If you've heard about NFL teams moving into more heavy tight end formations, then you've probably already made the connection to how that can positively impact tight ends in Fantasy Football. This has been in the works for the past few seasons, manifesting in 2025 when tight ends as a whole caught 231 touchdowns and saw a collective target share of 23.8%. The touchdowns were the most since 2013, and the target share was the highest rate ever recorded.
A big reason why those numbers have gone up is because of the steady influx of very athletic tight ends into the NFL, some of whom have only scratched the surface of their potential. For every Trey McBride and Brock Bowers, there's an Isaiah Likely and Dalton Kincaid. Eventually names like Kenyon Sadiq and Eli Stowers will be big-time Fantasy names.
The talent is getting better and they'll be leaned on accordingly. These Tiers are based on half-PPR, important to note because we offer full-PPR and non-PPR rankings. This should help you have an idea where these players will get taken in your drafts.
You shouldn't expect anyone atop the TE tiers other than these two. Huge target potential, huge touchdown potential, huge big-game potential. If there's an edge for Bowers, it's that he's a shade more explosive than McBride and isn't in danger of losing a few targets like McBride could.
If there's an edge for McBride, it's that he's been outstanding for the past two seasons, something his new coach will obviously gravitate toward, plus he doesn't carry the injury concerns Bowers does. If you're in a full-PPR format, I would take McBride first, assuming a Cardinals receiver doesn't really improve this preseason. If you're picking eighth overall or later, you probably won't think to draft either guy.
And if you're between picks five through seven, you might be reaching for either guy in Round 2 in half-PPR formats. If you're between Picks 1 through 4, the goal should be to get the second tight end off the board. That's assuming you're interested in a tight end advantage and are willing to forego the running backs and wide receivers on the board at the time.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
