10 DARKHORSE League Winners at TE for Fantasy Football in 2026 with Andrew Cooper!

Kincaid's efficiency metrics (yards per route run, targets per route run, fantasy points per route run) are elite and rank in the top corner, but he's currently a part-time slot player; the hope is he finally gets a full-time role this year.

Kincaid gets first reads from the quarterback and is heavily targeted in the red zone, scoring touchdowns when deployed, suggesting significant upside if given more playing time.

David Njoku was surpassed by Harold Fannin on the depth chart, with Fannin becoming the lead target in the Texans offense after week one.

Denzel Boston is viewed as a good prospect with size and Drake London comparisons, but analyst expects Fannon to still lead the team in targets despite Boston's addition.

Analyst is not super stoked on Deshawn Watson as the Browns quarterback, citing concerns about the QB room as a limiting factor for tight end production.

Despite concerns, analyst admits Deshawn Watson is one of his highest rostered baseball quarterbacks at QB 34 ADP, as he only needs to start and blow that ADP out of the water.

Watson's ADP is QB 34 and he only needs to start to blow that ADP out of the water; he's one of the speaker's highest rostered quarterbacks in redraft because of the upside potential if he locks down the starting spot.

Eric Ebron ran 79% of his routes from a wide receiver spot under Frank Reich and scored 13 touchdowns with Andrew Luck, serving as a historical comparison for how tight ends can be utilized in spread offenses.

Garrett Wilson is going to be the top target on the Jets team.

Fannon had a true breakout season as a rookie, tied 2nd in targets per route run and tied 4th in first read target share, trailing only Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, and George Kittle.

Harold Fannin's upside is tempered by uncertainty in the Texans quarterback room, with concerns about both Deshaun Watson and C.J. Stroud.

Harold Fannin is an analytical darling with elite college production (PFF receiving grade leader, yards per route run god) who had a true breakout season, tying for second in targets per route run and fourth in first-read target share.

Despite increased target competition from Casey Conpsion and Denzel Boston, Fannon is expected to remain the lead target on the Browns, as he has been a target earner at every level he's played.

Analyst ranks Fannon ahead of both Kyle Pitts and Leaporta, viewing him as a massive edge pick in the current ADP environment.

Analyst projects Fannon will easily get into the top 12 tight ends this season with David Njoku no longer ahead of him on the depth chart.

Fannon's route share is expected to increase significantly from 66% last year to higher levels this season, providing additional volume upside.

Fannon has fallen 18 spots in ADP over the last two months, from the low-to-mid 80s in May to well into the 100s, making him an edge pick at his current price.

Hunter Henry is not escaping defenders and is relying on touchdown opportunities rather than yards after catch like Fannon.

Jake Ferguson's fantasy production was highly dependent on target volume; he averaged 17.7 PPR points per game when CeeDee Lamb was out (TE2 production) but only 9.4 PPR points per game when Lamb was healthy (TE20 production).

Ferguson had only 600 yards on 100 targets as a top-five tight end, making him one of the least productive top-five tight ends over the last decade besides Robert Tonyan.

Jake Ferguson runs a 4.82 40-yard dash, which is slower than some comparable tight ends, affecting his ability to separate from defensive backs.

Jake Ferguson runs a 4.82 40-yard dash, which is significantly slower than elite tight end prospects like Kenyan Sadi (4.39), illustrating the athleticism gap that can impact ability to separate from defenders.

Jaylen Tolbert is part of the Texans' weak wide receiver depth chart described as an 'island of misfit toys' with limited target opportunity.

Jaden Higgins was the best rookie in fantasy outside the first round last year, demonstrating that elite rookie production can come from later-round picks.

Andrew Barry indicated that Jerry Judy remains the bellcow receiver and part of the Browns' future plan, suggesting Judy and Fannon will be the top two targets on the team.

Kenyan Sadiq runs a 4.39 40-yard dash at tight end, which is elite athleticism. The analyst is very bullish on him in Dynasty and actively tried to trade up to acquire him due to long-term upside.

Andrew Cooper ranks Kyle Pitts as a top-5 tight end (ranked 5) despite him going as a backend tight end 8-9 in ADP, citing his elite athleticism (4:52 40-time, 95th percentile speed) and ability to create chunk plays like George Kittle and Chigoziem Okonkwo.

Cooper compares Kyle Pitts' situation to Evan Engram's, noting that Pitts has faced the 'trifecta of tight end excuses'—injuries, poor quarterback play, and schemes that didn't leverage his skill set—but those obstacles are now being removed.

Kyle Pitts has a clear path to being a top-two target on the team under new coach Kevin Stefansky, with the tight end role shifting away from in-line blocking schemes that previously limited his usage.

Cooper believes Kyle Pitts' situation has improved significantly with Kevin Stefanski taking over as coach, offering him big slot potential and moving away from the previous scheme that forced him into a blocking role similar to Tyler Higbee.

There are concerns that Kyle Pitts may not be penciled in as the number one or number two target on the Falcons, which is historically required for fantasy-relevant tight end production.

Kyle Pitts should be ranked ahead of Sam LaPorta and potentially Tucker Kraft, yet goes 25 picks later in ADP, representing significant value.

Analyst has Pitts ranked ahead of Leaporta and depending on format, Tucker Craft, viewing him as a strong value at his current ADP alongside Fannon.

Malik Washington is a carryover from last year as part of the Texans' weak wide receiver depth chart described as an 'island of misfit toys'.

Malik Washington and Greg Duliba have been the favorite targets of Malik Willis in camp, suggesting strong target opportunity.

Mark Andrews has league-winning upside and top-five tight end potential this season with improved route share and full-time playing time.

The Ravens' offseason moves—not signing receivers and waiting to draft them—suggest Mark Andrews will return to full-time playing time after being split with Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kohler.

Andrews was tied in 22% route share over the last two seasons, but in 2021-2022 when he was a league winner, he had an 81% full-time route share that led all tight ends.

Andrews is tied in two unexpected touchdowns over the last two seasons, just behind George Kittle, with strong touchdown upside and a proven mind meld with Lamar Jackson in the red zone.

Andrews' yards per route run fell off last year from his historical 2.0 average, and his separation score also declined, likely due to Lamar Jackson's run game dynamics.

The Ravens' offseason was ideal for Andrews' upside: they didn't sign any receivers in free agency and waited to draft two (Jacobe Lane and Elijah Sarat), signaling he'll be the primary pass-catching tight end.

The Ravens brought in Declan Doyle, signaling they want to run a Ben Johnson-style offense where the tight end is used as a pass-catching weapon from wide receiver spots, similar to how Colston Loveland was used.

Mark Andrews has seasons where he's run 85% of his routes from a wide receiver spot, which is ideal for fantasy production and could result in 7-9 targets per game similar to how Colson Loveland was used.

Andrews has 11 touchdowns in a previous season and historically excels in man-to-man short area coverage, translating to strong red zone equity with Lamar Jackson.

Mark Andrews had 11 touchdowns the year before last and historically has been incredible in man-to-man short area situations, which translates well to red zone equity.

Mark Andrews is the only tight end in the league besides Travis Kelce with two double-digit touchdown seasons on his resume, and 90 targets is easily within the range of outcomes for him to reach top-five tight end status.

Mark Andrews can be drafted as a backstack shortly after Lamar Jackson, who is at his cheapest ADP ever, making it an attractive pairing strategy.

Mark Andrews has not had 90 or more targets since 2022, but he had 90 or more targets in four straight seasons prior to that point and is expected to push close to that range again.

Mark Andrews is the clear number two target on the Ravens team, despite the team likely being more run-heavy with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

Mark Andrews is identified as the number two darkhorse league winner at tight end for 2026 and has a history of being a league winner.

Mason Taylor is positioned as the inline tight end for the Jets, but the analyst believes he could be used as a big slot wide receiver type player based on Frank Reich's historical usage patterns with tight ends.

Frank Reich has a history of using big tight ends as slot wide receivers; examples include Zack Z running 70% of routes from wide receiver spot, Antonio Gates at 70%, and Eric Ebron at 79% while scoring 13 touchdowns with Andrew Luck.

Mason Taylor has the fastest 40 time ever for a tight end and arguably the best tight end combine since Vernon Davis, giving him elite athletic tools.

Mason Taylor could be a league winner if Frank Reich uses him as a slot receiver in 12 personnel packages; if he doesn't produce early, he can be dropped to waivers as a low-cost flier.

Omar Cooper Jr. is another rookie competing for targets on the Jets alongside Adini Mitchell.

Sam LaPorta is overpriced relative to his target share outlook, with historical data showing Jameson Williams consistently receives more targets, and LaPorta now dealing with a back injury.

Terrence Marshall is part of the Texans' weak wide receiver depth chart, described as part of an 'island of misfit toys' with limited target opportunity.

Tucker Kraft may be the number three target on the Bears offense and is coming off an ACL tear, limiting his upside relative to Kyle Pitts.

Analyst questions Tucker Craft's value in PPR and tight end premium formats, noting his game is built on dump-and-run opportunities rather than route running or field stretching ability.

Craft excels as a scheme fit for the Jaguars due to his ability to sell play action and screens, and his strength after the catch, but he is not a field stretcher like George Kittle or a route runner like Fannon and Pitts.