Finding tight ends who can climb into top‑5 territory is one of the best advantages you can get in fantasy football drafts. Modern offensive schemes continue to lean heavily on athletic, mismatch creating pass-catchers who can attack the seam and dominate the intermediate game, making the position deeper and more exciting than it used to be. Pinpointing the right targets who currently sit in the TE2 range, yet possess clear structural or health‑related paths to pushing into the elite top tier, is how championships are won. This article highlights four players who fit that exact mold heading into the new season.
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4 TE2s with Top‑5 Upside
Dallas Goedert (PHI – TE)
The current Eagles’ passing game structure puts Dallas Goedert in one of the best positions he’s had in years. Coming off a TE7 finish with 185.1 PPR points, he turned his opportunities into 11 touchdowns and remained a fixture in both 11 and 12 personnel. His role never wavered, even when the offense shifted formations, and he remained a core part of the passing game throughout the season.
The departure of A.J. Brown is the biggest storyline here. Losing a target hog of that magnitude opens up a massive chunk of high‑value looks over the middle of the field, and Goedert is the most natural player to absorb them. However, Philadelphia did draft Eli Stowers as a future option, but Goedert is still the unquestioned leader of the tight end room. With a larger target share now available, he enters the year with a legitimate chance to push into top‑5 territory.
Jake Ferguson (DAL – TE)
A steady stream of high‑percentage targets continues to define Jake Ferguson’s role with the Cowboys, and it’s one of the most reliable roles in fantasy in the tight end position. He finished as the TE5 last season with 188.1 PPR points and found the end zone eight times. His ability to accumulate yards after the catch and his reliability in the short‑to‑intermediate game make him a natural safety valve in an offense that leans heavily on timing and rhythm.
Long‑term stability only strengthens his outlook. The four‑year extension he signed in July 2025 locks him into the offense and confirms that his role isn’t changing anytime soon. With Dallas under immense pressure to finally break through and maximize every weapon they have, Ferguson remains a central part of the passing attack. His chemistry with the Dak Prescott and consistent red‑zone usage give him a clear path to finishing inside the top-5 again.
Dalton Schultz (HOU – TE)
In a system built around timing routes and consistent underneath work, Dalton Schultz has become one of the most reliable tight ends you can draft. He finished as the TE10 last season with 177.7 PPR points and added three touchdowns, proving he can maintain steady production even when Houston’s offense is crowded with playmakers. His workload stayed strong throughout the year, and his role as a trusted middle‑of‑the‑field option never faded.
The Texans’ receiver room took a hit when Jayden Higgins went down with a torn ACL, and that injury opens the door for Schultz to take on even more responsibility. Houston still has perimeter talent, but Schultz’s ability to win underneath keeps him firmly in C.J. Stroud’s view. He consistently finds soft spots in zone coverage and converts high‑percentage throws, giving him a sturdy weekly floor. If red‑zone opportunities tilt his way, he has a clear path to climbing even higher into top‑5 territory.
T.J. Hockenson (MIN – TE)
Elite receiving traits and a clean target environment give T.J. Hockenson one of the highest ceilings at the position when he’s healthy. He finished as the TE26 last season with 112.8 PPR points after missing time with a shoulder injury, but his ceiling is far higher than that finish suggests. When he’s on the field, he plays like a true volume‑driven pass‑catcher who can line up anywhere across the formation and create mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
The Vikings’ offense gives him a direct path to heavy usage behind Justin Jefferson, and the quarterback change adds another layer to his outlook. With Kyler Murray now under center, Hockenson’s ceiling hinges on how quickly Murray locks onto him as a primary option. If that connection forms early, Hockenson has a realistic chance to regain his pre‑injury rhythm and push into the top-5 at the position.
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