The 2026 fantasy football landscape is already stirring, and among the most intriguing discussions are the late‑round tight ends who could break into the top five.
Harold Fannin Jr. has become the centerpiece of Cleveland’s passing attack under coordinator Todd Monken, a play‑caller who has repeatedly shown he can extract production from the position. Monken’s track record includes developing Brock Bowers at Georgia and maximizing Mark Andrews in Baltimore, giving Fannin a clear blueprint for volume and red‑zone looks. In 2025 he ranked fifth in targets and eighth in receptions and touchdowns, underscoring a ceiling that could translate into a top‑tier finish next season.
AJ Barner’s 2025 campaign was defined by red‑zone dominance in Seattle, where he led the team with 13 targets inside the 20‑yard line and scored six touchdowns. His development has been bolstered by tight‑ends coach Brian Fleury, whose roots in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and work with George Kittle provide a strong developmental framework. The combination of scheme fit and proven red‑zone efficiency positions Barner as a sleeper with genuine top‑five upside.
Dalton Schultz entered the season with a strong statistical foundation, posting 82 receptions for 777 yards and 106 targets, which placed him third among tight ends in catches. With Jayden Higgins sidelined, Houston’s target distribution opens a pathway for Schultz to see increased opportunities, making his late‑round draft value especially attractive for those seeking a potential TE1.
Scheme Synergies and Target Share
What unites these three players is more than raw talent; it is the alignment between their skill sets and offensive schemes. Monken’s history of elevating tight ends, Shanahan‑inspired playbooks, and the clear target hierarchy in each offense create a fertile environment for target share to expand. This synergy not only boosts weekly floor but also amplifies the likelihood of explosive weeks that fantasy owners crave.
For draft strategists, the calculus shifts when late‑round picks can deliver top‑five production. Fannin’s blend of scheme fit and proven production, Barner’s red‑zone punch, and Schultz’s volume upside each present a compelling case to stash them in deeper leagues or to target them in the later stages of snake drafts. Their trajectories suggest that the traditional value curve at tight end may be due for a reshaping heading into 2026.