In dynasty football, it’s never too early to look ahead. Especially for rebuilding teams, understanding the value and potential of an upcoming class can be crucial in establishing a championship contender. If you are currently holding onto multiple 2026 picks, this article will hopefully offer some insight and context on next year’s TE rookie class.
Dynasty managers have enjoyed a wealth of talent in recent seasons, with prospects like Brock Bowers and Sam LaPorta making immediate impacts at the NFL level. This trend could continue with Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren, who, despite having yet to play a snap in the league, project to be immediate contributors due to their impressive draft profiles. However, the 2026 TE class presents a different scenario. Currently, there is no standout prospect who is clearly the top TE in next year’s draft. Instead, we have a variety of prospects who show potential but have not yet distinguished themselves from the rest of the class. On a positive note, there are TEs who check multiple boxes, which could lead to a deeper class than originally expected. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the most promising TE prospects who are set to declare for the 2026 NFL draft.
Jack Velling is a four-year prospect who measures in at 6’4” and 245 pounds. He began his college football career at Oregon State and has most recently transferred to Michigan State. At first glance, his production numbers may seem underwhelming, failing to exceed 500 receiving yards in any season. However, when we take an analytical approach, market share metrics provide a more predictive evaluation of a prospect’s performance within their offensive system. In Velling’s case, his receiving yards market share of 15.8% during his first two seasons is noteworthy, as TEs rarely produce that early in their careers. And even though his production did plateau in his first year with Michigan State, Velling still holds one of the most consistent production profiles in the 2026 class. More impressively, he currently projects as one of the most efficient college TEs in recent history. In fact, he leads his class in Yards per Reception (13.9), Expected Points Added per Target (1.02), and Success Rate (74%), showcasing how dynamic he can be when given the opportunity. While I would still like to see him elevate his game to another level this season, Velling already profiles as one of the top TEs in next year’s class due to his elite efficiency at the collegiate level.
Before Eli Stowers emerged as one of the top TEs in the nation, he was a QB for Texas A&M and New Mexico State. However, with limited opportunities as a signal caller, Stowers gradually transitioned to receiver. In his third year, he became increasingly involved as a TE, showcasing his versatility as an offensive weapon. While he averaged a respectable 1.02 receiving yards per team pass attempt with New Mexico State, his true breakout came in his fourth season. After transferring to Vanderbilt, Stowers became one of the most dominant receiving TEs in the country, earning First-Team All-SEC honors in 2024. From a production standpoint, his numbers were highly impressive. He accounted for over 27% of the team’s receiving yards, averaging an elite 2.10 receiving yards per team pass attempt in 13 games. For context, his fourth campaign ranks in the 93rd percentile among all drafted TEs since 2013. In short, given what he was able to achieve in only his second season playing the position, I expect Stowers to continue to improve in his final year at Vanderbilt. Assuming he can build off of last season’s success, Stowers has the potential to be a day-two pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
One of my favorite prospects in this class is Max Klare, a 6’4” and 236-pound TEs who spent the last three years with the Purdue Boilermakers. While it took him a couple of years to emerge, we started to see his potential in his second season as he averaged a 15.8% receiving yards market share. Unfortunately, an ankle injury forced him to miss most of that season, limiting him to only five games in 2023. As a result, Klare’s third campaign would finally be his breakout year, accounting for over 30% of the team’s receiving production and averaging 2.1 receiving yards per team pass attempt (94th percentile). In other words, he was the focal point for a Purdue offense that struggled heavily last season. In addition, we typically want to see TEs exceed 2.00 receiving yards per team pass attempt, as it generally signals elite production. The fact that Klare was able to exceed that threshold in his third season already places him near the top of the 2026 TE class. His draft stock should also only improve as he now joins an Ohio State offense that boasts a much more balanced offensive ecosystem compared to Purdue. And even though he will likely operate as the third option (at best) behind Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, Klare should thrive in an efficient offense that should find plenty of success this upcoming season.
Justin Joly possesses one of the most impressive profiles in the 2026 class after breaking out as a true freshman and maintaining his production in each of his last three seasons. As you can see above, Joly has averaged no less than a 20% receiving yards market share and 1.50 receiving yards per team pass attempt. While those numbers are not elite, he still leads this class in experience-adjusted production due to his consistent, offensive usage at Connecticut and NC State. Athletically, Joly has continuously shown an ability to break tackles in the open field. And as a deep threat, he possesses the athletic ability to win vertically and at the catch point, ranking near the top in contested catches over the last two years. In addition, Joly currently ranks third in his class in EPA per Target (0.92), highlighting his big-play ability and consistent impact on offense. Assuming he continues to elevate his game in his second year with NC State, I expect Joly’s draft stock to improve this season. With an elite campaign, Joly has the potential to be a day-two pick at the very least in next year’s NFL draft.
Jack Endries is a four-year prospect who joined Cal as a walk-on in 2022. After redshirting his first year, he displayed consistent improvement over the last two years, averaging a 17.5% receiving yards market share since 2023. However, his 1.23 receiving yards per team pass attempt over the last two years is mostly average, leaving plenty of room for improvement as he enters his final collegiate season at Texas. On a positive note, while his market share metrics are far from elite, his efficiency profile offers a glimpse of his untapped potential. Through 24 career games, Endries has averaged 0.73 Expected Points Added (EPA) per target, which ranks in the 78th percentile among all drafted TEs since 2013. Even more impressive, his 71% EPA success rate places him in the 93rd percentile, highlighting his reliability and consistent impact throughout his career. Combined with a potentially elite athletic profile, Endries possesses enough upside to be a day-two pick in next year’s draft. Especially if he can emerge alongside Arch Manning this season, he should be one of the top TEs selected in 2026.
Terrance Carter Jr. is one of the most intriguing receiving TEs in the 2026 draft class. Measuring in at 6’2” and 245 pounds, Carter can line up as a traditional in-line TE, while also possessing the versatility to line up out wide or in the slot. He also thrives after the catch, ranking third among TEs with 18 forced missed tackles this past season and accumulating the fourth-most yards after the catch (606) since 2023. From a production standpoint, his redshirt freshman season falls below average with only a 10.9% receiving yards market share. However, Carter took a massive step forward in 2024, setting career-highs across the board. In 12 games, he accounted for about 20% of the team’s entire receiving production while also averaging an impressive 1.95 receiving yards per team pass attempt (91st percentile). On top of that, Carter currently ranks within the top three in his class in EPA per Target (0.92) and Success Rate (73%), highlighting his strong efficiency profile to go along with his market share production. Keep an eye on Carter’s performance this year as he enters his first season with Texas Tech. If he can build off of his 2024 campaign, his draft stock should only improve this upcoming season.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/nvWheHo
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