Holy moly, fantasy managers, Heath Cummings just dropped his 2026 tight end tiers, and get ready for a shocker right off the bat: Colston Loveland is absolutely locked into Tier 1! Forget about those legendary veterans, because this is all about a youth movement blowing up the league, and Loveland is leading the charge with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. This isn’t just some gut feeling, either; it’s all based on his 2026 projections, and the numbers are just flat-out undeniable.
Loveland’s Monster Projections Are Too Big To Ignore
Loveland’s Tier 1 placement isn’t a fluke; it’s earned. This guy was a PPR fantasy machine last season, averaging a stout 14.2 points per game from Week 9 through Week 18. But wait, it gets even crazier! In his two playoff games, Loveland went absolutely off, cranking out a ridiculous 18.6 PPR FPPG! That kind of production is elite, plain and simple. Cummings projects these Tier 1 tight ends to land between 13.7 and 14.6 PPR FPPG, but he’s even hinting that one of them could smash those projections by at least a full point. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that in their draft? This is the kind of early season insight that can make or break your fantasy year, giving you a huge edge on your buddies.
Tier 2’s Hidden Gems and Coach Boosts
Now, if you miss out on the Tier 1 studs, don’t sweat it too much because Tier 2 is stacked with potential steals. Sam LaPorta, Kyle Pitts, and Tyler Warren are all projected to hover between 12.5 to 13.5 PPR FPPG. The crazy part? While Warren often goes in Round 5, you can snag LaPorta and Pitts in Round 7 or even later! Talk about value! Cummings says both LaPorta and Pitts are about to get a massive boost thanks to new offensive coordinators who historically love to pepper their tight ends with targets, throwing more than 25% of their team’s passes their way. Plus, LaPorta’s rookie year was straight-up better than Warren’s, and Pitts was better than Warren last year. These guys are talented and getting a schematic upgrade; that’s a recipe for breakout success. Don’t be surprised if one of these Tier 2 guys ends up as the TE1 for the whole season.
The Risky Business of Tier 3 and What Could Change Everything
Heading into Tier 3, we’ve got Harold Fannin, Tucker Kraft, and Isaiah Likely. Fannin’s stock is a bit shaky because of quarterback uncertainty; if Deshaun Watson wins the QB battle, Cummings sees the pass offense being anemic, which isn’t great news. He also lost Kevin Stefanski, a “tight end whisperer,” and gained some talented rookie receivers, adding target competition. However, if Shedeur Sanders somehow snags the starting job, Fannin could get a bump, maybe even into Tier 2. Tucker Kraft could also climb into Tier 2 if he’s fully healthy at some point in “training camp,” which is just a fancy way of saying if he’s ready to roll early in the regular season. On the flip side, Isaiah Likely could fall to Tier 4 if Malik Nabers is 100% before the season kicks off. These are the kinds of calls that are going to haunt or reward you in those crucial later rounds, typically Round 7 or 8.
So, who are you taking a shot on? Are you gunning for one of the youth movement Tier 1 guys, or are you scouting for a savvy steal in Tier 2? The draft is coming, and these tiers are going to spark some serious debates among your fantasy league. Get ready to do your homework, because every pick counts when the season kicks off!
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.
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