The Lineup Show - Top 24 Tight End Rankings For Week 2 | Fantasy Football 2026
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
18 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 18, 2026
Published
Fri, September 18, 2026
24
Player insights
24
Players mentioned
Topics
AJ BarnerBrenton StrangeBrock BowersCade OttonChigoziem OkonkwoColston LovelandDallas GoedertDalton KincaidDalton SchultzGeorge KittleHarold FanninHunter HenryIsaiah LikelyJake Ferguson
Player analysis
Player insights
AJ Barner
NegativeProjection25:53
AJ Barner is only an option for those in desperate need of a prayer, as he faces a tough situation with Drew Lock at quarterback.
Insight pageBrenton Strange
NegativeProjection25:27
Brenton Strange is a touchdown-dependent play against a tough Denver defense; the source suggests finding a better start.
Insight pageBrock Bowers
NegativeInjury2:18
The source is operating under the assumption that Brock Bowers will not be active for week two.
Insight pageCade Otton
NegativeProjection26:53
Cade Otton is not recommended for starting lineups if other options are available, despite a potentially improving Bucs offense.
Insight pageChigoziem Okonkwo
PositiveProjection23:37
Chigoziem Okonkwo is expected to see increased action and could reach a stat line of five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Insight pageColston Loveland
PositiveValue3:43
Colston Loveland led all tight ends with a 90% route rate in week one; his zero-point performance is considered a fluke, and the source recommends buying him on a discount.
Insight pageDallas Goedert
PositiveProjection8:36
Dallas Goedert is coming off a massive 77-yard, two-touchdown performance and is in line for another huge week against the Tennessee Titans.
Insight pageDalton Kincaid
PositiveUsage7:26
Dalton Kincaid's snap share is trending upward in 2026, and he is coming off a 5-catch, 130-yard performance in week one.
Insight pageDalton Schultz
PositiveUsage18:57
Dalton Schultz saw eight targets in week one and faces a Cincinnati defense that allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends.
Insight pageGeorge Kittle
PositiveUsage13:13
George Kittle is a more confident start in week two against Miami, especially with Dejan Stribling out, which should lead to more targets.
Insight pageHarold Fannin
NegativeProjection16:54
Harold Fannin Jr. is a high-end TE2 with a low floor, but he has an opportunity to bounce back against a Tampa defense that allowed a big game to Mike Gesicki.
Insight pageHunter Henry
NegativeProjection24:47
Hunter Henry is a fragile tight end two play who could see decent volume with AJ Brown on IR, but expectations should remain low.
Insight pageIsaiah Likely
PositiveValue10:13
Isaiah Likely is a high-value asset after a two-touchdown week one performance; he remains a strong start despite a tougher matchup against the Rams.
Insight pageJake Ferguson
PositiveProjection13:50
Jake Ferguson is a prime bounce-back candidate against a Washington defense that just allowed two touchdowns to Dallas Goedert.
Insight pageKyle Pitts
NegativeProjection20:01
Kyle Pitts is currently unstartable after a week one goose egg; the source recommends finding a better option until he proves his production.
Insight pageMark Andrews
NegativeUsage18:21
Mark Andrews' value depends on Zay Flowers' hamstring injury; if Flowers misses time, Andrews becomes a more solid start with increased target volume.
Insight pageMichael Mayer
PositiveProjection21:03
Michael Mayer is a decent option for those needing a replacement for Brock Bowers, as he faces a favorable game script against Las Vegas.
Insight pagePat Freiermuth
PositiveProjection23:11
Pat Freiermuth has a clear rapport with Rodgers, especially in the red zone, and is a strong candidate to score against New England.
Insight pageSam LaPorta
PositiveUsage9:01
Sam LaPorta saw eight targets in week one and is a strong start in a high-total game (54.5) against Buffalo.
Insight pageT.J. Hockenson
PositiveSleeper22:03
T.J. Hockenson is a viable play against a Chicago defense that just allowed 37 points and 361 passing yards.
Insight pageTravis Kelce
PositiveProjection12:06
Travis Kelce remains a reliable tight end one option with a favorable matchup against the Colts.
Insight pageTrey McBride
PositiveProjection2:33
Trey McBride is the TE1 overall for week two after a dominant week one performance of nine catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, despite a difficult matchup against Seattle.
Insight pageTucker Kraft
PositiveRole5:16
Tucker Craft is a must-start tight end following a solid week one performance (3-65 on 6 targets) and an increasing snap share; he faces a favorable matchup against the Jets.
Insight pageTyler Warren
PositiveProjection6:45
Tyler Warren is ranked as a top-tier tight end for week two; despite a quiet week one, he is expected to see increased involvement against Kansas City.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00Every game day you show up for your team.
0:03Now it's your time. Ask your prescriber about Wegovi, semaglutide injection 2.4mg, a GLP-1.
0:07Call 1-833-4WEGOV or visit wegovi.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Wegovi.
0:11Why wait? Football is back baby. And whether you've been betting for years or you're just looking to put a little action
0:17on the games, my bookie needs to be added to your list of places to go line shopping.
0:23We've been talking about the teams we like and don't like for months.
0:26We're in on this Jets offense more than almost anybody.
0:29And we're terrified of this Falcons offense. Even though you got Bijan, you got Kyle Pitts, you got Drake London, but you got two bad left handed quarterbacks.
0:37And you certainly don't need to be tailing some fake betting expert on social media.
0:41Go to my bookie and find the plays you already know you like and take a shot.
0:46That's what's cool about MyBookie. You can find the action you want and bet it wherever you are when the game kicks off.
0:53And if you're new to the club, the bet back bonus gives you protection on your first play.
0:58Sign up with promo code player to opt into the bet back bonus and take your first shot with a safety net.
1:04If your wager loses, you get it right back.
1:07No questions asked. Football is finally here. Get in now and cash in on the season with MyBookie with promo code player to get that bet back bonus.
1:15Bet on anything, anytime, anywhere. You're welcome. Welcome into the The Lineup Show.
1:19I'm Mitch Anderson, and we are not going to waste anybody's time here.
1:22It's time to jump into our top 24 tight ends for week two.
1:26If you have any start set questions or trade questions or anything else I can do to help you win your week
1:32two matchup, leave them down below in the comments and I'm going to try to answer every single one.
1:38But before we get into this, we are operating under the assumption that Brock Bowers will not be active for week two.
1:44In the event that he somehow is, I don't think you need me telling you start Brock Bowers.
1:49But with all that being said, let's jump right in at number one.
1:53I think this one should be obvious. We're talking Trey McBride taking on the Seattle Seahawks.
1:57Obviously, one of the biggest stories of the first week of the NFL season was the fact that the Cardinals stunned the
2:04Chargers in a 26 to 14 victory. So big of a story that somehow I feel like nobody's talking about Trey McBride's
2:10nine catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. And they might not be talking about it because it's just become the norm for Trey McBride.
2:17And so he is locked in as my tight end one overall for week two, despite the really difficult matchup with Seattle.
2:23At number two, we've got Colston Loveland, a guy who also absolutely dominated if you were playing in a points per route run league.
2:30Funny enough, he actually somehow led all tight ends in route rate with 90% on the day in week one.
2:36If you started him, though, you know that he ended up scoring you zero points off of just two targets.
2:42But to me, this is as clear as it gets of a week one fluke.
2:46I said it on Monday's episode, but if you can go out and buy him on a discount, I would go do
2:52that immediately and try to make a trade with the manager that's freaking out about Colston Loveland.
2:57He is going to be in line for more volume.
3:00I said it before, but I think Caleb Williams is going to get those pass catchers that you spent such high draft
3:06capital on much more involved here in week two.
3:09Even though they do have a pretty tough matchup with Minnesota, I'd still feel very confident with Colston Loveland at the tight end two spot here.
3:16But at number three, we've got Tucker Craft. I know some people might think that this is a little rich for him
3:22here at the number three, but the matchup is just so juicy.
3:26I think the thing we're really watching for in week one is how did he look coming off of the injury?
3:32The stat line wasn't crazy. Three for 65 off of six targets, but I thought he looked great.
3:37He had a few really massive plays, and now we're looking at a guy who went for 45 snaps last game as
3:43opposed to his 58 snap average in 2025. That should keep increasing week by week, and I think that Tucker Craft is
3:50officially a guy that you've got to have in your lineup week in and week out.
3:54Now he gets the New York Jets, which, enough said, I think you should feel really confident with him going up against
4:00this team, and we should be in line for a huge game out of Tucker Craft.
4:05On to number four, though. Let's talk about Tyler Warren, who I'm going to have fill out the last spot in our S tier.
4:12A little bit of a weird week. I almost feel like you should be putting, like, Trey McBride as an S plus,
4:18but I feel like these other three guys you should feel really good about.
4:22Outside of the touchdown in week one, Tyler Warren was relatively quiet.
4:26Three for 13 yards off of five targets. I do think we're going to see him get a lot more involved this week, though.
4:32Very tough matchup against Kansas City, who just dog-walked the Broncos in prime time.
4:36But, funny enough, the most productive pass catcher for Denver on Monday was their tight end, Evan Ingram.
4:42And so I would feel pretty confident slotting in Tyler Warren as your tight end one.
4:46Now coming up at number five, a guy that so many people have been excited about when we finally got to see
4:52the real thing happen with Dalton Kincaid, the king of the yards per hour run stat in 2025.
4:58And the biggest question mark around him was, will we see his snaps increase here in 2026?
5:02If week one was any indicator, the answer is yes.
5:05And so hopefully we see Kincaid build on his five for 130 yards this past weekend off of six targets tonight against
5:12the Detroit Lions, which I just have to say, I'm so unbelievably excited for that game.
5:16On to our number six spot, though. Let's talk about Dallas Goddard, man.
5:20We were well above consensus last week on Goddard, but even I have to admit, I was not expecting anything like what we saw.
5:2777 yards, two touchdowns. He had that one explosive 40-plus yard touchdown.
5:30Now they take on the Tennessee Titans, and if you've caught our other rankings episodes this week, you'll know I'm extremely high on the Eagles offense.
5:38I think Dallas Goddard is in line for another huge week.
5:41I'd feel so confident with him. But at the number seven spot, let's talk about the other guy in this Thursday night football matchup, Sam Laporta.
5:48Five for 48 in their first game against New Orleans, but something, and it's kind of similar to what I said with Jameson Williams.
5:55Not too many people talking about the eight targets.
5:58We saw Sam Laporta get very involved, and then we look at this game that has by far the highest total on the entire week at 54.5.
6:05I just want pieces of this Buffalo-Detroit game, and for me, Sam Laporta is a perfect guy to fit in here at the tight end seven.
6:13At number eight, though, this is the call I've felt most proud of all week, maybe except for Chris Alave, but Isaiah Likely.
6:19One of the guys I named as my my guy this offseason, and we saw him absolutely explode against Dallas for two touchdowns.
6:26It felt like every time Jackson Dart was dropping back, he was either looking for Malik Neighbors or more commonly looking for Isaiah Likely.
6:33Maybe I should say more likely looking for Isaiah Likely.
6:36I was touting him all summer, and it felt amazing to see him pop off as a tight end one overall in week one.
6:42You get a little bit more difficult of a matchup here against the Rams.
6:46That's why we have him at number eight, but if you've got Isaiah Likely, you should be feeling really, really good about
6:53the production you're getting for the draft price you paid.
6:56At number nine, this is someone that I was like, I don't know where we're gonna end up having him ranked as I was watching the game.
7:03Juwan Johnson. He was basically a ghost for the first 59 minutes of regulation before exploding for 54 yards and a touchdown
7:10between the last drive of regulation and the drive that they had in overtime.
7:14And I know we're all getting extremely excited about Devon Vele right now, understandably, but to me, Juwan Johnson should be the
7:20number two and the guy you're looking at as the second focal point in this offense, at least until Jordan Tyson's back healthy.
7:26At number 10, though, we got Travis Kelsey. If you caught Monday night's game, you saw an old man hauling it downfield
7:33for a 59-yard catch, the living embodiment of the unks-so-got-it meme.
7:36My grandma's been in a coma since 2013. She just woke up.
7:39Let her know Travis Kelsey's still doing it. Now he's got a fantastic matchup against the Colts here.
7:44I think you shouldn't think twice about it. Unless you've got one of the guys listed above him, you should feel pretty
7:51good about Travis Kelsey as your tight end one.
7:53At number 11, though, someone that is maybe a little bit shakier to start.
7:57Let's talk about George Kittle. Hopefully you benched him in week one.
8:01As we suggested, he had two for 12 off of five targets.
8:04What I will say, though, is I thought he looked much better than I expected for a 32-year-old coming off of an
8:10Achilles injury he suffered like 200 days ago. I do love this spot taking on Miami.
8:15This should be a space where Kittle could explode.
8:18We just saw Dejan Stribling go down. He's going to be out for at least a month.
8:22That means more targets coming Kittle's way. I'd feel much more confident starting him this week than I would have last weekend against the Rams.
8:30On to number 12, though, we're going to talk about our final tight end one, Jake Ferguson.
8:34And look at these tears. We've got a clean 4-4-4 so far.
8:38A very quiet Sunday night for Jake Ferguson, though.
8:40Two catches for six yards. But if there has ever been a bounce back spot, it's against these Washington commanders that just
8:47surrendered 77 yards and two touchdowns to Dallas Goddard.
8:49We should definitely see a tick back up in production for Jake Ferguson as a fringe tight end one, high end tight end two.
8:56Every game day, you show up for your team.
8:59Now it's your time. Ask your prescriber about Wegovi.
9:01Some maglutide injection 2.4 milligrams, a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOVI or visit wegovi.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Wegovi.
9:08Why wait? Football is back, baby. And whether you've been betting for years or you're just looking to put a little action
9:14on the games, My Bookie needs to be added to your list of places to go line shopping.
9:19We've been talking about the teams we like and don't like for months.
9:23We're in on this Jets offense more than almost anybody.
9:26And we're terrified of this Falcons offense. Even though you got Bijan, you got Kyle Pitts, you got Drake London.
9:31But you got two bad left-handed quarterbacks. And you certainly don't need to be tailing some fake betting expert on social media.
9:38Go to My Bookie and find the plays you already know you like and take a shot.
9:43That's what's cool about My Bookie. You can find the action you want and bet it wherever you are when the game kicks off.
9:49And if you're new to the club, the bet-back bonus gives you protection on your first play.
9:54Sign up with promo code PLAYER to opt into the bet-back bonus and take your first shot with a safety net.
10:00If your wager loses, you get it right back.
10:03No questions asked. Football is finally here. Get in now and cash in on the season with My Bookie with promo code PLAYER to get that bet-back bonus.
10:11Bet on anything, anytime, anywhere. You're welcome. But on to number 13.
10:14I think a lot of people were unhappy with this guy in week 1.
10:18And that's Harold Fannin Jr. Can we just stop doing the Deshaun Watson thing?
10:22This is my PSA to Cleveland. Can we just stop doing it?
10:26I'm so tired of seeing this guy on my TV.
10:29I'm so sick of what it's doing. All these talented Browns pass catchers.
10:32They end up holding Fannin to 2-for-21 on 3 targets in week 1.
10:36And obviously, if you drafted him where he did, you were extremely disappointed in this performance.
10:41I do think, however, there's an opportunity here in week 2 against Tampa who just let Mike Kosicki run wild to the
10:47tune of 5 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.
10:50I would love to see Fannin at least inch a little bit closer to that elite target share we saw in year 1.
10:56But still, this is a higher-end tight end 2 that's got a pretty low floor.
11:01At number 14, though, let's talk about another old man, much like Travis Kelsey in Mark Andrews, who finished week 1 with a pretty decent stat line, 4-for-49.
11:09I think the most interesting part about Mark Andrews and how you rank him this week is that we're going to monitor
11:15the health of Zay Flowers and the hamstring injury.
11:17If Zay Flowers misses, you're obviously going to see a few more targets headed Andrews' way.
11:22And I think he becomes a lot more solid of a start.
11:25Maybe like a guy that ekes into that low-end tight end 1 range.
11:29But to me, this is a guy with an okay floor that could have a little bit of a ceiling if he ends up finding the end zone.
11:37At number 15, though, let's talk about Dalton Schultz, who had a decent outing against Buffalo last week, 4-for-35, but very similar to Laporta.
11:44I feel like nobody's talking about the fact that Dalton Schultz had 8 targets in this game.
11:49I'd expect Houston to need to throw a good amount to keep pace with Cincinnati here, who allowed the most fantasy points
11:55in the NFL to opposing tight ends. There's much worse guys you could put in your starting lineup than Dalton Schultz here.
12:01At number 16, we have no C tier for him.
12:04Kyle Pitts. He's a really weird guy to rank this week.
12:07He's kind of in no man's land. I almost wish we could just have a tier in between C and D that's just called Kyle Pitts.
12:15According to Kevin Stefanski, we will have a quarterback this week.
12:18Not yet, but we'll work through that this week.
12:21I'm not ruling anyone out. It's good to know that they'll have a quarterback this week.
12:25It could be Ole Mead Zakiis. We have no idea.
12:28He obviously put up a goose egg in week one.
12:31So despite this being a much easier matchup against Carolina, you have to find someone better than Kyle Pitts.
12:36Maybe he has a decent game, but I would like to see it before I put him back in my starting lineup.
12:43Especially if Cooper rushes in the lineup. Here at number 17 though, because we think that Brock Bowers is going to miss
12:49another week, let's talk about Michael Mayer, who went 6 for 32 off of 7 targets last week.
12:54Nothing insane, but I thought it was a pretty solid stat line.
12:57And anyone who got hit with that late Brock Bowers news last week and had to hit the waiver wire, I feel
13:04like you left decently happy with what you got.
13:06Now you get a pretty good spot against LA, who obviously just got gashed by Trey McBride last week.
13:12Michael Mayer is no Trey McBride, but they should be leading most of this game against Vegas, and that should allow for
13:18a pretty friendly game script for Michael Mayer. I don't think he's the worst option here.
13:23At number 18, TJ Hawkinson. I wish Mello was here for this, man.
13:26Mello has been talking about TJ Hawkinson all offseason as a potential sleeper.
13:30Ends up finding the end zone here in week 1, 4 for 36 and a score.
13:35If there's any team to go up against and follow up that performance, it's the Chicago Bears, who just allowed Bryce Young
13:41and the Panthers to score 37 points off of 361 passing yards.
13:44I think this could be a very nice spot for Hawkinson to continue this hot start and be a very viable play.
13:51At number 19, though, let's talk about the Muth.
13:53Pat Friermuth taking on the New England Patriots. There's just such a clear rapport between Rodgers and Friermuth, especially in the red area.
14:005 for 46 and a touchdown last week against the Falcons.
14:03I kind of love Friermuth to just hit the end zone again.
14:06I feel like I'm going to make that one of my picks of the week.
14:11I do think we see Pat Friermuth get another touchdown against New England.
14:14I think he's just got that clear connection with Rodgers.
14:17On to number 20, though, a guy that we were touting all offseason, Chigakonkwo.
14:21And I'm going to make my call here that I think the same defense that just allowed Isaiah Likely to do whatever
14:27he wanted on Sunday night is going to allow a slightly toned down version of the same thing with Chigakonkwo.
14:33He was pretty quiet last week. Two catches for 16 yards.
14:36I expect him to see a lot more action this week.
14:39To me, I feel like a stat line of like five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown feels very much in the range of outcomes for him.
14:47At number 21, though, on the other side of the ball in that New England-Pittsburgh game, Hunter Henry starting out our F tier.
14:543 for 26 on three targets. Not the biggest game, but I do think that we may see Hunter Henry get a
15:00lot more involved here as the Patriots game plan for their first outing without AJ Brown as he's on IR.
15:06I'd keep your expectations relatively low. But with Hunter Henry, I think we can all agree it's always in the range of
15:12outcomes that you're going to get some pretty decent volume.
15:15And he could see the end zone. He could get seven targets, five catches, 45 yards kind of thing like I just mentioned with Chigakonkwo.
15:22So not the worst start. I think Hunter Henry is a fragile tight end to play.
15:27A guy that if you need it, you could fit into your flex spot.
15:31But at number 22, let's move on to Brenton Strange, a guy who did find the end zone last week, now taking on the Denver Broncos.
15:382 for 23 on Sunday. Gets that touchdown. To me, he's a little bit of a touchdown dependent play, especially here with a pretty tough defense in Denver.
15:46I think I'd try to find a better start.
15:49But if you're absolutely desperate, I think you can fit Brenton Strange into your lineup.
15:53At number 23, and to me, this is where I'm like, I am just really trying not to start these guys.
15:59AJ Barner, 2 for 13 last week against the Patriots.
16:02Now he's got Drew Locke at his quarterback. He does take on the Arizona Cardinals.
16:06If it weren't for the matchup, I don't think he'd crack this top 24.
16:10But truly only start him if you need an absolute prayer.
16:13And that brings us to our final top 24 tight end of the week, Cade Auten.
16:18He wasn't overly involved in week one. Three catches for 26 yards off of five targets against Cincinnati.
16:23Now he draws the Cleveland Browns defense. I'd expect this Bucs offense to look a little better than what we saw in week one.
16:30And hopefully Cade Auten is an important part of that step back in the right direction.
16:34But again, if you can manage it, try not to have Cade Auten in your starting lineup.
16:39Those are our top 24 tight ends for week two.
16:42If you have any start sick questions or trade questions, let me know down below.
16:46But everybody, we made it. Football is back once again.
16:49It's Thursday night. Enjoy this incredible game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions.
16:54And I will see you all on Monday with another brand new episode.
16:57Enjoy the football. Enjoy the weekend. Catch you then.
17:00Every game day, you show up for your team.
17:02Now it's your time. Ask your prescriber about WeGovi.
17:05Semaglutide Injection 2.4mg, a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOVI or visit wegovi.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about WeGovi.
17:11Why wait? Football is back, baby. And whether you've been betting for years or you're just looking to put a little action
17:17on the games, MyBookie needs to be added to your list of places to go line shopping.
17:22We've been talking about the teams we like and don't like for months.
17:26We're in on this Jets offense more than almost anybody.
17:29And we're terrified of this Falcons offense. Even though you got Bijan, you got Kyle Pitts, you got Drake London.
17:34But you got two bad left-handed quarterbacks. And you certainly don't need to be tailing some fake betting expert on social media.
17:41Go to MyBookie and find the plays you already know you like and take a shot.
17:45That's what's cool about MyBookie. You can find the action you want and bet it wherever you are when the game kicks off.
17:52And if you're new to the club, the BetBack bonus gives you protection on your first play.
17:57Sign up with promo code PLAYER to opt into the BetBack bonus and take your first shot with a safety net.
18:03If your wager loses, you get it right back.
18:05No questions asked. Football is finally here. Get in now and cash in on the season with MyBookie with promo code PLAYER to get that BetBack bonus.
18:13Bet on anything, anytime, anywhere. You're welcome.
