The 2026 NFL Draft is still a few months away, but it’s an ideal time of year to focus on rookies who will have an impact on the fantasy football landscape in redrafts and dynasty leagues.
With the major fantasy season winding down, I’ve had time to look back at game tape, college productions, interviews, and more to predict what this incoming group of prospects will be like at the next level.
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We’ll get more precise athletic testing data at the NFL combine in late February, and then finally see how NFL front offices evaluate this class when draft day rolls around in April.
Think of this as a starting point for the pre-draft process, while understanding the landing spot will have a significant impact on each player’s fantasy value. Once we know which organization they will join, much of the mystery surrounding their opportunities, coaching, schemes and team culture can be revealed.
Now, we’ll continue this series by focusing on the incoming tight ends who have the best chance of becoming fantasy correlates in the NFL.
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Alone on the top of the mountain
Like this year’s quarterback class, the tight end is a prospect that’s well above the rest and will likely be a first-round pick in April’s draft.
Sadiq is a little undersized at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, but so was Harold Fannin Jr. last year, and we all saw the results.
While Sadiq may not be a true elite candidate, he’s not far off. He excels as a pass catcher, has incredible hands and catches the ball like a wide receiver. Whether he’s catching the ball on a tough contested pass, surrounded by multiple defenders, or sacrificing his body on a diving scramble, Sadiq is a dangerous weapon.
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The 20-year-old possesses fluid athleticism that allows him to move around the court with ease. While Sadiq isn’t a tackle-breaker, he’s crafty enough to confuse defenders and create more yards after the catch.
Blocking is often an issue for young tight ends, sometimes costing them playing time. That may have been the case with Sadiq. He’s more than willing to take on defenders, but sometimes lacks the strength to get the job done. This may be more concerning at the next level.
Even so, Sadiq remains a potential star. If he gets the expected early draft capital and the offense provides him with the necessary volume, I think he’ll be a fantasy starter like Jordan Reed if he stays healthy throughout his career.
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Fantasy Outlook: There’s a reason Sadiq led Oregon in receptions and touchdowns last season after trailing Terrance Ferguson for two years.
Sadiq is a talented receiving threat who brings a vertical element that not all players at his position can offer.
We’ve seen many rookie tight ends make an immediate impact in recent years, and Sadiq has all the tools to join that club. He should be viewed as a legitimate future fantasy TE1 who can return immediate value in the right offense.
In an overall weaker class, Sadiq is locked in as a mid-first-round pick in the Dynasty Rookie Draft.
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Dynasty Rookie Value (Superflex): 1.06-1.08
Classic TE option
While this year’s class of rookie tight ends may not have the obvious high-end talent outside of Sadiq, there are plenty of players at the position who can develop into meaningful NFL starters and fantasy options.
The trio of Clare, Royer and Endris are all built from the standard tight end mold, with textbook frames and good receiving skills, and should be considered Day 2 or early Day 3 options.
Clare has solid hands and the ability to run the ball, but his movements are a bit stiff, as you’d typically expect from a typical tight end. It’s also worth highlighting that while his numbers dropped off this year after transferring to Ohio State, he still faces plenty of competition for targets from the Buckeyes’ elite receivers. In a game without Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, Clare showed his upside, catching seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.
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Royer is someone I’m very interested in depending on where he lands. The 23-year-old is a versatile player who uses his quickness and energy to gain extra yards with the ball in his hands. While he performed well in his final two seasons with the Bearcats, his ceiling has yet to be unlocked.
Endries is probably the least exciting name in this section, but he’s kind of like Klare’s arbitrage game. While Endris doesn’t really have elite traits that stand out, he is a quality all-around prospect who will do most of his damage in the short and mid-range areas of the floor.
All three players in this group have work to do to improve as blockers, so keep that in mind as they fight for playing time early in their careers.
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Fantasy Outlook: We may see Klare, Royer, or Endries join as low-end TE1 fantasy options in the next few years, but a lot will depend on sales.
We’ve seen these types of tight ends from Jake Ferguson to Dalton Schultz to Cade Orton become fantasy relevant when given enough targets. Unfortunately, this usually happens when their team is weak at receiver due to a weak depth chart or injuries.
While Clare is the safest option to emerge at the next level, Royer’s athleticism and competitiveness pique my interest and will keep him on my radar in the later rounds of this year’s dynasty rookie draft.
Dynasty Rookie Value (Superflex): Round 3 to 4
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interesting but not perfect
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Justin Jolly, North Carolina
All of the rookies in this section have aspects of their games that make them interesting as deeper dynasty reserves, but they still have a long way to go before proving themselves as potential starters in the NFL.
Stowers is more of a receiver than a tight end, but he has been busy the past two seasons, amassing 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns and becoming a key part of Vanderbilt’s passing attack. Despite some awareness issues at times, he showed enough playmaking ability, especially along the seams, to generate some interest from fantasy managers.
Jolly is undersized but had multiple productive performances in college and can play a variety of roles in the lineup. While he lacks high speed, he makes up for it with smooth movement and good catch-and-run skills. Although I worry he might be a better real-life contributor than a high-volume fantasy option.
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Bentley is a good athlete for his size and plays with confidence on the field. He offers crafty YAC ability, can lower his shoulders to get away from tackles, and has enough jukebox moves to shake defenders. However, he only has one noteworthy season on his resume.
Trigg could develop into a significant receiving threat, but he appears to lack the aggressiveness that most stars possess. It will be interesting to see whether he can match the physical attributes of professional players. If he’s going to hit, it’s likely to be a big threat and red zone option rather than a marquee player.
At 6-foot-7, Raritan has a long frame and is one of the most effective blockers I’ve seen in this tight end class. He’s considered a solid target due to his strong hands, just don’t expect too much after the catch. He also suffered two ACL tears in the same knee, which has to be mentioned when considering his long-term prospects.
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Fantasy Outlook: Draft capital is an incredibly valuable aspect when breaking down future fantasy potential into deeper prospects like the ones highlighted in this range.
I currently view them as a Day 3 pick, which means they won’t get anything, and getting a roster spot is the first step in their journey before we can even consider them a starter. It may also take them a year or two to advance to a senior position.
Only consider drafting them in dynasty leagues with deep benches and/or TE quality scoring. Otherwise, your bench spot would be better spent at a more valuable fantasy position.
Dynasty Rookie Value (Superflex): Fourth round or later, but the waiver wire will likely be increased in the future
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