Fantasy Football 2026 Rookie TE Breakdown: Landing Spots & Outlooks

Let's continue breaking down the newest batch of NFL rookies, now turning our attention to tight ends.

We looked at quarterbacks yesterday, and will dive into wide receivers and running backs in the days to come, so check back for those.

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Kenyon Sadiq - New York Jets

Sadiq was the only first-round pick among the tight ends. He joins a tight end room that includes Mason Taylor, so it was an interesting pick.

New York is lacking pass catchers, so I think Sadiq and Taylor could both factor in plenty. The addition of fellow first-round pick Omar Cooper complicates that theory a bit, but I still think New York has a plan for Sadiq and Taylor to co-exist.

I think Sadiq will have a good fantasy outlook in 2026, and beyond. His ceiling might be a bit hampered by his situation, but I wouldn't let it impact your thoughts on him too much, as I see him delivering big down the line.

Eli Stowers - Philadelphia Eagles

Stowers landed in an interesting spot, going to a TE room with Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra. 

Goedert could be nearing the end of his time in Philly, and Stowers could be in line to take over as TE1, maybe as early as 2027. That doesn't help his outlook for 2026.

Stowers doesn't have a super high fantasy outlook for 2026, but that could change with an injury to Goedert. For now, I like Stowers more in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol - Jacksonville Jaguars

Boerkircher was a second-round pick, and Koziol went in the fifth. Brenton Strange is the top player in the TE room there, but his contract runs over after 2026, so Jacksonville decided to add two options in case Strange leaves.

That also means that Boerkircher and Koziol don't have very good fantasy assets for 2026. Boerkircher has the better long-term outlook, but either could emerge as the future TE of the Jaguars. 

They are more long-term assets than fantasy assets who could deliver in 2026. That could change with an injury to Strange, so keep them in mind if that ever happens.

Marlin Klein - Houston Texans

Klein was another second-round pick, and he joins a TE room including Dalton Schultz and Foster Moreau.

Schultz is in the last year of his deal, so Klein could take over as TE1 as early as 2027. Again, that doesn't give Klein much of a fantasy outlook for the coming year.

Houston has enough pass catchers around that Klein wouldn't need to factor in much, so he's another guy who has a better dynasty/keeper outlook. 

Max Klare - Los Angeles Rams

Klare joined another loaded TE room in LA. The Rams have Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen.

Klare was a second-round pick, so that's a big investment for a team to take, and the Rams will make sure they give him opportunities to succeed. In time, he could take over as the team's top tight end.

For 2026, he's in a bad fantasy situation, at least now. Injuries and opportunity could change things, but as is, he's got more long-term upside than 2026 appeal.

Sam Roush - Chicago Bears

Roush landed in another poor situation, and it was a super surprising pick in my eyes. Chicago already has Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet in the TE room.

Loveland already emerged as TE1, and he's not going to lose that role. Kmet is a more than capable backup, so that doesn't leave much for Roush in 2026 and beyond.

He could factor in more if Kmet eventually leaves, but in 2026, I don't see much fantasy upside in Roush. His long-term outlook isn't the best either, but he's a guy to keep tabs on at least.

Oscar Delp - New Orleans Saints

Delp landed in a decent situation in New Orleans. Juwan Johnson is the top guy there, while Noah Fant is another option.

Delp was a third-round pick, so in time, he could work into a bigger role with the Saints. The team added plenty of pass catchers, so a reserve tight end isn't likely to make a big splash in 2026.

Maybe he will surprise at camp and earn himself a role, so he's at least a name to keep tabs on. I see him more as a long-term asset though.

Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore - Miami Dolphins

Kacmarek and Traore landed in a fantastic situation in Miami. Greg Dulcich is the top tight end, and Ben Sims is probably the next on the depth chart.

That means that Kacmarek and Traore have chances to not only carve out roles on offense, but do it as early as 2026. They are fantasy sleepers to keep tabs on as the summer rolls along.

The bigger thing holding them back is the Dolphins' offense being lackluster. They added a lot of talent in the draft, and maybe that unit can surprise a bit in 2026. Kacmarek and Traore could play roles in that.

Eli Raridon - New England Patriots

Raridon ended up in New England, which rosters Hunter Henry and Julian Hill in the TE room.

Henry is in the last year of his current contract, so Raridon could step into the lead role in 2027 if he shows enough promise in 2026.

Raridon is another TE to keep tabs on, but he's likely a better long-term option, unless Henry gets injured.

Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas - Baltimore Ravens

Hibner and Cuevas landed in a good spot. Baltimore has Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe in the TE room.

Fourth- and fifth-round picks aren't likely to help out immediately in 2026, but they could in the years to come. Baltimore drafted a few more pass catchers, so secondary tight ends aren't likely to help out much.

Hibner and Cuevas are names to keep tabs on, but likely just depth options for 2026.

Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley - Denver Broncos

I like the landing spot for Joly and Bentley. Adam Trautman, Evan Engram and Nate Adkins are other TE options in Denver.

The thing working against the new Denver tight ends is that they weren't high-end draft picks, so unless they are draft steals in real life, it'll be tough for them to be big fantasy assets ever.

They are names to keep in mind at least.

Riley Nowakowski - Pittsburgh Steelers

Nowakowski is listed as a tight end, but the Steelers listed him as a fullback. 

Fullbacks are pretty much extinct in the NFL nowadays, and they rarely make fantasy impacts. Nowakowski could be on the field more though, so that's something.

I don't see Nowakowski as a fantasy asset, now or ever, but you never know, so don't lose track of him.

Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan - Cleveland Browns

I don't like the landing spot for Royer or Ryan, as Harold Fannin is the locked-in tight end there.

Cleveland drafted and acquired a ton of offensive talent this offseason, so that also works against Royer and Ryan.

Crazier things have happened, so don't write Royer or Ryan off. Maybe they could surprise in Cleveland.

Bauer Sharp - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sharp was a sixth-round pick, but landed in a pretty nice spot.

Cade Otton, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft are also part of the tight end room there. Otton is the lead guy, but a young guy like Sharp could eventually earn a bigger role.

Sharp wasn't a big contributor in college, so I see him as more of a depth option, not a future big-time contributor.

Jack Endries - Cincinnati Bengals

Endries joined a loaded Cincinnati tight end room, but it's a pretty solid situation to be in.

Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, Erick All, Tanner Hudson and more are already in the tight end room. None of those guys are elite options, so that's what works in Endries' favor.

He did a bit more in college, so I am keeping my eyes on Endries, at least for a couple seasons.

Jaren Kanak - Tennessee Titans 

Kanak was a seventh-round pick, but also landed in a pretty nice situation.

Gunnar Helm showed some promise and leads the TE room in Tennessee. Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson are other options.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Kanak eventually carve out a role in Tennessee. His redraft value is very low, and his long-term outlook isn't much better, but he's worth keeping tabs in case he surprises.