According to Dwain McFarland, as the 2026 fantasy football season approaches, analysts are revisiting a simple yet powerful metric: receiving yards per game from the previous year. The data shows a strong correlation with future production, making it the cornerstone of tight end projections.
The Yardage Metric That Drives 2026 TE Value
Trey McBride topped the leaderboard with 1,239 yards, while Colston Loveland followed with 906 yards, underscoring the depth of talent at the position. Among the more familiar names, Kyle Pitts recorded 928 yards and is currently projected as TE8, Juwan Johnson amassed 889 yards and sits at TE20, Hunter Henry gathered 880 yards (TE19), Travis Kelce posted 851 yards (TE10), and Dalton Schultz reached 836 yards (TE23).
What stands out is not just the raw numbers but the relative draft positioning. Several of these players are being undervalued relative to their yardage, creating opportunities for savvy drafters to secure upside at a discount.
One strategy that has gained traction is pairing George Kittle with one of the cheaper alternatives. By stacking a high‑floor starter with a lower‑cost complement, owners can maximize flexibility while still capitalizing on the yardage‑driven upside.
Beyond the established veterans, a new name is emerging: Jeremiyah Love. The young prospect is expected to make an immediate impact in the NFL, and early draft boards are already penciling him in as a potential breakout candidate.
For those building their 2026 lineups, the message is clear: let last season’s yardage per game guide your tight end selections, target the undervalued options, and consider strategic pairings that can elevate overall roster performance.