Updated Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Tight End Rankings (2026): Kenyon Sadiq, Eli Stowers, Max Klare, Oscar Delp, Justin Joly, more

May 29, 2026

RotoBaller's dynasty rookie tight end rankings for fantasy football drafts. These updated staff TE rankings are from after the 2026 NFL Draft.

No matter the fantasy football format, tight ends remain the most difficult position to navigate. The 2026 rookie TE class has a few studs at the top, but there were also several pure blocking tight ends selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. We're here to help you sort through the group to find the best picks for your dynasty team. Below, check out these updated dynasty rookie tight end rankings for fantasy football.

These updated 2026 rookie TE rankings are put together by Matt Donnelly, Phil Clark, Jackson Sparks, and Andrew Lalama. These rankings will be updated throughout the offseason, up until the start of the 2026 NFL regular season, based on training camp intel, preseason performances, and more. Below, check out where Kenyon Sadiq, Eli Stowers, Max Klare, Oscar Delp, Justin Joly, and more stand, among all others.

In addition to these rookie rankings, in our 2026 fantasy football rankings dashboard, you will also find our team's Dynasty League rankings. Bookmark that page, and use it to prepare for all of your 2026 fantasy football dynasty league drafts.

NFL Rookie TE Rankings for Fantasy Football (Post-Draft)

Check out our PPR fantasy football rankings and standard (non-PPR) fantasy football rankings as well:

2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Tight End Outlooks

Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets

New York Jets rookie first-round tight end Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) had surgery for a sports hernia, but head coach Aaron Glenn said he expects the Oregon product to be ready for training camp, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 21-year-old should be fine for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September, but he is going to miss valuable reps going into his first year in the NFL during OTAs and minicamp next month. Sadiq is a physical freak at 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds and is more of an oversized receiver than a traditional tight end.

He caught 51 passes for 560 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns in 14 games in 2025 in his final season with the Ducks, and he could immediately be fantasy relevant in single-year leagues in 2026, even though Geno Smith will be starting at QB for the Jets. The presence of second-year TE Mason Taylor will definitely lower Sadiq's ceiling in redraft leagues, but RotoBaller already has him ranked as the No. 15 fantasy TE for the upcoming campaign.

Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers might not take on a large role during his rookie season, but he has a strong chance to develop into the team's eventual No. 1 option at the position. The Eagles recently brought back Dallas Goedert on a one-year deal, paving the way for him to hit free agency next offseason.

Stowers will operate behind Goedert this year, serving as an intriguing fantasy handcuff. Then, when Goedert presumably departs, Stowers could step up as the primary tight end in Philadelphia. He's no stranger to a large workload, as he caught 111 passes for 1,407 yards and two touchdowns across two seasons at Vanderbilt. Although he's not the top rookie tight end in fantasy football this year and he won't make an immediate impact, he certainly has top-10 upside in dynasty leagues because of his potential to contribute long-term.

Max Klare, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams tight end Max Klare is an intriguing dynasty option because of his second-round draft capital, but the team's crowded position room could make it very challenging for him to contribute right away. The Rams drafted Terrance Ferguson last year, and it seemed like this offseason represented a prime opportunity for them to trim down their tight end room and bring some clarity to the position. Instead, they re-signed Tyler Higbee and drafted Klare.

The unit now consists of Colby Parkinson, Higbee, Klare, and Ferguson. It's unclear whether even one of those tight ends will be able to emerge as fantasy relevant, let alone multiple. The draft capital is intriguing with Klare, but we doubt he'll be able to contribute right away, given the experience of the tight ends around him. Klare could be the Rams' tight end of the future, though, so managers could afford to select him in rookie drafts if they're willing to be patient with his development.

Michael Trigg, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys tight end Michael Trigg faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster ahead of Week 1. The Cowboys signed Trigg, a Baylor product, as an undrafted free agent last month. While his Scouting Combine measurables were impressive, we're not optimistic that the Cowboys have space for him on their roster.

Dallas has one of the most established tight end rooms in the NFL, led by Jake Ferguson, with Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford solidified in depth roles. If Dallas explores the possibility of carrying a fourth tight end to play on special teams, Trigg will be in the mix, but even then, he'd have to compete with Princeton Fant and fellow undrafted free agent DJ Rogers. In his final season at school, Trigg caught 50 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks outside RotoBaller's top 70 rookies for dynasty fantasy football.

Jaren Kanak, Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have selected Oklahoma tight end Jaren Kanak with the 225th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A one-year starter at tight end, Kanak was a high school quarterback who spent most of his time in college on the defensive side of the ball.

After logging 103 career tackles as a linebacker, he moved to tight end in 2025 and made 44 receptions for 530 yards. A tough and versatile player, he could find the field in a variety of ways for new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, a la Taysom Hill. While he will almost certainly go overlooked in dynasty rookie drafts, Kanak's is a name to remember as an eventual contributor in deeper leagues.

Joshua Cuevas, Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens selected Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas with the 173rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Cuevas spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide after stints with Washington and Cal Poly. While his most productive season came in 2022 at FCS Cal Poly, he finished his final season at Alabama with 411 yards and four touchdowns on 37 receptions.

At 6'4" and 240 pounds, he lacks elite size for the position but wins with competitive toughness and could see reps at fullback after spending some time in the backfield in 2025. With the Ravens losing both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to free agency, they have now spent fourth and fifth-round picks on tight ends Matthew Hibner and Cuevas, with Cuevas profiling more as the Kolar or Patrick Ricard replacement than a meaningful player for fantasy.

Justin Joly, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos have selected North Carolina State tight end prospect Justin Joly with the 152nd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Joly was a four-year contributor in college, splitting his NCAA career at UConn and NC State. Over his last two seasons, he caught 92 passes for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns, mostly against ACC competition.

Tight end Evan Engram had an underwhelming 2025 season from a fantasy football perspective, and now that he's headed into a contract year, it's time for the Broncos to begin looking for his replacement. Despite being a Day 3 pick, Joly could be the Broncos' eventual successor to Engram. He'll use 2026 as a developmental campaign before perhaps ascending into a larger role in 2027. He's not on the redraft radar at the moment, but there could be some dynasty appeal in deeper leagues.

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