When preparing your fantasy football lineup, we have plenty of help. That includes the sometimes-overlooked defense and special teams rankings. Also, the tight end position can be a make-or-break spot, and here are those rankings for Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season.
It’s the usual suspects at the top of this position. Unless something dramatically changes, the best bets week in and week out are going to be Brock Bowers and Trey McBride.
Fantasy Football standouts
How good is McBride? Let’s hear a comparison from his head coach, Mike LaFleur, according to arizonasports.com.
“I try to equate it to like Luka (Doncic), where he plays at his pace,” LaFleur said. “He’s got that savviness to separate, then obviously the finishing skills to make the play.”
This week, McBride gets to run free against the Giants. He should have a huge week. The Giants just lost their best pass rusher as Brian Burns went down with an ACL injury. Without facing consistent pressure, Jacoby Brissett will be able to pick and choose. And when he’s picking and choosing, it’s usually McBride.
McBride’s target share in three games is 13, 10, and 11. Even better, he has 9, 8, and 9 catches. Plus, he has found the end zone twice.
As for Bowers, he has a tougher challenge with the Chiefs. But he’s coming off a big game, punishing the Saints for 10 catches and 116 yards with a touchdown.
The Saints didn’t have an answer, according to nola.com.
“He’s a really good player. Klint did a really good job of moving him around,” Saints head coach Kellen Moore said. “First action with him out there on the field, and they created a lot of opportunities that were advantageous, as far as playing him in different spots.”
The Chiefs will have a little more success. But with the bulk of targets, Bowers should deliver 70-plus yards and a score.
Other standouts
The Bills got two great games from Dalton Kincaid, along with last week’s dud. He simply wasn’t part of the game plan, catching only two balls on three targets for 38 yards. That’s going to happen occasionally for Kincaid in a very good offense.
But he’s an important player for the Bills. And he should bounce in a division game against the Patriots. Kincaid has the support of quarterback Josh Allen, according to democratandchronicle.com.
“He's a stud,” Allen said. “Absolute stud.”
Article Continues BelowKincaid worked to get himself in this position, head coach Joe Brady said.
“That's kind of who he's been all offseason,” Brady said. “When he's on the field, we're a better team. And we're a better offense. He's so dynamic. You see how much stronger he is in the run game. That's only going to allow us to get him on the field a little more.
“The confidence he plays with and what he opens up. We were in a lot of different personnel groupings, but getting big people on the field and seeing the matchups that it was able to present against. Look, he's a matchup issue.”
Another good bet is George Kittle. Yes, he has a tough matchup against the Broncos. But this 49ers’ offense is rolling. And whatever points they get, Kittle will likely have a significant hand in it.
Fantasy sleepers
Sam LaPorta hasn’t cut loose yet this season. In three games, his yardage total high is 52. And he has just one touchdown.
But at some point, some defense with a coordinator of any true NFL capacity is going to focus on covering Jahmyr Gibbs out of the backfield. And they will double-team Amon-Ra St. Brown. And this will unlock a big game for LaPorta.
Without giving Panthers DC Ejiro Evero too much credit, look for him to try to slow those Lions stars this week. That will give LaPorta his first 80-yard receiving day.
As for Tyler Warren, he should have a good chance for a big day against a beat-up Commanders’ team. Washington hasn’t looked good on defense all season, and Warren should have a good chance at finding the end zone.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Tight End Rankings
1. Trey McBride (ARI) at NYG
2. Brock Bowers (LV) vs. KC
3. Dalton Kincaid (BUF) vs. NE
4. Sam LaPorta (DET) at CAR
5. Tyler Warren (IND) at WAS
6. Tucker Kraft (GB) at TB
7. George Kittle (SF) vs. DEN
8. Travis Kelce (KC) at LV
9. Juwan Johnson (NO) vs. ATL
10. Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) vs. PIT
11. Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ) at CHI
12. Dalton Schultz (HOU) vs. DAL
13. Colston Loveland (CHI) vs. NYJ
14. Mark Andrews (BAL) vs. TEN
15. Jake Ferguson (DAL) at HOU