Colston Loveland has officially crashed the elite tight end party, slotting right into Tier 1 of Heath Cummings’ latest 2026 Fantasy Football TE tiers 3.0, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re drafting wrong. This isn’t just a minor tweak, folks. Cummings, alongside Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg, is dropping updated tiers for every position, and his tight end projections just threw a wrench into everyone’s early draft plans. The biggest shocker? Loveland isn’t just *in* Tier 1, he’s projected to outscore Trey McBride this year. Let that sink in.
Loveland Blasts Past Expectations, Grabs Elite Status
You heard that right. Loveland’s ascent to Tier 1, alongside Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, is based almost exclusively on Cummings’ 2026 projections, and it’s a statement. Why the jump? Last year, Loveland was on an absolute tear from Week 9 through Week 18, averaging a sick 14.2 PPR Fantasy points per game. Then he went nuclear in his two playoff games, bumping that average up to an insane 18.6 PPR FPPG. McBride should still be good, no doubt, but the word is out: expect some regression in his volume and touchdowns. The top guys in Tier 1 are projected for 13.7 to 14.6 PPR FPPG, but Cummings is betting big that one of them absolutely demolishes those projections by at least a full point. Loveland’s numbers speak for themselves. This isn’t just hype; it’s proven production that suddenly puts him on the absolute top shelf.
The “Coward” Confession and Tier 2’s Underappreciated Gems
Man, I love it when these guys get real. Cummings confessed he was a “coward” last month, putting Tyler Warren in Tier 2 only because everyone else was drafting him high. But a savvy Keenan Allen acquisition and a groin tweak for Warren gave him the courage to pull the trigger on what he truly believed: Sam LaPorta and Kyle Pitts are straight-up going to outscore Warren by at least a point per game. Boom! Both LaPorta and Pitts are projected for 13.5 PPR FPPG, making them solid Round 5 picks. But here’s the kicker: they’re often slipping all the way to Round 7 or even later in drafts. These guys are getting a huge boost from new tight end friendly offensive coordinators who have a history of targeting their TEs with more than 25% of their team’s passes. Plus, LaPorta’s rookie year was better than Warren’s, and Pitts was better than Warren last year. Talent meets opportunity, and you could easily see one of these Tier 2 studs finish the year as the overall TE1. Seriously, if they’re there in Round 7, you gotta snatch them up.
What’s Next for Your Draft Board?
This early-season tier update is a wake-up call for fantasy managers everywhere. With Colston Loveland solidifying his spot at the top and the under-the-radar potential of LaPorta and Pitts in Tier 2, your draft strategy needs to adapt. Even in Tier 3, guys like Tyler Warren and Tucker Kraft are projected for around 12.5 PPR FPPG. Warren could see a nice Year 2 improvement, while Kraft is making good progress from last year’s torn ACL and expects to play Week 1. Don’t sleep on these guys! Draft season is officially on fire, and these tight end shifts are going to create some serious value. Keep your eyes peeled, because making the right call at tight end could be the difference-maker this year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply