend some high-profile draft capital to select his inevitable replacement this season.
With over 70% of his college snaps coming in the slot, Stowers might not just replace Goedert but could also play alongside him in a Rams-esque heavy formation. Stowers’ versatility and athleticism should help him to force his way onto the field and even in an offense where passing volume isn’t THAT high, he could be a key receiving piece. With smaller receivers like Devonta Smith (6-0), Hollywood Brown (5-9), Makai Lemon (5-11) and Dontayvion Wicks (6-1) throughout their depth chart, the Eagles could use a big-bodied, athletic pass-catcher who can go up and get the ball in the red zone. Stowers is 6-5 and set the tight end record at the NFL combine with a 45.5″ vertical leap. I’m not saying he’s Jimmy Graham, but I think he’ll work his way on the field. And with him being basically free in fantasy drafts, I’m happy to take a shot on the rookie.
Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)