The 2026 Tight End Class is Great... Even Without a Top Talent
Kenyon Sadiq headlines the group, but the depth is what dynasty managers should salivate over.
As with every position, an elite tight end can entirely reshape how dynasty managers view the class. Players like Brock Bowers and Kyle Pitts reshape how we view the top talent in a class, and tight-end premium leagues further enhance the value of a top pick in an elite-tight-end class.
This class is emphatically not that. The projected No. 1 tight end, Kenyon Sadiq, gained less than 600 yards this season on an explosive offense in Oregon. Still, some of the most exciting tight ends come from perceived “down” classes. The 2023 NFL Draft saw Dalton Kincaid leave the board as the No. 1 tight end, but he was followed by Sam LaPorta, Brenton Strange, and Tucker Kraft. This class is not dissimilar to the 2023 class. Players like Michael Mayer and Darnell Washington haven’t found the roles fantasy managers prefer, but they’re impact players for their respective teams. The class went six, and arguably seven (Davis Allen has played meaningful ball), deep, while the 2021 NFL Draft class turned out Pitts and Pat Freiermuth (Tommy Tremble erasure, I know). The 2024 class gave us Bowers, AJ Barner, and Theo Johnson (JT Sanders erasure, I know… I’m sorry Panthers fans).
Unfortunately, this class has many similarly talented players. Fortunately, we’re going to prepare you on who to keep an eye on over the next three months leading into your rookie draft.
The Undisputed… Though I Could Make An Argument
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon | 6030, 245 lbs
The consensus No. 1 tight end in the class is the aforementioned Sadiq. The talented Oregon tight end actually took a step backward in 2025, though his raw numbers were significantly better. He caught 51 balls for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, but struggled in the advanced metrics. His drop rate increased from 3.8% in 2024 to 10.5% in 2025. His yards per route run dropped from 2.10 to 1.62. He wasn’t as explosive after the catch, which translated to his YAC/reception dip. Still, when healthy, Sadiq is a playmaking talent who brings unrelenting motor and physicality as a blocker, which should land him on the field quickly. He’s an elite athlete with excellent twitch as a route runner, aggressive hands, and excellent burst with the ball in his hands (except for times this year, though I think that’s an anomaly). Sadiq is a blend of Jonnu Smith and Noah Fant, two tight ends who perennially irritate fantasy managers but have had long, solid careers. He’s likely to come off the board in the first round when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around, giving him more insulated value.
I probably won’t be drafting him much, though, and that brings me to…
