Let's be real for a second. The days of Travis Kelce being the only person who matters at tight end are dead and gone. If you're still drafting like it's 2022, you're basically giving your league-mates a head start.
Fantasy football has changed. The "PPR tight end rankings" you see every August used to be a list of one superstar and a bunch of guys who might—if they’re lucky—get you four catches for 40 yards. Now? The middle class is booming. We have rookies coming in and breaking records immediately. We have veterans aging like fine wine.
Honestly, the position is deeper than it’s been in a decade, but it’s also more confusing. You've got guys like Trey McBride smashing reception records, while the "old guard" is fighting for relevance. If you want to actually win your PPR league, you have to stop looking at total points and start looking at how these guys are actually being used.
The New Elite: McBride and Bowers
Trey McBride didn't just have a good 2025; he was a monster. Breaking the single-season receptions record for a tight end isn't a fluke. He finished the year with 119 catches for 1,174 yards. In a PPR format, that is pure gold. He’s the undisputed TE1 for most experts heading into the 2026 cycle, though some people are worried about a first-round ADP.
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Then there’s Brock Bowers.
The kid is special. Even with shaky quarterback play in Vegas and a knee injury that cost him some time, he still put up a 64-680-7 line in just 12 games. Now that the Raiders have Geno Smith under center for 2026, Bowers has a ceiling that might actually be higher than McBride’s. He’s the type of player who can line up anywhere, which is exactly what you want in a PPR league where volume is king.
The "Rookie" Revolution Isn't Slowing Down
If you missed out on the big names last year, you probably got saved by someone you’d never heard of in August. Harold Fannin Jr. is a prime example. The guy was basically free in drafts—TE34 in some places—and he finished as the PPR TE4 for the Cleveland Browns.
It’s wild.
We’re seeing a shift where athletic profiles are trumping "experience." Look at Colston Loveland in Chicago. He started slow behind Cole Kmet, but by December, he was Caleb Williams' favorite target. He’s basically the Sam LaPorta of 2026.
And don't overlook Tyler Warren. He’s basically a Swiss army knife. One play he’s blocking, the next he’s catching a 20-yard seam route, and the next he’s taking a snap in the Wildcat. In PPR, that versatility leads to "cheap" points that other tight ends just can't get.
PPR Tight End Rankings: The 2026 Tiers
Stop looking at 1 through 20. Start looking at these guys in buckets.
The Tier 1 (The Game Changers)
- Trey McBride (ARI): The volume king. If he repeats 100+ catches, he’s a first-round value.
- Brock Bowers (LV): The most talented receiver at the position. Period.
- George Kittle (SF): He’s older, sure, but he led the league in receiving yards over the last two seasons. Efficiency is his middle name.
The Tier 2 (The High-Upside Young Blood)
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- Colston Loveland (CHI): The late-season heater was real. He’s a PPR machine in the making.
- Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE): Proven he can produce with mediocre QB play.
- Sam LaPorta (DET): Coming back from injury, but the talent hasn't gone anywhere.
- Tyler Warren (IND): The ultimate "do-it-all" player who is a red-zone nightmare.
The Tier 3 (The Reliable Veterans)
- Dalton Schultz (HOU): C.J. Stroud loves him. He won’t win you a week alone, but he won’t lose it either.
- Hunter Henry (NE): He led the Patriots in yards and catches. He’s the safety valve for Drake Maye.
- Travis Kelce (KC): It hurts to put him here, but the regular season volume just isn't what it used to be. He’s a playoff god, but a risky PPR investment.
Why "Wait on TE" is Kinda Genius Right Now
There’s this guy, Nick Zylak from Fantasy Football Advice, who made a great point recently. He said that spending a first-round pick on McBride—even though he's great—locks you out of getting the next Bowers or Loveland later.
Think about it.
The gap between TE1 and TE12 in 2025 was about 5.6 points per game. That’s the smallest gap we’ve seen in years. If you can get 80% of McBride’s production from a guy like Dalton Kincaid or even Brenton Strange (who looked great for Jacksonville late in the year), you can spend those early picks on elite wide receivers.
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You’ve got to be comfortable with the "middle class." Guys like Juwan Johnson in New Orleans or Michael Mayer in Vegas are going to be available in the double-digit rounds. They might not give you 10 catches, but in a PPR world, a 5-catch, 50-yard game is a solid floor.
Real Talk: The Risks Nobody Mentions
Everyone loves to talk about upside, but nobody likes to talk about the "Bust Run." In 2025, we saw a massive group of mid-tier tight ends—TJ Hockenson, David Njoku, Evan Engram—all struggle with injuries or inconsistent play.
Hockenson didn't look like himself coming off the ACL. Njoku suffered from the revolving door at QB in Cleveland. If you’re drafting these guys, you’re betting on health and coaching stability, which are two things that are hard to predict in January.
Also, watch out for the "Sophomore Slump." History shows that tight ends who have massive rookie years often take a small step back in year two as defenses adjust. Bowers and Fannin have the talent to break that trend, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind.
How to Win Your PPR League
If you want to actually use these PPR tight end rankings to win a championship, stop chasing last year's stats.
- Target Volume Over Yards: In PPR, a 3-yard catch is worth the same as a 13-yard run. Look for tight ends who are "security blankets" for young QBs.
- The "Third Option" Rule: On elite offenses, the tight end is often the third option. On bad offenses, they might be the first. I’d rather have the #1 target on a bad team (like Fannin) than the #4 target on a great team.
- Don't Reach: Unless McBride or Bowers falls to you at a massive discount, wait. The talent at TE10 is closer to TE2 than ever before.
The landscape is shifting. The athletic freaks are taking over, and the old-school blockers are becoming fantasy irrelevant. Draft the athletes, ignore the "big names" that are past their prime, and don't be afraid to take a flyer on a rookie in the 14th round.
Next Steps for Your Draft Prep:
- Monitor the Raiders' Offense: See how Chip Kelly uses Brock Bowers in preseason. If he's lining up as a WR, his value skyrockets.
- Watch the Chicago Depth Chart: If Colston Loveland is taking 80% of the snaps over Cole Kmet, he’s a top-5 lock.
- Check the Health of Sam LaPorta: If his back is 100%, he’s the biggest "value" pick in the mid-rounds.