Fantasy managers considering who to start in fantasy football at tight end are staring down some tough decisions in Week 2.
If you’re fretting over who the top tight ends to start for Week 2 are, or which players should be riding your bench this week, here’s our fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em Week 2, 2026 tight ends guide to help you get an edge in your league this week.
Interested in a service that lets you access live sports like NFL football, and only live sports and includes ESPN unlimited at no extra cost? Check out MySports™ Genre Pack™ today, for free.
Start ‘Em/Sit ‘Em Week 2, 2026 – Tight End
So, who should you absolutely slot into your lineup for Week 2, and who’s better of left on your bench? Let’s take a look. We’re focusing on tight ends you might be on the fence about starting or sitting, rather than weekly must-start caliber players like Trey McBride or Brock Bowers.
Tight End Start of the Week
Dalton Kincaid: Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
Kickoff: Thursday, September 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Kincaid went off immediately, hauling in five passes for 130 yards in Buffalo’s 36-31 victory and leading all NFL tight ends in receiving yardage on the week and playing nearly three quarters of Buffalo’s offensive snaps. It’ll be a tall order for him to repeat that performance, but Detroit’s defense is struggling and the matchup carries the highest projected total of the week. Kincaid is a must-start for Week 2, and could be the TE1.
Tight Ends to Start in Week 2
Dallas Goedert: Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans
Kickoff: Sunday, September 20 at 1 p.m. ET
Goedert caught four of five targets for 77 yards and two touchdowns in Philadelphia’s season-opening victory. He remains a prominent part of the Eagles’ red-zone offense, responsible for two of Jalen Hurts’ three TD passes, and a favorable matchup against Tennessee makes him a solid Week 2 start.
Isaiah Likely: New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
Kickoff: Monday, September 21 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Likely caught all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in his Giants debut. Even though he played only about half of the Giants’ offensive snaps, he was performed consistently in high-leverage situations. He’s already establishing chemistry with Jaxson Dart and has a familiar head coach in John Harbaugh, making him a strong option on third downs and goal line situations.
Other tight ends to start in Week 2, 2026:
- Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Tight End Sit of the Week
Kyle Pitts: Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
Kickoff: Sunday, September 20 at 1 p.m. ET
Another fantasy football season, another pre-season hype, in-season bust cycle for poor Kyle Pitts. Fantasy managers can’t resist his allure, despite having been burned by him consistently, season after season. Pitts received only one target as Atlanta’s passing game struggled under QB Cooper Rush. RB Bijan Robinson commanded nearly half of the team’s target share, while Pitts was unable to turn his significant time-on-field into any meaningful receiving work. Carolina’s defense struggled badly in Week 1, but Pitts simply can’t be trusted until Atlanta fixes their quarterback situation.
Tight Ends to Sit in Week 2
Juwan Johnson: New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens
Kickoff: Sunday, September 20 at 1 p.m. ET
Johnson caught a nine-yard touchdown during New Orleans’ comeback against Detroit, but most of the receiving work went Chris Olave’s way. Johnson also faced competition from fellow TE Noah Fant and wideout Devaughn Vele. He’ll face a Baltimore defense that limited Indianapolis’s Tyler Warren to just 13 receiving yards in Week 1. He’ll be mostly touchdown dependent in this matchup.
Sam LaPorta: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills
Kickoff: Thursday, September 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET
LaPorta caught five of eight targets for 48 yards in Detroit’s overtime victory but failed to notch a touchdown. The target volume provides reason for optimism, but he was simply not involved in the team’s scoring in Week 1. LaPorta remains a viable season-long starter, but managers with a comparable alternative should consider sitting him until his usage improves.
Other tight ends to sit in Week 2, 2026:
- Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
- Pat Friermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Watch NFL Football on DIRECTV
You can see all of these tight ends and the rest of the players on your fantasy roster rack up points all season long on by watching NFL games every week on DIRECTV.
Frequently asked questions
How do you know which tight end to start in fantasy football?
DIRECTV Insider brings you our views on what’s happening in streaming, t.v., movies and sports. Companies and persons mentioned are not necessarily associated with and do not necessarily endorse DIRECTV. We will disclose sponsored content on our site when we show it to you, and some of the links on the site may be ads or affiliate links which means DIRECTV may earn compensation from your purchases.
