TE Sleepers For 2026: Juwan Johnson Set for Another Big Workload

The tight end position is arguably the most intriguing in fantasy this season. There are a number of different ways you can go. You can pay up for one of the super-studs like Brock Bowers or Trey McBride. You could go one step down with an emerging youngster like Tyler Warren, Tucker Kraft or Harold Fannin.

Or, you could put the position off until as late as possible. Even if you’re one of the last teams in the league to select a starter, you’ll still end up with a really strong option. There are a handful of players going outside the top 14 at the position who all have the potential to outperform their modest fantasy football ADPs. Let’s dive into three of my favorite sleepers at tight end this season.

Tight End Sleepers For 2026

Mark Andrews | TE | BAL

The more I think about it, the more I continue to talk myself into Mark Andrews for the upcoming season. Make no mistake, Andrews has been on a downward trajectory over the past few years. He averaged just 2.8 receptions per game and 24.8 yards per game last season, which were his worst marks since his rookie season. His advanced metrics also took a hit: his 6.0 yards per target and 52.9% Success Rate were both the worst of his career.

However, the Ravens’ offense was clearly hampered by Lamar Jackson’s hamstring injury. It was the worst we’ve seen the Ravens perform since he took over at quarterback, which seems like a major outlier. Jackson has already hinted at the fact that he’ll be more willing to use his legs this year, so the Ravens’ offense has plenty of bounce-back potential.

If that happens, Andrews should provide heaps of touchdown upside. He had 11 scores just two years ago, resulting in a TE5 finish in 0.5-PPR scoring.

Andrews did that despite being essentially a part-time player. He should have closer to a full-time role this season after the Ravens let Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar walk in free agency. The Ravens gave Andrews an extension in December, so they clearly believe he has some gas left in the tank. With more opportunities between the 20s to go along with his massive TD upside, Andrews could flirt with another top-five finish at the position. He’s a priority target for me.

Join Our Newsletter

Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.

Email Address

Subscribe

By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Juwan Johnson | TE | NO

From Matthew Berry’s excellent Love/Hate column, which is a yearly must-read: Among tight ends, only Trey McBride had more games last season with double-digit PPR points than… Juwan Johnson.

That’s surprising, to say the least, but there’s no reason that Johnson can’t do it again. He was a near-every-snap player for the Saints, ranking 11th at the position in route participation. Overall, the Saints’ TE group ranked in the top five in the NFL in routes run, receiving yards and receptions.

Not much should change from last season. If anything, Johnson could be more important, at least at the start of the year.

Rookie first-rounder Jordyn Tyson is expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season, and injuries have been a major sticking point for Tyson dating back to college. It’s possible that he misses even more time than expected.

Finally, there’s a chance that the Saints’ offense takes a step forward in Tyler Shough’s second season. The rookie was impressive down the stretch last year, and he propelled the Saints to a top-10 offense in terms of passing EPA over the final month of the year. If he can carry that production into the new season, Johnson could put together a low-end TE1 finish.

Terrance Ferguson | TE | LAR

The Rams’ TE situation has the potential to be a headache. They have three different guys who all produced at times last season (Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson), and that doesn’t even include second-round pick Max Klare. Ultimately, it’s one of the most crowded position rooms in the NFL.

The good news is that the Rams are expected to utilize all of them. Head coach Sean McVay broke out a three-TE offense in the middle of last season, and according to The Athletic’s Nate Atkins, it’s not going anywhere in 2026-27.

Ferguson is easily the most appealing of the Rams’ TEs. He was awesome on a limited basis last year, averaging 21.0 yards per reception with three touchdowns on just 11 catches. Those types of big plays don’t stand out as particularly fluky.

Ferguson averaged 9.0 yards after reception during his final collegiate season, which was the top mark among FBS TEs with at least 45 targets.

Ferguson has reportedly worked all over the formation for the Rams throughout training camp, so he figures to be a much bigger part of the offense in his sophomore season. He’s coming off the board as TE20 on ESPN and TE21 on Yahoo, so he’s a cheap way to get exposure to one of the best offenses in football.