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Dave's top fantasy football tight ends targets to buy or sell ahead of the 2026 dynasty season. Which TEs should you avoid and which should you target in trades?
NFL free agency is officially underway. We have already seen a flurry of moves take place, and these moves carry a ton of fantasy football implications. While free agency is gaining all the headlines, smart dynasty managers know this is a good time of year to address other needs on their roster.
Many dynasty leagues feature some kind of tight end premium scoring. This means the position is more important than in most standard redraft leagues. If you play in a tight-end premium dynasty league, odds are good that you’ll need a few solid tight ends if you want to win a title. Today, we’ll examine several tight ends dynasty fantasy football managers should buy, as well as a few they should sell.
Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your dynasty fantasy football needs. Here are several tight end buys and sells for the 2026 dynasty fantasy football season.
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Dynasty Fantasy Football Tight End Buys
Sam LaPorta - Detroit Lions
LaPorta has been a bit disappointing since his big rookie season in 2023. He has failed to eclipse 70 receptions or 750 receiving yards in each of the last two years. LaPorta was actually on pace for a bounce-back year in 2025 before a back injury prematurely ended his season.
Breaking: Lions HC Dan Campbell told reporters that TE Sam LaPorta underwent a back procedure and is now unlikely to return this season. pic.twitter.com/thznEwAvEy
— ESPN (@espn) November 21, 2025
Detroit hired a new offensive coordinator this offseason and brought in former Arizona Cardinals play-caller Drew Petzing to run the team’s offense. While this may seem like an underwhelming hire, it could be great news for LaPorta.
Trey McBride was a featured part of Petzing’s offense in Arizona. McBride blossomed into a superstar under Petzing’s watch. LaPorta is still a highly talented player, and he could experience similar success in Petzing’s scheme.
This is a good time to buy LaPorta, as his value is slightly depressed following an injury-shortened season. RotoBaller’s dynasty trade chart suggests LaPorta’s value is currently a mid-late 2026 first-round pick. Given that this is a down rookie class, there’s a strong argument to be made for moving off a mid-late first-round pick to acquire LaPorta. He is a good player and could be primed for a massive bounce-back in 2026.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - Jared Goff (Superflex)
- RB - Javonte Williams/Josh Jacobs
- WR - Zay Flowers/A.J. Brown
- TE - Kyle Pitts Sr.
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Mid First Round
Isaiah Likely - New York Giants
Likely recently signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the New York Giants.
Giants Signing Isaiah Likely to Three-Year Dealhttps://t.co/hr7HtCiLtf
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) March 9, 2026
The move reunites Likely with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and indicates Likely will see a larger target share in New York. He is a talented player, but he’d been stuck in a rotation with Mark Andrews during this time in Baltimore. Why the Ravens opted to re-sign a declining vet like Andrews and opted to let Likely walk is anybody’s guess.
Regardless, this is good news for Likely’s fantasy value, and he is positioned as New York’s clear No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers. The optimal window to buy Likely has passed, as this news means his value is on the rise. Still, it may behoove tight-end-needy owners to make a move for Likely as he is positioned for a career year.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - Matthew Stafford (Superflex)
- RB - Tyler Allgeier/Kyle Monangai
- WR - Matthew Golden/Jayden Higgins
- TE -Jake Ferguson
- Rookie Pick - 2027 Early Second Round
Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
If you read any of my fantasy football articles last year, then you know my stance on Kraft. So, I won’t waste any of your time telling you how good he is.
Ok, maybe just one video.
39.8 YAC for Tucker Kraft on this play, per @NextGenStats 🔥
Last season, Tucker Kraft gained the 5th-most yards after the catch (481) and 2nd-most YAC over expected (+132) among tight ends.
WASvsGB on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/FgJS5T06dL— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 12, 2025
This guy is a flat-out stud. Sadly, his 2025 season ended early when he suffered a torn ACL in Week 9. That was an extremely bitter end to a surefire breakout season. However, this could be a good opportunity for savvy dynasty managers to strike.
Players typically see some decline in value following a serious injury. Some owners may be concerned with Kraft's ability to return to form, and that could be a crucial mistake.
Kraft is not a 30-year-old player coming off a major injury. He is just 25 years old and in the prime of his career. He should recover just fine. If the Kraft manager in your league has any concerns or if he has a surplus at tight end, make your move and get Kraft on your roster now.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - C.J. Stroud (Superflex)
- RB - Chase Brown/Kyren Williams
- WR - DeVonta Smith
- TE - Kyle Pitts Sr.
- Rookie Pick - 2027 Late First Round
Terrance Ferguson - Los Angeles Rams
Ferguson was the Rams' second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He didn’t play much as a rookie, but he flashed talent throughout the season.
Stafford ➡️ Ferguson = 28 yards
LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Dvv09wiB34— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025
Davante Adams is now a year older and struggled with soft tissue injuries in 2025. Puka Nacua is a stud, but he also has an injury history that should not be overlooked. If one of these two players misses time, Ferguson could be poised for a bigger role.
Los Angeles did re-sign Tyler Higbee this offseason, but he is now 33, and that could very well be a depth move. Sean McVay has spoken highly of Ferguson, so he could be set for a second-year leap. This may all sound a bit speculative, but the reality is that it takes some tight ends a year or two before they begin producing.
Since he did not produce much as a rookie, now is a great time to buy Ferguson. Some managers may feel like they wasted a pick on him and could be willing to move him in the right deal.
Check in with the Ferguson manager and see if you can work out a trade. This is a great opportunity to take a cheap shot at a young, talented tight end in a good offense.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - J.J. McCarthy (Superflex)
- RB - Jacory Croskey-Merritt/Woody Marks
- WR - Pat Bryant/Chris Godwin Jr.
- TE -AJ Barner
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Late Second Round
Dynasty Fantasy Football Tight End Sells
Colston Loveland - Chicago Bears
Loveland closed the 2026 season on a major hot streak. He finished as a top-12 tight end in four of his last seven games and was a major part of Chicago’s offense down the stretch.
1st career touchdown for Colston Loveland!
CHIvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/PQBVjn5MRU
— NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2025
As a result, Loveland has been a very popular breakout candidate. With the Bears shipping DJ Moore off to the Buffalo Bills, Loveland continues to be a favorite of fantasy football analysts and gamers alike. However, this could be a good time to go against the grain and capitalize on all the hype.
For as good a player as Loveland is, there are still a few things working against him. For starters, he is still fighting for targets with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Both are talented players, and they present stiff competition for targets.
It also doesn’t help that fellow tight end Cole Kmet is still on the roster. Kmet may not sound like a threat to Loveland, but the reality is that he could take snaps away from Loveland. That would hurt the latter’s fantasy ceiling.
The biggest factor potentially working against Loveland, and one that almost no one is talking about, is that Caleb Williams continued to struggle with accuracy in 2025. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, among 45 quarterbacks with 100+ dropbacks, Williams ranked:
- 40th in completion percentage
- 34th in adjusted completion percentage
- 34th in highly accurate throw percentage
- 40th in catchable throw percentage
- 14th in off-target throw percentage
If Williams continues to struggle as a passer, it will be very difficult for Loveland to live up to all the hype. He’s undeniably talented, but this feels like the market is overreacting to the way he ended the 2025 season.
If you can move Loveland and get back someone like LaPorta or Kraft in return, it’s a move that might be worth making, as it could help you build out your roster and still have the advantage of a top tight end.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - Bo Nix/Brock Purdy(Superflex)
- RB - James Cook/Jonathan Taylor
- WR -Emeka Egbuka/George Pickens
- TE -Tyler Warren
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Early First Round
George Kittle - San Francisco 49ers
Kittle missed six games in 2025, battling hamstring and ankle injuries. Despite these issues, he still scored seven touchdowns and tied for second among tight ends in PPR points per game.
George Kittle with the catch and dive for the TD
LARvsSF on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/CwKNJLOzQf
— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2025
Unfortunately for Kittle, he suffered a major injury in the playoffs when he tore his Achilles tendon in a Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
George Kittle Suffered Torn Achilles on Sunday https://t.co/UQlSWjVpf4
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) January 12, 2026
Achilles tears are notoriously difficult injuries for athletes. We rarely see players return to their pre-injury form. Complicating matters further is the fact that Kittle turns 33 during the 2026 season. He has always struggled with injuries during his career, and that will likely continue as he ages. Now, Kittle is coming off a serious injury, and his best days may be behind him.
Look, this is a bad time to sell Kittle. Considering he’s coming off an Achilles injury, you probably won’t get much in return for him. So, if you’re a contender, you’re probably better off holding and hoping he returns to form. If you’re in a rebuild, though, then you might be better off moving him now and taking the hit.
Either way, Kittle’s days as an elite fantasy tight end could be over, and that means it’s time for you to consider moving on without him.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - Michael Penix Jr./Matthew Stafford (Superflex)
- RB - Jaylen Warren/Blake Corum
- WR - Quentin Johnston/Jayden Reed
- TE - Dalton Kincaid
- Rookie Pick - 2026 Early Second Round
Dallas Goedert - Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert recently re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal. He has operated as a third wheel in Philadelphia’s offense and has eclipsed 700 receiving yards just once in the last four seasons.
Goedert’s play also seemed to decline in 2025 as he set career lows in yards per reception and averaged his fewest receiving yards per game since his rookie year. A career-high 11 touchdown receptions, which was more than double his previous high, was the only thing that kept him on the fantasy radar last year.
Even though Goedert will return to Philadelphia, he seems to be a player in decline. When that’s the case, it’s usually best for managers to move on. If someone in your league needs a tight end, try to make a trade to get him off your roster.
Current KeepTradeCut Value:
- QB - Tua Tagovailoa (Superflex)
- RB - Jordan Mason/Tyrone Tracy Jr./Ollie Gordon II
- WR - Brandon Aiyuk/Kyle Williams
- TE - Chig Okonkwo
- Rookie Pick - 2027 Early Third Round
More Dynasty Fantasy Football Ana
lysis
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