# Walt: An unsigned WalterFootball ranking of tight ends 21-44 for 2026 fantasy football, with projected receptions, receiving yards and fantasy points for each player. **Claimed:** Aug 1, 2026 **Pundit:** Walt — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/walt **Outlet:** Walter Football — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/walter-football **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://walterfootball.com/fantasy2026tightends_3.php 74 checkable claims — 72 player season numbers, 1 fantasy ranking and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 44 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 8 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 5 and below it on 3. > These 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings will be updated often throughout the summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Oronde Gadsden II to record 54 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Oronde Gadsden II to record 680 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Michael Mayer to record 420 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Tavion Sanders to record 410 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mike Gesicki to record 50 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Pat Freiermuth to record 58 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Goedert to move** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Dallas Goedert - Verdict: not settled yet - **George Kittle to record 97 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenyon Sadiq to record 105 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Tavion Sanders to record 53 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Theo Johnson to record 61 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Theo Johnson, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jonnu Smith to record 48 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Darren Waller to record 440 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Tonges to record 38 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dalton Schultz to record 690 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Darren Waller to record 39 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dawson Knox to record 99 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jonnu Smith to record 77 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colby Parkinson to record 93 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyle Pitts to record 93 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mason Taylor to record 79 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Mason Taylor, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dawson Knox to record 48 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Tonges to record 340 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **George Kittle to record 49 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Elijah Arroyo to record 57 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Isaiah Likely to record 56 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Isaiah Likely, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cole Kmet to record 35 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cade Otton to record 96 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dalton Schultz to record 65 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dalton Schultz to record 105 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyle Pitts to record 50 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Evan Engram to record 54 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **George Kittle to record 570 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cole Kmet to record 370 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Darren Waller to record 78 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Travis Kelce to record 610 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cole Kmet to record 49 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Isaiah Likely to record 100 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Isaiah Likely, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jonnu Smith to record 490 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eli Stowers to record 480 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dawson Knox to record 530 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Terrance Ferguson to record 103 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eli Stowers to record 39 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Theo Johnson to record 430 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Theo Johnson, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mason Taylor to record 450 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Mason Taylor, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenyon Sadiq to record 62 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Elijah Arroyo to record 350 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Michael Mayer to record 70 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colby Parkinson to record 55 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Travis Kelce to record 60 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Terrance Ferguson to record 47 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Travis Kelce to record 91 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Terrance Ferguson to record 670 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mason Taylor to record 48 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Mason Taylor, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Pat Freiermuth to record 630 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Evan Engram to record 520 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Michael Mayer to record 43 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Pat Freiermuth to record 99 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colby Parkinson to record 570 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mike Gesicki to record 510 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Oronde Gadsden II to record 104 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cade Otton to record 64 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenyon Sadiq to record 690 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **2026 Fantasy Football Rankings - Tight Ends ... 21. Dalton Schultz ... 44. Cole Kmet, TE, Bears.** - Kind: Fantasy Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ja'Tavion Sanders to record 41 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Theo Johnson to record 36 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Theo Johnson, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Evan Engram to record 64 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mike Gesicki to record 79 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eli Stowers to record 92 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cade Otton to record 660 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Isaiah Likely to record 640 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Isaiah Likely, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kyle Pitts to record 630 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Tonges to record 84 fantasy points** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Elijah Arroyo to record 30 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Oronde Gadsden II — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/oronde-gadsden-ii - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Michael Mayer — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/michael-mayer - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Ja'Tavion Sanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ja-tavion-sanders - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Mike Gesicki — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/mike-gesicki - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Pat Freiermuth — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/pat-freiermuth - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Dallas Goedert — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dallas-goedert - George Kittle — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/george-kittle - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Kenyon Sadiq — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kenyon-sadiq - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets - Theo Johnson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/theo-johnson - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants - Jonnu Smith — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jonnu-smith - Darren Waller — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/darren-waller - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Jake Tonges — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jake-tonges - Dalton Schultz — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dalton-schultz - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - Dawson Knox — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dawson-knox - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills - Colby Parkinson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/colby-parkinson - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams - Kyle Pitts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kyle-pitts - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Mason Taylor — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/mason-taylor - Elijah Arroyo — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/elijah-arroyo - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Isaiah Likely — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/isaiah-likely - Cole Kmet — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cole-kmet - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears - Cade Otton — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cade-otton - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Evan Engram — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/evan-engram - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Travis Kelce — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/travis-kelce - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Eli Stowers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/eli-stowers - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Terrance Ferguson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/terrance-ferguson ## What others said about the same people - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Chris Brockman on Baker Mayfield: Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d508736e-a824-4fa0-854c-df4ebdd9ef02 (scored 100) - Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0) - Jon Gruden on Baker Mayfield: The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10bb8ff2-886c-488e-b693-fb4ea9dd5880 (scored 100) - Joel Corry on Baker Mayfield: The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a840ff4-f1e5-48ca-bec6-ba41e9ef2396 (scored 100) ## More player season numbers The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Ross Jackson on Tyler Shough: Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4dc05898-73fd-4fcb-92c4-a940d7e395ba (scored 3.63) - Chris Broussard on Lamar Jackson: Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. He also takes the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5a026afc-40fe-4b1f-b209-3ce53ae205d7 (scored 0) - Nick Wright on Myles Garrett: Wright picks the Steelers to beat the Ravens outright in Pittsburgh, takes Seattle over San Francisco, and thinks the Browns lose to Cincinnati even as Myles Garrett gets the sack record. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9a8b5cea-9f2f-46f0-9939-72c2a60e4c26 (scored 100) - Nick Wright on Myles Garrett: Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among his weekly picks he expects the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/029b0090-8d3f-47de-9fb9-7f0a02320f3a (scored 84) - Rich Eisen on Micah Parsons: Eisen made a series of picks: Micah Parsons will out-sack any two Cowboys combined (after initially leaning the other way), the NFC North is more likely to produce a Super Bowl team than the NFC East, Eagles wins will outnumber Cowboys losses, Bo Nix/Courtland Sutton will out-touchdown Cam Ward/Calvin Ridley, and Marvin Harrison Jr./James Conner will beat Kamara/Olave in yards and TDs. He also picked the AFC West order and said Deion Sanders is more likely than Bill Belichick to have a winning record. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f94f8499-af74-4a8d-a688-fd08cd52bb3c (scored 56.25) - Daniel Jeremiah on Jihaad Campbell: Jeremiah walked through his mock draft 3.0, slotting Cam Ward first overall to Tennessee, Abdul Carter to Cleveland at two, Shedeur Sanders to the Giants at three and Travis Hunter to New England at four, plus roughly twenty other first-round pairings. He also called Matthew Golden the first receiver off the board, said Tyler Booker would climb back into the latter third of the first round, expected Kirk Cousins to be traded, thought Jaire Alexander's Packers days were numbered, and predicted Cam Robinson would start at left tackle in Houston. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c5de01a8-6e40-436d-9e04-07e1d39e54ae (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=walt