Oronde Gadsden Among Potential 2026 Fantasy Football Tight End Busts

Finding a fantasy football bust at tight end can often be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Why, you might ask?

Well, the position isn’t valued as much as the other offensive skill spots in most drafts. If you look at current average draft position (ADP) data, only three are even being picked in the top 50! Heck, even Travis Kelce isn’t even in the top 100. It’s become somewhat of a pariah in the offensive skill positions, and as a result, there are only a few players who can truly be busts.

Looking ahead to 2026, I’ve projected four different tight ends, each with a level of risk; either I’m projecting the player to fail to meet expectations based on his ADP, or he is coming off a huge statistical season that he won’t duplicate. So, let’s call these receivers you should beware of in drafts, or who could fail to meet expectations based on a previous high level of fantasy success.

All Positions: QBs | RBs | WRs

TIGHT END BUSTS

Oronde Gadsden, Chargers

Gadsden went on a four-game stretch last season that excited fantasy fans, as he averaged nearly 18 points and appeared on the path to stardom. His numbers fell off a cliff after that, as Gadsden averaged a mere 5.5 points over his final eight contests. His fantasy stock took another hit in the offseason, as the Chargers signed veteran tight end David Njoku. When you also consider the addition of Charlie Kolar, Gadsden is no longer a lock to be a fantasy asset this season.

Dallas Goedert, Eagles

Goedert did something last season that most players don’t: He scored a career high in fantasy points at the age of 30. That was due mostly to a major increase in touchdowns, as he found the end zone 11 times, more than he had scored in his previous three years combined. The Eagles also added Eli Stowers, leaving Goedert with little chance for another top-seven fantasy finish in 2026.

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Johnson posted a career high in fantasy points in 2025. What’s more, his 77 catches and 889 receiving yards were both in the top five among tight ends. Those are impressive totals, but they’re also unlikely to be duplicated. The Saints added Travis Etienne Jr. and Jordyn Tyson in the offseason, not to mention Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delp. With targets projected to be more spread out in the future (Johnson had 102 last year), regression should be expected from the veteran.

Kenyon Sadiq, Jets

I am a huge fan of Sadiq as a player based on his athleticism and talent, but I've changed my outlook for him as a rookie. That's due in large part to the fact that he's rarely been healthy in the offseason, and now he's suffered a setback in his return from hernia surgery. Missing time as a young player is a real problem, especially when a player like Mason Taylor is also on the depth chart. Sadiq might pop at times when he's healthy, but we might have to wait a year before he's a worthy fantasy starter.

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