Lions, Falcons and Giants Tight Ends Poised for 2026 Fantasy Breakouts Amidst Offensive System Shifts

Fantasy football analyst Heath Cummings has released his annual "Breakouts 1.0" report for the 2026 season, identifying three tight ends as high-upside candidates capable of securing top-five fantasy finishes. The analysis suggests that Sam LaPorta, Kyle Pitts and Isaiah Likely are positioned for significant production increases following the integration of new offensive coordinators and system upgrades. Cummings argues these players offer substantial value, potentially allowing managers to draft them in Rounds 7 or 8 while prioritising elite running backs and receivers earlier in the selection process.

The Detroit Lions are central to this strategy, with Cummings highlighting the arrival of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as a catalyst for Sam LaPorta. Petzing previously managed an Arizona offence where tight ends accounted for 27.5 per cent of pass targets, a rate Cummings projects LaPorta could replicate or exceed. The analyst notes LaPorta's superior efficiency compared to current Lions star Trey McBride, citing an 8.3 yards-per-target average against McBride's 7.5, alongside a higher fantasy points-per-target metric. This shift in offensive philosophy is expected to propel LaPorta past previous benchmarks and establish him as the TE1 in fantasy rankings.

In Atlanta, the appointment of Kevin Stefanski as head coach has drawn attention for his history of running tight-end-centric offences. Having previously overseen similar systems in Cleveland and Minnesota, where tight ends received 27.2 per cent of targets, Stefanski is expected to leverage this approach with 25-year-old Kyle Pitts. Despite past struggles with injuries and end-zone production, Cummings anticipates a career year for Pitts if he remains healthy, projecting him to exceed 1,000 receiving yards and secure a top-five finish.

The New York Giants also feature prominently in the report, with Isaiah Likely positioned as the primary beneficiary of a new offensive identity. Following the departure of Mark Andrews, Likely is expected to become the number two target for quarterback Jaxson Dart. The addition of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who utilises a Chiefs model with a 29 per cent tight-end target rate, further strengthens this projection. Cummings estimates Likely could see 100 targets in his first season, leveraging his elite fantasy points-per-target record from his time in Baltimore.

Cummings advises fantasy managers to avoid selecting Colston Loveland, Trey McBride or Brock Bowers in the early rounds, instead targeting the aforementioned trio later in the draft. This strategy allows for the acquisition of premium running backs and receivers before pivoting to these high-upside tight ends. The analyst also suggests pairing one of these breakout candidates with Travis Kelce, who is projected to remain available after Round 9, to construct a balanced and competitive roster for the 2026 season.

While the projections rely on the assumption that the new coordinators maintain their historical usage rates, the structural changes to the Lions, Falcons and Giants offences provide a compelling case for these selections. Cummings concludes that identifying these specific players in later rounds offers a distinct advantage over traditional drafting conventions, enabling managers to build a superior team through strategic late-round acquisitions.