Dynasty Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Consider Adding: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Brenton Strange, Jared Wiley, Michael Mayer, Ben Sinnott and More

Last week, I started a new fantasy football series where I identify some possible dynasty players to add down the stretch of the season.

My thinking is that your dynasty team is no longer competing for a title, or is just seeing some players hit IR, thus opening some roster spots.

We covered quarterbacks in the first story, then got into some running backs and wide receivers to add. Now, we’ll wrap up this series by going over some tight ends.

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Tight Ends to Possibly Add

Carolina’s Ja'Tavion Sanders, Cincinnati’s Erick All Jr., Houston’s Cade Stover, Jacksonville’s Brenton Strange, Kansas City’s Jared Wiley, Las Vegas’ Michael Mayer, New England’s Jaheim Bell, New York Giants’ Theo Johnson, Seattle’s AJ Barner and Washington’s Ben Sinnott the guys I want to discuss.

Sanders has done some solid things as a rookie with 302 yards and a touchdown across 29 receptions and 37 targets, but I think his long-term fantasy outlook is much better. 

Carolina is a rebuilding team, and Sanders will have a great chance of being the team’s top tight end for years to come. He’d get a fantasy boost if the team could lock in a franchise quarterback and get some more offensive talent on the field in general.

All had 158 yards on 20 catches and 22 targets across nine games in his rookie season. He’s been out since early November with a torn ACL.

Cincy has been searching for a No. 1 tight end for a while now, and All will have a chance to win that job, even after coming back from his injury. He’s a player to stash, especially if you can throw him in an IR spot and not have him burn up a roster spot right now.

Stover has 132 yards and a score on 14 receptions and 20 targets this season. He has at least one target in 10 straight games, but he’s never been a big fantasy performer.

Dalton Schultz will be in Houston for a couple more seasons still, but Stover should still be able to carve out a role if he plays well.

Strange has done some solid things this season, especially taking advantage of his opportunities when Evan Engram has been out. He’s probably not available in a ton of dynasties, but I think he’s a must-add dynasty player if he’s available. 

Jacksonville could make Strange the No. 1 tight end as early as next year if they move Engram, but his contract only is one more season, so Strange could definitely take over by 2026. I’d add and stash Strange, and the nice thing is that he could help your fantasy team in the final couple weeks if you are still competing.

Wiley is currently on injured reserve with a knee injury. He only has one catch across seven games played this season.

Travis Kelce is under contract for 2025 right now, but he could also retire, especially if KC wins another Super Bowl. Noah Gray has also stepped up this season, so Wiley will still have work to do if he wants to crack the lineup, but after being a fourth-round pick this past draft, I think the Chiefs will give him every opportunity to become a long-term option for Patrick Mahomes.

Mayer was a second-round pick of the Raiders in 2023, but after a so-so rookie season and the drafting of Brock Bowers, Mayer fell out of favor in Las Vegas. He’s only played in eight games this season, missing time for personal reasons, but has factored in a bit more of late.

I don’t think the Raiders are going to give up on Mayer despite Bowers’ big-time rookie season, but if they do, another team will likely trade for the young tight end. He’s a buy-low dynasty trade target right now, and might be available in a handful of leagues. I’d add and stash him if he was available.

Bell has played in 12 games, but has just one catch and target this season. He was a seventh-round pick, so his lack of involvement as a rookie isn’t all that surprising, especially because Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper have played pretty well this season.

New England is still building toward a brighter future, and the 23-year-old Bell is an appealing player for that reason. The team could move off Hooper as early as this offseason, and that move would open things up for Bell to be at least the team’s No. 2 tight end next season. This move would be for those of you in a bit deeper dynasty league.

Johnson had 331 yards and a touchdown across 12 games before being put on injured reserve with a foot injury. The Giants are another team building toward a brighter future, and Johnson played well enough when healthy this season to be included in future aspirations.

He was a fourth-round pick, so that means the team won’t give up on him post-injury. Johnson’s long-term fantasy outlook would get a big boost if the Giants could find a franchise quarterback. They already have a few skill position players to build around, and if they get the quarterback, the future is definitely brighter.

Barner was another fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has 198 yards and two scores on 23 grabs and 31 targets this season. He’s been stuck behind Noah Fant on the depth chart though.

Fant is still under contract for another season, but Barner could still carve out a decent offensive role with him around. I wouldn’t mind stashing Barner and think he could become the top TE in Seattle in due time.

Sinnott was a second-round pick in the most recent draft, so expectations were high for him coming into the season. He hasn’t been able to supplant Zach Ertz, but he has the chance to make a name for himself down the stretch as Ertz is now dealing with a concussion.

Chances are that Sinnot is already owned in your dynasty league, but if he isn’t, he absolutely needs to be scooped up immediately. He could help you out down the stretch if you are still competing, and has an even better chance to power fantasy teams in the years to come.

Ertz is a free agent this offseason, and while he’s played well enough to earn another contract with Washington, it also wouldn’t be surprising to let him walk and then turn to Sinnot. I have really high hopes for Sinnott moving forward, especially because Jayden Daniels looks like a star franchise quarterback. Sinnot has a chance to shoot way up tight end dynasty rankings if he’s able to produce a little bit down the stretch.