The Pre-Season has arrived and with that, we got our first look at a whole lot of rookies for the first time. After highlighting the other three fantasy positions, today I’m going to take you through what we learnt about the tight ends and kickers and how it should affect your fantasy drafts.
If you have any questions, hit me up on my socials @HashtagWasley or check out my rankings here.
Tight Ends
This is a generally weak tight end class with two key exceptions, but a couple of guys have made major pre-season runs for relevance. Nevertheless, I don’t love most of them in redraft leagues, so this is focussed on dynasty.
-Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ) is still recovering from a hernia surgery last May which is likely to impact his preparation for this season. That has him dropping down my redraft rankings, though he’s still a first round rookie who will likely be a fantasy star once the Jets can find a viable quarterback and Sadiq can be healthy.
-Eli Stowers (PHI) is currently the TE4 behind Dallas Goedert, blocker Johnny Mundt and backup Grant Calcaterra. He may get past Calcaterra and earn some best ball consideration but for me, he’s a late second round rookie pick who has been massively overrated due to the poor rookie class.
-Noah Boerkircher (JAC) is more of a blocker who is a 25-year-old rookie. The Jaguars look set to use a lot more heavy personnel this year and I expect Boerkircher will be heavily involved as the in-line guy, but I won’t be touching him for fantasy until we see some 11 personnel usage in the regular season.
-Marlin Klein (HOU) appears to have already jumped Fabian Moreau and Cade Stover to the TE2 role in Houston, with injured Brevin Jordan the only question mark. He needs development as a pass catcher but he’s a good blocker who could become fantasy relevant once Dalton Schultz leaves in a few years. He’s at best a very deep stash in dynasty.
-Max Klare (LAR) is the latest to join a very crowded Rams tight end room which includes Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen. The other four all sat out the pre-season game on the weekend which, in Rams-parlance, means they’re locked into a roster spot. Klare will likely get the fifth spot but he needs to work before he’s ready to see the field. He’s a poor blocker with drop issues who lacks the size to be an every down player. I like the opportunity but I hate the reality of the situation. I’m avoiding him.
-Sam Roush (CHI) is already the TE3 behind Colston Loveland and Noah Fant and could easily take over the TE2 role in the next year. When that happens, he’ll be a viable deep league stash waiting for a Loveland injury, especially in TE premium leagues. Until then though, I’m avoiding him.
-Oscar Delp (NO) is my favorite dynasty tight end stash, as he’s got the talent to play on every down and the opportunity to go past Juwan Johnson in the next year or two. If you’re rebuilding or in a deep dynasty league, stash him on your bench, expecting results within the next two years or so.
-Will Kacmarek (MIA) will be the starting in-line tight end for the Dolphins, but Greg Dulcich is the clear receiving option. Kacmarek isn’t even the greatest blocker and was a major reach, making this bad for fantasy and real-life.
-Eli Raridon (NE) is already the Patriots TE2 and is a good dynasty stash. He’s yet to show true receiving talent but the upside is there. A Hunter Henry injury could vault him into a starting role but I doubt he’s able to make the most of it for another year or two. I nevertheless like the situation.
-Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas (BAL) were the two primary tight ends last weekend, with Mark Andrews and his blocking complement Durham Smythe sitting. Hibner was the better receiver with five catches for 61 yards, which surprised me because I like Cuevas’s talent more. Hibner is the better one to draft at this stage though until we get some clarity around roles, I’m avoiding them in all but the deepest of leagues (I just drafted Cuevas with the 107th pick of a 32-team rookie draft).
-Justin Joly (DEN) is currently the TE6 at best in Denver, which surprises me because I like the talent and the situation. The Broncos do tend to do some weird stuff in the pre-season so I’m not dropping Joly just yet, but I’d want to see some progress next game to convince me to hold him longer.
-Tanner Koziol (JAC) is the receiving complement to rookie blocker Noah Boerkircher. He’s a big slot receiver who could easily take over from Brenton Strange at some stage in the future. He’s a great deep league stash I took with the 85th pick of the aforementioned 32-team league.
-Riley Nowakowski (PIT) is a fullbacks who is naturally irrelevant for fantasy, even though he was drafted as a tight end.
-Joe Royer (CLE) has missed all of training camp due to a personal issue. I love the talent and on a personal note just hope he’s doing OK. If he makes the roster, he’s an interesting stash as he’s a solid receiver.
-Samori Toure (MIA) is a super-athletic prospect who won’t see the field any time soon.
-Bauer Sharp (TB) is already battling Payne Durham for the TE2 spot in Tampa. The Buccs love using Day 3 tight ends (every tight end on their roster was drafted on Day 3 or is a UDFA) and Sharp is a fantastic developmental prospect who could emerge as a fantastic replacement for Cade Otton. He’s a strong stash in very deep leagues where backups must be rostered.
-Jack Endries (CIN) is unlikely to make the Bengals roster even though he’s a solid prospect/
-Jaren Kanak (TEN) suffered a season-ending injury and wouldn’t make the roster anyway.
-Carsen Ryan (CLE) is only a blocker but he looks a good chance to make the Browns roster. He’s not draftable though.
-Dallen Bentley (DEN) is somehow ahead of Justin Joly on the Broncos roster even though he’s a mediocre pass catcher and a poor blocker. I have no idea what to make of that.
-Michael Trigg (DAL) is a talented UDFA who is a legitimate chance of being the primary pass-catching backup to Jake Ferguson. He’s a viable dynasty stash in leagues where backups are drafted.
-Tanner Arkin (NE) looks like the Patriots blocking tight end for this season. He’s not fantasy-relevant but it’s cool to see a UDFA going straight into a starting lineup.
There are no other Top 3 UDFAs but Hayden Large (CHI) and Evan Svoboda (LAC) are both names to look out for moving forward.
Kickers
-Trey Smack (GB) was the only kicker selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. The sixth rounder is locked into the starting role but he’s currently only my K21.
-Josh Stevens (WAS) has surprisingly beaten Jake Moody for the Commanders kicker job after being undrafted out of Iowa. He’ll enter the season as my K16.
-Kansei Matsuzawa (LV) is a UDFA battling Matt Gay for the Raiders kicking job. Even if he wins it, he’s unlikely to be fantasy relevant initially.
-Dominic Svada (NYG) is a good chance of winning the Giants kicking job. That won’t be relevant initially but there will be weeks where that’s helpful for fantasy.
Laith Marjan (PIT) is battling Chris Boswell for the Steelers kicking job. I don’t like the former Jayhawk’s chances but it’s interesting to see Pittsburgh putting pressure on their starter nonetheless.
