2026 Fantasy Football: Week 1 Tight End Rankings

Now it’s time to see how deep the tight end position really is. We know that there’s going to be some volatility at the position, and that’s especially the case when it comes to touchdowns. Unfortunately, it’s not practical to expect your tight end to reach the end zone every week, but when they don’t, it’s important to have a floor. Target the role in the offense, and take any touchdowns as upside. Let’s jump right into our Week 1 tight end rankings as the 2026 NFL season begins.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!

Tight End Notes

Isaiah Likely, New York Giants

Over the past four seasons, Likely has shown his share of upside and flashes of success. With a a previous career high of just 477 yards and six touchdowns, though, the bar is still pretty low. That doesn’t mean the buzz is any less as Likely enters his first season with the Giants.

We know what a healthy Malik Nabers is capable of, but will he be able to show that initially? Plus, after the release of Darius Slayton and the injury to Calvin Austin, things are also lining up for Likely to play a large role in the offense. That was seemingly the plan when he was signed, so now we get to see it in action. Plus, Jaxson Dart will likely have to take to the air this week to keep up with Dak Prescott. And that should translate into production for Likely.

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

When he was on the field last season, LaPorta finished in the upper percentiles for a lot of metrics. However, he only caught 40 passes for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. Then this summer, LaPorta suffered a hip injury and didn’t appear in a preseason game. While LaPorta did return to drills a few weeks ago, it’s difficult to truly feel confident in him entering Week 1. Yes, we might be overreacting, and the other issue is that he might be your only tight end. If you drafted LaPorta, he shouldn’t be cut, but this does deserve a closer look.

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

No restrictions is what we want to hear. After tearing his ACL last season, that’s what we are hearing from Kraft. He’s been moving without limitations, and that should translate into success. In eight games last season, Kraft averaged 15.3 yards per catch as he proved to be a big play threat. The problem is that he played in just eight games, as he finished with 489 yards and six touchdowns. With what we think is a clean bill of health, Kraft should pick up where he left off.

Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets

The upside surrounding Sadiq is real. After all, there’s a reason why the Jets drafted him in the first round. However, his hernia surgery recovery held him back this summer. Sadiq didn’t appear in a game this preseason, and he has been limited for the majority of the summer. Yes, Sadiq is back in positional drills, but it’s not lining up for him to take on a large role in Week 1. That doesn’t mean it’s not coming, but keep your initial expectations to a minimum. Instead, it means Mason Taylor could be an interesting option in deeper formats this week. It’s also important not to overreact to Sadiq having a reduced role to start.

Week 1 Tight End Rankings