The 2025 fantasy football season has come and gone, but the offseason is just beginning. Fantasy analyst Joel Smyth will go over the potential TE moves in free agency that will drastically shift the fantasy outlook for 2026. Which tight ends can land in new and improved spots, and which teams are primed to bring in a new player?
Early look at 2026 free agency
Most Likely Teams to Sign a Free Agent TE
1. Denver Broncos
The Evan Engram experience didn’t pan out as expected for Sean Payton and the Denver offense. The Broncos TE ranked bottom-five in yards per target and will be 32 entering the second season of his two-year contract. The opening is still very desirable for an offense that led the NFL in passing attempts this season, especially when it is not close to a historical outlier when compared to past Payton teams. Without a dominant receiver core, the ceiling potential is sky high.
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2. Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels’ sophomore season was a rough one in the shortened time he was on the field. With 35-year-old Zach Ertz as a free agent and second-year TE Ben Sinnott lacking production in the receiving game, the Commanders could be an interesting spot for a free agent TE. The TD upside with Daniels under center proved well for an aging Ertz, and can give plenty of upside to an incoming player.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Cade Otton as an unrestricted free agent, Tampa Bay may look to upgrade under a new offensive coordinator. With such a deep WR core, the Buccaneers TE room has been limited when the Tampa Bay receivers are healthy. In a strong Buccaneers offense, a talented TE can be relevant in fantasy even with potentially lower volume.
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4. Miami Dolphins
New Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has yet to find his offensive play-caller in Miami, but a new style can bring more volume to the position. Even veteran TE Darren Waller found the majority of his success lined up out wide as a true receiver this past regular season. It may not be the most attractive landing spot, yet volume could outweigh the negatives.
TEs Who Are Best Where They Are
Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons
We saw Kyle Pitts Sr. shine in key moments this season, after having an up-and-down career. Even upon Drake London’s return from injury, Pitts’ chemistry and production late in the season with Kirk Cousins is enough for me to believe Atlanta is the best location for him with new coaching entering the scene.
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The quarterback situation is up in the air, but Kevin Stefanski’s history with TEs, especially when considering the quarterback play (or lack thereof), would be a great sign if Pitts were to re-sign with the Falcons. Browns rookie Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 fantasy PPG to give Stefanski his fourth straight TE1, peaking in 2024 with David Njoku’s TE4 season.
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
If Kelce were to return for the 2026 season, it would be a huge risk to leave Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Leaving what has worked and resulted in a Hall of Fame career and consistent production at age 36 would likely lead to a further decline. The return of Eric Bieniemy to replace OC Matt Nagy is a plus in my eyes as well.
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Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Would leaving Philly give Dallas Goedert a slightly better chance at a top-three ceiling? Maybe. The risk, however, would be very high. Goedert has an incredible floor in a powerhouse offense, producing TE1 numbers for six consecutive seasons. The gadget plays at the goal line may vanish with OC Kevin Patullo out of the picture, but the production elsewhere has a better chance of returning with a new play-caller coming to town.
Jake Tonges, 49ers
If George Kittle didn’t go down with an injury in the Wild Card round, this would be a different story. Achilles injuries this late into the season usually lead to missed time the following year and a slow ramp-up upon return. In the last five games without Kittle, Tonges averaged 11.9 half-PPR PPG.
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TEs Who Are Better Off Elsewhere
Isaiah Likely
For years, dynasty managers waited for Mark Andrews to leave and Isaiah Likely to take over. Andrews signed an extension, and that dream is lost. Likely has shown he can be a fantasy TE1 at times, and can have that chance next season if he were to leave Baltimore. I would love to see Likely in Washington, where he can use his size in the red zone to have a breakout season. Daniels ranks seventh among QBs in red zone TDs per attempt since entering the league, while Likely ranks ninth in TDs per target over that span.
David Njoku
With the rise of Fannin in Cleveland, David Njoku will be best off elsewhere in 2026. The Browns TE has finished top-eight in three straight seasons before falling off in 2025. As a dominant red zone threat, Njoku’s landing spot as part of a high-scoring offense is crucial. Since 2022, Njoku ranks first in end zone targets per game, leading to his low-end TE1 numbers in a poor offense.
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