2026 Fantasy Football Tight End and Quarterback Tier Rankings

The ESPN analyst organizes 2026 tight-end prospects into six tiers, from elite starters to late-season sleepers. Tier 1 contains players expected to deliver 15+ fantasy points each week.

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• Trey McBride – 18.7 fantasy points per game (PPG) in 2025, 126 catches for 1,239 yards and 11 TDs.

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• Brock Bowers – 14.7 PPG in 12 games last season; 112 receptions as a rookie in 2024.

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Both are projected as the first selections in fantasy drafts.

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• Colston Loveland – Ended his rookie season with 21 PPG and 10+ targets in each of his final four games.

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• Tyler Warren – 11.1 PPG as a rookie, averaging 6.5 targets per game in 2025.

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• Dawson Fannin – Ranked No. 1 TE in Cleveland after a TE6 finish his rookie year.

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• Jared LaPorta – Logged 60 receptions and seven TDs in 2024; 86 receptions with 10 TDs as a 2023 rookie.

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• George Kittle – 14.7 PPG in 2025 after returning from an Achilles injury.

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• Dalton Pitts – 12.4 PPG in 2025; 45.6-point performance in Week 15 versus Tampa Bay.

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• David Kraft – 14.7 PPG in 2025 before an ACL injury in Week 9.

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• Travis Kelce – Reliable route runner for Kansas City despite reduced speed.

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• Jake Ferguson – Scored eight TDs and received 10 red-zone targets last season.

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• Dalton Goedert – Saw 11 TDs and 15 red-zone targets, serving as Jalen Hurts’ seam-stretching outlet.

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Players such as Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Sadiq Aldridge, Jared Kincaid, Mike Henry, Jordan Johnson, Jared Strange, Victor Okonkwo, Zach Schultz, and Sam Helm are highlighted for potential breakout weeks.

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The analyst groups 2026 quarterbacks into six tiers, balancing dual-threat ability, pocket passing, and injury risk.

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• Josh Allen – 21.4 PPG in 2025 and 14 rushing scores.

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• Lamar Jackson – Returned healthy after a 13-game 2025 season; expected elite rushing with a revitalized passing game.

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• Joe Burrow – 21.9 PPG in 2024 with 43 passing TDs.

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• Jared Maye – 20.7 PPG in 2025, adding 450 rushing yards.

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• Patrick Mahomes – 20.4 PPG in 2025 (fourth most) returning from an ACL injury.

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• Kenny Murray – Starter for Minnesota in a QB-friendly system with Justin Jefferson as a target.

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• Dak Prescott – 18.1 PPG in 2025, 4,555 passing yards and 30 TDs.

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The analyst lists Justin Herbert, Jared Lawrence, Drew Dart, Brock Purdy, Jared Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Tua Tagovailoa, and others as reliable starters or high-floor options.

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• Tight ends: McBride 18.7 PPG, Bowers 14.7 PPG, Kittle 14.7 PPG, Kraft 14.7 PPG.

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• Quarterbacks: Allen 21.4 PPG, Burrow 21.9 PPG, Maye 20.7 PPG, Mahomes 20.4 PPG, Stafford 20.6 PPG (2025).

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Tier segmentation gives drafters a roadmap for allocating early picks to high-volume producers (e.g., McBride, Bowers, Allen) while reserving later rounds for upside candidates (e.g., Loveland, Warren, Murray).

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Preseason evaluations, coaching changes, and injury reports will refine tier placements before the 2026 fantasy draft season. Managers should monitor health updates and scheme adjustments to fine-tune strategies.

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