Welcome to the third installment of our Gems and Landmines article series! These articles highlight key players from the 2026 rookie class for dynasty fantasy football managers; be sure to check out Jesse Baldwin’s running backs and Wolf Trelles-Heard’s wide receivers articles.
Today, I’ll be taking a closer look at three tight ends set to enter the NFL this April. Two “gems” to have on your radar, and one “landmine” to be wary of. Without further ado, here are three 2026 rookie tight ends to know for dynasty fantasy football.
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Dynasty Rookie Tight End Gems
Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Eli Stowers was a four-star quarterback recruit from Denton, Texas. He began his collegiate career at Texas A&M. After an unimpressive start to his journey as a quarterback, Stowers transferred to New Mexico State. He was there for just one year, during which he transitioned to the tight end position.
Then, in 2024, he transferred to Vanderbilt with his new friend and quarterback Diego Pavia. In his first year as a Commodore, Stowers led his team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. In 2025, he again set the pace in receptions, hauling in 62 for 769 yards and four touchdowns.
Eli Stowers’ Career College Stats
Watching some of this young man’s games, it becomes apparent early on why he led Vanderbilt in receptions for two years in a row. He is a problem for opposing defenses. He has reached 21.43 mph at 6’4″ and 235 lbs, making him a matchup nightmare. Along with his top-end speed, he has loose hips and is a smooth route runner, considering what was asked of him at Vanderbilt.
Stowers also has good hands and does a nice job making catches away from his body, even if he wasn’t able to always bail out his quarterback on errant throws. Last but not least, he has shown that he is a willing blocker. While he isn’t exactly blowing people up in the run game, he isn’t a liability either. That’s important for fantasy as it can keep him on the field.
To see Stowers’ prowess on full display, check out the Commodores game at Texas this season. In that game, Stowers was in the slot or out wide on 42 of his 47 snaps. He finished that game with seven receptions for 146 yards with two touchdowns, with a few plays left on the field due to a couple of inaccurate throws. Additionally, there were times when he got open and wasn’t seen.
The 2025 John Mackey Award winner is currently ranked 88th on the Consensus Big Board at Mock Draft Database. That would put him in the back half of the third round. I expect his draft stock to rise post-combine.
In addition to a freak athlete with a history of playing quarterback, the team that drafts Stowers will get a no-nonsense student. He recently earned a Master’s Degree in Finance at Vanderbilt after graduating from NMSU with a 3.92 GPA.
Stowers is a fine target in the middle of the second round of rookie drafts.
Justin Joly, North Carolina State
We’re digging a little bit further into the 2026 draft class mine for our second gem of this tight end class.
Justin Joly‘s Athletic Profile
Justin Joly is a prospect from Brewster, NY, whose collegiate journey started at UConn. There, he took the field for 12 games his freshman year, contributing some but not making a huge impact. His true breakout would occur as a sophomore, when he led the Huskies with 56 receptions for 578 yards. He scored two touchdowns in each of his two seasons at Connecticut.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Joly entered the transfer portal and headed to North Carolina State. In the ACC, Joly sustained his production (improving in some areas) despite the tougher competition. He amassed 661 receiving yards on 43 receptions, yielding a career-high 15.4 yards per reception. He also set a new high-water mark with four receiving touchdowns, developing into the red-zone threat that scouts are seeing now as they prepare their NFL teams ahead of April’s draft.
In 2025, Joly saw a bit of a dip in his yardage production, due at least in part to missing six quarters due to a leg injury. He maintained his reception pace, however, catching 49 balls for 489 yards. He also added 10 more touchdowns to his collegiate log, setting another career high for the ascending prospect.
Another reason for the decrease in overall production was that Joly focused on blocking in his senior season. He made improvements in this area of his game, showing willingness and even some tenacity at times, though remaining largely inconsistent. Surely his NFL coaches will want him to improve, but his progress should help his chances of getting/staying on the field on Sundays. Let’s face it, in most cases, blocking for these “move” tight ends has become a secondary trait anyway.
The tape shows a player who can make the tough catches. Joly consistently comes down with the ball in traffic and has exceptional hands. He can adjust to the ball with ease and has a diverse route tree, lining up across the formation. I noticed a good deal of wiggle, much more than I might’ve anticipated for someone his size. Since entering UConn at a mere 215 lbs, he has steadily reshaped his body, gaining 35 pounds over four years to get to 263 lbs. Apparently, he has maintained some agility from his days as a freshman!
Mock Draft Database has Joly as an early fourth-round selection, which should be his floor in terms of draft capital. My own estimation is that he will go in the middle of the third round. The team that drafts him will secure a talented, competitive player.
With just okay production and non-elite projected draft capital, Joly isn’t a can’t-miss dynasty tight end prospect. But he is my favorite dart throw at the position when we get into the middle of the third round in rookie drafts.
Dynasty Rookie Tight End Landmine
Michael Trigg, Baylor
Coming out of Tampa, Florida, Michael Trigg was an Under Armour All-American and a consensus four-star recruit. He was a two-sport star in high school, averaging over 20 points a game in basketball while earning All-State honors in football.
His first of three stops in college was USC. He was in So-Cal for one year, then transferred to Ole Miss, where he spent two more years. Across those three years, Trigg played in just 16 games. He tallied only 28 receptions for 330 yards and five touchdowns. Within even that limited production, he showed big-play potential, with 11.8 yards per reception.
That potential was realized in 2024, when Trigg entered the transfer portal again. After some cloudy circumstances at Ole Miss involving off-the-field issues, Trigg took his talents to Waco, Texas. Once there, he really began to produce. He progressed year over year, culminating in 2025, when he posted 50 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns.
Watching the tape, Michael Trigg‘s athleticism is unmistakable. In the game against UCF, he makes an unbelievable catch over a defender, completely “mossing” the poor DB. His size and agility create a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Safeties get shrugged off, and linebackers are usually left behind quickly. He has a large catch radius and has a good understanding of leverage against zone concepts.
Alas, as he is my “Landmine” player, there are some concerns with this Michael Trigg. Hopefully, he gets drafted to the right spot, takes well to coaching, and hits his full potential. I don’t actively root against any of these kids. But the issues surrounding Trigg’s leaving Ole Miss are not a nothing-burger. Reports of disciplinary action and locker room issues will have to be addressed as he moves through the pre-draft process.
On the field, Trigg often appears uninterested or lackadaisical on plays where he is not involved. His approach to blocking, more often than not (there are exceptions, which is good), gives off a “just get in the way” vibe.
Depending on his cost in rookie drafts, he could certainly be worth a dart throw. His athleticism, however, leads me to believe he will test well at the combine and likely gain some steam in the dynasty streets. Personally, I have him going in the late third-round of rookie drafts. Trigg is a fun player to watch, and hopefully that translates to Sunday, but I would proceed with caution.
Feel free to reach out to me on X, Instagram, or Bluesky to let me know your thoughts!
Many Successes,
Kyle
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