2026 Fantasy Football ADP Battles: This Tight End or That Tight End

Ever had that moment when you’re on the clock and staring at two players who you believe could finish the season with nearly identical fantasy production? There are several such conundrums facing us at the tight end position in 2026 fantasy football drafts.

The tight end position is especially interesting because there’s a clear group of elite options at the top, but once you get past that tier, there are plenty of players with legitimate TE1 upside who come with very different levels of risk.

2026 Fantasy Football Draft-Day Tight End Decisions

Battle 1: Tucker Kraft (TE5) vs. Sam LaPorta (TE8)

Tucker Kraft – Green Bay Packers

This is probably the tight end debate I’ve gone back and forth on all summer. Both guys have legitimate TE1 upside, but for completely different reasons.

Before tearing his ACL in Week 9 of 2025, Kraft was on his way to potentially being the TE1 overall. For the first eight weeks, he averaged 14.7 PPR and was the TE2 overall. He was a YAC monster at 10.8, which led all tight ends. Green Bay enters the season with over 100 vacated targets due to the departure of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. Kraft could pick up right where he left off last season now that the offense has fewer names that will get the ball.

Sam LaPorta – Detroit Lions

Sam LaPorta enters 2026 fully cleared from November 2025 back surgery as a high-upside TE1 with a mid-round ADP. LaPorta still has plenty of upside, especially with Drew Petzing taking over as Detroit’s offensive coordinator. Petzing’s previous offense in Arizona heavily featured the tight end position, with Trey McBride exploding for 126 catches, 1,239 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2025.

The concern with LaPorta is opportunity. Detroit already has Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs competing for targets, so his weekly volume could be less predictable. Still, LaPorta only scored three touchdowns in nine games last season, so there’s plenty of room for positive regression if he stays healthy.

Verdict: LaPorta

The decision comes down to opportunity, the last year of a rookie contract, and the early-season utilization. LaPorta will have plenty of opportunities to showcase he’s a legitimate top tight end, as the Lions will be in potential shootouts and have an easier schedule.  I love Kraft for sure, but the current price and the Packers stating that they’re going to limit Kraft out the gate makes it hard to draft him ahead of LaPorta.

Battle 2 (Battle of the 30+ yr olds): Mark Andrews (TE12) vs. Dallas Goedert (TE15)

Dallas Goedert – Philadelphia Eagles

Goedert feels like a risky fantasy option if he were being drafted much higher, but at TE15, I think he’s worth the gamble. He has finished among the top 13 tight ends in PPR points per game every season since 2019, so the track record is there.

His underlying numbers were also solid last season. Goedert ranked 11th in expected PPR and half-PPR points per game and 10th in expected non-PPR points per game, which shows his usage was better than his overall production might suggest.

The biggest concern is that we didn’t see the best version of Goedert in 2025. He benefited from touchdowns, but his efficiency dropped, posting a career-low 9.9 yards per catch and just 3.9 yards after the catch per reception, also a career low.

At his current ADP, though, I’m willing to take the chance. His consistent top-12 history gives him plenty of upside, and because he’s going so late, you can easily pair him with another tight end as insurance.

Mark Andrews – Baltimore Ravens

2025 was a rough season for Mark Andrews, as his production dropped across the board. He finished with 48 catches, 422 yards, and 5 touchdowns in 17 games, ranking 25th among tight ends in PPR points per game.

A big reason for the decline was Baltimore’s extremely run-heavy offense. The Ravens ranked 32nd in pass rate (48.0%)and 31st in neutral pass rate (48.1%), averaging just 24.8 pass attempts per game. They also ranked 27th in passing yards per game (175.6) and 27th in passing touchdowns (23) while attempting only 422 passes.

The good news for Andrews heading into 2026 is that Isaiah Likely is now gone, removing competition for targets and red-zone opportunities. With a healthy Lamar Jackson and potentially more throwing from the Ravens’ passing game, Andrews has a chance to return to a bigger role.

There’s still some risk because of his age and last season’s production, but with Andrews being drafted outside the top 10 tight ends in drafts, he could be worth taking a chance on.

Verdict: Andrews

Realistically, I think both are in play. We are basically talking about productive oldies going after the 10th rd in drafts. Eagles and Ravens were both in the bottom third of the league in passing metrics. However, Andrews, for as little as he gave us last season, has the high ceiling.