Fantasy Football 2026 Sleeper Tight Ends to Target and Avoid in Drafts

Tight end is among the trickiest positions in fantasy football, especially for managers who are unable to land one of the premier players at the position in their drafts.

When that happens, managers often choose to wait until the later rounds to address tight end based on the idea that there isn't much separation between tight ends just outside the top-five rankings and the rest of the field.

For fantasy football managers who aren't fortunate enough to land Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren, here is a look at the sleeper tight ends to both target and avoid in your drafts.

Target: T.J. Hockenson (MIN)

Once among the top tight ends in football with back-to-back 900-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, Hockenson is now viewed as a player who is only borderline draftable in most fantasy leagues.

Hockenson has failed to reach 500 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, as a torn ACL suffered in 2023 delayed the start of his 2024 season, and he then suffered through subpar quarterback play from J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer last season.

Minnesota's quarterbacking should be markedly better in 2026 with Kyler Murray under center, and there is reason to believe he will target Hockenson often after helping McBride achieve a 111-catch, 1,146-yard campaign in 2024.

Target: Chig Okonkwo (WAS)

Okonkwo was steady if unspectacular during his time with the Tennessee Titans, finishing with between 52 and 56 catches, and between 479 and 560 yards each of the past three seasons.

He had to share snaps with Gunnar Helm at tight end last season, though, and all signs point toward Okonkwo being the unquestioned TE1 in Washington in 2026.

During Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels rookie season in 2024, veteran tight end Zach Ertz was second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and Okonkwo reap similar benefits this season if Daniels stays healthy.

Target: Gunnar Helm (TEN)

The aforementioned Helm should have the starting tight end job all to himself in Tennessee this season with Okonkwo making the move to Washington.

Despite playing just over half of the Titans' offensive snaps on average, Helm put up some respectable numbers as a rookie last season, recording 44 receptions for 357 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Cam Ward should be more comfortable in his second NFL campaign, and it won't be a surprise if Helm develops into a reliable security blanket.

Avoid: Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ)

There is always a certain amount of excitement among fantasy managers at the prospect of selecting a rookie first-round pick, but discretion may be the better part of valor when it comes to Sadiq.

Sadiq was the only tight end taken in the first round of the NFL draft, but he has already aggravated a hernia issue after undergoing surgery to correct it.

On top of that, he has to contend for targets with fellow tight end Mason Taylor, who had 44 grabs for 369 yards as a rookie last season, so there is no guarantee Sadiq will be a big part of the Jets' offense this season even when healthy.

Avoid: David Njoku (LAC)

Given that Njoku is just a few years removed from earning a Pro Bowl nod after setting career highs with 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns while with the Cleveland Browns, it may be difficult for fantasy managers to turn down the opportunity to draft him late.

Adding to the potential excitement is the fact that he has departed the moribund Browns offense and joined a Chargers offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert.

However, there are too many mouths to feed in the L.A. offense between wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, and running back Omarion Hampton, plus Njoku will be hard-pressed to surpass Oronde Gadsden on the tight end depth chart after Gadsden racked up 664 yards as a rookie last season.

Avoid: Pat Freiermuth (PIT)

Freiermuth has had his moments during his five-year NFL career, including scoring seven touchdowns in both 2021 and 2024, and recording a career-high 732 yards in 2022.

He has never managed to firmly establish himself as a starting tight end in fantasy football, though, and his first season playing with quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't yield great results last season.

Freiermuth had just 41 grabs for 486 yards and four touchdowns, and with Michael Pittman Jr. now joining DK Metcalf in the receiving corps, Rodgers' attention may be funneled even more toward his wideouts.