2026 Fantasy Football: Week 1 Tight End Sleepers and Streamers

The tight end position always feels like a roll of the dice in fantasy football. Outside of the elite options, it can be difficult to know who you can actually trust in your lineup. Heading into Week 1, though, there are a few tight ends who stand out as potential streamers or sleepers.

If you missed the elite tier in your draft, you’ll probably be piecing the position together throughout the season. Before we get into the players, there’s an important distinction between a streamer and a sleeper.

A streamer is someone you can feel relatively comfortable starting because the matchup, opportunity, or overall situation is favorable. A sleeper is a player who is flying under the radar because of uncertainty, competition, injuries, or simply a lack of confidence from fantasy managers.

With that in mind, here are some tight ends heading into Week 1.

Week 1 Tight End Streamers

Juwan Johnson — New Orleans Saints

Juwan Johnson quietly finished as a top-10 fantasy tight end last season. The situation is even more interesting with rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson expected to miss at least the first four games of the season. This opens the door for Johnson to remain heavily involved in the Saints’ passing attack early in the year. Johnson finished tied for seventh among tight ends in targets in 2025.

The Saints also have what could be a high-scoring matchup in Week 1, with the potential for 50-plus total points. If you waited on tight end during your draft and don’t have a player you feel great about starting, Johnson is a very reasonable Week 1 dice roll.

Mark Andrews — Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens lost Isaiah Likely in free agency and didn’t spend money to bring anyone else in, leaving Mark Andrews as the clear No. 1 fantasy tight end in Baltimore.

Andrews has historically been one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets, particularly when the Ravens get inside the red zone. With Likely no longer competing for those opportunities, Andrews has a much clearer path to consistent volume.

Baltimore was a top-six offense in both yards and points per game in 2023 and 2024 before falling outside the top 10 last season. Jackson dealt with a hamstring injury for much of the year, which clearly affected the offense. If Jackson is healthy and back to his normal form, there’s little reason to believe this Ravens offense won’t once again be one of the league’s most dangerous units. Andrews would benefit from that.

The Ravens have a favorable Week 1 matchup against Indianapolis. The Colts allowed the eighth-most half-PPR fantasy points to tight ends last season, while also giving up the second-most receiving yards and seventh-most points to the position.

Andrews will have the opportunity to reclaim the type of target share that made him one of fantasy football’s elite tight ends.

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

Week 1 Tight End Sleepers

Isaiah Likely — New York Giants

The 2025 numbers weren’t pretty, but the situation has completely changed for Likely.

Likely is now heading to a Giants offense that desperately needs playmakers in the passing game. With Malik Nabers being the only true threat but also coming off an injury, Week 1 is an opportunity to showcase himself. Despite limited opportunities last season, he finished inside the top 30 in both average depth of target and catch percentage. Likely a 6’4 slot receiver disguised as a tight end. He’s finished in the top 12 among tight ends in slot snaps in three of his four seasons.

New York faces Dallas in the season opener. In 2025, despite some late additions to their defense still struggled to contain the passing game as they finished dead last in passing yards allowed and 2nd to last in passing touchdowns allowed. This could be a great matchup for the Likely and Dart connection to blossom. 

Gunnar Helm — Tennessee Titans

Gunnar Helm has one of the more intriguing Week 1 matchups among the tight ends going largely undrafted. Last season, the Jets allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, largely because they surrendered 10 receiving touchdowns to the position, tied for the sixth-most in the NFL.

Tennessee is also a slight home favorite, which could give the Titans more opportunities to sustain drives and keep their offense on the field.

The rookie tight end has reportedly developed good chemistry with quarterback Cam Ward throughout training camp. Helm finished fourth on the Titans in targets last season with 44, while Chig Okonkwo finished second with 79. Okonkwo is now in Washington, which opens up another opportunity for Helm to take on a larger role. There’s obviously risk here. Helm isn’t someone I would consider a safe weekly starter. But if you’re looking for a cheap dart throw with legitimate upside, he’s worth keeping on your radar.

Greg Dulcich — Miami Dolphins

A big prospect when he was with the Broncos, Dulcich finds himself with an opportunity to produce for a Miami offense that comes with plenty of question marks. He steps into a situation without a ton of target competition. He was Malik Willis’s favorite target in camp and will get a matchup with the Raiders in Week 1. Regardless, Dulcich is someone you should have stashed.